Whenever a defense of Daenerys shows up in my feed, one thing I’ve observed is they are very much focused on her feelings as a defense, rather than an examination of her actions and the effects of those actions.
And like, that is certainly a way to examine a character, but fairly myopic if you ask me, in the context of a series that’s focused in a very big way on institutions of power and the effects they have on their individual and collective spheres of influence. Dany is one of the biggest centers of power in the entire series with entire geographical regions under her control, with a potential reach that is far greater. Regardless of her feelings or even her intentions (which, you know, agree to disagree I guess), I’m far more interested in her actions and their effects.
She’s doesn’t get a pass in my analysis of her, just because she has a conscience. The fact that she has a conscience and is fully human is what makes her a great character, and worthy of all that scrutiny.
