7 Things Game Of Thrones Toned Down For TV

2. Sandor Clegane's Rape Attempt Omitted

While many controversial scenes from the books were only toned down, a few were omitted entirely. One of the most notable was the scene in the books where the Hound, Sandor Clegane, deserts during the battle of Blackwater, forces his way into Sansa's room, seems to consider raping her (and later tells Arya that he 'should have raped her when he had the chance') and offers to take her with him when he leaves King's Landing.

Understandably Sansa politely rejects his offer and stays with the Lannisters who, while abusive, are at least predictable. In the TV series the interaction between the two of them does not include implications. The series has also been praised by some critics for depicting rape as unpleasant and uncomfortable viewing as opposed to fetishising it (although the portrayals of rape, sex and female agency remain a divisive topic).

Perhaps this is why the writers decided to cast Sansa's relationship with the Hound (a popular fan couple despite the difference in ages) in a less blatantly exploitative light, leaving in a scene where he slaughters three men attempting to rape her but removing any suggestion he considered doing the same thing himself.

His later reference to Arya is changed to one about how he prevented her sister from being raped, which is probably far more likely to garner sympathy not only from Arya but from the show's fans.