Targaryens have several signature traits in theSong of Ice and Fireuniverse, butGame of ThronesandHouse of the Dragonoverlook one of them: their purple eyes. While not every member of House Targaryen has the platinum hair and violet eyes so often associated with thisGreat House of Westeros, many of the prominent ones inGeorge R.R. Martin’s booksdo. This includes Daenerys Targaryen, but you wouldn’t know it fromGame of Thrones. Emilia Clarke’s version of the character has the platinum blonde hair, but she keeps the actor’s natural green eyes.
And evenHouse of the Dragon,which features many more Targaryen characters thanGame of Thrones,continues this trend. Characters likeRhaenyra and Daemon Targaryenshould have purple eyes, according to their descriptions in the source material, butthe platinum hair remains the defining characteristic of HBO’s Targaryens. Viewers who value book accuracy may be wondering whyGame of ThronesandHOTDdo away with this detail — and it mostly comes down to practicality.
The Practical Reason Behind Daenerys & Other Targaryens Not Having Purple Eyes
Contacts Impacted Performances & CGI Would Be Costly
There were ways to give Daenerys Targaryen her book-accurate eyes inGame of Thrones,butthe series omitted this detail for practical reasons. Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss revealed in the special features for theGame of Thronesseason 1 Blu-ray that they felt using contacts impeded Clarke’s performance (viaPopCulture.com). They noted that “actors act with their eyes, and [purple contact lenses] really hurt the emotion.” There were also whispers that the contacts irritated Clarke, which would have further affected her acting.
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Of course,Game of Thronescould have used CGI to make Daenerys' eyes purple after the fact, butBenioff and Weiss felt this wasn’t worthwhile. It makes sense, as it would cost time and money to accomplish, and the payoff wouldn’t be that impressive. While diehard fans oftheSong of Ice and Firebookswould have appreciated a faithful appearance, Daenerys' eye color is a small detail in the grand scheme of things.
And this cut Daenerys detail changed every other Targaryen inHouse of the Dragon,with HBO leaving them all with their natural eyes.
And this cutDaenerys detail changed every other TargaryeninHouse of the Dragon,with HBO leaving them all with their actors' natural eye colors. Again, it would have been costly and risked the overall performance quality to alter this detail. Plus, with eight seasons ofGame of Thronesin the books, it would have been confusing to make this change. Those only familiar with the show wouldn’t know about Daenerys' purple eyes — or that they’re an ancestral trait — and thus, wouldn’t understand the reason for the addition.
Why Doesn’t Jon Snow Have Silver/White Hair & Purple Eyes?
His Stark Traits Are Dominant
Jon Snow is revealed to be half-Targaryen — and the heir to the Iron Throne — in later seasons ofGame of Thrones,but his appearance doesn’t match the typical Targaryen look at all. This is because the Stark traits Jon gets from Lyanna are dominant, whereas the common Targaryen traits are typically recessive. Andit’s probably for the best that Jon misses out on the characteristics Daenerys has, as it’s unclear whatNed would have done if he was more noticeably Targaryen. It certainly would’ve made it much harder to hide him from Robert Baratheon.
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It would have made it more difficult for the show to keep this secret from viewers, too, ruining one ofGame of Thrones' best twists. As Martin’s books are likely to feature the same reveal, it’s necessary for Jon to have darker features than Daenerys in both iterations of the story. This makes it believably surprising when other characters learn the truth about Jon — and it allows fans to enjoy the revelation after all the more subtle clues.
Game Of Thrones
Cast
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
