The best thing about Sundays this year has to be the women: ‘The Unburnt’ and the ‘Bride of Frankenstein’, or as they are commonly called Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones) and Lily (Penny Dreadful).
By Mumbua Nzula Nzyoka.
It is a true joy to watch women who will not pander to the whims of a patriarchal society. Women who are not afraid to fight for their rights and for the rights of those who have long been mistreated. That is exactly what Lily and Daenerys are doing every Sunday night. Their methods might be different, but it is a joy to watch them every Sunday as strategize on how to achieve those goals.
In case you have no idea who these two women are, allow me to introduce them.
Daenerys Targaryen
From “Game of Thrones” is Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, the first of her name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the first Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Queen of Mereen, Breaker of Chains and the Mother of Dragons. (And just to be clear, the Khaleesi earned all of those titles.)
In an episode titled “The Book of Strangers,” Daenerys reminded all her fans why she is so formidable. In a scene that was very reminiscent of a scene from Season 1, Daenerys set fire to the temple of Dosh Khaleen while the Khals debated her fate. She watched them burn and then walked out of the temple unburnt and the new ruler of the Dothraki. Before the scene cuts to black, we get a shot of the Dothraki kneeling before their new Queen, and it is powerful. You can read about how powerful that scene was here.
Before burning the temple to the ground, the Queen had a few choice things to say to the men who had been disrespectful to her for three episodes.
“You are small men…none of you are fit to lead the Dothraki…but I am.” – Daenerys Targaryen.
Lily
From “Penny Dreadful” is Lily, formerly known as Brona Craft. She is another woman completely done with men. After Dr. Frankenstein brought her back to life, she became a whole new person. A darker, no-nonsense version of herself. Her motivation is clear; she has been mistreated all her life by men, and she is aware that there are many women out there like her, who are being mistreated. Her goal is to bring those men to heel however she can. She is building an army of women who are just as ruthless and who have a sordid past and then she is going to war.
The contrast between this version of herself (Lily) and her former self (Brona) is staggering. She is no longer shy or timid. She does not bow to men as she once did, but in the world she seeks to create, they will bow before her. It is amazing to watch her.
Watch her tell her agenda to the creature.
She also had a few choice words to say to her first recruit:
“How do you accomplish anything in this life? By craft. By stealth. By poison. By the throat quietly slit in the dead of the night.” – Lily.
Sunday Night just got more interesting!
