The Khal Drogo Scene In Game Of Thrones That Went Too Far
With her unshakable determination and indomitable strength of will, it's easy to see why Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clark) is the favorite character of many "Game of Thrones" enthusiasts. It's also understandable why the show's final season was so universally hated, considering Dany's inexcusable actions at King's Landing and her fate at the hands of Jon Snow (Kit Harrington). Still, it's the writers who got blamed for Dany's downfall, not the character herself.
It may be that Daenerys is a truly great leader, with her three dragons and an Earth-shaking force that no army can stand against, but the truth is that she would have gotten nowhere if it weren't for Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa). It's out of respect for Drogo that the Dothraki even tolerate Daenerys at first, and it's his strength as a leader that boosts her own confidence. Drogo lifted her up as a true khaleesi, not just another conquest or a trophy wife.
Now, that's not to say that Khal Drogo is a character to be admired. He is a ruthless, violent man who rapes and pillages and sells slaves — all of which is expected behavior for a Dothraki ruler, and all of which ultimately made him the khal he is at the beginning of "Game of Thrones." He takes what he wants and he does what he feels like without restraint or consequence. If anything, Drogo might be considered a stepping stone on Dany's path to greatness, but he shouldn't be credited with making her who she becomes by the series' end. Drogo does a lot of really messed up things during "Thrones," – but one of them stands out above the rest as the absolute worst.
Khal Drogo sexually assaults Daenerys on their wedding night
In the beginning, before she becomes the "Mother of Dragons," Daenerys is just a victim — a tool to be used to slake the desires of both her brother, Viserys (Harry Lloyd), who lusts for power, and Khal Drogo, who lusts for a pretty, silver-haired Westerosi woman. Dany is given to Khal Drogo as a gift from Viserys, who is hoping for a large, formidable Dothraki army — a khalasar — in exchange to win back the Iron Throne. Although Dany and Drogo come to love one another in their own way, things don't quite start out as an ideal romance made in heaven.
After the wedding celebration in the series' pilot, "Winter is Coming," Drogo takes Dany to a scenic hilltop to consummate their marriage — but it's not the honeymoon night of Dany's dreams. As Drogo strips her of her clothes, Dany begins to weep, and Drogo wipes her tears away. He then utters the single word he knows of the Common tongue: "No." It seems like Drogo can't stand to see his new bride cry, but that doesn't stop him from forcing Dany to have sex.
This scene caused many fans of the show a lot of discomfort but was especially despised by fans of the books that "Game of Thrones" were based on, "A Song of Ice and Fire." The scene plays out quite differently in the original text, with Drogo actually being much more gentle with his new wife. Daenerys in the book is only 13 years old, though, as opposed to being 16 in the show, which makes the whole thing that much more icky. So, yeah, any way you slice it, that scene leaves a bad taste in viewers' mouths.
Daenerys and Khal Drogo's relationship takes a very different turn
Of course, as fans know, Khal Drogo and Daenerys' relationship takes a pretty huge turn before long. After asking her handmaidens how she can connect more closely with Drogo, Dany shows her inner strength during the couple's intimate moments, and Drogo not only respects, but loves his wife before long, honoring her with gifts and even showing her uncharacteristic affection.
When Dany realizes she's carrying Drogo's child, the khal is overjoyed, especially when female members of his khalasar proclaim that their child will be a powerful warrior — specifically, the "stallion who mounts the world." After a ceremony where a pregnant Dany eats an entire horse heart to make her child strong, Drogo declares that, per his wife's wishes, he and his men will cross the sea to Westeros to overtake King's Landing and the Iron Throne, which Dany and Viserys believe is their birthright as Targaryens, and Daenerys announces that their son will be named "Rhaego," after her late brother Rhaegar.
Sadly, Drogo ends up losing his life as Season 1 ends; after killing one of his own men to defend Dany's honor, the khal contracts a dangerous blood infection, and when Dany makes a deal with a godswife to try and treat him, she only ends up making his condition worse when the supposed healer leaves Drogo in a catatonic state as revenge. Dany ultimately loses the man she loves — and, thanks to his funeral pyre, gains three dragons — but it's always worth remembering that their relationship gets off to a, well, rocky start.