“Is it misogynistic or feminist?”: George R.R. Martin Was Conflicted for the Most Brutal Game of Thrones Scene That Made Us Feel Bad for Cersei Lannister

SUMMARY

• Cersei Lannister was forced to endure the walk of shame in Game of Thrones.
• George R.R. Martin knew the episode would become controversial as viewers reflect on her form of punishment.
• Lena Headey believed her character did not deserve such a cruel treatment despite her crimes.

Everyone hates Cersei Lannister for all the crimes she did, although many felt sorry for her after that controversial walk of shame in Season 5. Indeed, she deserved punishment for all her wrongdoings, but don’t you think forcing her to walk down the streets of King’s Landing without any clothes a bit too much?

Lena Headey in Game of Thrones / Credits: HBO

Even author George R.R. Martin was uncertain about how the audience would take that scene. He already anticipated the controversy that would arise after the release of that episode.

George R.R. Martin knew Cersei Lannister’s controversial scene would evoke mixed reactions

There were far more brutal scenes in Game of Thrones than Cersei Lannister’s walk of shame. Lena Headey worked with a body double to pull off that challenging scene, and she delivered that performance with so much conviction that she earned the sympathy of many viewers.

Let’s not forget that Cersei was a ruthless and cunning villain, and she was the culprit behind the deaths of many fan-favorite characters. Interestingly, George R.R. Martin knew what was coming when he wrote that scene (via EW): “It’s going to be a controversial scene when it comes out. [With observers asking]: ‘Is it misogynistic or feminist?’”

We know that Martin is a history buff, and he always takes inspiration from real-life events when writing his books. Cersei’s punishment was based on Jane Shore, one of King Edward IV’s mistresses, who was forced to suffer a penance walk through London in the 15th century.

Lena Headey in Game of Thrones / Credits: HBO

Martin explained that the walk of shame was “a punishment directed at women to break their pride,” and since Cersei was defined by her pride, the penalty was intended to destroy her self-esteem. The issue lies with the execution made by the showrunners for television.

They claimed that most of the shots were via first-person point of view because they wanted the audience to see and feel what Cersei was going through when people were hurling tomatoes and eggs at her and throwing insults. If this was what they intended, they should have focused on this perspective, not on showing too much of the actress’ bare body.

This was what Martin wanted the audience to ponder after watching the contentious walk of atonement, as some would think it’s merely an act of misogyny rather than a suitable punishment.

Lena Headey wasn’t happy with Cersei Lannister’s walk of shame

Lena Headey in Game of Thrones / Credits: HBO

Even Headey did not agree with how her character was treated. She’s aware of Cersei’s crimes, but being beaten, starved, and humiliated in front of a crowd was just too much. She told EW:

Cersei has done wrong, but she doesn’t really deserve this. I don’t think anyone deserves that treatment.

The famed villain has done so many unimaginable things in the show, and many want her dead, so why not just kill her off? Evidently, that’s not how it works in the show. For years, s*xual violence and humiliation had become a tool in filmmaking and television to make the viewers feel the least amount of compassion towards female antagonists.

Game of Thrones is currently available to watch on HBO.

Written by Ariane Cruz

Articles Published: 2815

Ariane Cruz, Senior Writer. She has been contributing articles for FandomWire since 2021, mostly covering stories about the latest movies and series. With a degree in Communication Arts, she has an in-depth knowledge of print and broadcast journalism. Her other works can also be seen on Screen Rant and CBR.