The latest episode of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, has been met with criticism for its inclusion of a sexual assault scene that critics argue is gratuitous and detracts from the narrative. The scene depicts Alicent Hightower attempting to flee the capital with her daughter and granddaughter, only to be cornered by a member of the king's council. While a physical assault is thwarted, the attacker then attempts to persuade the guards that Alicent deserved it, a move that echoed the problematic portrayal of sexual assault in the original Game of Thrones series.
This depiction has been particularly frustrating for viewers and critics who had hoped the prequel would move beyond the franchise's controversial past. The original Game of Thrones faced significant backlash for its frequent and often graphic depictions of sexual assault, which affected prominent female characters like Cersei Lannister, Sansa Stark, and Daenerys Targaryen, as well as numerous background characters. The expectation was that House of the Dragon, set over a century earlier, would handle such sensitive subject matter with greater care and narrative justification.
Critics argue that the assault in the recent episode of House of the Dragon serves no discernible plot or character development purpose. The attacker is a minor figure, and the event does little to advance Alicent’s character arc, as her agency and autonomy had already been significantly undermined by the political machinations within the show. Furthermore, this particular event does not occur in George R.R. Martin's source material, suggesting it was an addition made specifically for the television adaptation.
House of the Dragon had an opportunity to explore themes of powerlessness and the struggles of its central female characters, who are often at the heart of the succession war narrative, without resorting to graphic sexual violence. The show has demonstrated its ability to effectively portray the complex challenges faced by these women. However, the inclusion of this scene suggests a reliance on tired and potentially harmful tropes, rather than a fresh approach to storytelling within the Game of Thrones universe. The author expressed anger and disappointment, feeling that the depiction was an unnecessary callback to the original series' most criticized elements, akin to using sexual assault as a mere plot device or narrative seasoning.