Can the HBO collection beat the misogyny claims?
(L-R): Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Greatest). The three feminine characters are all absolutely complexed and all endure vastly for an opportunity to sit down on the Iron Throne. (Picture: Home of the Dragon, HBO, 2022)
Spoiler warning for Recreation of Thrones and Home of the Dragon!
Earlier than Recreation of Thrones ended up notorious for having one of many worst endings to a series, the present was on high of the world.
One among its largest critiques of the present was its therapy of its feminine characters. Most of the feminine characters in GOT had been needlessly brutalized, assaulted and vilified.
Sisi Jiang’s tweet brings up the principle arguments that folks convey up in opposition to GOT. To many individuals, the gratuitous depiction of violence in opposition to girls in Recreation of Thrones feels pointless or voyeuristic. The purpose that the unique present was attempting to make feels misplaced in translation from e book to TV to viewers.
In response to this backlash, George R.R. Martin mentioned, “I don’t suppose that Westeros is any extra anti-woman or misogynist than actual life and what we name history.”
Home of the Dragon is about 172 years earlier than Daenerys Targaryen is born and it faces the critique in regards to the therapy of girls within the franchise.
Daenerys Targaryen is the final of her bloodline after her household is ousted from the Iron Throne. She spends the entire collection attempting to regain the throne as she believes it’s her beginning proper. Home of the Dragon is about her ancestors.
Home of the Dragon purposely reveals the best way Westeros treats girls and frames the hardships they face to indicate the viewers that the system in place advantages no lady. The system of Westeros is supposed to be a mirrored image of the patriarchal system that exists in our society.
The showrunners, Miguel Sapochnik, Ryan Condal and writer Martin present the violence and misogyny purposefully as a strategy to get the viewers to consider how violence and oppression in opposition to girls has been a instrument to maintain patriarchal methods in place. We see this with three characters specifically, Rhaenyra Targaryen, Alicent Hightower, Rhaenys Targaryen.
The present is predicated on the e book Fireplace & Blood by George R. R. Martin and showrunners make a number of modifications to boost the narrative. One of many largest modifications so removed from the e book to the present is the friendship between Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower. Within the e book, no such relationship exists.
Their friendship is one among girlhood with the expectation that neither of them will ever have any sort of true energy. This units them up as foils to 1 one other, Alicent is compliant whereas Rhaenyra is unruly.
Alicent suits into the thought of what the best lady of Westeros ought to be. She is nice, minds her standing, but she is in a loveless marriage. She has misplaced her greatest buddy within the course of and has been compelled to develop up too quick.
These main modifications actually do make a distinction to their characters because it provides depth to each of their characters as an alternative of them coming off as one dimensional. I actually favored that the viewers are in a position to see the trail these two girls will go down and the way it separates them.
Home of the Dragon units out to make us query Westeros’ therapy of girls. There may be an intentionality to the brand new present that Recreation of Thrones lacked in direction of girls. Time will solely inform if it’s going to proceed down this path or if it’s going to comply with in GOT footsteps.
