Arya Stark Actress Talks Game of Thrones Season Four Decisions

Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark on Game of Thrones, lets on how she feels on the character’s big decision in Game of Thrones’ fourth season finale.

Before you read on, it’s important to note that unless you’ve finished Game of Thrones’ fourth season, then what’s talked about below will spoil a very big plot point. So, proceed with that in mind. For those who watched the season four finale, you’ve no doubt seen the rather merciless (or merciful?) way Arya Star left Sandor Clegane — aka “The Hound” — to bleed to death after fighting with Brienne. Now, speaking to IGN, Maisie Williams weighs in on her character’s big decisions in the finale. She first talks about whether leaving Clegane to die on a rock alone was whether an act of mercy or revenge.

Arya’s been through so much up to this point in that she doesn’t know what’s right or wrong…She’s still trying to figure that out. She’s struggling to hold onto that little girl inside her, but she doesn’t know how to. It’s like when your mom says, ‘Go apologize to your brother,’ or, ‘I think you should apologize to me for what you’ve done wrong’ – as soon as someone says that, you immediately don’t want to, because you feel like it’s being forced. You know, he’s talking down to her and telling her how useless she is and how she doesn’t know what she’s doing and that I’m a dumb girl; she’s got these stupid dreams that are never going to come true. And then he turns around and asks her to kill him says, ‘You know where the heart is. Go on, girl.’ She’s just like, ‘You know what? I put my trust in you, and you’ve helped me out a lot, but I’m not going to give you this final thing that you want. I’m going to show you a lesson. You can’t treat people like this and get away with it forever.’ I think that’s what she’s trying to do. Plus, she doesn’t want to kill this guy. She makes it out like she’s this hard, bada** girl that has no emotions, but he has done a lot for her. Maybe not killing him is the worse outcome or whatever you want to call it, but she doesn’t want to kill him, and she wants him to finally take her seriously, and he does.

He looks at her and realizes that he’s created a bit of a monster…She’s really proud of that. Unfortunately, it’s a really dark way of getting that message across, but she does. People were really pissed about that, and you have every right to be — so was I — but I think they’re not looking at the bigger picture. People turn a blind eye to the kind of brutality that Arya’s been put through. They just enjoy her storyline because she has these sarcastic lines and her and the Hound are constantly bickering. That bit’s funny, and I think people really enjoy that, but it’s not real, unfortunately. Game of Thrones focuses on what’s real. So that’s why Arya leaves at the end

Regarding Brienne, Williams thinks that it’s due to all that “loyalty” and safety talk that ticked her character off somewhat, which is understandable given what has happened to Arya and her family so far.

think in Arya’s eyes Brienne just ruins it for herself when she starts talking about how she sworn to protect her mother and all this stuff about loyalty…That’s all she’s heard her whole life. That’s all she ever knew, was her family was these perfect people and did the right things and never wanted to upset anyone intentionally. Then she realized, actually, it doesn’t matter if you’re that person or not. It doesn’t count. No one is playing by the rules. I think when Brienne comes out with this spiel about safety and the Hound puts her in her place, Arya really kind of believes that and is like, ‘I understand you may be out to look after me, but nowhere is safe in this world.’ So that, again, is why she doesn’t go with Brienne.

For more Game of Thrones reading here on The Escapist, Jon Snow actor Kit Harington reveals he’s ordered by the show to “stay pale” due to being a Northerner.

What’s your take on Arya’s decisions on the finale before leaving for Braavos? Did she do the right thing or was ending Clegane’s suffering something she owed him?

Source: IGN