Game of Thrones fans are worried about the sexual violence content in House of the Dragon.
The upcoming HBO series is set 200 years before the original drama show and reveals the story behind House Targaryen and the Targaryen civil war that became known as the 'Dance of the Dragons'.
However, showrunner Miguel Sapochnik explained in a recent interview that the show will not be ‘shying away’ from sharing moments of sexual violence within the storyline.
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He told The Hollywood Reporter: “[We] don’t shy away from it. If anything, we’re going to shine a light on that aspect.
“You can’t ignore the violence that was perpetrated on women by men in that time. It shouldn’t be downplayed and it shouldn’t be glorified,” he said, adding that such scenes would be created and directed ‘carefully [and] thoughtfully’.
His work on such a delicate topic has already come under fire, following the controversy in season five of Game of Thrones where Sansa Stark was raped by Ramsay Bolton, prompting division among fans with the scene.
Now, hopeful viewers of the series have since denounced the series, explaining that including such graphic scenes in a TV show could be triggering for some viewers.
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One person tweeted: “I don’t know about anyone else, but the amount of assault and rape is specifically why I have not, cannot, and will not watch Game of Thrones. I don’t care how good everything else in it is, I don’t care how cool or interesting, it’s not worth me sitting through any amount of assault & rape.”
Another person echoed: “Y’all don't need to show rape. We get it just by insinuating it. Nobody enjoyed watching that in Game of Thrones either. We just want Dragons and fights, coherent storylines.”
“Funny how series like Vikings and The Last Kingdom, which are based on historical events, didn't feel the need to continuously use sexual assault as a storytelling device. But [the] fantasy show just can't seem to get away from it. Laziness,” another person echoed online.
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In fact, the female-forward organisation Girls Inc. previously explained on their site that while it’s important that shows like Game of Thrones portray ‘gender-based violence within interpersonal relationships’, sexual assault should not be used as a plot device within TV series, movies or otherwise.
They said: "This series is at risk of normalizing gender-based violence without highlighting the long and lasting consequences it can have on survivors’ lives."
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 802 9999 between 12pm–2.30pm and 7pm– 9.30pm every day. Alternatively, you can contact Victim Support free on 08 08 16 89 111 available 24/7, every day of the year, including Christmas.
Topics: Film and TV, Game of Thrones
Gabriella Ferlita