Daenerys Targaryen loses her first dragon, Viserion, in Season 7, Episode 6: “Beyond the Wall.” This devastating loss occurs during a mission to capture a wight to prove the existence of the undead army to Cersei Lannister.
The Harrowing Battle Beyond the Wall
The episode “Beyond the Wall” marks a turning point in Game of Thrones, significantly impacting the power dynamics and the impending war against the White Walkers. Daenerys’s decision to fly north with her dragons – Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion – proves fateful. Jon Snow and his assembled crew are ambushed by the Night King’s army, becoming surrounded on a frozen lake.
As the situation becomes dire, Gendry runs back to Eastwatch to send a raven to Daenerys pleading for assistance. Daenerys arrives with her dragons, using their fire to decimate the wight army and save the survivors. However, the Night King seizes the opportunity and throws an ice spear with incredible precision, striking Viserion in the neck.
The Impact of Viserion’s Death
Viserion falls from the sky, plunging into the icy depths. This scene is a pivotal moment, not only for Daenerys, who experiences a profound emotional loss, but also for the overall narrative. The Night King’s acquisition of a dragon fundamentally shifts the balance of power.
The ability to ride a dragon gives the Night King a devastating weapon, capable of breaching even the most formidable defenses. This acquisition immediately makes the threat posed by the White Walkers exponentially greater, emphasizing the urgency and stakes of the war to come. Viserion is resurrected as a wight dragon, breathing blue flame, further amplifying the terror and symbolizing the perversion of life by the Night King’s magic.
Understanding the Loss: Frequently Asked Questions
To further explore the ramifications and context surrounding Viserion’s death, consider the following FAQs:
FAQ 1: Why did Daenerys risk her dragons in the first place?
Daenerys’s decision to fly North was driven by a combination of factors: her loyalty to Jon Snow, her growing affection for him, and her desire to end the war. Seeing Jon and his companions in mortal danger, she felt compelled to intervene, despite the obvious risks. Furthermore, she believed that showing Cersei the threat of the White Walkers was the only way to secure her alliance and unite the Seven Kingdoms. Her impulsive decision, driven by a need to protect and a belief in demonstrating the threat, resulted in the tragic loss.
FAQ 2: Was Viserion specifically targeted, or was it random?
While the Night King’s aim was extraordinary, it’s highly probable that Viserion was specifically targeted. Viserion, being gold in color, would have been the most visually distinct dragon against the white landscape, making him a more obvious target. Furthermore, taking down even one dragon would severely impact Daenerys’s strategic advantage. His choice appears tactical rather than random.
FAQ 3: Could Daenerys have prevented Viserion’s death?
In hindsight, there are several tactical decisions Daenerys could have made differently. Keeping the dragons further away from the ground would have made them more difficult targets. A coordinated defensive strategy, involving the dragons working together, could also have been more effective. However, the sheer number of wights and the unexpected speed and accuracy of the Night King’s throw caught everyone off guard.
FAQ 4: What material was the Night King’s ice spear made of?
The Night King’s ice spear is presumed to be made of magical ice, potentially dragon glass infused with his powerful magic. Its ability to pierce Viserion’s scales, which are known to be highly resistant to fire and conventional weaponry, suggests it possessed exceptional strength and properties.
FAQ 5: How did Viserion’s death affect Daenerys emotionally?
Viserion’s death had a profound emotional impact on Daenerys. Dragons were not merely weapons to her; she considered them her children. Losing Viserion was akin to losing a family member, causing immense grief and fueling her determination to defeat the Night King. This loss made her more vulnerable and arguably more prone to making desperate decisions in the future.
FAQ 6: Why was Viserion resurrected and not Drogon or Rhaegal?
The choice of Viserion for resurrection remains a point of speculation. It could have been a matter of opportunity, as Viserion fell closest to the frozen lake’s surface. Alternatively, the Night King might have sensed a vulnerability in Viserion, or perhaps his coloring made him easier to control as a wight. Regardless, the specifics of why Viserion were chosen remain unanswered explicitly in the show.
FAQ 7: What were the powers of the wight dragon Viserion?
The wight dragon Viserion’s most prominent power was his ability to breathe blue flame, a magical and destructive force unlike anything seen before. This flame was capable of melting the Wall, a structure built with powerful magic to ward off the White Walkers. He also possessed the strength and flight capabilities of a dragon, making him a formidable weapon for the Night King.
FAQ 8: How did Viserion’s death contribute to the fall of the Wall?
Viserion’s death directly led to the fall of the Wall. As a wight dragon, he used his blue flame to melt a section of the Wall, creating a breach for the Night King and his army to enter the Seven Kingdoms. This event signified a major victory for the White Walkers and a devastating blow to the living. The breach was a direct consequence of Viserion’s transformation.
FAQ 9: Did Viserion’s resurrection have any impact on Daenerys’s claim to the Iron Throne?
While not directly, Viserion’s resurrection certainly complicated Daenerys’s claim. The sheer power of the Night King and his army, amplified by the wight dragon, created a much greater threat to Westeros than Cersei Lannister. Daenerys had to prioritize the survival of humankind over her personal ambitions, forcing her to forge alliances and make compromises she otherwise wouldn’t have. The focus shifted from the Iron Throne to defeating the common enemy.
FAQ 10: Was the capture of a wight ultimately worth the cost of Viserion’s life?
Whether the capture of a wight was worth the cost of Viserion’s life is a debatable point. Presenting the wight to Cersei did lead to a temporary truce, but the long-term consequences were arguably more detrimental. The loss of Viserion dramatically shifted the power balance and ultimately led to the destruction of the Wall, allowing the Night King to invade Westeros. Many argue the cost far outweighed any potential benefit.
FAQ 11: Did the creators of Game of Thrones ever explain their reasoning for killing Viserion in that particular way?
The showrunners, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, have stated that killing Viserion was a crucial plot point to demonstrate the Night King’s power and raise the stakes for the final seasons. They wanted to show that the threat posed by the White Walkers was real and unstoppable without a united front. Furthermore, they needed to provide the Night King with a means to breach the Wall, making Viserion’s resurrection a necessary element of the narrative.
FAQ 12: What happened to Viserion after the Night King’s defeat?
With the Night King’s death at the hands of Arya Stark in the Battle of Winterfell, the Night King’s army, including the wight dragon Viserion, crumbled. Viserion essentially disintegrated, returning to dust and ice along with the rest of the undead army, signifying the complete destruction of the magical forces that had animated them.