Re: I think the TV series handles the problematic Dany/Drogo relationship better
Camilla Send a noteboard - 17/08/2012 06:40:12 AM
In the books I think GRRM had second thoughts on presenting this relationship as harshly as he perhaps should have and tried to soften it, which was a mistake as it leads to a mixed message. In the TV series the producers make it abundantly clear that it's rape and it is not pleasant (their commentary on the issue on the DVD commentary is quite interesting). They definitely did not want to appear to be condoning it.
That said, there is some logic in GRRM's approach as well. As we are told in her first chapter, Dany sees herself as a good girl who does what her brother, the head of her house and the person who has protected her all her life, wants. There's also the whole honour of the house thing which is less important to her than Viserys, but still there. Dany's journey in AGoT (and much moreso in the following books) is moving from believing she can only affect things by playing by the role society assigns her - getting married and having kids - to the realisation she can exercise her own power and do things the way she wants, even change the world (and she does this even before she gets the dragons, although they do make that approach easier). Having to live with being married off to a barbarian warlord at her brother's command is the start of that journey.
Where GRRM softballs it is by making Dany actually fall in love with Drogo. The TV series seems to be suggesting at one point that it's more of a case of Stockholm Syndrome (the actors playing Jaime and Cersei actually debate this briefly on the DVD commentary as well), though they also seem to back off from that by the end of the season. Having Dany constantly disliking Drogo may have been more interesting, but it also may have backfired, as the readers then wouldn't have cared when he died.
The DVD commentary sounds interesting. I'll give it a go.
I think you are right that the choice to have her fall in love with Drogo was probably made in order to have his death make an impact, but it didn't really work for me at least. I was so tired of her pov going on and on about how wonderful he was, I was quite happy when he died. That said, I may have been affected by having seen the tv series first.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
13/08/2012 10:48:37 PM
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Fascinating.
13/08/2012 11:40:22 PM
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On the Rape issue....
14/08/2012 01:19:35 AM
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Re: On the Rape issue....
14/08/2012 02:02:42 AM
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Firstly, Camilla is a she. Secondly, though I won't speak for her, regarding the rape in the novels,
14/08/2012 02:23:19 AM
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Camilla is indeed a she.
14/08/2012 06:18:58 AM
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Re: On the Rape issue....
14/08/2012 06:17:55 AM
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How is that a violent rape? At worst it would be statutory rape.
17/08/2012 11:53:44 AM
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The wedding night is statutory. I would describe the later rapes as fairly violent.
17/08/2012 12:13:26 PM
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That was her only sex scene, until she induces him to have outdoor sex to get pregnant
17/08/2012 07:20:09 PM
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It is not necessary to provide a scene
17/08/2012 10:49:20 PM
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I believe that what is happening here is called confirmation bias *NM*
21/08/2012 06:23:38 PM
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I think you misread one part
14/08/2012 04:51:34 PM
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I think that the Rhaegar and Lyanna stuff does look like rape in the first book
14/08/2012 08:10:27 PM
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"Looks like" is this case meaning "explicitly stated to be that way"?
17/08/2012 11:56:48 AM
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what a great review. you echo my thoughts quite a bit...
15/08/2012 01:21:38 AM
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Re: what a great review. you echo my thoughts quite a bit...
15/08/2012 07:39:24 AM
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philippa gregory co-authored a book "the women of the cousins' war" - it was very interesting
16/08/2012 07:54:50 PM
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Wait...why would you waste time reading this fluff series when it's out on TV?
16/08/2012 12:10:32 AM
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I always liked the banners and pageantry - it creates an interesting contrast...
16/08/2012 11:52:40 PM
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Re: I always liked the banners and pageantry - it creates an interesting contrast...
17/08/2012 06:33:24 AM
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I think the TV series handles the problematic Dany/Drogo relationship better
17/08/2012 12:20:16 AM
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Re: I think the TV series handles the problematic Dany/Drogo relationship better
17/08/2012 06:40:12 AM
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I think it messed it up by showing forced intercourse without the verbal consent Drogo DID obtain
17/08/2012 12:07:14 PM
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I still find it difficult to read it as anything other than a coerced consent
17/08/2012 01:08:15 PM
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A perpetrator-less crime then.
17/08/2012 07:26:26 PM
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Exactly! I'm on board, Cannoli.
18/08/2012 07:45:56 PM
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You are missing the point.
18/08/2012 11:11:33 PM
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The later books do add more context and change some of this
19/08/2012 12:08:49 AM
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Jesus Christ another fucking thread about rape and fantasy.
19/08/2012 01:47:43 AM
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Perhaps if reading other people's views makes you so angry, you should avoid reading them? *NM*
19/08/2012 02:37:03 PM
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Nonsense.
19/08/2012 03:33:39 PM
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Fixed it for you.
19/08/2012 08:22:18 PM
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Oh, but that takes us back to snoop being right, and I'm sorry, but I just cannot abide that.
19/08/2012 10:56:10 PM
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Shake the sand out of your vagina bitch. *NM*
20/08/2012 06:35:32 AM
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Gosh, this is really turning into something fun.
20/08/2012 07:15:01 AM
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Here I was about to make a "whee misogyny" post. I never get to have fun.
*NM*
20/08/2012 09:09:04 AM
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Huh. I just came to the odd realization...
20/08/2012 08:29:56 PM
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Don't lock it!
21/08/2012 05:11:34 AM
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Yes, I'm aware, or I might have locked it already.
21/08/2012 06:17:29 PM
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That is the best written and most insightful review of that book I have read
01/09/2012 05:38:00 PM
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I forgot that I was supposed to read all threads to watch out for Bad Behaviour.
01/09/2012 11:09:52 PM
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