You Win Or You Die: Ranking the 99 Game of Thrones Deaths

Image credit: HBO/Helen Sloan

The Waif

The audience, along with Arya, meets the Waif during the former’s stint at the House of Black and White in season 5. We all immediately dislike the Waif because she has an attitude problem, and is clearly taking no steps towards self-improvement. She is overcome with jealousy and hatred for Arya, and sets upon a personal mission to slice her face off. So much for an opportunity for positive female friendship.

Jaqen H’ghar can often be found monologuing about the importance of becoming No One. You must let go of who you are entirely. That means to separate yourself from your emotions as well as your identity. The Waif regularly mocks Arya for her inability to accomplish this, and yet the Waif herself fails in this regard as well. Were she truly No One, her feelings for Arya would have been neutral rather than detestable. It’s not clear why the Waif takes such a dislike to Arya to begin with. It would, however, seem to be the case that the Waif and Jaqen are trapped in an unhappy marriage of convenience, and she’s jealous any time someone takes his attention from her. (This is probably 100% not the case at all. But amusing nonetheless.)

For however strong her hatred is, it didn’t do the Waif any good to underestimate Arya. While Arya knew she could never best the Waif physically, she proves far more clever. She had learned to fight blind, and so she lures the Waif into such circumstances. The scene plays out beautifully, cutting to black once Arya has closed her eyes and cut the wick of the candle. It’s such an artful demonstration that I’m not even disappointed that we didn’t see Arya carve the Waif’s face off. Actually, I’m pretty relieved, because that’s disgusting.

Ultimately, Arya wins out because she accepts her limitations. Rather than allow them to define her, she works around them to succeed. Arya has always been a survivor, adaptable to whatever situation she’s forced into. Her skills have only improved over the years. Now all she needs is a good old hug, because all the murders are wreaking havoc on her emotions.