"Game of Thrones" first aired in 2011, and over the past few years, the show has successfully gained a huge fan base, as well as praise from both fans and critics.

As a fan of the show, I can confirm that its complex plot and long list of characters can be hard to keep up with at times, but the show does such a great job at creating a world that its audience can still relate to, leaving viewers in awe after almost every single episode.

However, a recent accusation against the show has created issues not only with some of the show’s actresses, but also with some of the show’s fans -- including myself. With the premiere of the sixth season approaching, critics have proclaimed their distaste for the show, claiming that it is sexist. These accusations most likely come from the various scenes throughout the show that show women being screamed at and called names, multiple rapes, and recently, Cersei Lannister’s naked walk of shame through the streets of a kingdom she once ruled. Although these scenes are demeaning and arguably support the sexist claims against the show, critics are failing to recognize an important aspect of the show, which is how many strong female characters it contains, as well as the way it depicts the development of women’s lives.

For example, Daenerys Targaryen, one of the main characters, played by actress Emilia Clarke, is perhaps one of the strongest female lead characters that I have seen on screen in a long time. Daenerys’ character starts off as a young girl abused by her brother and forced into a marriage for her family’s benefit, but develops into a strong queen who conquers several smaller kingdoms that have been enslaving its citizens. She has an army of men who are loyal to her, as well as three dragons who set people on fire at her command. Furthermore, Cersei Lannister (although a lot of fans despise her) is another character that exhibits strong female power, even if that power is used to destroy the lives of those who have crossed her.

Emilia Clarke has released a statement on these allegations, stating: “There’s so much controversy. Yet that’s what’s beautiful about Game of Thrones – its depiction of women in so many different stages of development. ... It shows the range that happens to women, and ultimately shows women are not only equal, but have a lot of strength.”

It is one thing if the show only portrays women in a derogatory way, but I think critics are missing an important part of the show that proves how the women depicted in this show can be as strong as, if not stronger than, the male characters on the show.