Meanwhile, more fans swear off the show in outrage

May 19, 2015 08:05 GMT  ·  By
Sansa Stark and Ramsay Bolton in “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” “Game of Thrones” episode
2 photos
   Sansa Stark and Ramsay Bolton in “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” “Game of Thrones” episode

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.

Another lesson learned from “Game of Thrones”
Another lesson learned from “Game of Thrones”
 
George R.R. Martin Statement

Photo Gallery (2 Images)

Sansa Stark and Ramsay Bolton in “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” “Game of Thrones” episode
Another lesson learned from “Game of Thrones”
Open gallery