We’re only two episodes into the 7th season of Game of Thrones, and already, we’ve been blindsided by theories that have changed the way we see a lot of things in Westeros. Cersei may die, Jon Snow and Daenerys may get it own (even though they’re low-key family), and, the entire series may just be Samwell Tarly writing a book.
But now, after the second episode of Season 7, a new theory has come about that can discredit Daenerys from being the “perfect person to sit on the Iron Throne.” Sure, Dany has proved herself hella worthy – lets be honest. Out of everyone who has fought and died over the honor, she sure is the only one who seems to give a f*ck about the people.
At least, we thought so.
In the latest episode, Daenerys meets with Varys, who has been known to bounce around from kingdom to kingdom, pledging his loyalty everywhere like an STD (funny, because he’s missing a vital piece for that one). Daenerys obviously doesn’t trust him because – well, he’s a loyalty slut. She demands him to pledge his loyalty to her as his “queen,” by saying –
“Swear this to me, Varys: If you ever think I’m failing the people, you won’t conspire behind my back.”
She also threatens to burn him alive if he ever betrays her. Ouch.
It’s hard to imagine Varys not being a sneaky little b*tch because, that’s all we’ve ever known him as. His little “birds” have been used to manipulate and conspire deaths, betrayal and even wars in the show. But, it’s all been for “the people,” and the “greater good,” Varys has always claimed.
Now, one Reddit user thinks that Varys will see Daenerys unfit to serve on the Iron Throne as well – even if he did pledge his loyalty to her. Why?
Well, they claim that the foreshadowing had begun early on –
“The foreshadowing began in earnest last season in Meereen in the scene where the red priestess seemed to sense that Varys would someday betray Dany and Varys became visibly uncomfortable.”
As well –
Dany would clearly be a better ruler than Cersei, and she has the stronger claim to the throne as well. But there are aspects of her character that can’t sit well with Varys. Varys has a strong aversion to religious fanaticism and magic, as we have seen in past seasons. He was mutilated by a religious fanatic performing a magic ritual. In season 2, he strongly opposed Stannis’ claim to the throne, in large part (as he explained to Tyrion) because the idea of Melisandre having so much power horrified him. Dany’s dragons must similarly worry him. They are magical creatures, mythical WMDs, which, in the wrong hands, could prove to be disastrous for the realm and its people.
Not only is he afraid of religious fanaticism and magic, but, his ideal “ruler” in the books has been a person by the name of Aegon Targaryen –
Aegon has been shaped for rule since before he could walk. He has been trained in arms, as befits a knight to be, but that was not the end of his education. He reads and writes, speaks several tongues, he has studied history and law and poetry. A septa has instructed him in the mysteries of the Faith since he was old enough to understand them. He has lived with fisherfolk, worked with his hands, swum in rivers and mended nets and learned to wash his own clothes at need. He can fish and cook and bind up a wound, he knows what it is like to be hungry, to be hunted, to be afraid. Tommen has been taught that kingship is his right. Aegon knows that kingship is his duty, that a king must put his people first, and live and rule for them.
Who does this sound like?
Jon, after all, is guy who dedicated his life to protecting the realm by joining the Night’s Watch. He’s a guy who cares so much about the common people that he allowed the wildlings to pass through the Wall, a decision so unpopular it got him killed. Unlike Dany, Jon never wanted power; he had kingship thrust upon him. He doesn’t have Dany’s ambition or sense of entitlement, nor her instinct to punish enemies. Oh, and did I mentioned that he’s actually a secret Targaryan prince with a stronger claim to the throne than Dany? In short, he’s an even better version of Aegon, the kid that book-Varys dedicated his life to installing on the Iron Throne.
So, while we’ve all rooted for Dany to finally get her seat on the Iron Throne, may we won’t get to actually see it. Not if Varys has anything to say about it, anyway.