Seriousfic explains it all

[seriousfic]

So I've heard from a few people who are confused that in the new HBO adaptation of A Game of Thrones, what was a "forced seduction" (romance novel terminology) in the books was turned into a straightforward rape scene. And it just isn't that confusing to me, because I think it went something like this.

GRRM: So then Kahl Drogo starts having sex with her, and at first she doesn't want to, but then she gets into it...

HBO Exec: Wait, what?

GRRM: Hmm?

HBO Exec: It sounds like you just said Daenerys Targaryen enjoyed being raped.

GRRM: Well, I wouldn't put it that way.

HBO Exec: How would you put it?

GRRM: She enjoyed being... ho, crap, ya got me there.

HBO Exec: We can't show that! The feminists would firebomb us!

GRRM: Do feminists firebomb people?

HBO Exec: They'd start. Just make her hate being raped. People will go with that.

GRRM: Right. Also, she's thirteen.

HBO Exec: Change it! What do you think this is, Starz?

Comments

[mymatedave.livejournal.com]

So true. I just got done finishing the series a couple of months ago and I always forget how young these characters are supposed to be.

[metallicargirl.livejournal.com]

your Izzard icon is amazing.

[mymatedave.livejournal.com]

Why thank you, feel free to use it if you want.

[mcity.livejournal.com]

Isn't the premise of this scenario that network executives do something sensible for once?

[angel-gidget.livejournal.com]

I love how you post stuff like this for the Lulz.

[metallicargirl.livejournal.com]

I was really aggravated by how they did Dany and Drogos first sex scene and the ones afterward. The point of Drogo was that Dany brought out a much softer side of him, he didn't rape her in the book. He made sure she felt comfortable and stopped her crying. It just cheapens their relationship to start it off with rape.

[sinanju.livejournal.com]

Well, but...they had to make sure we understood that he's a barbarian! Or something.

I find it interesting that we've had two episodes now, and Drogo hasn't had a word of dialogue. I wonder what the point of that is. Just to impress us that he's the strong, silent type? To surprise us when he speaks eloquently, revealing an unexpected cleverness? Because he's king of the Dothraki and, like the kid in the joke, just never speaks because he's never had because he gets whatever he wants?

I've never read the books, but I get the impression already that Dany's brother has badly underestimated both his sister and his new brother-in-law. If Drogo attacks as planned, it will be for his own reasons and in his own time.

[paraxdisepink.livejournal.com]

I think in the show they don't have him speak to emphasize how distant and difficult it is for her to communicate with him.

[paraxdisepink.livejournal.com]

On one hand, it's true that in the book he was kinder than he might have been, and he did want to make her want him, but on the other hand she didn't have the freedom to say no, so yeah rape. What confuses me is her sudden desire to please him in the HBO show. But the whole Dany/Drogo relationship has always been fucked up, except in her circumstances being Khaleesi gave her something of her own and got her out from under her brother.

[potatoko.livejournal.com]

I don't think "pleasing drogo" was about pleasing drogo, if you see what i mean. At the moment the only way Dany can exert any influence over her circumstances is through her husband. My interpretation is, those eggs are giving her a bit of drive- she looks at them, and decides this whole "taken like a slave" thing is no longer for her. This is the first step, and it's small, but I don't think it has anything to do with submitting to Drogo- it's to stand up for herself with the only tools she has available at the moment.

[tamburlaine.livejournal.com]

I have nightmares of people hurting Daenerys. That first rape scene made me so upset, especially since right after that I turned on The Borgias and saw Lucrezia being raped.

Y'all, stop filming the rapes of perfectly nice 14-year old blonde virgins for the entertainment of this absurd rape culture. Thank you and good night.