House Of The Dragon star Tom Glynn-Carney has suggested that predecessor show Game Of Thrones strayed “close to oversexualising women”.
The prequel series, which has just returned for its second season, follows events in Westeros 200 years before Game Of Thrones, with Glynn-Carney portraying reigning King, Aegon II Targaryen.
The original series drew controversy at the time over its treatment of women, and the actor reflected on House Of The Dragon paring down on sex and nudity.
“I presumed that they would,” he told The Independent.
“That they would take a different approach, because it did feel like maybe Game Of Thrones was too close to oversexualising women, and that wouldn’t be cool if they did that this time. I thought they were suitably delicate and took a better, more sustainable angle.”
Back in 2016, Game Of Thrones star Emilia Clarke – who played Daenerys Targaryen – addressed criticism over the show’s treatment of women.
“There’s so much controversy. Yet that’s what’s beautiful about Game Of Thrones – its depiction of women in so many different stages of development,” she told Entertainment Weekly at the time.
“There are women depicted as sexual tools, women who have zero rights, women who are queens but only to a man, and then there are women who are literally unstoppable and as powerful as you can possibly imagine.
“So it pains me to hear people taking Thrones out of context with anti-feminist spin – because you can’t do that about this show. It shows the range that happens to women and ultimately shows women are not only equal, but have a lot of strength.”
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen in ‘Game Of Thrones’. CREDIT: HBO/Sky
Back in 2022 upon the release of the first season, author George RR Martin addressed claims that House Of The Dragon was anti-women, notably the fact that a queen doesn’t take to the throne.
“I get inspiration from history, and then I take elements from history and I turn it up to 11,” Martin said (via Entertainment Weekly). “Games Of Thrones is, as many people have observed, based very loosely on the War of the Roses. [House Of The Dragon] is based on an earlier period in history called the Anarchy.”
“I don’t think Westeros is particularly more anti-woman or more misogynistic than real life and what we call history,” he added.
In other news, ahead of the second season’s premiere, it was confirmed that House Of The Dragon will be getting a third season. Season 2 has been getting widespread praise, with the season currently sitting at 87 per cent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
In NME‘s four-star review, we said: “What is reassuring is that House Of The Dragon feels as though it is walking on solid ground: the bubbling rivalries, the jostling for power, the eruptions of violence; six episodes in, it is all coming together to create a rich stew … it is a relief to see a prequel that seems to know what it’s doing. A decent watch for fans and neutrals alike.”
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