George R.R. Martin Discusses That Controversial Scene in Sunday's 'Game of Thrones'

Spoilers!

I can't be the only "Game of Thrones" fanatic who was left feeling disturbed after Sunday's episode entitled "Breaker of Chains." And not for the usual (you know, the "good kind of bad") reasons.

In the third episode of (an already amazing) third season, viewers are left with a bad feeling in their guts after Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) forces himself onto his sister/lover Cersei (Lena Headey) in a distressing sexual scene rendered even more alarming by the fact that it all takes place next to - and even on - the body of their murdered son, King Joffrey.

In the scene, it seems pretty apparent that Jaime, who had otherwise worked himself up into being a likeable and sympathetic character after a rocky beginning (pushing a little boy out of a window doesn't make a great first impression), ruins this by raping his sister and former lover.

They begin by kissing, but when Jaime's false hand touches her face, Cersei pulls away. Jaime then forces himself on her, as Cersei says "no" multiple times and struggles to get away from him. Jamie manages to have his way with her despite her protests.

Author George R.R. Martin, who penned the original novel series, claims that this scene is not, despite all appearances, a rape.

"Though the time and place is wildly inappropriate and Cersei is fearful of discovery, she is as hungry for him as he is for her," he says on his blog.

Fans have been in an uproar over the exchange, especially because in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, the scene is written as consensual. Weird, but consensual.

"Neither character is in the same place as in the books, which may be why [the scene] played... differently. But that's just my surmise," Martin says of the dramatic change the television adaptation presents. He adds that, while he always planned for that moment "to be disturbing" to viewers: "I do regret if it has disturbed people for the wrong reasons."

Episode helmer Alex Graves defends his decision to make the scene extra gritty.

"That's one of my favorite scenes I've ever done... it becomes consensual by the end, because anything for them ultimately results in a turn-on, especially a power struggle."

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, in describing the scene to The Daily Beast, says, "There are moments where [Cersei] gives in, and moments when she pushes him away. But it's not pretty." When asked if it is rape, he points out, "Yes and no."

There's no "yes and no" for many viewers out there, despite Martin's original intentions.

"This scene is unambiguously a rape scene," notes The Vulture in a furious article "Yes, of Course That was Rape on Last Nights' 'Game of Thrones."

"How could anyone possibly think this is what consent looks like?"

Many viewers are upset, not only because they watched an unanticipated and disturbing rape, but because of the implications it will have on the characters, not present in the books. Jamie's appeal as a character takes a huge hit, and Cersei's power diminishes significantly with this exchange. Will the show gloss over this rough moment and pick up in the novel where it left off, ignoring what we just witnessed?

Fans, what was your opinion of the scene?