Last year, or maybe the year before, several people suggested that I watch Game of Thrones. I rented the first season from the local video store and settled in to watch. I didn’t get through the first episode.
Why?
- Rape
- Gore
- Extreme violence
- Incest
- Murder
I was disgusted and repulsed by what I saw.
Then …
A month ago, I decided to try watching it, again. I skipped the first episode, then watched the second and third. I was hooked.
Nothing really changed except that, at least a few women, came forward as stronger than I initially thought they were. That’s what kept me watching.
After a main character was killed, something interesting happened to me. First, I was shocked the author did it. It made sense, but I didn’t expect it, especially the timing of it. Second, I became less attached to all of the characters. I figured that if the author could kill off that first character so easily, then he could do it again, and again. Over time, I found myself wishing he’d kill off certain characters. (I’m looking at you Joffrey and Cersei.) And, third, I became desensitized to the violence I was watching.
That last point is what bothers me.
By the time I finished the final episode of season 4, I didn’t care about whether or not any character lived or died. Watching people lose limbs, heads, get stabbed, or poisoned no longer shocked me.
Originally, when I rejected this show, it was because I understood that it could be much like real life. I prefer escapism when I watch a show. I wasn’t interested in back-stabbing and vengeance. I didn’t want my head wrapped up in anger and hate before going to bed.
I understand why people like Game of Thrones. Who doesn’t want to see someone finally get theirs? (That doesn’t happen fast enough in this series, and sometimes not at all, depending what character you’re aligning yourself with. As I mentioned, I got past the point of attachment, so this doesn’t matter to me.)
My takeaway is this: I never thought I could be influenced by violence to the degree that I was while watching Game of Thrones. I’m not comfortable becoming so desensitized to it. I also don’t think my detachment from the characters is a good thing. While I find the story itself interesting, I don’t care if the characters live or die. Not anymore.
When season 5 is available, I might watch it, but I doubt I’ll be hooked anymore. I see violence all around me. Why would I want to spend my free time focusing on that? There’s no pleasure in it for me.
What about you? How do you react to TV violence?
KDM