George RR Martin, ‘Game of Thrones’ Creators Didn’t Agree on How Khaleesi-Khal Drogo’s Intimate Scenes Would Play Out

The author said how a consensual love-making scene in the book between Khaleesi and Khal Drogo was changed to a sexual assault scene in the show without his permission or consultation. He said the change made it worse and not better.

Show’s co-creator David Benioff defended the decision and said that in the show, Khaleesi was absolutely terrified of the barbarian warlord she was being married off to and hence having consensual sex on the wedding night would have been the last thing in the world she wanted. He said that part did not fit well with the story line and hence it had to be changed.

DB Weiss, show’s co-creator, also said that in the second episode, Khaleesi does go back to the less consensual, rougher relationship. The consensual relationship works in the book but the creators did not have that amount of time and access to the character’s mind when adapting it for the show.

Weiss mentioned how the actors also felt the same. He said that Emilia Clarke, who played the role of Khaleesi, did express having issues with the wedding night scene but agreed with the creators’ decision.