Herbie Murray
In the Game of Thrones episode A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Arya Stark and Gendry have a sex scene that some fans found difficult to watch. The official HBO Twitter account clarified that Arya is of age, but some viewers questioned whether the scene was appropriate, given that Gendry was an adult when he first met a preteen Arya. Actor Joe Dempsie, who plays Gendry, said that the scene felt slightly strange because he had known actress Maisie Williams, who plays Arya, since she was 11 or 12 years old. Williams was 22 when the scene was filmed, and sources estimate that Arya is 18 at the time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Arya's age when she slept with Gendry | 18 years old |
| Gendry's age range | 23 to 27 years old |
| Maisie Williams's age when the show began | 11 or 12 years old |
| Maisie Williams's age when the scene was filmed | 20 or 22 years old |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Arya's agency in the scene
In the scene where Arya sleeps with Gendry, she is 18 years old. The actress who plays her, Maisie Williams, was 22 at the time.
Arya's decision to sleep with Gendry can be interpreted as her accepting the possibility of her impending death and wanting to experience intimacy before that happens. This interpretation is supported by a quote from the show's showrunner, David Benioff, who said, "It's our last night together and everyone, I think, would face the end in different ways."
Additionally, the scene can be seen as a moment where Arya reconnects with her humanity after years of being focused on survival, training, and revenge. As the actress who plays her, Maisie Williams, said: "It was really interesting because it's a very human relationship for Arya."
However, some fans have expressed discomfort with the scene due to the age difference between Arya and Gendry, and the fact that Gendry has known her since she was a preteen. While both characters are consenting adults at the time of the scene, the optics of their relationship have been described as "slightly strange" by some viewers.
Coughing Child: Understanding Nighttime Symptoms
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The actors' age difference
In the popular TV series Game of Thrones, the actors who play Arya and Gendry, Maisie Williams and Joe Dempsie, respectively, have an age difference of about a decade, with Williams being 22 and Dempsie being 31 at the time of filming the scene. Williams joined the cast of Game of Thrones when she was just 12 years old and has since grown up in front of the fans, allowing them to witness her transition from a young girl to a 20-something woman.
Dempsie, on the other hand, has known Williams since she was a pre-teen and shared that filming the intimate scene with her was slightly strange due to their age difference and their long-standing acquaintance. However, he also acknowledged that Williams was a grown woman and that they both had fun with the scene.
The ages of the characters they play, Arya and Gendry, are a bit tricky to pinpoint. While Arya's age is stated on-screen as 11 in an early season one episode, and with seven years having elapsed in the show's timeline, she would be 18. Gendry's age, however, is less clear. He is the illegitimate son of Robert Baratheon and a skilled blacksmith when we first meet him, indicating that he is likely in his late teens or early 20s. The novels suggest Gendry is about five years older than Arya, which would put him at 16 in season one and 23 by the time of their intimate scene.
Understanding Your Baby's Sleep Squirming
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Arya's character development
In the second season of *Game of Thrones*, Arya Stark and Gendry Baratheon meet as they both travel with the Night's Watch recruits. Arya is disguised as a boy to hide her identity and for protection as she is on the run from House Lannister. Gendry, who is also being pursued by the Lannisters for being the illegitimate son of the last king, discovers that Arya is a girl, and she confesses her identity to him. He promises to keep her secret.
After reuniting in season 8, Arya and Gendry consummate their relationship. Arya is 18 years old at this point, while Gendry is estimated to be between 23 and 27 years old. The actors playing the characters, Maisie Williams and Joe Dempsie, are 22 and 31 years old, respectively.
Arya's decision to sleep with Gendry on the eve of the great Winterfell battle against the Army of the Dead reflects her acceptance of the possibility of death tomorrow, a stark contrast to her usual attitude of "Not Today." It is a moment where she embraces her humanity and engages with emotions and experiences she had stayed away from in her laser-focused pursuit of survival, training, and revenge.
This development in Arya's character highlights her willingness to confront her mortality and explore her feelings, even in the face of impending danger. It adds depth to her character and showcases her growth as an individual. The scene also underscores the strong connection between Arya and Gendry, indicating that their relationship goes beyond mere physical attraction.
Ideal Sleeping Positions for Seniors
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The scene's textual and practical issues
The scene in which Arya and Gendry sleep together in *Game of Thrones* caused some controversy among fans. The controversy centred on the textual and practical issues surrounding the scene, particularly regarding the ages of the characters and the actors who play them.
In the scene, Arya and Gendry are both consenting adults. However, when the characters first met, Arya was a preteen, and Gendry was already a skilled blacksmith, indicating that he was at least in his late teens. This has made the scene uncomfortable for some viewers, as it appears to sexualise a young girl. This discomfort is compounded by the fact that the actors who play Arya and Gendry, Maisie Williams and Joe Dempsie, have known each other since Williams was 11 or 12 years old.
The age of Arya at the time of the scene is a subject of debate. Some sources claim that she is 18, as seven years have elapsed since the first season, during which she stated her age as 11. However, other sources question the official clarification of her age, pointing out inconsistencies in the show's timeline. For example, Baby Sam, who was born in season three, should only be two or three years old, but this doesn't seem to align with the amount of time that has passed in the story.
Gendry's age is even more ambiguous. Estimates range from 23 to 27, with the *A Song of Ice and Fire* novels indicating that he is about five years older than Arya, which would put him at around 23. However, in one episode, Gendry mentions that he has worked for the blacksmith Tobho Mott for ten years, which could suggest that he is older.
The scene has also been defended by some fans who argue that watching Arya grow into a woman and assert her sexual agency is an important aspect of her character development. They argue that the scene is fully consensual and that it humanises Arya, showing her in touch with her emotions and accepting the possibility of her impending death.
Sleep Patterns of One-Year-Olds: What's Typical?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The show's timeline
Gendry's age, however, is less clear. He is the illegitimate son of Robert Baratheon and a skilled blacksmith when we first meet him, indicating that he is likely in his late teens or early twenties in the early seasons. The novels suggest Gendry is about five years older than Arya, placing him around 23 years old when they sleep together.
The relationship between Arya and Gendry has also been a source of discomfort for some viewers. While both are consenting adults when they sleep together, Gendry was an adult when he first met the preteen Arya, which makes their dynamic uncomfortable for some fans.
Despite the timeline confusion, Arya and Gendry's scene is significant for Arya's character development. Year after year, Arya has been focused on survival, training, and revenge. Her moment with Gendry shows her reconnecting with her humanity and accepting the possibility of death tomorrow.
Newborn Sleep: Heavy Sleeping Patterns Explained
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Arya is 18 years old when she sleeps with Gendry.
Gendry's age is never confirmed, but estimates range from 23 to 27.
Arya and Gendry sleep together on the eve of the great Winterfell battle against the Army of the Dead. Arya accepts that she might die the next day and wants to know what sex feels like before that happens.
Some fans found the scene hard to watch because Gendry was an adult when he first met the preteen Arya, making the optics of their eventual sexual encounter uncomfortable.
Williams felt that the scene was important because it showed Arya engaging with her humanity and experiencing a very human relationship. She also appreciated being able to decide how much nudity to show during the scene.
