Last night’s Game of Thrones was full of strategy, deception, and dragon petting? Well, it was amazing, and fans can speculate on the meaning behind Jon and Drogon all they want. But I want to talk about the other amazing dragons in TV, movies, and even musicals.

How to Train Your Dragon

This film, though animated, does an excellent job of telling the misfit story. Somehow through Vikings and dragons, we can all relate to Hiccup’s struggle to fit in. Hiccup is far better suited in our world, but he makes the most of it.

Toothless is a great dragon. I think we all started thinking of cats as tiny versions of Toothless after those movies. How to Train Your Dragon is a fun fantasy movie with great dragons all around.

Game of Thrones

Dany’s dragons have been kick ass this season of Game of Thrones. Whomever gave the CGI department a bigger budget this year needs a raise. What a great decision.

I especially loved the close-up shot in the most recent episode “Eastwatch,” where Jon gets close with his dragon brethren.

Dany’s scaly children are not soft and cuddly like Toothless, but she loves them all the same. I love it. The previous seasons of Game of Thrones should have had less nudity and more dragons, right?

Spirited Away

Haku is an amazing dragon! He’s also so unlike every other dragon I’ve encountered in movies and TV. Most dragons can be split up between Western and Eastern mentalities. There’s a great article on the difference between them, and how different cultures wrote and illustrated them.

Haku is an Eastern dragon, and it’s fun to see his portrayal. I especially love his shape-shifting ability, which is not something we really see in Western dragons.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The Hungarian Horntail is awesome! I remember watching that dragon chase Harry around on his broom and feeling terrified!

Of course, we know our hero was going to survive to fight bigger battles, and even bigger dragons! The Harry Potter series was a great introduction to dragons for the millennial generation, and I believe it fed our need for more of them in popular media.

Also, quick shout out to the dragon in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I. I didn’t know I could feel bad for a fictional mythical beast, and here we are! Poor thing, all chained up, guarding wizard money.

A Very Potter Musical

Last but certainly, not least, the dragon from “A Very Potter Musical,” for no other dragon has the amazing vocal talent as this one. Check it out:

“I can’t defeat thee, so please don’t eat me.” Genius.

That’s my totally comprehensive list of the best dragons in modern media. Don’t hate me too much for the last one, guys.