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    “House Of The Dragon” Star Matt Smith Said It’s “A Shame” That TV Is Being “Dumbed Down” With “Trigger Warnings”

    By Stephanie Soteriou,

    24 days ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2JLxce_0vI7E71o00

    Matt Smith has had his say on the way that audiences consume media in 2024 — admitting that he fears the entire concept has been “dumbed down” by “trigger warnings.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1zj9xp_0vI7E71o00

    For context, British actor Matt got his big break when he was cast as the Eleventh Doctor in the hit BBC series Doctor Who back in 2009.

    Since then, he has starred in a plethora of TV shows and movies. Most notably, he played Prince Philip in The Crown between 2016 and 2017 before landing the role of Daemon Targaryen in the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon , which premiered in 2022.

    While George R.R. Martin, who wrote the books on which the series is based, has insisted that Daemon is a “ gray character ” morally, many fans of the show would argue that he is undeniably a villain.

    And Matt reflected on this during a recent interview with the Times , where he was asked if he “wants to play polarizing” characters.

    Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images

    “100 per cent!” Matt gleefully told the publication. “That’s the fucking point. We should be telling morally difficult stories, nowadays in particular.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1OT2UU_0vI7E71o00

    The star went on to reflect on how the world has evolved in recent years, arguing that warning audiences about what is coming up has softened the viewing experience.

    HBO / Via youtube.com

    “It’s OK to feel uncomfortable or provoked while looking at a painting or watching a play, but I worry everything’s being dialed and dumbed down,” Matt said. “We’re telling audiences they’re going to be scared before they’ve watched something.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=05x8x9_0vI7E71o00

    He then specifically mentioned “trigger warnings,” which the Times described as a “tedious modern idea that adults cannot cope with being upset by art.”

    If you’re unaware, trigger warnings have become increasingly common for TV shows, with a content advisory often featuring before the start of an episode to warn unassuming viewers of potentially upsetting content ahead, such as suicide or sexual assault.

    While most have praised the evolution of trigger warnings in recent years, they have also come under some scrutiny from people who argue that they force spoilers upon the audience.

    For example, the shock of a character’s sudden death in Season 1 of The Morning Show was undeniably softened by the suicide advisory that flashed up before the episode began.

    The same can be said for a disturbing sexual assault scene in the Netflix series Baby Reindeer , which viewers knew was coming because of the pre-episode trigger warning.

    But rather than criticize them from a spoiler perspective, Matt fears that trigger warnings ultimately end up “policing” narratives.

    Lia Toby / Getty Images

    “Isn’t being shocked, surprised, stirred the point?” he asked. “Too much policing of stories and being afraid to bring them out because a climate is a certain way is a shame. I’m not sure I’m on board with trigger warnings.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0hoWTc_0vI7E71o00

    Recalling his own youth, Matt added: “I used to go to a local video shop and get Slither , Basic Instinct , Disclosure — all these erotic thrillers. I was way too young to be watching them.”

    Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images

    The Season 2 finale of House of the Dragon aired last month. Matt will also appear in the third season, which is expected to premiere in 2026.

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