10 Best HBO Characters Ever
2. Daenerys Targaryen - Game of Thrones
Where to even begin with Daenerys Stormborn, Khaleesi of the Dothraki, the Breaker of Chains and the Mother of Dragons?
Game of Thrones was a global phenomenon, dominating the landscape of television over the course of an eight-season run. While the ensemble cast provided a litany of names worthy of inclusion on this list - Peter Dinklage's unsurpassable take on Tyrion Lannister being a prime example - the greatest character to come from HBO's fantasy epic was undoubtedly Emilia Clarke's Targaryen Queen.
A Queen intent on ending slavery and oppression (despite her high political status), a liberator whose subjects called her "Mother", and someone who just so happened to be backed by three awe-inspiring dragons. The more mystical aspects of Daenerys' character - such as her imperviousness to any damage by fire, and the fact that dragon eggs hatched for her alone after thousands of years - gave her the aura of a Westerosi demi-god, and a prime contender to eventually claim the Iron Throne.
Daenerys' descent into a despot stands as the single most egregious character arc in television history, the TV equivalent of blowing one's nose on the Mona Lisa. It's representative of the impact and popularity of Emilia Clarke's character that, despite the disastrously contrived nature of her storyline's ending, Daenerys Targaryen is universally regarded as one of the greatest characters to ever appear on HBO.