PopBase reminded everyone exactly why Game of Thrones ruled television for nearly a decade. The entertainment account posted about Daenerys Targaryen freeing the Unsullied army 13 years ago, and fans showed up in droves. We’re talking 17,855 likes and 2,377 retweets. Not bad for a show that ended seven years ago.
The scene they’re celebrating? Pure television gold. Daenerys walks into Astapor, pretends she can’t speak Valyrian, and lets that slave master talk trash right to her face. Then boom. She reveals she understood every word, commands her new dragon to torch the guy, and frees an entire army of enslaved warriors. Talk about a power move.
That moment aired back in 2013 during the show’s third season. Emilia Clarke absolutely owned that scene as the Mother of Dragons. The whole sequence was peak Game of Thrones – shocking, empowering, and completely unexpected. It established Daenerys as someone who’d flip the script on anyone trying to play her.
The timing of PopBase’s anniversary post hits different now. Game of Thrones wrapped up in 2019 with one of the most divisive endings in television history. Fans either loved it or absolutely hated it. No middle ground. Yet here we are in 2026, and people still care enough to like and share content about iconic moments from the series.
That Astapor liberation scene represents everything Game of Thrones did right in its early seasons. Complex characters making bold choices. Political maneuvering with real consequences. Moments that made you pump your fist and immediately text your friends. The show knew how to build these massive payoffs that felt earned.
Emilia Clarke brought serious energy to Daenerys throughout the series. She took the character from timid exile to conquering queen to tragic villain. Clarke’s performance in that Astapor scene specifically showed off her range. Quiet determination, hidden intelligence, then explosive action. That’s A-list acting right there.
The fan reaction to PopBase’s post proves something important about pop culture staying power. Game of Thrones might’ve stumbled at the finish line, but those early seasons created moments people remember forever. The Red Wedding. Ned Stark’s execution. Jon Snow’s resurrection. And yes, Daenerys burning down the slave trade in Slaver’s Bay.
Social media loves a good anniversary moment, but this kind of engagement suggests something deeper. Fans aren’t just nostalgic – they’re still processing what Game of Thrones meant to television. The show changed everything. Suddenly every network wanted their own sprawling fantasy epic. Streaming services started throwing massive budgets at original series. The bar got raised permanently.
The Unsullied liberation scene also highlighted the show’s approach to power and justice. Daenerys thought she was saving people, but her methods got increasingly brutal as the series progressed. That scene planted seeds for her eventual descent into madness. Looking back, you can see the warning signs.
Clark’s Daenerys became a cultural icon way beyond the show itself. Halloween costumes. Memes. Fan art. Countless think pieces about power, feminism, and moral complexity. The character transcended the series in ways most TV characters never do.
PopBase picking this specific anniversary shows smart social media strategy. They know which Game of Thrones moments still resonate with audiences. That Astapor scene hits all the right notes – justice, revenge, dragons, and Emilia Clarke looking absolutely fierce in Dothraki braids.
The engagement numbers tell the whole story. Nearly 18,000 likes for a 13-year-old TV scene means Game of Thrones isn’t going anywhere. People still have feelings about this show. Strong feelings. That’s the mark of television that actually mattered.
Whether you loved or hated how Game of Thrones ended, moments like Daenerys freeing the Unsullied remind you why everyone got obsessed in the first place. Pure storytelling magic that made Monday morning office conversations must-see TV.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
