not having read the books I would guess:

a) so that her transformation into a strong character later would have more impact

b) so that his "transformation" into a character who is articulate, sweet and tender would have more impact

I think rape should always have a really good reason, and I think that the character transitions I've seen in the books so far, just getting him into the bridal bed, and the transition they make there, and her acceptance--that's pretty damned big.

Twelve people die at his wedding, but he's not the full on beast you think that makes him. I liked that transition more than I like the transition of yet another woman falling for her rapist.

It's possible that in a week with Vampire Diaries, I'm over that.

I want to see more of Cersei's backstory, or something. She's the only one who seems one-note evil at this point -- I can at least see where Danyerys's brother has specific vengeance in mind, and wanting his own kingdom back. Cersei just seems flatly reprehensible aside from the moment of grief over her own dead son, and I couldn't tell whether she was just playing at that or not.

I liked that transition more than I like the transition of yet another woman falling for her rapist.

I read it as women of that time (which is standing in for medieval society for me) believing that their husbands have the right to take, and they don't have the right to refuse. She hated it, yes, but she seemed resigned to it, too, or that's the way I read her expression, at least.

I agree that the changes made to Drogo and Daenarys's sex life from the book to TV are not an improvement. It's a peculiar choice.

But in the book, he doesn't rape her. She's still his property, and sex is definitely going to happen, but she consents. I don't think it takes away from either his arc as I'm guessing it, or hers, to just not have him rape her that first time.

Since I haven't read the book, I had no idea. And it was a grim scene, which makes last night's a little less palatable.

It just seems a weird thing to *add*, you know? Hey, we have this gruff rampaging barbarian who's going to have a softening arc (I'm not spoilt--I'm actually behind in the books), so why don't we add in rape, because that's no big deal to get past?

And, you know, apparently it's not. Well, this and Vampire Diaries tell me so.

I will say, completely unrelatedly, nice. ass. Although I hate the eyeliner or whatever they keep putting on him.

I would find that really hard to get past, ita. But I did like Spike again. It took a while.

The very last act of episode two had me saying out loud, "I'm done."

I really want to like the series, but killing off the wolves is just too upsetting. Can someone whitefont me a reassurance that either a) this doesn't happen again or b) something good comes of it?