Game of Thrones

Just some thoughts on the HBO series Game of Thrones, which I've only just now started to watch.

When the series first became popular, I tried to watch it and couldn't get past the first episode. Okay, full disclosure: in my first attempt I couldn't get past the initial opening sequence, which was too ghastly for me. On my second attempt, I was shocked at the level of sex, violence, and blatant use of skin color as a narrative device. I didn't make it past the orgy. On my third attempt, I got all the way to the end, which ended on the kind of cliffhanger that was both revolting and horrifying, in a bunch of different unconnected ways (I'm trying not to spoil the episode for you if you think you might like to give it a go).

Having just finished the latest season of Homeland and the final season of The Americans, however, I knew I needed something else for my hard cardio sets on the elliptical. I could have turned to movies but I like to concentrate more fully during films. Also, family members kept telling me that GOT storytelling was high quality, and that I was missing out on an opportunity as a Story Grid editor to examine a story that “works.”

All right. I took a deep breath and started. All. Over. Again.

I'm almost through with season 1 now, and I can see what people say about the storytelling. In addition, the locations and sets are beautiful. The costumes are wonderful. The acting is top flight.

But I don't understand the use of themes and narrative tools that are racist and misogynistic. Do we need the constant presence of (very) naked prostitutes in the midst of (very) explicit sex scenes? Do we need to designate the savage horseback riding tribe as dark-skinned? Does said tribal leader really need to marry a (very) white princess (as in, bleached blonde–definitely not a natural shade of hair color)? Does said very white princess really need to be raped repeatedly by the very dark savage king? Does the native tongue of the dark-skinned tribe have to be guttural and ugly, a la Klingon? Does the “powerful female” theme have to rely on “mothers will do anything for their children” as a trope? Do women have to be portrayed as making trouble for the men because of said love for children? Do women have to constantly use sex as a tool of power?

I haven't read the books; I can anticipate some protests that all of the above are in the books. I don't think that's a good argument. Writers for film and TV massage stories all the time in the name of–well, in the name of all sorts of things. I think combating unfortunate racial and gender stereotypes is as good a reason as any to do a bit of rewriting, or at least reshaping.

At the end of the episodes, there are interviews with the writers, producers, and the director. All white men. They sound like smart, capable guys. But do they not see the social givens that are shaping their work? And if there are any women or people of color writing for the show–where are they?

I'll keep watching. I've been told that “it gets better as the show departs from the books.” I'll definitely write an update if this is true. I'll also write an update if it's not.

Was there any social protest when GOT first aired? I found a few articles online, but not much. If I'm just too late and not finding them, please let me know. I don't know how anyone who's not a white male could get through the first season without serious discomfort.