Khal Drogo

Khal Drogo
A Song of Ice and Fire character

Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo
First appearance Novel:
A Game of Thrones (1996)
Television:
"Winter Is Coming" (2011)
Last appearance Novel;
A Game of Thrones (1996)
Television;
"Valar Morghulis" (2012)
Created by George R. R. Martin
Portrayed by Jason Momoa
Information
Title Khal
Spouse(s) Daenerys Targaryen
Children Rhaego (stillborn)
Nationality Dothraki

Khal Drogo is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation Game of Thrones.

Introduced in 1996's A Game of Thrones, Khal Drogo is a Dothraki from the continent of Essos.

Drogo is portrayed by Jason Momoa in the HBO television adaptation.[1][2][3]

Character description

Drogo is a fierce warrior and skilled in battle. He is a legendary warrior and has never been defeated in battle.

Development, overview and reception

Khal Drogo is not a point of view character in the novels, so his actions are witnessed and interpreted through the eyes of Daenerys Targaryen.[4] At his audition for the part of Drogo he performed the haka dance.[5]

Jason Momoa on reading for the role:

When I read that Khal Drogo role, I was blown away. I couldn’t believe it was happening, I had to have that role. I was like, "Nobody is going to take that role from me." […] People say it’s easy [to play the role]—"You’re just sitting there!" But it’s extremely hard to be extremely intimidating, and say everything but not say anything.[6]

Momoa on his character’s early exit:

I was reading it and I was like: "Holy s–t! F–k, I’m dead!" […] It's amazing what [George R. R. Martin] sets up. Here's your lead characters, you're supposed to think about them one way, and you hate them, then you love them, and then they're killed and it's a whirlwind of emotion. All the little kids and even the smallest of characters just grow and grow and grow. He built a beautiful world. I'm bummed I'm not going back. To play Khal Drogo was phenomenal and I wished there was more stuff he could have done, I'm going to miss that character.[6]

The American actor Jason Momoa has received positive reviews for his role as Khal Drogo in the TV-series.[7]

Storylines

In the books

Drogo is a powerful khal, or warlord, of the Dothraki people, a tribal nation of horse riders in the steppes beyond the Free Cities. He is an accomplished warrior and has never been defeated in battle. In A Game of Thrones, Viserys Targaryen and Illyrio Mopatis marry Daenerys Targaryen to Khal Drogo to get his support and warriors for the invasion of Westeros.[8] He proves a kind, sensitive, and loving husband. After there is a failed attempt on Daenerys's life, he vows to invade Westeros, but is wounded in a subsequent battle. Daenerys unwittingly sacrifices their unborn son to save him with blood magic. While he is left alive, he is in a catatonic state. Daenerys euthanizes him with a pillow. At his funeral pyre, she walks with her dragon eggs into the flames and emerges unscathed with three baby dragons. He is the namesake of her favorite dragon, Drogon.[9]

In the show

Jason Momoa plays the role of Drogo in the television series.

Khal Drogo is a warlord of the Dothraki people. He is to marry Daenerys Targaryen, as arranged by her brother Viserys. He is undefeated in battle. Viserys Targaryen conspired with Magister Illyrio to marry Daenerys to Drogo in order to get his support in an invasion of Westeros. Though Daenerys was initially unhappy with the arrangement, Drogo proved to be a sensitive husband and lover despite his fearsome behavior with his men.[10]

After a failed poisoning attempt on Daenerys' life, he promised to invade Westeros to reclaim the Seven Kingdoms for the Targaryens, but Viserys's impertinence ultimately caused Drogo to kill him. Drogo maintained his promise for the benefit of his wife, but was wounded by an enemy khal before he could begin the invasion. The wound festered and Drogo lost the ability to ride his horse. Most of his khalasar of Dothraki abandoned him, but Daenerys unwittingly sacrificed their unborn child for a spell to revive him. The spell worked, but left him a brain-dead husk of his former self. Daenerys smothered him out of pity, and the flames of his funeral pyre ultimately hatched her dragon eggs.

TV adaptation

Khal Drogo is played by the American actor Jason Momoa in the television adaption of the series of books.[11]

References

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