Game of Thrones has a rape problem — and House of the Dragon makes the same mistake

On August 22, 2022, the first season of House of the Dragon will finally start on WOW. The Game of Thrones spin-off takes place centuries before the events of the main series and delves deeper into the history of the Targaryens. More Westeros, more dragons, more blonde wigs – what else can the fan heart ask for?

Well, apparently no less rape scenes. As showrunner Miguel Sapochnik revealed to the Hollywood Reporter, the Thrones prequel will show less sexbut continue to depict sexual violence because: “One cannot ignore the violence perpetrated by men against women during this period.”

Check out the first trailer for House of the Dragon here:

That is not good news. Sapochnik speaks of it, the topic “neither downplay nor glorify” to want. That’s probably what the people in charge of the main series thought too – and we all know what that looked like.

The “realism” debate about fantasy series is absolute bullshit

Years ago, George RR Martin argued that he wanted to paint as realistic a picture as possible of that particular time in human history so that the fantastical aspects would feel more realistic. Sapochnik’s statement sounds similar. But what exactly does he mean? “this time”? The historical period in which platinum blonde incest families on dragons Ruled the part of the world not populated by Ice Zombies? Ah, sorry, of course it didn’t exist. The Middle Ages, maybe?

Then I have bad news, unfortunately: sexual violence existed long before the time of knights and complicated successions to the throne. And after that too. Indeed rape still happens today, both men and women, although (like back in the Middle Ages) they are a criminal offense. So if a series wants to show us a realistic image of a past, very patriarchal time in Europe, why not focus on aspects that are specifically tailored to this time?

Instead we get a timeless form of violence against women with very modern ideas about shaving and oral hygiene. Which is a decision one can make for a fantasy narrative. Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are set in a fictional world and are not historical series. That’s why there can be mystical creatures, people with fireproof skin and ghost babies. Not even the time it takes characters to get from A to B is realistic in Westeros!

But if it’s at the constant depiction of sexual violence can’t really be about “realism”, then what is it about?

Game of Thrones failed completely when it came to sexual violence

The simple answer is: laziness on the part of those responsible. Rape is the ultimate storytelling gimmick for people who otherwise can’t think of a way to depict female suffering. “Person X does Y because they were raped” is one of the craziest act triggers out there. “Person X was only able to do Y because being raped made them stronger/angrier/more experienced” is in most cases the opposite an insult to our intelligence and a shocking misunderstanding of the actual psychological impact of such trauma.

Even in the Game of Thrones book, there are several scenes in which women are raped or only saved from it at the very last moment. The series has no problem showing them – and even invents new ones that neither advance the plot nor the characters. At least the scene in which Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) rapes his sister Cersei (Lena Headey) next to the corpse of their son Joffrey proves that the main purpose here is to provoke shock reactions in the audience.

Or any reaction at all. If she is still so fucked up. Because the fact that rapes are not only suggested, but are often shown in the picture from start to finish, has another effect. On porn sites there are countless Game of Thrones compilations that cut consensual sex scenes to sexual violence. Is that really “don’t downplay violence” or is it already “glorifying”?

House of the Dragon shouldn’t repeat Game of Thrones’ mistakes

Of course, those responsible for the series can’t do anything about it in the first step if scenes are shot in a completely different context misused as masturbation material will. But if what is supposed to be perceived as social criticism ends up on Pornhub – shouldn’t the staging of sexual violence at least be questioned?

Of course, we don’t yet know how House of The Dragon will address rape. “Shows are a product of their time and exist now much more awareness of what we are showing and why“, says HBO content executive Casey Bloys in the same Hollywood Reporter article. Still, showrunner Miguel Sapochnik’s statements are a disturbing sign.

Anyone who has the opportunity to tell the emancipation story of a woman with ambitions for the throne of a male-dominated world and automatically ends up with rape scenes is making the same mistake in reasoning as so many before. While sexual violence historically often affects women, it is not what defines it. Cersei, Sansa or Danenerys weren’t because of them, they were in spite of her rape scenes fascinating and strong female characters. I hope House of the Dragon learns from Game of Thrones’ mistakes. And don’t commit the same.

Podcast: Is the new Game of Thrones series House of the Dragon doomed?

Game of Thrones is one of the most successful series ever, however the finale was controversial. What does the new GOT series House of the Dragon have to learn from the original and can this series succeed at all?

In the new episode of the Moviepilot podcast, we discuss this question. We explain when the new GOT offshoot will play, what to think of the cast around Emma D’Arcy and Matt Smith and ask ourselves what House of the Dragon needs to learn from Game of Thrones (and what not).

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Which Game of Thrones mistakes should House of the Dragon not repeat?