Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow, two pivotal figures in the Game of Thrones saga, first meet in Season 7, Episode 3, “The Queen’s Justice.” This monumental encounter, fraught with tension and unspoken possibilities, sets the stage for a complex and ultimately tragic partnership.
The Dragon Queen and the King in the North: A Meeting Foretold
The meeting between Daenerys Targaryen, the Dragon Queen and rightful heir (in her own eyes) to the Iron Throne, and Jon Snow, the King in the North, takes place in Daenerys’s ancestral home, Dragonstone. Jon, urged by Tyrion Lannister, travels to Dragonstone seeking Daenerys’s support and, more importantly, access to dragonglass, the only known substance capable of defeating the White Walkers.
The episode meticulously builds anticipation for this meeting. We see both characters grappling with internal conflicts and external pressures as they journey towards this pivotal moment. Daenerys, initially skeptical and focused on her claim to the throne, struggles to reconcile her ambition with the realities of war. Jon, driven by a sense of duty and desperate to protect the North, faces the formidable task of convincing a powerful queen of a threat she has never encountered.
The actual meeting is characterized by a palpable tension. Daenerys demands that Jon bend the knee and acknowledge her as his queen. Jon, steadfast in his refusal to betray the North and its independence, attempts to persuade her of the existential threat posed by the White Walkers. This clash of wills, played out with nuanced performances by Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington, highlights the conflicting priorities that will ultimately define their relationship.
While neither fully concedes in their initial encounter, Tyrion’s intervention and Jon’s unwavering conviction begin to sow seeds of doubt in Daenerys’s mind. This meeting, though tense and uncertain, marks the beginning of a journey towards understanding and a shared destiny.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Daenerys and Jon Meeting
Here are some frequently asked questions exploring different aspects of their iconic first meeting:
What was Jon Snow’s main objective when he went to Dragonstone?
Jon Snow’s primary objective in travelling to Dragonstone was threefold: to secure dragonglass to fight the White Walkers, to gain Daenerys’s support in the fight against the undead army, and to demonstrate the reality of the threat she seemingly dismissed as a distraction from her conquest of the Iron Throne.
Why was Daenerys so adamant that Jon bend the knee?
Daenerys believed that Jon, as the King in the North, represented a significant threat to her claim. She saw him as an independent power, potentially disrupting her carefully laid plans for seizing the Iron Throne. By demanding he “bend the knee,” she sought to consolidate her authority and solidify her position as the undisputed ruler of Westeros. It was also deeply ingrained in her Targaryen upbringing and her belief in her rightful inheritance.
What impact did Tyrion Lannister have on their first meeting?
Tyrion Lannister played a crucial role as a mediator during their first encounter. Recognizing Jon’s honesty and integrity, he vouched for his character and urged Daenerys to consider his plea regarding the White Walkers. Tyrion’s counsel helped to soften Daenerys’s stance and facilitated a degree of understanding between the two. He subtly guided the conversation, highlighting their shared enemies and potential mutual benefit.
How did Jon Snow attempt to convince Daenerys about the White Walkers?
Jon presented Daenerys with evidence of the White Walkers through dragonglass weapons and compelling arguments about the existential threat they posed. He emphasized that the fight for the Iron Throne would be meaningless if the undead destroyed all of humanity. He relied on his own experiences fighting the White Walkers to lend credence to his claims, appealing to her sense of responsibility.
What initial impressions did Daenerys and Jon have of each other?
Daenerys was initially skeptical of Jon, viewing him as a northern upstart challenging her authority. She saw him as stubborn and unwilling to acknowledge her superior claim. Jon, on the other hand, was impressed by Daenerys’s strength and conviction but frustrated by her obsession with the Iron Throne, which he considered secondary to the impending doom of the White Walkers.
What was the significance of Dragonstone as the location for their first meeting?
Dragonstone, being the ancestral seat of House Targaryen, held immense symbolic significance. It underscored Daenerys’s lineage and her claim to the Iron Throne, while also highlighting the connection between her past and Jon’s future. The very location served as a constant reminder of her royal heritage and fueled her ambition. For Jon, it was stepping into a realm of legends and history.
What were the immediate consequences of their meeting in “The Queen’s Justice”?
The immediate consequence was a stalemate. Jon refused to bend the knee, and Daenerys refused to commit her forces to the war against the White Walkers without his fealty. However, Daenerys, swayed by Tyrion’s advice, agreed to allow Jon to mine dragonglass on Dragonstone, providing him with the means to arm his people against the undead. This formed the basis for a working relationship, albeit a tenuous one.
Did their meeting change their individual strategies in the war against Cersei Lannister?
Their initial meeting didn’t drastically alter their individual strategies against Cersei. Daenerys remained focused on taking King’s Landing, while Jon prioritized the defense of the North. However, the encounter planted the seed for a potential alliance, which would eventually influence their actions in later episodes. The seeds of a potential alliance were sown, leading to a future collaboration that would alter the course of the war.
What other important events occur in the episode “The Queen’s Justice”?
Besides the meeting between Daenerys and Jon, “The Queen’s Justice” features the capture of Ellaria Sand and her daughter Tyene by Cersei Lannister, marking a significant blow to Daenerys’s alliances. It also showcases Cersei’s ruthlessness and her willingness to exact vengeance on her enemies. Furthermore, it depicts the fall of Highgarden to the Lannister army, crippling Daenerys’s financial resources.
How did music contribute to the atmosphere of their first meeting scene?
The musical score during their first meeting was carefully crafted to enhance the tension and underlying emotions. The music highlighted both Daenerys’s regal authority and Jon’s solemn determination, reflecting the power dynamics and conflicting priorities at play. Subdued and evocative melodies emphasized the unspoken feelings and the weight of their decisions. Ramin Djawadi expertly used musical cues to amplify the drama.
Looking back, how pivotal was this meeting in the overall narrative of Game of Thrones?
This meeting was absolutely pivotal. It set the stage for the burgeoning romance and eventual tragic downfall of Daenerys and Jon. It also laid the groundwork for the revelation of Jon’s true parentage and his claim to the Iron Throne, ultimately contributing to the climactic events of the series. Without this meeting, the entire trajectory of the later seasons would have been drastically different.
Beyond plot development, what made the scene so memorable for viewers?
The scene was memorable due to the chemistry between Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington, the high stakes of their interaction, and the powerful performances that brought their characters to life. The carefully crafted dialogue, the dramatic setting, and the weight of expectations made this a truly unforgettable moment in Game of Thrones history. The collision of two iconic characters, each carrying the weight of their individual stories, created a potent and captivating viewing experience.