House Targaryen is relatively small by the time viewers are first introduced to Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen in the pilot episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones. By small we mean just the two, Viserys and Daenerys. That number is cut in half by the time the first season concludes (although Jon’s ‘parentage twist’ bumps it back up again).
So, to keep this from becoming a list of only shows Daenerys would like we will also take into account “Team Targaryen,” namely Missandei, Gery Worm, and Ser Jorah as well. What might they all have watched had they been gifted a simpler and less violent life and time together? Here are just a few ideas.
10 The Mandalorian
Daenerys and her team spend a large portion of their time together protecting the innocent and freeing slaves across the narrow sea in Essos. That’s why The Mandalorian might be a show they would all enjoy. Just as it takes Mando a little while to take full responsibility for defending and protecting the innocent it takes Daenerys a few seasons as well. There is no doubt however that Baby Yoda would have fallen under the Queen’s protection, and Daenerys herself would have enjoyed the action-filled exploits of the Mandalorian and his little green sidekick.
9 Victoria
The Targaryens of today are certainly respectful of their female leadership (all hail Daenerys Stormborn) and that’s why it makes sense for Targaryens to respect and enjoy the PBS drama series Victoria, following the reign of Queen Victoria who, until quite recently, was the longest-reigning Queen in British history (certainly something Daenerys herself would have looked forward to).
Maybe Daenerys could have picked up a few tips. And, like Daenerys herself, Queen Victoria also falls into her own sort of love triangle on the show.
8 The Crown
While the books Ser Jorah gifts Daenerys on her wedding day are a good start in terms of her education on Westeros and its histories and monarchies, The Crown would certainly also add to the detailed intrigue that takes place behind palace walls. What might be learned by watching the real world Queen Elizabeth II deal with an ever-changing cast of prime ministers and advisors? A lot. And any Targaryen would certainly find the story of a real-life female monarch compelling as well as educational.
7 Conquest
Again in the interest of educating Team Targaryen, Conquest was a documentary show on The History Channel. The show uses each episode to discuss a different type of weapon or weapon style over the ages, specifying their history, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. While there is no episode on dragons (Daenerys really was the only one with that in her arsenal) there are shows on everything from the Broadsword and the Bow and Arrow to pirate weapons and ninjas.
6 The Deadliest Warrior
The Deadliest Warrior is Sike TV’s contribution to Targaryen education. The program ran for three seasons and highlighted ancient as well as modern weapons and analyzed them and how they might have worked against each other, to help determine which was really deadliest. Actual weapons were used on the program in different tests to produce data that could be analyzed by the hosts until a simulated battle was provided at the show’s end. Ever wondered who would win if a Spartan fought a Ninja? This show has the answers.
5 Dreamworks Dragons
This may be for the younger Targaryen members but who could turn down a show about riding dragons?
No real Targaryen, certainly. The cartoon follows the events of the much-loved movie How to Train Your Dragon and focuses on not just training these new animals to take to the sky but learning to live alongside them on a regular basis as well. Might have come in handy before Drogon started burning sheep (and possibly children) on the outskirts of Mereen.
4 Jack Taylor
It takes Danearys a while to figure out that banishing Ser Jorah may not have been in her best interests and, well, that she actually misses him. For more Jorah screentime, or at least some more screen time for actor Iain Glen, the Jack Taylor series about a detective in Galway, Ireland may just fill the hole left in the Queen’s heart. With three seasons bosting three episodes each (and a rumor of a new season on the way) it’s an excellent addition to any Targaryen watch list.
3 Mystery Diagnosis
A docu-series all about mystery medical ailments? It only makes sense for the Targaryen team, that always boasted Ser Jorah as a member, to take notice. 99 episodes of the series exist (premiering between 2005 and 2011). Like greyscale, most episodes follow the patient and the disease as it grows worse over time. Though often the mysteries are solved and cures don’t include flaying half a person’s skin from their body. The program should probably also be required viewing for maesters at the Citadel and maybe they’d make a few more breakthrus.
2 Marco Polo
Marco Polo ran for two seasons on Netflix and followed Marco Polo’s adventures in the court of Kublai Khan in the Mongol Empire. Who else spends a whole lot of time going on adventures and exploring a continent and a world very far from their own? You guessed it, Team Targaryen. With epic battle scenes and quite the budget, it’s not too different from some of the production scene on Game of Thrones (though obviously Marco Polo was a real person whereas fans only wish that Daenerys was).
1 The Witcher
Long white silver hair? Check. Mysterious and powerful past? Check. No family, just a random batch of sidekicks? Check. A complicated love life? Check. If Daenerys ever wanted to watch a show starring herself she might have turned to Netflix’s The Witcher for a similar but still very different perspective. Every fantasy world has its own political turmoil and sometimes it’s more fun to watch someone else’s than to participate in one’s own. The Witcher provides a nice respite for Targaryen viewers, while still providing some of the magic, action, and fabulous hair everyone has become so used to.
