This week's Sand Snake scene was brought to you by the most beautiful woman in the world (or else) [book spoilers]

[Ferocious Veldt Roarer]

That's one of the funniest things I've read in years. Was it the way the camera lingered for uncomfortably long periods over her pert nipples that gave you the sense she was empowered?

Dunno, maybe it was because she held his life in her hand, not the other way around, and she, not him, was the one in control, even if her nipples were visible?

[ValrianSunni]

The entire scene, as previously pointed out, was just an excuse for the lovely Taena to show off her boobies. Not that I'm complaining; it was lovely to watch, and they are exquisitely pert, but even so I realise that the dialogue was beyond corniness, and the way that Bronn keeled over (before we find out he's been poisoned) as if he'd been overwhelmed by the sight of Taena's tits was just ridiculous. A very silly scene all round, but I can at least give it some leeway because it was enjoyable nonsense as opposed to just being flat out bad.

We knew he'd been poisoned when they showed the close up of her blade cutting into him in the previous episode. The scene is a power play on Tyene's part. She shows Bronn who's boss and let's him live so that he can pay her back later.

[Khal Boner]

If they ever introduce a 'best rack on tv' Emmy then Tyene will walk it.

[Good Guy Garlan]

Dunno, maybe it was because she held his life in her hand, not the other way around, and she, not him, was the one in control, even if her nipples were visible?

No, it isn't empowering and here's why: if the scene had played out the other way around, with Tyene getting poisoned and Bronn dangling the antidote in front of her, you can bet your ass D&D wouldn't have Jerome Flynn whip out his dick. Tyene is certainly not in power from a meta perspective because the character is forced into a sexualized depiction that doesn't apply to male characters in the show.

That's like saying throwing two naked chicks to fight to the death in the mud would be empowering because one of them holds the other's life in her hands.

[JonCon's Red Beard]

Why people believe that any time a woman is portrayed sexually or simply naked that's empowering? If it's done for the sake of being a bait for audience then it's not. It's exploitative. It's like the difference between advertising that plays subtly with sexual undertones and plain sexist advertising. It's not the same thing.

[Lord Eddard]

Empowering or exploitative - this scene alone made me and lots of others care so much more about the Dornish storyline. So thanks, D&D, mission accomplished! :)

[Gustavo Fringed Sleeves]

Too bad Emilia Clarke tightened up her nudity rider, in that case. I mean, you gotta make the masses interested in the heroine of the show (with St. Tyrion's permission, of course).

[JonCon's Red Beard]

Empowering or exploitative - this scene alone made me and lots of others care so much more about the Dornish storyline. So thanks, D&D, mission accomplished! :)

Thank you for proving my point.

[Lord Eddard]

Thank you for proving my point.

That D&D are doing a stellar job with the adaption and managed to make Dance actually interesting? You're welcome.

[ValrianSunni]

I like a bit of nudity. I think for the sake of female viewers it could be more even-handed, though. If this were UK funded, and for a predominantly UK audience, there would be equal amounts of naked women and men in it, which is only fair because it would be equally appealing to both sets of viewers: but American TV and Hollywood still has a baffling amount of prudery when it comes to the naked male form.

I'm going to protest.

MORE MALE NUDITY!! FULL FRONTAL!

In GRRM's world the men are naked too.

[Ferocious Veldt Roarer]

No, it isn't empowering and here's why: if the scene had played out the other way around, with Tyene getting poisoned and Bronn dangling the antidote in front of her, you can bet your ass D&D wouldn't have Jerome Flynn whip out his dick. Tyene is certainly not in power from a meta perspective because the character is forced into a sexualized depiction that doesn't apply to male characters in the show.

That's like saying throwing two naked chicks to fight to the death in the mud would be empowering because one of them holds the other's life in her hands.

So, Tyene made a different decision than Bronn would.

Of course, from your meta perspective, they all, man, woman and child, are but followers of the director's will. Even Lord Tywin Lannister, at his most commanding, was just doing what the script had told him to do. From a meta perspective, nobody's "empowered".

Your mud wrestling analogy looks like begging the question. "I assume it's sleazy and exploitative, and as proof I present my assumption that it's sleazy and exploitative".