10 TV Shows Where The Hero Became A Villain

3. Daenerys Targaryen - Game Of Thrones

For the vast majority of Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen is one of the two main heroes. With numerous parallels to Jon Snow, it is Dany who has her sights set on returning to Westeros, the homeland she had to flee as a baby, and claim the Iron Throne that is rightfully hers. Along the way she will free slaves, attempt to right wrongs, and, ultimately, break the wheel that has crushed the smallfolk for generation after generation.

Unlike Jon, however, Daenerys' path was always slightly darker. It was scorched by fire and covered in blood. She had little trouble killing those who had wronged her, or those who she felt deserved it, and had Drogon burn people to ashes without so much as blinking. And yet, because they were slavers and killers, because she seems so righteous, and because the likes of Tyrion followed her, she remained the hero throughout.

That changed massively in the eighth and final season. Daenerys put aside her quest for the Iron Throne to fight in the Great War, but when all was said and done, the people of Westeros still didn't love her. What's more, she lost more and more of those closest to her, and discovered that the man she loved had a better claim to the Throne than she did. Realising the people wouldn't choose her, she had only one option left: fear. It was that fear she unleashed over the innocents of King's Landing in The Bells, turning Drogon's fiery fury on anyone and everyone. She continued this into the finale, promising to build a better world in her image, and going full dictator in the process. Daenerys' story always had to lead to this point, where she became not only a villain, but a tragic, fallen hero, with no way back and leaving Jon with no choice but to put a dagger in her heart.