Game of Thrones dished out its most controversial scene yet in the form of the rape of Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner). But what was star Sophie Turner’s reaction?
Controversy is just another cog in the Game of Thrones, but some fans think the hit HBO show has finally gone too far. The ending of last night’s episode “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” graphically depicted the brutal rape of Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) at the hands of Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) while her childhood friend Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) was forced to watch. Fans are outraged, but the reactions of Turner and George R.R. Martin, the writer of the Game of Thrones book series, are almost more shocking than the scene — they support the show’s decision 100 percent.
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In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Turner revealed, “When I read that scene, I kinda loved it. I love the way Ramsay had Theon watching. It was all so messed up. It’s also so daunting for me to do it. I’ve been making [producer Bryan Cogman] feel so bad for writing that scene: ‘I can’t believe you’re doing this to me!’ But I secretly loved it.”
She loved it? It seems Turner is approaching the story line as a new challenge, even if fans cannot stand the idea of one of the show’s most tortured characters losing her virginity in such a vile manner. Just because Turner enjoyed the scene that does not erase its problematic nature, though. Turner is a terrific young actress who has showed great range. Does showing Sansa being raped add anything to her story, especially after all of the horrors and attempted rapes she has faced in the previous four seasons?
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Turner goes on to say, “I swear, this show, after the first season when people were hating on Sansa, showrunners [David Benioff and Dan Weiss] must have been like, ‘OK, let’s do everything we can to make her the most abused, manipulated character!'” Maybe Turner isn’t as on board as she suggests she is.
Martin’s statement was far more of a non-statement, but he showed full support for the Game of Thrones‘ showrunners creative decisions on his blog. After being inundated with emails, Martin wrote, “There has seldom been any TV series as faithful to its source material, by and large (if you doubt that, talk to the Harry Dresden fans, or readers of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, or the fans of the original WALKING DEAD comic books)… but the longer the show goes on, the bigger the butterflies become. And now we have reached the point where the beat of butterfly wings is stirring up storms, like the one presently engulfing my email.”
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OK, then. Someone hand Martin the award for best no-comment comment ever.
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