I remember the exact moment Game of Thrones sucked me in. In Season 1, Episode 4, Catelyn Stark, played by Michelle Fairley, stood in a tavern surrounded by allies of House Stark. After inadvertently pushing these houses to re-pledge their allegiance to House Stark, she commands them to apprehend Tyrion Lannister. The harsh sounds of unsheathing swords fill the room, and Caetlyn stands tall among men.
This small act of power was captivating, asserting that Catelyn, a woman who despite the environment she lived in, was not afraid to resort to violence if it meant protecting what she held dear. This scene is only eclipsed by the actions of Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke), freeing the Unsullied Army while ordering the brutal and very much deserved deaths of the slavers and their accomplices.
We were not starved for more instances of powerful heroines and antagonists throughout the series. Viewers watched as these women, even if bound by the constraints of the patriarchy, still managed to control their narratives and step into their power as the show progressed. These women were not afraid to use violence to fight for themselves and what they believed in.
