The actress, who has portrayed Arya Stark since she was eleven years old, gives squirmy fans something else awkward to think about.
Maisie Williams is an adult and she made an adult decision to participate in a sex scene on the latest episode of "Game of Thrones," and she just doesn't have time for your problems with it.
The actress took to Twitter on Tuesday to hit back at fans who've been decrying the scene as awkward and uncomfortable because they'd been watching the character for the past decade on the show. When "Thrones" started, Maisie was 11 years old and Arya even younger.
Maisie Williams First Thought Arya's Sex Scene Was a Prank
View StoryNow, the actress is 22 and HBO went out of their way to make it very clear that Arya is 18 with this tweet, so there'd be no concerns about her being an adult before the partially nude scene. Nevertheless, it proved too much for many fans of the show.
And it's perhaps a testament to how slow the episode otherwise was that this is the main talking point coming out of it. Come this next installment -- which suggestions indicate will be a veritable bloodbath -- we'll all have probably forgotten about Ary and Gendry getting it on.
For now, though, it's the talk of the town, and Williams is well aware, taking to Twitter for the first time to goad the masses over their collective discomfort.
if u feel uncomfortable just know that my mother and my step dad and my 2 sisters and my 4 brothers have all probably watched this too ahahakillmeehehe
@Maisie_Williams
The tweet immediately went viral, garnering thousands of responses. And while she didn't seem to change anyone's minds, there is a healthy consortium of supporters who were pleased to see Arya take agency of her own burgeoning sexuality. They also noted this is one of the most normal and healthy sexual encounters seen yet on the dark and twisted fantasy epic.
Some fans were quick to point out that the scene was tastefully presented -- Williams was given full agency to show as little or as much of herself as she was comfortable with -- and seemed to be more about Gendry seeing the scars Arya has gained through her journey than sexualizing the character.
Yup Arya Stark Just Had Her First Sex Scene On 'Game of Thrones'
View StoryRemember this comes on the heels of several exchanges where she's proven to him how much she's grown and changed from the little girl he first met all those years ago. Throwing daggers into a post is impressive to show her prowess and skill. This moment of vulnerability shows what she's had to endure to become that strong woman.
Now that we've seen the softer and more human side of Arya, we fully expect the stone-cold badass we've enjoyed the past few seasons to come roaring back this weekend when the war with the Night King finally comes to Winterfell.
"Game of Thrones" airs its final episodes Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.
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