Game Of Thrones Catching Heat For Last Week's Rape Scene
The Hill - A rape scene featured in the closing minutes of this week’s “Game of Thrones” episode has caused an uproar among many fans of the HBO series — including at least one U.S. senator. The Missouri Democrat is hardly alone in condemning the show for depicting the sexual assault of Sansa Stark by Ramsay Bolton, her cruel new husband. At least one popular website announced it would no longer be publishing recaps of the show after the writers took one too many liberties with the source material. Indeed, the scene in question does not appear in the book, nor does another controversial moment in an earlier episode which many also believed was depicting a rape. “The show is the show, the books are the books; two different tellings of the same story,” said author George R.R. Martin in response to the criticism. In the episode, Sansa Stark, played by Sophie Turner, was raped by her brute of a new husband shortly after saying I do. “It was a brutal, uncomfortable scene that almost certainly had viewers pleading with their screens and cursing them after,” TIME’s Eric Dodds wrote. Turner, for her part, said she “loved” the scene, and George R.R. Martin, who wrote the books that inspired the series, defended what’s come to be called the “black wedding” scene.
Ummm, do people know what show they’re watching? THIS is where we’ve decided Game of Thrones has crossed the line?? Now we’re gonna be outraged? Sunday night’s rape scene was disturbing, no doubt. But not in an over the top gratuitous fashion. As a matter of fact, I think gratuitous is the exact wrong word. It was off camera. The viewers felt uncomfortable and disturbed because of the look of fear in Sansa’s eyes. The look of horror in Theon’s. The eerie, disgusting confidence and cavalierness in Ramsay Snow’s voice. All of that conveyed how evil and depraved Ramsay was. How helpless Sansa and Theon were. As far as a rape scene goes, I actually think that one was tactfully done.
And lets not act like these scenes are new. They are not new to TV or movies, and they certainly aren’t new to Game of Thrones. We’re on the 5th fucking season of a very violent, very blunt, very bleak show. Where was the outrage in season one when Khaleesi was straight up being pounded from behind by Drogo with tears in her eyes?
What about Joffrey making prostitutes torture each other?
[SPOILER ALERT]
The kinda-rapey incest sex between Jamie and Cersei on top of their dead son’s body?
Ramsay Snow torturing Theon Greyjoy and chopping off his dick:
I understand Sansa is younger, and that of course changes the dynamic. I understand that it wasnt in the book so people cant point and say it was added in to TV for effect. But this was NOT the most disturbing thing on this TV show. Not by a mile. Game of Thrones has been 5 straight years of rape, murder, and incest. Why the outrage now? Why all the sudden can you not handle it? I’m not saying these scenes are pleasant. I’m not even disagreeing that they are very disturbing and makes viewers feel like they need to take a shower afterwards. But thats what this show is. Its like watching a horror movie and complaining there’s too much gore. Its like watching a porn and complaining theres too much sex. This is what Game of Thrones has been and always will be. If you’re offended, dont tune in. Because there will be rape, blood, and all sorts of other weird shit. Thats the story being told. Plus you should know by now anytime there is a Game of Thrones wedding, something is going horribly wrong. Red Wedding, Purple Wedding, now the Black Wedding. This is what this show does.
PS – No surprise that as the TV show begins to stray from the books, Game of Thrones has had its worst season. This season has been absolutely brutal. Coming off the heels of Trial By Combat and everything coming to a head with the Lannisters, Khaleesi taking over her kingdom, and the saga of Arya and The Hound, this season has flat out sucked in comparison. The Sansa-Ramsay rape/marriage has been the only thing worth talking about at all this season. They’ve somehow done the unthinkable and even made scenes with Peter Dinklage boring. Arya sweeping the floors and dressing bodies and having the same exact conversation with the faceless dude every week, Tyrion and Jorah rowing a boat for like 3 straight weeks, Jamie and Bronn taking forever to get to Dorn just to be immediately caught as they dress in disguise looking all goofy. All been a total snooze. You wanna know how bad this season is? Jon Snow at the Wall has probably been the most entertaining. Thats when you know shit has gone south.