NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Entertainment

Convincing theory surfaces about Game of Thrones final season plot twist with Daenerys

By Lexie Cartwright
news.com.au·
3 Jul, 2019 02:24 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

A new GoT fan theory has emerged on why Daenerys Targaryen was killed by her lover Jon Snow. Photo / HBO

A new GoT fan theory has emerged on why Daenerys Targaryen was killed by her lover Jon Snow. Photo / HBO

It's been a month since the finale of Game of Thrones but fans are still reeling over the rather disappointing ending.

The HBO series' favourite heroine Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) made a seemingly overnight transition from good girl to mad queen as her quest for the Iron Throne neared its end.

Her brash decision to burn King's Landing to a crisp in episode five "The Bells" copped widespread backlash, with many viewers baffled that it went against Dany's character development over the course of eight seasons, which are available to stream on Foxtel.

Then, in the last ever episode, she was sensationally killed by her lover, Jon Snow, just as she tasted the victory she'd always craved.

It was a pretty empty feeling for us diehards, to say the least.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

However, a viral fan theory on Reddit has posed a deeper meaning behind the drastic plot twist.

Why? Photo / HBO
Why? Photo / HBO

"Let's rewind, in order to exist for 1000 years in the universe one has to die first and come back to life. Jon died and his body was protected until he was brought back to life," the thread reads.

"In theory wouldn't Daenerys have to suffer the same fate in order to stay with Jon (for) 1000 years(?).

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Daenerys trusts one person besides herself, she trusts Jon Snow. Daenerys isn't dumb or silly or foolish. She is a calculated Khaleesi.

"The Night King wanted to kill Bran to kill the memories of man. What if Khaleesi killed King's Landing and the Red Keep and the Iron Throne to do the same?"

The fan also pointed out a possible link between the Night King and the Mother of Dragons. It was always Jon's character who was destined to kill the Night King and eliminate all evil from Westeros, but perhaps the evil in the "Azor Ahai" prophecies was Daenerys all along, hence why he had to kill her.

Also why ...? Photo / HBO
Also why ...? Photo / HBO

"Daenerys was isolated when she died," the thread continues.

Discover more

Entertainment

Shocking Game of Thrones moment that didn't make it to air

24 Jun 01:34 AM
Entertainment

Game of Thrones star heading to Netflix

27 Jun 01:21 AM
Entertainment

Watch: Game of Thrones stars cringing, cussing reunion

27 Jun 04:07 AM
Entertainment

GoT creators top Google search results for 'bad writers'

06 Jul 09:10 PM

"Jon told her she would always be his queen as she preached about them breaking the wheel.

"Greyworm and the Dothraki would have insisted on post death customs.

"Jon sat with his love and protected her while Drogon destroyed the highest ideology of the wheel, the Iron Throne, then gently carried her to exactly where she wanted to be with her wheel broken and with Jon Snow in Valyria for 1000 years and no one will find them."

It's a fair theory, unfortunately it seems we'll never get an official explanation for this; with HBO declaring the eighth season was the last time this story would ever be visited.

But in some good news, a prequel is currently in production and is set thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones in an era dubbed The Long Night.

It is said to explore the origins of the Night King and the White Walkers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Here is how HBO have described it:

"Taking place thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the world's descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. From the horrifying secrets of Westeros's history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend, only one thing is for sure: It's not the story we think we know."

Game of Thrones is available to stream on Neon.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Entertainment

Entertainment

'Real struggles': Charlize Theron opens up about parenting

01 Jul 01:07 AM
Entertainment

Diddy trial: Jury ends first day of deliberations without decision

01 Jul 12:52 AM
Entertainment

‘Please return me’: Reusable cups are replacing recycling at concerts

01 Jul 12:31 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Entertainment

'Real struggles': Charlize Theron opens up about parenting

'Real struggles': Charlize Theron opens up about parenting

01 Jul 01:07 AM

'I’m getting my a** handed to me.'

Diddy trial: Jury ends first day of deliberations without decision

Diddy trial: Jury ends first day of deliberations without decision

01 Jul 12:52 AM
‘Please return me’: Reusable cups are replacing recycling at concerts

‘Please return me’: Reusable cups are replacing recycling at concerts

01 Jul 12:31 AM
Watch: 'Heartbreaking' – Noel Edmonds' $30m NZ estate flooded

Watch: 'Heartbreaking' – Noel Edmonds' $30m NZ estate flooded

01 Jul 12:00 AM
Sponsored: Get your kids involved in your reno
sponsored

Sponsored: Get your kids involved in your reno

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP