My girlfriend (27) is saying that I (25) can’t watch certain shows
My girlfriend of 5 years is upset and concerned with me watching shows with specific aspects and themes throughout them. The list is mainly including shows that have violence, gore, rape, and etc.
It started years ago during Game of Thrones. She would watch with my family and I as we were invested into the series at the time. She would come to me and tell me that she was uncomfortable with the show and that I needed to look away when rape scenes would come on. I disagreed as it does not disgust me to that point, I don’t think anything does. Mind you, I don’t cheer for it or revel in the fact that it is there. It does make me uncomfortable, which I assume is the purpose of the scene (and the emotion to have to it).
This has extended to other shows like The Boys, which I have not watched the newest season of as I did not want to stir up any commotion, as well as the newest one from the past few days: Peaky Blinders.
I started Peaky Blinders as it was recommended and sounded interesting. We were both unaware of the show. After I mentioned I started watching a couple episodes, she immediately started looking it up and said “You can’t watch this.” I was not asked to consider anything and the is bothersome. After some back and forth I agreed to just skip any rape scenes (the concern at the time). Then I was told to skip all the scenes where the characters are not clothed. Ok.
Following to the next day, she’s looking it up again and saying there is too much gore and that it’s disgusting that I would watch a show like that. I’m being told that she’s considering ending the relationship because I am interested in shows with those aspects and can’t grow up to watch “good shows”.
I understand that they are bad qualities. I am watching the shows for production and storyline, not for the torture, violence, gore, and rape. Personally, I don’t think I should be disallowed to watch shows as such as I don’t fantasize, look forward to, or get influenced by those scenes.
With all of this, I am looking for perspective. Perspective for her side and for mine. I don’t understand being so polarized on something like this, and I also don’t understand myself enough to explain it any better to give an understanding.