On Tuesday, Sen. Claire McCaskill declared on Twitter that she was done with Game of Thrones after Sunday’s episode portrayed the brutal rape of a primary character. McCaskill wasn’t the only one offended. “Game of Thrones” has whipsawed its viewers before — the infamous “Red Wedding” episode brought howls of protest — but in general fans have stood up for the show, noting that George R.R. Martin’s source novels are, if anything, even more graphic. The show’s regular doses of sex and violence have long had critics wondering whether the show pushes the envelope too much. And it’s not the first show to do so. Other legendary programs such as The Sopranos, Breaking Bad and even Seinfeld have sometimes literally pushed the envelope on what viewers want to see on television.
