This Scene In 'Game of Thrones' Is 'The Most Paused Scene In Television History,' The Internet Concludes

22/05/2011

Game of Thrones is a fantasy television series based on A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of novels by George R.R. Martin.

The show takes place in a fictional world, primarily focusing on the continents of Westeros and Essos. Westeros is home to the Seven Kingdoms, ruled from the Iron Throne in King's Landing. Essos is a vast continent to the east, with various cities, kingdoms, and cultures

The show that first aired on HBO in April 2011, before spanning until eight seasons, has made it become a global cultural phenomenon.

Due to having intricate plotlines, complex characters, political intrigue, and unpredictable twists, GoT has left an indelible mark on pop culture.

And in Season 1, there is one scene that helped GoT become what it's destined to become.

Ros, portrayed by Esmé Bianco.
Ros, portrayed by Esmé Bianco.

In one of the episodes at Season 1, Theon Greyjoy is introduced as a character who is known for his hedonistic and somewhat arrogant demeanor. He is not one of the main protagonists, but as a character that still deeply impact to the overall story.

In one of the scenes, Theon, played by Alfie Allen, is on horseback eyeing on Ros, a prostitute portrayed by Esmé Bianco.

The scene became infamous for its sexual nature, and Ros’s appearance made her a memorable character.

Ros was first introduced in Season 1, many of which is in the context of Winterfell’s brothel that serves as a place for certain characters to indulge in casual, often transactional, relationships.

Portrayed as confident, assertive, and playful, she is often seen performing her duties in the brothel with a knowing and flirtatious manner. And one of her clients, is Theon.

Theon fell for Ros, and this can be seen during one sex encounter, where he notices that she is wearing a gift from Tyrion Lannister, another man he met earlier. This angers him and that he refuses to pay Ros for her services.

Ros suggests that he gets a wife instead, infuriating Theon further.

However, Theon's anger with Ros does not last, and in another scene in Episode 6 (A Golden Crown), he sees her sitting in the back of a turnip cart.

Theon stops her, but unsuccessfully tries to persuade her to stay. She explains that war is imminent and the men (and her customer base) of Winterfell are destined to leave soon and probably never return; her departure is thus an economically essential decision. She tells him she is planning to board a boat out of White Harbor.

Theon throws her a coin to get her to raise her skirt one last time.

"Let me see it one more time," Theon requests Ros, as the two part ways.

"See what? she asks.

Theon then points at his lower part of his body, before throwing her a coin.

Ros catches the coin in mid air, before flashing her genitals, and laughs.

"I'm going to miss you," Theon then says.

"I know," she flirtatiously answers.

Born in 1982, Esmé Augusta Bianco is a British actress and neo-burlesque performer, who is later best known for her recurring roles as Ros on Game of Thrones.

While Game of Thrones is known for its bold storytelling, it’s also infamous for its frequent use of sexposition—a term used to describe scenes where sexual content is interwoven with exposition or plot development.

The term combines "sex" and "exposition," and is used to describe moments where characters are shown engaging in sexual acts, and during or around those acts, important plot details, character motivations, or world-building are revealed. It’s a technique that Game of Thrones often employed, using nudity or sex scenes as a vehicle for exposition rather than just shock value.

In the early seasons of GoT, brothel scenes and intimate moments were frequently used to deliver critical information about characters and their relationships, motivations, and political alliances.

And Ros is one of the key figures in this dynamics, particularly in these early seasons.

Esmé Bianco's character often finds herself at the center of these scenes, and her interactions with key characters—especially Theon Greyjoy and Tyrion Lannister—help set the stage for both character development and plot progression.

Ros, portrayed by Esmé Bianco.
A scene where Ros gets intimate with Theon Greyjoy in a brothel.

The frequent use of sex as a tool for storytelling in Game of Thrones is something that has drawn both praise and criticism.

While sex is simulated, it frequently shows frontal nudity, which can be offensive to some viewers.

While sexposition can adds an undeniable element of realism to the world-building, as well as highlighting the power imbalances and complex relationships that define the social and political spheres of Westeros, some viewers argue that the frequent use of sexual content, particularly in the form of sexposition, can feel gratuitous or exploitative, especially when it seems disconnected from the main plot.

With characters like Ros, sexposition serves multiple functions: it offers insight into the characters, moves the story forward, and creates a sense of the power dynamics that drive the narrative.

And the internet is always drawn to what they think is debatable, or sexual in nature.

And seeing red-haired Ros flashing her genitals, which include her pubic hair, is certainly a scene worth discussing.

In fact, the discussion continues to the next decade, where people are still sharing the scenes on social media platforms.

Further reading: The Fiery Online Hunt For That Final Frames That Show Kate Winslet's Pubic Hair In 'Titanic'