the_red_viper

This user has not updated recently.

12961 0 41 102
Forum Posts Wiki Points Following Followers

Game of Thrones Respect Threads #9: Daario Naharis

Looks like we won't see Daario again in the show after season 6 but who knows? Anyway here goes.

Daario Naharis:

Daario Naharis was born in the Free City of Tyrosh. At the age of 12, he was sold by his mother to a slaver from Tolos who trained slaves for the fighting pits. He was trained at arms and at the age of 16 he started to participate in pit fights, where earned fame and renown as an undefeated champion of the arena. In fact, he was so good, that his master decided to grant him his freedom on his deathbed. Daario became a sellsword shortly after that.

Daario was introduced in season 3 of the show as a lieutenant of the "Second Sons" sellsword company, alongside its two captains - Mero (AKA "The Titan's Bastard") and Prendahl na Ghzen. The Second Sons were hired by the city of Yunkai to fight for them against Daenerys Targaryen's army. They were vastly outnumbered by Daenerys's army though, so the two captains and Daario decided that one of them should sneak in to Daenerys's encampment and assassinate her. The task falls on Daario who draws the short stick, however Daario ends up killing two captains instead and takes the Second Sons over to Daenerys's side. He claims it's because of her beauty, but whether he was speaking the truth or not is still a mystery (I'm willing to bet it's true though).

After that, Daario became one of Daenerys's highest ranking officers, one of her closest advisers and protectors, and also her lover.

Daario is a free spirit, he relished the pleasures of life and loves a good fight. But unlike many other sellswords (like Bronn for example), he has somewhat of a moral code that he follows which make him a very intriguing character.

In the series, Daario was portrayed by 2 different actors: Ed Skrein on season 3 (left) and Michiel Huisman on season 4 and onward (right).

No Caption Provided

Skill:

Daario is a very skilled fighter. He uses two weapons: a Dothraki arakh and a dagger. In his time as a pit fighter, Daario learned to fight in many different styles, which makes him a very adaptable and versatile foe.

After being tasked with assassinating her, Daario sneaks into Daenerys's private pavilion dressed as one of her Unsullied soldiers (it's unknown whether he killed an Unsullied or just stole the armor from somewhere):

No Caption Provided

Daario then tells Daenerys that he was sent to kill her but he doesn't want to. She asks him what his captains would have to say about that, and he replies that she should ask them herself, showing her this little surprise:

This moment was extremely satisfying because Mero (the head on the left) was a huge asshole. We also know that these weren't cheap kills, because Daario then told Daenerys that he killed them in a fight that started after he told them he refuses to kill Daenerys.
This moment was extremely satisfying because Mero (the head on the left) was a huge asshole. We also know that these weren't cheap kills, because Daario then told Daenerys that he killed them in a fight that started after he told them he refuses to kill Daenerys.

Daario, Jorah Mormont and Grey Worm sneak into Yunkai through a small gate in the back of the city in order to open the main gates so Daenerys's army can charge in and conquer the city. The two guards stationed at that small gate recognized Daario and let him in, but then Daario killed them to clear the way for Jorah and Grey Worm (off screen though):

Before he approaches the small gate, Daario tells Jorah and Grey Worm to come when they hear him whistle. The whistle came only 6 seconds after Daario is seen stepping through the gate, which means that he killed the two guards in that short span of time. The scene can be found below (under
Before he approaches the small gate, Daario tells Jorah and Grey Worm to come when they hear him whistle. The whistle came only 6 seconds after Daario is seen stepping through the gate, which means that he killed the two guards in that short span of time. The scene can be found below (under "Fights").

Inside the city, they are confronted by a large group of soldiers. The three warriors dispatch them with ease despite being heavily outnumbered, and Daario himself does very well:

No Caption Provided

At one point he blocks a strike from an enemy who is behind him and then proceeds to kill him:

After that encounter, they were confronted by another wave of soldiers, even larger than the first. The fight was off-screen, but they were all seen unscathed after that.
After that encounter, they were confronted by another wave of soldiers, even larger than the first. The fight was off-screen, but they were all seen unscathed after that.

When arriving in Meereen, Daenerys and her army find the city ready for a siege. Suddenly, the city's main gate opens and a lone rider emerges - a champion of Meereen who challenges Daenerys to send forth a champion of her own to face him in single combat, shouting taunts and insults at her army and even urinating at their direction. Daario volunteers to fight the Champion of Meereen and steps forward to face him. The champion rides at Daario in full gallop, lance in hand, while Daario just stands there. He then pulls out his dagger, waits for the right moment, throws it right at the horse's eye and beheads the now horseless champion with his arakh:

He then proceeds to return the favor, and urinates at the direction of Meereen. In the book, Daenerys's champion in this duel was Strong Belwas - a character that did not appear in the show. Belwas is also a former champion pit-fighter. In that version of the fight, Belwas dodged the rider a couple of times before killing the horse with his arakh, and executed the unhorsed champion of Meereen. He then proceeded to take off his pants and take a crap in the direction of Meereen. I genuinely laughed when I read that part.
He then proceeds to return the favor, and urinates at the direction of Meereen. In the book, Daenerys's champion in this duel was Strong Belwas - a character that did not appear in the show. Belwas is also a former champion pit-fighter. In that version of the fight, Belwas dodged the rider a couple of times before killing the horse with his arakh, and executed the unhorsed champion of Meereen. He then proceeded to take off his pants and take a crap in the direction of Meereen. I genuinely laughed when I read that part.

Daario tells Daenerys of the skills and fighting styles that he mastered in his days as a pit-fighter and of his fame and renown:

No Caption Provided

Daario has knowledge on military tactics and strategy. After Ser Barristan Selmy is killed by the Sons of the Harpy, he suggests retreating to the Great Pyramid and use it as a base of operations, and send units of soldiers to systematically cleanse the entire city of Sons of the Harpy:

Myself speaking as former military, this is probably the best and most efficient method to operate in such a situation.
Myself speaking as former military, this is probably the best and most efficient method to operate in such a situation.

Daenerys decides to marry Hizdahr zo Loraq and reopen the fighting pits in order to try and create peace in Meereen. However, shortly after the games in Daznak's Great Pit start, tons of Sons of the Harpy swarm the arena and start slaughtering people by the dozens, with their main target of course being Daenerys. In the skirmish that ensues, Daario slaughters many Sons of the Harpy himself:

No Caption Provided

Throws his dagger right at a man's heart:

No Caption Provided

In Daenerys's absence, the slave masters of Yunkai and Astapor sailed their fleets to Meereen to commence an assault on the city and Daenerys's army, while the Sons of the Harpy killed more civilians. Daenerys comes back to the city and unleashes her dragons against the attackers, while Daario leads her new Khalasar in an assault on the other side of the city:

No Caption Provided

Physicals:

Daario's physicals are not too out of the ordinary, but like any other character in the show pretty much he definitely has some nice feats.

When Daenerys and her army prepare to leave Yunkai and head for Meereen, Daenerys notices that Daario and Grey Worm are absent from her entourage. She finds them at the back of the army, sitting on the ground facing each other, each holding his sword with his arms stretched forward. They were gambling to see who breaks first, with the victor having the honor of riding at Daenerys's side on the road to Meereen. Missandei tells Daenerys that they were at it since midnight, and judging by how the sky looks, they were holding their swords like that for at least 7 hours straight if not more. And they both looked perfectly OK too. This feat might not look like much in the beginning but it's actually very impressive:

In the end though both of them were riding in the rear because they made Daenerys wait.
In the end though both of them were riding in the rear because they made Daenerys wait.

This next one should be taken with a grain of salt. Daenerys climbs into her private chambers and is surprised to find Daario there. She asks him how he got there and he responds that he climbed through the window. So far so good, pretty impressive but nothing too unusual. He then hands her a banquet of flowers and tells her this:

Assuming this is not a lie, swimming a mile in each direction is pretty nice. However it's probably a lie because how the hell would the flowers have survived the swim?
Assuming this is not a lie, swimming a mile in each direction is pretty nice. However it's probably a lie because how the hell would the flowers have survived the swim?

When searching Meereen for Sons of the Harpy, Daario, Grey Worm and a few Unsullied reach a house that was seemingly empty. Daario then takes out his knife and stabs through a wall, revealing a man hiding behind it. Not too impressive as a strength feat, but it's something:

It's also a good feat for Daario's cleverness/deductive abilities. A bunch of Harpy masks and daggers were found in that hidey-hole as well.
It's also a good feat for Daario's cleverness/deductive abilities. A bunch of Harpy masks and daggers were found in that hidey-hole as well.

During the skirmish in Daznak's Great Pit, Daario sweeps his arakh at the calf of one of the Sons of the Harpy with such force that the man is thrown up in the air almost as high as Daario's head. It's a great strength feat that's very easy to miss:

No Caption Provided

After the skirmish at Daznak's Great Pit, Daenerys flies away on Drogon's back. Jorah and Daario go on an expedition to rescue her and track her path to Vaes Dothrak. They enter the city under the guise of two merchants, however they arouse the suspicion two Dothraki men and a fight starts. Daario outruns and catches one of the two Dothraki, and then breaks his neck:

No Caption Provided

Personality:

Daario is a very unique character. He is a ruthless fighter who isn't afraid to use dirty tactics, he loves the thrill of a fight, but he is not a cold-blooded murderer. He loves women and he is a smooth romantic, but he refuses to lay with whores. He is never afraid to speak his mind and he is not politically-correct in the slightest.

His motives are simple:

No Caption Provided

His agenda is simple:

No Caption Provided

Here he explains why he refuses to lay with whores (or rather, refuses to pay them):

No Caption Provided

Daenerys decides to stay in Meereen and rule it, and tasks the Second Sons with patrolling the streets and keeping the peace. But Daario hates doing nothing. He has to have something to keep him occupied, preferably a fight. So he asks Daenerys for it:

No Caption Provided

He speaks how he wants to whoever he wants:

No Caption Provided

He particularly enjoys yanking Jorah's chain:

No Caption Provided

Daario doesn't care for power and glory. He cares for things that make him happy, like Daenerys:

In the end though, Daario did stay in Meereen instead of coming with Daenerys to Westeros, like she told him. It is Daario's last scene in the show. Or is it?
In the end though, Daario did stay in Meereen instead of coming with Daenerys to Westeros, like she told him. It is Daario's last scene in the show. Or is it?

Epic quotes by Daario:

To Mero and Prendahl na Ghzen:

"The gods gave men two gifts to entertain ourselves before we die: the thrill of f***ing a woman who wants to be f***ed, and the thrill of killing a man who wants to kill you."

To Daenerys:

"They ordered me to murder you. I told them I preferred not to. They told me I had no choice. I told them I am Daario Naharis - I always have a choice. They drew their swords, and I drew mine."

To Jorah:

"You have a very suspicious mind. In my experience, only dishonest people think this way."

To Grey Worm (spoken in High Valyrian):

Grey Worm: "You are not a smart man, Daario Naharis."

Daario: "I'd rather have no brains and two balls."

To Daenerys:

Daenerys: "Are you sure you don't want a horse?"

Daario: "Why would I want a horse?"

Daenerys: "Horses are faster than men."

Daario: "Horses are dumber than men."

To Daenerys:

Daario: "The Second Sons took the Meereenese navy."

Daenerys: "Who told you to take their navy?"

Daario: "No one."

Daenerys: "So... why did you do it?"

Daario: "I heard you like ships."

To Hizdahr zo Loraq:

"The big men were always too slow to stop my dagger from going where their muscles weren't. Yes, whenever I saw a beast like that one standing across from me, making his beast faces, I knew I could rest easy."

To Tyrion, Missandei and Grey Worm:

"The queen's closest confidante, the commander of the Unsullied, and a foreign dwarf with a scarred face. Good fortune my friends. Meereen is ancient and glorious. Try not to ruin her."

To Jorah:

"Oh, I don't want to fight you, Jorah the Andal. What do I have to gain? If I win, I'm the shit who killed an old man. If I lose, I'm the shit who was killed by an old man."

To Daenerys:

"I pity the lords of Westeros. They have no idea what's coming for them."

Fights:

All in all, Daario is a very intriguing character. He is no saint, but he isn't a scumbag like most sellswords. He has a very happy-go-lucky attitude and he always seeks out action and thrills. I believe that the motives that brought him to Daenerys's service are sincere and that he really does love her, but we may never know. As far as fighting goes, Daario is a unique fighter who should not be underestimated and is often given far less credit than he deserves. It appears as though we won't see Daario in the show again, but we may never know. As you have seen, he isn't the type to sit idly and govern a city from inside some elegant room, and we can hope to see the man again, either pursuing Daenerys in Westeros, or seeking some other fortune in Essos.

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed!

7 Comments