Game of Thrones thrives on controversy. Which is why, on occasion, it has crossed an invisible line where the boundaries of taste and decency have been seemingly abandoned, and all those who choose to gaze upon the show, week after week, are left to bathe in the blood of frequent scenes that are perhaps best described as... well, "really horrific." Yes, George R.R. Martin's original books are well-known for their questionable attitude towards subjects such as death and sex and violence, but HBO's television adaptation seems to relish the opportunity to take these aspects to new heights entirely - almost as a way of keeping its audience base riveted to their seats. In all honesty, it kind of works. So whilst Game of Thrones is the most popular show on television, that does not mean for a second that it manages to refrain from upsetting people in their masses from time to time (read as: every other week). Here, then, are 8 times that HBO's fantasy epic might have taken things a little bit too far, be it with violence, sex, or an unsettling blend of the two... If you're not currently up to date with the show, be warned: there are spoilers ahead.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
