It’s estimated that 16.1 million people watched the GoT Season 7 Premiere, breaking ratings records for HBO. While the show has come under fire before for showing rape scenes, violence and misogyny, that all seems set to change. Many female characters have grown into strong, independent women over the last few series, and the premiere focused on these to the extent that “the future is female” was trending on Twitter, alongside some other key quotes from the show’s female characters. Female domination drove the narrative, a sharp swerve from earlier seasons which focused on male characters, with the women recognised predominantly as sexual subordinates. But when so much of this female power comes from death and destruction, how do we find the line between a powerful role model and glorification of violence?
The opening credits saw Arya Stark’s death count for the season leap up, as she murdered the entire Frey family as retribution for the Red Wedding. She did this by wearing the face of Walder Frey. I’m not saying that the family didn’t deserve it, Arya herself drew attention to how they had “butchered a woman, pregnant with a baby. Cut the throat of a mother of five. Slaughtered [their] guests after inviting them into [their] home”. Arya stands, watching all the men die, after refusing to let the women drink the poisoned wine. Later in the episode, she tells a group of Lannister’s that she’s on her way to kill Cersei Lannister. Assuming that she’s joking, they all laugh, hinting at how unwise it is to underestimate someone based only on their size and looks.
We also see Daenerys returning to Dragonstone. She’s come a long way from the shy, nervous young girl who was essentially sold to the leader of the Dothraki. She now has many titles (too long to list), three dragons, and an army of unsullied to do her bidding. She seems to be reminiscing on her return; stalking about the dark rooms with a pensive look upon her face, and tearing down a banner belonging to Stannis Baratheon.
In the same episode, we see Cersei Lannister sitting on the Iron Throne, considering a proposal of marriage from Euron Greyjoy. She declares him untrustworthy, questioning how he could have killed his own brother. She neglects to mention how she killed the Faith of the Seven, the Tyrells, and many others by blowing up King’s Landing, an act which drove her own son to suicide.
Other highlights include Brienne, as always, strong and set in her beliefs of loyalty and justice. Mention must also be made of Sansa Stark, who managed to deliver a wonderfully cutting line to Littlefinger; “No need to seize the last word, Lord Baelish, I’ll assume it was something clever”. Lyanna Mormont also delivered a rousing speech, when the notion of women as fighters was questioned by Lord Glover; “you expect me to put a spear in my granddaughter’s hand?” Lyanna pipes up; “I don’t plan on knitting by the fire while men fight for me. I might be small, Lord Glover, and I might be a girl, but I am every bit as much a Northerner as you. And I don’t need your permission”. This appears even more significant when we consider the age of Lyanna. Portrayed as being 11 or 12 years old, she represents a fearless feminist who won’t take any shit.
There were most definitely strong feminist moments in the Season 7 premiere of the show. But essentially, Arya committed mass murder for revenge, Daenerys returned to her ancestral home and did very little other than stroke a table, Cersei sits arrogant and proud, mocking her potential suitor and her own brother, and a child (Lyanna) plans to learn how to kill. Feminism is not about violence, about revenge or mockery, and it’s not about putting women in all positions of power. But I guess that when the scales tip, we have to celebrate, as perhaps it will be easier to balance them in the future.
thatfictitiousself 