- Viewers shocked by the gory start to season four of the show
- Some 700,000 tune in to watch the programme's long awaited return
- Scenes of violence came close to the 9 pm watershed
- Campaigners warn young people could become 'desensitised' to behaviour
- Series is based on fantasy novels by author George R R Martin
A prince strips a posing group of prostitutes naked one by one as he selects a companion for the night.
It sounds like a scene from a porn film, but this was the latest episode of the epic fantasy drama Game of Thrones, based on the novels of George R R Martin.
The start of the gory series’ fourth season on Monday even managed to shock its own fans.
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The start of the gory series Game of Thrones fourth season on Monday even managed to shock its own fans
Some 700,000 tuned in to watch its long-awaited return on Sky Atlantic at 9pm. The prostitute scene came ten minutes from the start, close to the 9pm watershed.
And it means young fans of the programme, which has developed a cult-like following among viewers of all ages, may have been watching with their parents.
Campaigners warned it could lead to young people being ‘desensitised’ to content once considered shocking and being influenced by the behaviour they displayed.
Miranda Suit, of Safermedia, said: ‘What are [young girls] learning from some of these storylines?
Actor Finn Jones, who plays Ser Loras Tyrell,
Westeros' Knight of Flowers in Game of Thrones, which returned for a
fourth season on Monday
‘That what most men want is their body and handing it over is one of the easiest ways to get their attention. This does a great disservice to both men and women.’
On Twitter, one user said: ‘I can’t watch Game of Thrones. There’s too much rape and murder.’
Another posted, ‘I swear Game of Thrones is just a rape festival’, while a third Tweeted: ‘Game of Thrones is just disgusting really.’
Other scenes in the episode, which followed the Stark family coming to terms with the killing of their relatives at the end of season three, featured an attempted rape and graphic disembowelment.
Game of Thrones attracted 700,000 viewers to Sky Atlantic
Yesterday Pippa Smith of Safermedia described the scenes as ‘deeply troubling’, adding that it could lead to children behaving in unacceptable ways, based on what they have seen on TV.
‘Extreme sadistic violence and sexual violence involving harpooning prostitutes and what appears to be attempted rape served up for television entertainment?’ she asked.
‘That this series is so popular is deeply troubling and no doubt it is particularly popular with young boys and teens many of whom who are already becoming desensitised, more aggressive and lacking in empathy from the violence in films and video games and online porn.’
And Miss Pattinson agreed that while the quality of the scenery was ‘fabulous’ and the acting ‘brilliant’, there was a worrying undertone of violence being acceptable.
She said: ‘It’s normalising this violence and unhealthy relationships, or whatever it is. It’s giving it a context and that is worrying.
Based on the fantasy novels of George R R Martin, the programme is known for its violent and sexual plot lines.
And it has developed a widespread international fanbase, enraptured by the elaborate goings on within the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos.
Megan MacLeod of Sky Atlantic said: ‘HBO’s Game of Thrones sits perfectly alongside Sky Atlantic’s range of bold content which we know our customers enjoy. Scheduled sensitively at 9pm, each linear broadcast of Game of Thrones contains very clear viewer warnings and Sky+ and On Demand viewing is pin protected.’
WHAT IS GAME OF THRONES?
Game of Thrones is based on the novels of George R R Martin
Game of Thrones is an award-winning fantasy medieval drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos.
It was created by HBO in America, based on the books by George R R Martin, before being brought over to Sky Atlantic in the UK.
The programme is now in its fourth series, with the first episode being broadcast on Monday.
1.2million people watched the opening episode in the UK, either at 2am, when it was first broadcast, or later at 9pm.
In America, 8.2million tuned in, across three screenings of the episode.
The episode saw the Stark family coming to terms with the slaughter of many of their relatives in the Red Wedding episode at the end of series three.
And other plot lines characters seeking violent revenge on their enemies.
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