21 Game of Thrones Characters as Disney Songs

Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO

7. Brienne of Tarth: “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”

"(Be a man) You must be swift as a coursing river (Be a man) With all the force of a great typhoon (Be a man) With all the strength of a raging fire Mysterious as the dark side of the moon —Mulan"

Is this too obvious? Or is it just perfect? My money’s on the latter.

Not only does the tune represent Brienne’s battle aptitude and readiness, but the theme of the song is prevalent in her character arc as well. “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” is about upsetting gender norms. When it first plays, Mulan struggles to keep up but ultimately succeeds in becoming swift as a coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon. Its reprisal comes later in the film, when Mulan & Pals doll themselves up to gain entrance to the emperor’s palace without suspicion. It just goes to show that women can—gasp—accomplish and conquer.

Like Mulan, Brienne isn’t your traditionally feminine woman. Despite her noble family, she often denies that she is a Lady and does not wish to be addressed as such. She excels in typically male activities and has bested legends like Loras, Jaime, and the Hound. She is often met with shock and ridicule, but still Brienne embodies the point of “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”—that womanhood is not a barrier to success.

Brienne never pretends to be something she’s not, especially when that would make her uncomfortable in her own skin. She is simply Brienne, neither woman nor man, but warrior, knight, and savior all in one. Brienne proves that women can accomplish whatever they set out to do, no matter the obstacles, just as Mulan becomes a skilled soldier.

P.S. Could someone cut together all of Brienne’s fight scenes with “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” playing in the background? The world needs it.

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