Daenerys' Biggest Mistake That Made Her Lose In Game of Thrones
In the HBO hit, Daenerys Targaryen took quite a long path to become the Queen.
From being sold to a Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo by her brother in exchange for his army to becoming a sole Khaleesi, then liberating the Free Cities (quote marks may be needed if we recall the details of that "liberation") and finally crossing the Narrow Sea to Westeros and fighting for the Iron Throne…
But have you ever thought that she made a mistake when she decided to cross the Narrow Sea?
Dany's motivation for re-conquering Westeros was revenge… Sorry, taking what was rightfully hers.
Which is pretty much avenging her family and getting rid of the Baratheons' supporters, then ruling over the Seven Kingdoms herself as she was supposed to as the last heir to House Targaryen. But that's too obvious, don't you find?
Before crossing the Narrow Sea, Daenerys is in a great position in Essos. She has taken key Free City, effectively controlling crucial trade routes; she has a gigantic local army: the Unsullied, the Dothraki, and her three dragons.
She has overwhelming support from the simple people and former slaves, and many of them would've also been happy to join the Khaleesi's army. And in Essos, she has a massive advantage, whereas, in Westeros, it's quite the contrary.
Were the Mother of Dragons not so heavily influenced by her brother's dreams of "taking back what's theirs" in Westeros, she could've made a much smarter decision and focused on Essos instead.
While it would've been impossible to conquer all of it (this continent is way too vast for it), she was definitely capable of subduing the rest of the Free Cities… And even restoring the old Valyrian Empire eventually!
At that point in time, it was a more logical goal, since Daenerys already had so much power in Essos, and it would've been a far greater ambition than simply trying to reclaim Westeros. An ambition more worthy of the Last Targaryen, some would say.
Volantis, too, was there for the taking. She could've sent her new people who adored her to restore it or even build a new capital for her New Valyria.
Were it not for her search for revenge, Daenerys could've resurrected the true Targaryen legacy and become a much more powerful political player in the process, even able to still lay her claim to the Seven Kingdoms later if necessary.
It would've been a way more interesting and ambitious character arc, don't you think?