On the penultimate episode of HBO's "Game of Thrones," Daenerys Targaryen inexplicably and mercilessly destroyed King's Landing, killing hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women, and children in the process. This deadly twist had been hinted at for some time, but its execution onscreen reminded many fans of misogynistic criticisms the show has been facing for years. It's important to note that Daenerys becoming a "Mad Queen" is not an inherently sexist story line. It's actually compelling and realistic for a story to portray powerful female villains or flawed female leaders — as long as their shortcomings are not directly connected to womanhood. Regrettably, the illustration of Dany's sudden madness played into harmful stereotypes about women and female rulers. Here's how. Daenerys had grown increasingly miserable and isolated since coming to Westeros. On season eight alone, she witnessed the murders of her dragon, Rhaegal, and two closest friends, Jorah Mormont and Missandei. But until episode five, she had kept it relatively together. It's not like she immediately hopped on Drogon and burned King's Landing to the ground right after Cersei executed Missandei, which she apparently could have done fairly easily. Earlier on episode five, Daenerys told Jon Snow that she felt no support from anyone around her: "I don't have love here," she said. "I only have fear." "I love you," he replied. "You'll always be my queen." When Dany tried to kiss him, however, Jon pulled away. (He seems to be grossed out by the revelation that Daenerys is his aunt, though he's never expressed this out loud.) "Alright then," she said. "Let it be fear." After getting abused by her brother throughout her childhood, sold to a warlord as a political bargaining chip, repeatedly raped, enslaved, threatened, and nearly killed, Daenerys is seemingly pushed over the edge because a man won't return her affection. As Melissa Leon wrote for the Daily Beast, the direct connection between this scene and Dany's madness feels akin to giving her the role of "crazy ex-girlfriend — the laziest of sexist tropes." Of course, this may not have been what the showrunners intended, but that's sure what it looks like — and it plays directly into the old stereotype that women are too emotional to rule, too sensitive, and easily swayed by the affections of men. Daenerys has always represented tension and contradiction: In the medieval society of "Game of Thrones," rising to power necessitates violence, and Dany is constantly torn between her gentle empathy and her desire to rule. And so she has been brutal, yet calculated. Her violent moments — whether it was crucifying slave masters or burning down a tent full of Dothraki Khals — were always framed as acts of justice or political maneuvers. Daenerys didn't always make the right decision, but her decisions always served a purpose. But Dany decided to flatten King's Landing and decimate its population after the city had alrea
Making Daenerys a 'Mad Queen' on 'Game of Thrones' is the culmination of every demeaning sexist trop
On the penultimate episode of HBO's "Game of Thrones," Daenerys Targaryen inexplicably and mercilessly destroyed King's Landing, killing hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women, and children in the process. This deadly twist had been hinted at for some time, but its execution onscreen reminded many fans of misogynistic criticisms the show has been facing for years. It's important to note that Daenerys becoming a "Mad Queen" is not an inherently sexist story line. It's actually compelling and realistic for a story to portray powerful female villains or flawed female leaders — as long as their shortcomings are not directly connected to womanhood. Regrettably, the illustration of Dany's sudden madness played into harmful stereotypes about women and female rulers. Here's how. Daenerys had grown increasingly miserable and isolated since coming to Westeros. On season eight alone, she witnessed the murders of her dragon, Rhaegal, and two closest friends, Jorah Mormont and Missandei. But until episode five, she had kept it relatively together. It's not like she immediately hopped on Drogon and burned King's Landing to the ground right after Cersei executed Missandei, which she apparently could have done fairly easily. Earlier on episode five, Daenerys told Jon Snow that she felt no support from anyone around her: "I don't have love here," she said. "I only have fear." "I love you," he replied. "You'll always be my queen." When Dany tried to kiss him, however, Jon pulled away. (He seems to be grossed out by the revelation that Daenerys is his aunt, though he's never expressed this out loud.) "Alright then," she said. "Let it be fear." After getting abused by her brother throughout her childhood, sold to a warlord as a political bargaining chip, repeatedly raped, enslaved, threatened, and nearly killed, Daenerys is seemingly pushed over the edge because a man won't return her affection. As Melissa Leon wrote for the Daily Beast, the direct connection between this scene and Dany's madness feels akin to giving her the role of "crazy ex-girlfriend — the laziest of sexist tropes." Of course, this may not have been what the showrunners intended, but that's sure what it looks like — and it plays directly into the old stereotype that women are too emotional to rule, too sensitive, and easily swayed by the affections of men. Daenerys has always represented tension and contradiction: In the medieval society of "Game of Thrones," rising to power necessitates violence, and Dany is constantly torn between her gentle empathy and her desire to rule. And so she has been brutal, yet calculated. Her violent moments — whether it was crucifying slave masters or burning down a tent full of Dothraki Khals — were always framed as acts of justice or political maneuvers. Daenerys didn't always make the right decision, but her decisions always served a purpose. But Dany decided to flatten King's Landing and decimate its population after the city had alrea
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