Why did Jon Snow kill Daenerys Targaryen?

There is no dearth of burning questions and debates when it comes to Game of Thrones. The highly popular HBO show paved the way for more historical and other-worldly shows to premiere and conquer prime cable time. Set against the backdrop of a warring kingdom, one king’s death initiates a domino effect and witnesses multiple claimants to the throne. After seven successful seasons, the show kind of went downhill in the last season.

Some say this is because the author of the books and the creator of Westeros George R.R. Martin did not write this end and is still working on capping the story. Nonetheless, the finale episode of Game of Thrones left fans somewhat unsatisfied and puzzling for answers. It may not have been what the fans wanted but it definitely shocked and surprised the viewers. Let’s take a look at the why and how of the events that led to Jon Snow killing Daenerys Targaryen in the finale episode of Game of Thrones.

Quick Answer: Jon Snow killed Daenerys Targaryen because her anger grew beyond control. She set King’s Landing on fire to quench her thirst for power and would have caused further destruction she was not stopped.

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Is Jon Snow a Targaryen?

Credits: HBO

Yes, Jon Snow is actually Aegon Targaryen. He is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. The two fell in love with each other despite Lyanna being betrothed to Robert Baratheon. Rhaegar and Lyanna elope in search of a safe haven where they can be together without obstacles. They get married in secret and give birth to a son in Dorne.

Lyanna requests her elder brother Eddard Stark to take care of their son and protect him from the prying eyes of Robert who would want to kill their child. Eddark raises Aegon Targaryen as his bastard son Jon Snow, for his safety and well-being.

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How are Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen related?

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When Jon Snow realizes that fire is one of the key elements in defeating the White Walkers, he figures that having Daenerys Targaryen on his side would be a great advantage. With the power of the fire-breathing dragons, Daenerys will be central to destroying the Night King’s army that marches southward. The two soon develop an attraction towards each other and embark on a romantic relationship. While fans think it is great to see Jon Snow and Daenerys find love, the situation soon takes a jolting turn.

Once we learn Jon Snow is a Targaryen, it is easy to connect the dots and see that he is related to Daenerys Targaryen. Being the son of Rhaegar Targaryen who is Daenerys’s older brother, it is clear that Daenerys is Jon’s aunt in Game of Thrones. Though incest is not an unheard-of concept on the show, it is still disconcerting to see Jon in a romantic relationship with his aunt, Daenerys Targaryen.

The truth hits Daenerys hard since she learns that Jon Snow aka Aegon Targaryen is now the true heir to the Iron Throne. A man, and that too a well-liked man in Westeros, Jon Snow has a better claim to the Throne than the foreigner Daenerys. She feels threatened by this new knowledge and decides to consolidate power as soon as she can.

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Why did Jon Snow kill Daenerys Targaryen?

Credits: HBO

Sometimes in life, people have to make tough decisions in the spur of the moment. The only thing on Jon Snow’s mind, even after learning about his legitimate claim to the Iron Throne, is to protect the realm and maintain peace. Like his father, he followed the ethics of non-violence and peaceful resolution.

He tried to resolve the issue peacefully and spoke to Daenerys about the essence of conquering Westeros without bloodshed. However, in a matter of seconds, Daenerys burns the city to ashes and kills hundreds of innocent people. She had waited too long to claim power and her rightful place in King’s Landing.

After years of humiliation and pent-up rage, she cannot stop herself. On the back of her beloved dragon, she flies off to spread more damage and destruction. So when Jon saw Daenerys going mad with rage and hungry for power, he knew he had no choice but to kill her.

Jon Snow put a dagger through his beloved Daenerys for the larger good. Had he been an ambitious power-hungry man, he could have let Daenerys rule and he could have shared the throne with her. However, he knew her madness would only grow if someone did not curb it in time. Jon Snow had to make a crucial decision for the good of the realm, keeping aside his love for Daenerys.

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