On a recent reread of GOT I was struck by the dramatic irony that Arya is so consumed by the unfairness of not being beautiful or allowed to pursue a martial career, while the reader has the knowledge that she seems destined to be both a beauty and a deadly assassin in the future. Meanwhile Sansa who Arya perceives as living a charmed life, will soon find her beauty and marriageable status become a curse and her dreams of being a noble wife and queen become a nightmare. Arya and Jon also comment on the fact that "girls get the arms but not the swords, bastards get the swords but not the arms" Considering that Jon may be named as Robb's heir, and become a Stark in name, while Arya is becoming a deadly warrior while abandoning her Stark identity both to survive and later in becoming a Faceless Man. Just brilliant writing as usual by George.
Almost midnight here, so once again I shall come back many times over the next few days. Arya was loved by all in the show and as a reader I still can't help rooting for her even though she has become very dark.
Great episode. My only minor complaint is at about 49:00: Why would it be unfair to put Sansa with the Lannisters after the Micah incident? She clearly sided with them. Not only did she not remember what happened when Robert asked her, she also told Arya to stop when she attacked Joffrey, but she didn't say a word when Joffrey tried to KILL Arya. A lot of people say Sansa should not be blamed for her actions in the first book because she was stupid, inexperienced and naive. While her choices in the conflict between Cersei and Ned may be forgivable for this reason, blaming Arya and not Joffrey for this incident is not. How intelligent, experienced and mature do you have to be to realize that torturing a child for fun is wrong?
Thanks so much Lady Gwen and Yolk boy!! I've been waiting for this one for many years and so glad you managed to get around to it! I am also eagerly looking forward to your upcoming episodes on the Others and Children of Forrest/ skinchangers, keep up the amazing work! The community would be lost without you
There is something so fascinating about Arya Stark. Her whole story is that of one losing her identity and constantly becoming someone else. It's something that reflects in other main characters as well. George seems to have done this on purpose. Yet with Arya I can't help but think it's the other way around. She somehow wants to get rid of her identity, it hurts too much. But she'll never will be able to. It's becomes clear to me, that unlike the rest of the characters, she somehow can never truly get rid of her own self, her own identity. That wolf in her is still there and refuses to leave. And it's that what keeps me hoping that there is still a possibility of a not so grim ending for her that I initially first thought. It doesn't matter if she is Arry, Weasle, Cat or Mercy, because somewhere deep inside her, a voice screams that the North remembers and winter, is finnaly here.
