Was This the Best Option for GoT?

 

Mitchell Reichert

Was This the Best Option for GoT?

            As one of the most controversial shows that I have ever seen, Game of Thrones never seizes to surprise. Whether it is the consistent and unnecessary sex scenes or it’s the killings that are happening throughout the show, the creators of the show know how to draw in an audience and keep their attention on the screen for the entirety of the episode. So far, the most controversial point in the show for me has been the sex scene from Daenerys and Kahl Drogo’s wedding night. 

            This scene was especially hard to watch because of how Daenerys seemed so uncomfortable and not really up for how it was done. Truthfully, based on the show on HBO, Daenerys never even wanted to have sex with Khal Drogo in the first place. The newly named queen was still a teenager, about 13 years old, when she was given away by her brother to marry Khal Drogo and shortly after becoming the Queen of the Dothraki Warriors. 

            To be honest, this entire situation is disgusting. Look at the way Daenerys looks in this scene from their wedding night, does this look like the face of someone who actually wanted to pursue having sex with this savage? Absolutely not!

         https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quora.com%2FIn-the-Game-of-Thrones-television-show-why-did-they-change-Daenerys-and-Drogo-s-wedding-night-to-a-non-consensual-encounter-unlike-the-books-where-she-gives-consent-first&psig=AOvVaw3eoRsQM6uLdEn6LJzt1v9X&ust=1601063115609000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCPDH2JTHguwCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

To me, this looks like this grown man raped an innocent child. On the other hand, how could you ever as an older brother, give away your 13-year-old sister to a savage who looks to be at least in his late twenties, maybe early thirties? Viserys had no right to be able to give away his younger sister to this beast of a human. 

Brother of the year, am I right?

The controversial part of this whole scene is because in the book written by George R. R. Martin, Martin portrayed this disgusting night as the polar opposite. This text wedding night was portrayed as normal consensual post marriage sex. Why would the creators of the show make this drastic of a change to the show from the text? The answer is simple: views, views, views. They knew exactly what they were doing when they decided to make this change to this specific episode. The team made this episode this way because it knew that A) putting this sex scene in would accumulate a lot of views and B) would cause there to be discussions about this scene and would eventually lead to more people watching this scene. If you can find a way to drag in more viewership, then why not do it?

But at what cost is it worth it?

“Daenerys’ story quickly went from real to fantasy in a matter of pages. She dissolved from a believable child character into a completely unbelievable one that responded UNREALISTICALLY to a very real situation. And yes, I am talking about the unrealistic” (Houseofthedirewolves). I do not understand how Daenerys went from getting raped to wanting to continue to have sex and a life with Kahl Drogo. This is insane that the team behind making the show would even try to play this off as if it would be okay. It almost feels like it was a joke for them to do this and it gives off the sense that they view the unfortunate reality that rape happens but there are no consequences for it other than the victim will want the rapist more after the event happens.

Really?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.express.co.uk%2Fshowbiz%2Ftv-radio%2F1112441%2Fdanerys-targaryen-khal-drogo-relationship-game-of-thrones-season-8-violence-rape&psig=AOvVaw2ZmbTqJt0M2_DxI5YYSgke&ust=1601074808488000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCNiy-M7yguwCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

 

Look at her, how can she possibly be happy or even able to look at him after what he did to her?

Unfortunately, I know a handful of people who have gone through similar situations where the consent was not given for the opposite party to partake in “extracurriculars”. These people to this day, still struggle with the fact that this happened, and it continues to impact them to this day with every relationship they seek. This is something that you never truly learn to get over it. 

Could you really blame them for never truly moving past it?

“In the aftermath of a sexual assault or rape, survivors can face extremely difficult and painful emotions and experiences. Every survivor responds to traumatic events in their own way. The effects of the trauma can be short-term or last long after the sex” (Joyful Heart Foundation). This quote fits in with the topic of the traumatic events that occurred because it talks about the experience that the survivors of these tragedies go through after the events. 

“In the book, George is setting us up. We’re expecting, essentially, child-rape. What we get is very different. Dany’s new husband takes her to a beautiful place, spends a great deal of time with her. She brushes his hair. He helps her to feel comfortable” (Abraham). When George R. R. Martin wrote The Game of Thrones, he had written out in the story that this wedding night was a beautiful honeymoon type of night. This is in contrast to the awfully show child rape scene that was put in front of the viewer’s eyes. Talk about uncomfortable watching a 13-year-old girl engaging in sexual intercourse as it is. Let alone the fact that this grown man is raping her. 

Ew

Disgusting honestly.

As one of the most hyped up and highly anticipated shows in the United States before its final season aired, there is some pretty messed up things within the walls of realm. To me, this makes me wonder what it is this says about our country and what we want to consume from television. Unfortunately, I am also someone who fell for the Game of Thrones trap and got sucked into the series. My roommate and I actually have a hard time stopping watching and controlling how many episodes we consume in one night. There has to be more controversial scenes throughout the rest of the series, and I cannot wait to watch them and have the debates with my roommate on our viewpoints on the scenario. 

 

Works Cited

Abraham, Daniel. The Three Wedding Nights of Daenerys Targaryen. 13 May 2011. 23 September 2020. <http://aidanmoher.com/blog/2011/05/articles/guest-post-the-three-wedding-nights-of-daenerys-targaryen-by-daniel-abraham/>.

Houseofthedirewolves. Why Dany and Khal Drogo’s Wedding Night Is So Bitterly Disappointing. 16 August 2017. 23 September 2020. <https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/147742-why-dany-and-khal-drogo’s-wedding-night-is-so-bitterly-disappointing/>.

Joyful Heart Foundation. 2019. 23 September 2020. <http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/learn/sexual-assault-rape/effects-sexual-assault-and-rape>.