HBO president of programming Michael Lombardo said that Games of Thrones sex and violence are there for a reason. This statement is response to critics who claim that the network is allowing too many graphic scenes of violence, sex, and rape in its TV shows, especially the hit series Games of Thrones.
"I personally don't see myself as a libertine," Lombardo said while speaking to the audiences of the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival.
"I don't think [graphic scenes] have ever been without any purpose. Dan [Weiss] and Dave [Benioff] are two very sober, thoughtful men. They have books as a map. Which involve wars, violence, sex. We have certainly not given them an edict or a note that they need to tone down the sexual content in the show."
One particular part of the show that raised a lot of eyebrows was the incestuous, rape scene between twins Jamie and Cersei Lannister.
"I appreciate there was some controversy and it generated a conversation about what consensual sex is and isn't," Lombardo said.
"People responsible for programming have two responsibilities. To be responsible, not to have sex and violence that's gratuitous. That is certainly not who we are. At the same time we don't want to be a censor that inhibits the authentic organic creative process by policing how many breasts should be on a show."
Whether the network will request for Game of Thrones sex and violence to be toned down, we'll never know. One thing is for sure though. Author George R.R. Martin will not stop killing huge characters. During an event at the Freemason's Hall in London, Martin responded to a question if there are characters he doesn't want to kill. Here is his reply:
"The way my books are structured, everyone was together, then they all went their separate ways and the story deltas out like that. And now it's getting to the point where the story is beginning to delta back in. The viewpoint characters are meeting up with each other and being in the same point at the same time ... which gives me a lot more flexibility for killing people."
