The 30 most heartwarming moments on Game of Thrones

2. Daenerys makes Tyrion her Hand (“The Winds of Winter”)

SARAH: Think of Daenerys Targaryen and the word ‘lonely’ probably doesn’t spring to mind. But when we consider her circumstances, and her arc over the last six seasons, lonely is exactly what she has been. The Mother of Dragons is often surrounded by people, but most of those people are in constant need of her, to rescue them, protect them and speak for them. The people who don’t need her in that way—like Jorah and Daario—want her in other ways, and are usually so awed by her that the relationship is lopsided from the start. This has left Dany to struggle beneath the weight of an expanding barrage of titles and the many responsibilities that come with them, and through it all she had nobody by her side who truly understood that pressure. Sure, she has her dragons, but you can’t exactly share a cup of tea and chat Project Runway with dragons.

Enter Tyrion Lannister.

Tyrion was, is, and will continue to be exactly what Daenerys needs in order to rule supreme in Westeros. He is impressed by her, but not struck dumb with awe. He believes in her, but he isn’t blind to her faults. His support is true, but it goes hand-in-hand with brutal honesty. He isn’t afraid to reign her in when she strays too close to Mad King territory. And for all of this, Daenerys recognises him as her equal. He isn’t a freed slave who feels eternally indebted to her, nor is he a smitten swain who desires her love. They approach their working relationship with mutual respect and admiration.

Beyond that, and most touching of all, they have become friends. When Tyrion tells Daenerys that he believes in her, it means more to Daenerys than it would coming from anyone else, because she recognizes the gravity of his words. We know that she is not the model of self-assurance that she portrays to the world. Tyrion gives her the gift of genuine self-belief. In return, she gives him the recognition that he had been denied his entire life, and that he so richly deserves.

Personally, I believe that this scene was Emilia Clarke’s best work of Season 6. Although she’s a good actress, she can tend to veer a little towards melodrama at times. When she’s acting opposite Peter Dinklage, she wows us with beautiful, understated performances that showcase the true extent of her abilities. Like Daenerys, Clarke has been carrying a huge responsibility on her shoulders for a long time without assistance from anyone of equal importance. Like Tyrion, Dinklage has eased that burden and allowed her room to relax into the role. These two actors, and the characters they portray, are a match made in theatrical and political heaven.