Game of Thrones

Overview

Based on the book series, A Song of Fire and Ice, by George R.R. Martin, the series is known for being extremely violent and gruesome. No character is ever safe, and it has been noted that, “If you like a character, they’ll die. Or worse.” The show covers every single horrible act conceivable and inconceivable, from incest to castration to rape.

Season 5 was notorious for it’s extreme violence against women. Seemingly gratuitous and exploitative to the point and veering far from storylines and depictions in the books, many people were ready to walk away and some did.

By Season 6 and Season 7 women rule the world. Yara Greyjoy is casually revealed as bisexual, a departure from her straight counterpart from the books (named Asha).

There have been a few overtly gay and bisexual men in the show, but depending on which of the Seven Kingdoms they were from, they were either closeted or lived openly (the Dornish). Oh and they are all dead.

As Martin himself says:

“I have a number of lesbian and bisexual women in the novels (and a couple who experiment), but Asha is not one of them. Unless I am forgetting something…”

For all the criticisms, the take on what it takes for vastly different types of women to survive and thrive in all seven kingdoms and beyond the Wall remains topical. At the end of the shortened Season 7, Yara is captive to her Uncle Euron, who in the books marries off Asha to a man she doesn’t know. We will have to wait and see what happens to Yara. Will Theon actually regrow a pair and successfully rescue her? Will Dany send in her dragons? We can hope. With Ellaria most likely dying a slow painful death, Yara would be the remaining known queer character in the realm.

Queer Plotline Timeline

Although Yara appears in Season 2, we don’t know about her sexuality until Season 6, Episode 7, “The Broken Man” when Yara, her brother Theon, and a bunch of Ironborn visit a brothel in Volantis where Yara happily partakes in the activities. Surprising as her character in the books (named Asha) is very obviously straight. Yara is one of the guys, hooking up while her broken brother looks on.

Theon: Why are we here? Yara: Some of us still like it. Yara To sex worker: Don’t go far, love. I’ll find you in a bit.

She proceeds to kiss her breasts and slap her ass, unapologetically sexual.

Yara to Theon: Nothing on the Iron Islands has an ass like that.

The scene ends with Yara using salty GoT language to clarify what she is about to do with the other woman In Season 6, Episode 9, “Battle of the Bastards,” Yara meets Daenerys Targaryen. They share mild flirtation as they make a pact. Season 7, Episode 2, “Stormborn,” Yara enjoys flirtation with Ellaria Sand, and they get in a kiss before their ship is attacked by Uncle Euron. At the end of Season 7, her fate is unknown as she is held captive by her evil Uncle Euron.

Notable Queer-Centric Episodes

Season 6, Episode 7 “The Broken Man” – Yara Greyjoy, her brother Theon and a fleet of Ironborn end up at a brothel in Volantis. Here we learn that Yara likes action with the ladies, as she grabs a prostitute and proceeds to make out with her.
Season 6, Episode 9 – “Battle of the Bastards” – Yara Greyjoy finally has the pleasure of meeting Daenerys Targaryen and the sexual tension is as thick as Valyrian steel. The banter between these two potential queens highlights the best in both.
Season 7, Episode 2 – “Stormborn” – Yara Greyjoy and Ellaria Sand leave Dragonstone. On the Narrow Sea they finally get an opportunity to flirt and share a kiss only to be interrupted by a mass attack of the fleet. Yara leaves Ellaria to defend her ship and fight off her evil Uncle Euron.
Season 7, Episode 3 – “The Queen’s Justice” – Abandoned by her damaged brother Theon, captured by her murderous Uncle Euron, Yara is paraded through the streets of King’s Landing along with Ellaria Sand and her daughter Tyene.