In fact, I have a general problem with how nudity and sex is given such a ludicrously exagerated importance (not just in movies). It seems to me that our societies are completely nevrotic about it.
And it works both way.
Nudity was essentially required in this episode’s last scene. The widling gilr’s attempt to seduce Ramsay makes complete sense. That people could be bothered by that seems absurd. Ok, most people still watching GoT presumably aren’t, especially people posting on this “open-minded” board. But plenty have been bothered by the quasi-rape scene and the marital rape scene, for instance (but mysteriously not much by the first sex scene between Danaerys and Drogo
), and thought that such scenes shouldn’t be shown. What did they expect given the settings and the characters involved? And how comes marital rape should be censored in a show that doesn’t shy from showing people flayed, and kids hung or burned alive (on top of it, by “good” characters, even)?
It seems absolutely non-sentical to me. As I wrote, nevrotic. If you can handle your favorite hero hanging a kid (maybe even cheers when he does so), think that burning one’s own daughter alive makes sense from a specific character’s point of view, believe that another character can redeem himself after throwing a third kid out of a window, how can you be shocked when seeing a totally expected marital rape by a known sadist (and in fact it wasn’t even shown, just heard)?
On the other hand, the scene with ambassadors being offered women was ludicrous and distracting. Why would Tyrion do such a thing? Especially knowing that the people he rules are going to be incensed by this action? Why would we believe for an instant that very important people coming to discuss matters of peace and war, of the preservation of their society would get distracted or influenced by being handed pretty girls to fuck (especially since they all have tons of slaves they can fuck whenever they want, it’s not like they must be highly frustrated). That’s IMO obviously intended to appeal to the prurient interest of the viewers (and presumably their frustation). It’s a filming trick. An obvious one. As distracting as the L-shaped sheets, for opposite reasons (or rather, for the same reason : that’s sex).
Similarly, why the fuck is Missandei going around wearing armored bras? It’s such a fantasy cliche. You can’t not notice it. There’s no valid reason to dress her like that except appealing to teenager gamers, I guess. And I don’t even dislike this cliche. I understand that it’s appealing. But there are tons of drawings and even pictures of “warrior princesses” in chainmail bra and loincloth around the web. You can create them in your favorite CRPG if you feel like it. What’s the need to put them in the middle of a show, distracting everybody who doesn’t care about Missandei bellybutton and would rather see the story unfold?
I’m totally fine with nudity and sex in a show. But this show (like all others, in fact) doesn’t hand it well. Half of the time at least (probably more than that, in fact), nudity and sex feel contrived, and, as many people have said, distracting. Either because they aren’t shown when they should or (more often) because they are shown when there’s no reason why they should. The whole thing is very awkward.