Game Of Thrones Finally Makes Up For A Daenerys Targaryen Story Change After 11 Years

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale!

House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale restores a character detail from the world in George R.R. Martin’s books that was cut from Game of Thrones. As can often be the case for fantasy novels being adapted to the screen, some character descriptions from Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books didn’t make their way into Game of Thrones. For instance, a notable early complaint about Daenerys’ depiction in Game of Thrones was that the show cut the intriguing trait of Targaryens having purple eyes. Of course, it wasn’t just the Targaryens whose physical appearances were changed.

One character who appeared extremely different from their physical description in the books was Daenerys’ paramour Daario Naharis, originally played by Ed Skrein before being recast with Michiel Huisman. With most of Daenerys Targaryen’s story taking place in Essos, her journeys allowed Game of Thrones to expand its worldbuilding by exploring different cultures outside Westeros. Daario Naharis was very representative of Tyroshi culture in the novels, yet some crucial details in his description were cut from the show. Now, as House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale reintroduces Tyroshi characters, the prequel revives some traits that were removed from Daario.

House Of The Dragon Season 2’s Triarchy Leaders Reveal What Daario Naharis Should Have Looked Like In GOT

Daario Naharis Dyed His Hair Blue And Purple In Game Of Thrones’ Books

On orders from Prince Aemond Targaryen, Tyland Lannister sails to the Free Cities to treat with leaders of the Triarchy in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 8. Tyland initially makes his case to Tyroshi and Myrish captains, one of whom notably has dyed blue hair. Martin’s books explain that Tyroshi people often dye their hair and beards bright colors, a detail that House of the Dragon finally adapts but that Game of Thrones ignored. Similar to House of the Dragon’s unnamed Tyroshi captain, Daario Naharis dyed his hair and beard blue and purple in Game of Thrones’ books.

However, when Daario Naharis made his show debut in Game of Thrones, he initially had light brown/blonde hair, with his second iteration giving him dark brown hair. Game of Thrones memorably muted the more flamboyant descriptions of Daario from the book, including changes to his hair colors, beard styles, and clothing choices. The Daario in Game of Thrones hardly reflected the character described by George R.R. Martin, whose book counterpart looks more similar to the Tyroshi captain in House of the Dragon season 2.

Game Of Thrones’ Recasts Made Changing Daario’s Book Description More Ironic

Game Of Thrones Had The Opportunity To Restore Daario’s Blue Hair

Interestingly, Game of Thrones season 4 had the perfect opportunity to restore the original description of Daario from the books with his jarring actor recast. When Game of Thrones recast Daario Naharis, his appearance was completely different from Ed Skrein’s version of the character, yet Michiel Huisman’s iteration was still a far cry from the book description. Instead, it took until House of the Dragon season 2 to finally reveal what the book version of Daario Naharis would look like in real life.

Considering he already felt like an entirely new character upon being recast, Game of Thrones could have easily brought back Daario with his book counterpart’s dyed hair, colorful clothing, and jewelry. It’s unclear why Game of Thrones decided to cut Daario’s book features, as it doesn’t seem likely that the changes were due to budget issues or obstacles to dyeing wigs various colors. In a fantastical world where dragons hatch from eggs and the undead Night King and White Walkers hunt beyond the Wall, including a man with blue hair and a gold mustache wouldn’t be a stretch.

Game Of Thrones Erased 2 Huge Characters Who Could Have Fulfilled Daario’s Cut Book Detail

More Blue-Haired Sellswords Didn’t Make It Into Game Of Thrones

Even if it was too late to restore Daario’s book appearance once he was recast, Game of Thrones had two other major characters who could have fulfilled his blue-haired sellsword description. Among the biggest book characters that Game of Thrones cut is Young Griff, who claims to secretly be Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell’s presumed-dead son Aegon Targaryen. Being raised by the Mad King Aerys’ exiled Hand, Jon Connington, both disguise themselves after Robert’s Rebellion as sellswords in the Golden Company named “Griff” and “Young Griff.”

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Game of Thrones: Why The Show Cut The Books’ Biggest Targaryen Twist

Game of Thrones had some major Targaryen twists with Jon Snow and Daenerys, but it cut one of the books’ biggest surprises: Young Griff, aka Aegon.

To hide their identities, Griff and Young Griff both dye their hair blue, similar to Daario Naharis. The two claim that dyeing their hair blue is a way to honor Young Griff’s late Tyroshi “mother.” Perhaps because the truth about Young Griff’s identity had (and has still) yet to be confirmed in Martin’s books, Game of Thrones cut both Aegon “Young Griff” Targaryen and Jon “Griff” Connington from the show. Therefore, the show lost another two characters who, despite not actually being from Tyrosh, could have represented the location’s cultural customs that were absent from Daario Naharis’ TV depiction.

Game Of Thrones’ Next Spinoff Has A Big Choice To Make After HOTD’s New Tyroshi Character

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Will Introduce A Major Tyroshi Character In House Targaryen

During the long wait for House of the Dragon season 3, the Game of Thrones franchise will debut its next spinoff prequel show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, in 2025. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, the series follows the adventures of Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall, a hedge knight, and “Egg,” a young boy who becomes his squire. HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show explores another era in House Targaryen’s reign, about 90 years before Game of Thrones and 75 years after House of the Dragon‘s timeline.

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Every Targaryen In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Explained

The Targaryen dynasty was in full swing by the time of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and the upcoming Game of Throne spin-off will have plenty.

One major character in House Targaryen’s family tree during this story will be Kiera of Tyrosh, the widow of the late Prince Valarr Targaryen. Kiera goes on to marry Prince Daeron Targaryen after her husband’s death, expanding her importance within the family and its issues regarding the Iron Throne’s succession. Kiera is expected to play a relatively bigger role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show than Daario Naharis did in Game of Thrones, which gives the TV universe its most prominent Tyroshi character yet.

As such, the upcoming prequel has an important decision to make with her after changing Daario, namely about whether A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will give Kiera dyed hair and a style more reflective of Tyroshi culture. Unlike Daario, Kiera isn’t given a detailed description in Martin’s books, so HBO’s upcoming show has more creative freedom when adapting her character. But, given House of the Dragon season 2’s new Tyroshi captain finally features the location’s signature dyed hair, it seems likely that Kiera could appear in the new spinoff with colorful hair and a clothing style traditional to Tyrosh.

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  House of the Dragon

  Taking place about 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.

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  Game Of Thrones

  Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones is a TV series based on the book “A Song of Ice of Fire” by George R. R. Martin. It tells the story of the ongoing battle between the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros – as they fight for control of the coveted Iron Throne. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the far north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night’s Watch, led by House Stark’s Jon Snow, is the first to encounter icy horrors that threaten all realms of men. The series premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011, and quickly became one of the biggest event series in the “Golden Age” of TV. Winner of 38 Primetime Emmy Awards, Game of Thrones has attracted record viewership on HBO and has a broad, active, international fan base.

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  Game of Thrones

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  Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.