Last season of Game of Thrones was a mixed bag to be sure. Many fans enjoyed the big moments like Tyrion seeing a dragon for the first time or the Battle of Hardhome ending in one of the most brutal massacres ever put on screen. Some fans, however, were disappointed with the way that the show’s writers and creators treated the sexual assault of one of the show’s main characters. Sansa’s attack was the main reason many fans, even the diehards, found themselves finally second-guessing the show’s storytelling methods and its treatment of women. The director of that episode, Jason Podeswa, spoke about the subject at a recent press event, as reported in Forbes:
The show’s creators, Dan Weiss and David Benioff, “were responsive to the discussion and there were a couple of things that changed as a result. It is important that (the producers) not self-censor. The show depicts a brutal world where horrible things happen. They did not want to be too overly influenced by that (criticism) but they did absorb and take it in and it did influence them in a way.”
This is probably the most detailed answer fans can expect from somebody who isn’t Weiss or Benioff himself, but it does appear to simplify the ongoing discussions from the show’s fan base and critics. However, HBO may be holding back on further statements until the show returns in April. Until then, fans will just have to hope that these comments ring true when that moment comes.
