Season 5 of “Game of Thrones” is now airing on HBO, and as teased months in advance by Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark, the episode “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” delivered yet another surprising and shocking twist to the story.
A third leading female character was raped, even though she had not been harmed in George R.R. Martin’s novels from the series “Song of Ice and Fire,” on which the TV series is based. As we speak, the Internet is furious at the latest development, with many fans even going as far as to vouch to never tune in again.
*Please note that this article contains spoilers, so read no further if you don’t want all the details.*
One wedding, one brutal rape, many angry fans
On the latest “Game of Thrones” episode, Sansa agreed to marry Ramsay Bolton at Littlefinger’s request, thinking that she could thus best avenge her family’s death. Instead, on her wedding night, fans got to see Sansa broken down once more, as Ramsay forced himself upon her.
The entire scene was presented through Reek / Theon’s eyes: it took place off screen, but it was terrible for its implications, especially since it came just as fans at home were deceived into thinking Sansa was finally coming into her own.
As noted above, this is the third rape on the show not included in the books, after Cersei and Daenerys. Just like in these 2 cases, outraged fans are wondering whether HBO writers and the producers aren’t turning to rape as a storytelling gimmick that serves no other function than to shock.
If so, it’s a cheap and very lazy way of advancing the story, not to mention that it’s not consistent with the way they fleshed out the characters on whom it’s brought upon. To these fans, some of whom have already sworn off the show altogether, this is particularly true in Sansa’s case.
George R.R. Martin addresses angry fans
As it usually happens whenever the story on the TV show strays considerably from the books, fans took to Martin’s website to flood it with comments, questions and suggestions. Martin serves as producer and consultant on the series, but he’s long said that it’s not his “baby”: the books are, and he’s only to be held accountable for these.
So no wonder that, instead of engaging in a long conversation / debate on Sansa’s rape with the fans, he reminds them that the show is the show and the books are the books; they are two separate projects running their separate courses and must not be confused one for the other.
You can read his full statement on the latest controversy below. Martin also reminds fans that he’ll continue to delete all comments on the show from his website, because he only encourages conversations on the books there.
@InMirzWords adding all these rape scenes unnecessarily. I thinks it's also because it's Sansa and she seemed to finally be getting stronger
— مریم (@m_safya) May 19, 2015
"Sansa's gonna marry the sadist who cut off Theon's junk." "Isn't this the show with the twincest pseudo-rape?" "This time'll be different."
— Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) May 19, 2015
Explaining away rape as a "plot device" and insinuating that it's necessary to get viewers to feel for Sansa IS RAPE CULTURE
— menna (@ANGRYFEMME) May 18, 2015
Sansa Stark has grown into a smart, courageous and strong female character. Why did the #GOT show runners need to invent that rape scene?
— Jennifer Gasbarro (@JenGasbarro) May 18, 2015
Sansa's rape scene wasn't in the books. Cersei's rape scene wasn't in the books. Dany's rape scene wasn't in the books. D&D are worthless.
— Nasreen (@planetcoruscant) May 18, 2015
Just so everyone knows. #Sansa #stark hasn't been raped in the books.@HBO just wanted to throw in some rape for entertainment @GameOfThrones
— Rodgers Unless Klopp (@LFC_Houston) May 18, 2015
BENIOFF: Sansa's pretty angry. Whole family dead and everything. OTHER GUY: She needs to be angrier. IN UNISON: Rape story!
— Ian Williams (@Brock_toon) May 18, 2015
Straight up amazing that the first thing that happens to Sansa after Sophie turns 18 is rape. And by amazing I mean disgusting.
— Kayla Christine (@kaylasananjou) May 18, 2015
sansa stark never got raped in the books. this show is rape obsessed. rape should not be a plot device
— (ノ´ヮ´)ノ*:・゚✧ ria t (@Ria_Tee) May 18, 2015
This show is consistently over-the-top with sexual violence and it's just gross. #GoT
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) May 18, 2015