Because HBO is a premium channel that doesn't have to worry about network rules and advertisers, they have the freedom to be free of censorship. What results is a ton of graphic sex scenes coming from the majority of its original programming, as well as horrifying violence and gore in some shows. Game of Thrones contains both in spades, and Emilia Clarke has bared all quite a few times during the show's long run. And she's recently revealed why one of her love scenes prompted the actress to thank the showrunners. And it all has to do with Dany's ex-flame Daario Naharis.
Ahead of Game of Thrones' impending Season 7 premiere, Emilia Clarke did an interview and cover shoot for Elle. While speaking about her starring role as Dany, she revealed that Season 4's sex scene with Daario was so important: because it showed Dany as the more dominant and powerful person in bed. She said,
It's brilliant. I actually went up to [GoT co-creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss] and thanked them. I was like, 'That's a scene I've been waiting for!' Because I get a lot of crap for having done nudes scenes and sex scenes. That, in itself, is so anti-feminist. Women hating on other women is just the problem. That's upsetting, so it's kind of wonderful to have a scene where I was like, 'There you go!'
While it's sad to hear the backlash that Emilia Clarke has received for her various nude scenes in Game of Thrones, this particular pairing with Daario was a game changer for the character. She embraced her sexuality and needs, and Stella got her Westerosi groove back.
The scene in question happened back in Season 4. After meeting the young Khaleesi, Daario Naharis was clearly very enamored by the breaker of chains. And while she turned down his advances for a number of episodes, Dany's primal desires eventually took hold. In her chambers in Meereen, she introduced Daario to promptly remove his clothes, as she watched and had a sip of wine. What a queen. As a reminder, check out that scene below.
This is in stark contrast to Dany's earliest sex scene, on the night of her wedding to Khal Drogo. The child bride was inexperienced and terrified of her new husband, and Drogo was much more of a savage in those days. What resulted was a sex scene that was extremely uncomfortable and painful to watch, as Dany wept mid-coitus.
But Dany has bigger fish to fry in the upcoming seventh season, as she arrived in Westeros to begin conquering. In fact, she left Daario behind to she could focus at the job at hand.
Game of Thrones will return for Season 7 this Sunday, July 16th. Be sure to check out our summer premiere list to plan your next binge watch.
