Sophie Turner Reflects on “Game of Thrones” Rape Scenes

Sophie Turner recently shared her thoughts about the harsh rape scenes her character, Sansa Stark, went through in Season 5 of “Game of Thrones.” In an interview, she touched on her role in the show’s “Trigger” storyline.

When her character faced a near-rape incident in the episode “The Old Gods and the New,” Turner was only 14. She admitted she “didn’t fully understand it” at that time and was, understandably, trying to process it all as a young actress.

“I was just a kid trying to figure it out in my head,” she mentioned, reflecting on her earlier days on set.

By the time Season 5 aired, especially in the episode “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken,” Turner was 19 and had a clearer understanding of the situation.

She recognized the outrage surrounding the scene, suggesting that many may have missed the deeper implications. “I felt that ‘Game of Thrones’ tackled hard subjects, but people often focused on the graphic content,” she said. “I can see their perspective, yet I feel there’s more to the story.”

Turner went on to express that the show’s portrayal aimed to address women’s struggles throughout history. “The fight against patriarchy, which often reduces women to mere objects, has been a long and arduous one,” she noted.

She believes that, if the series were produced today, they would certainly consider including trigger warnings. “Back then, the show was unafraid to depict the harsh realities women faced. I’m proud to have been part of that dialogue,” she added.

The critical reception of that 2015 episode was mixed. Many commentators argued that the showrunners seemed to perpetuate a trend of sexual violence in the narrative. One critique warned that the show’s portrayal walked a “very fine line” with such sensitive topics.

Several critics pointed out the inconsistency in audience reactions. “Why was it that people were suddenly outraged at Sansa Stark’s rape when the series had already showcased sexual violence since its inception?” one commentator questioned.

Meanwhile, actor Iwan Rheon described the experience of filming the scene as “the worst day of my career.” He explained that it was distressing for everyone involved, but felt necessary for storytelling.

In a lighter moment, Turner has humorously remarked that she picked up her own lessons about sex education while working on “Game of Thrones,” which ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019, featuring cast members like Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke.

Although Turner isn’t involved in the “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon,” she has expressed that any potential return of her character would need to come with the original cast and crew, firmly stating, “If not, I wouldn’t go back.”