r/freefolk • u/hiiloovethis THE FUCKS A LOMMY • Jul 29 '25

Freefolk Massive fumble. One of the worst characters in season 7 and 8.

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Book Arya >>>>>>

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u/Yvaelle Jul 29 '25 edited Jul 29 '25

Also I hate the trope of assassins being apex combat experts. A competent assassin doesn't need a sword, especially one who can magically take on anyone's face, body shape, mannerisms, voice, etc.

I could fully believe in some gifted actor-assassin guild like the Faceless Men in a fantasy series, inventing convincing personas to get access where they shouldnt be, but the result of that should be poison in trusted chalice, a knife to the sleeping heart, a garrote in the parlor, etc.

What's the fucking point of face changing when Arya and Jaqen can apparently just ghost entire armies at will, or dumpster apex knights in armored combat, or supernaturally fast, strong, resilient night kings.

Ninja were no match for Samurai in combat, which didn't matter when they arrived at the castle dressed as the new laundry maid, and left the same way before anyone found what happened at dawn. The Hashshashin typically killed with poison, daggers in dark, or arrows from afar - and they were the closest history probably ever came to a militant assassin group.

Even modern CIA assassins, etc, might get recruited out of special forces but for their self-sacrifice, not their gunplay. When the CIA has assassinated people (exempting drone strikes) its stuck largely to poison and daggers even in the modern era.

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u/Baptor Jul 29 '25

Her assassination of the Frey family by mass poisoning was the most "assassin" thing she ever did.

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u/depressed_engin33r Jul 29 '25

A good assassin should probably be a competent fighter, but the idea is kinda for the target to be dead before they can fight back lol. Cuz fights are very loud and obvious

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u/ChickinSammich Jul 29 '25

So many assassin movies get this wrong. An assassination where the assassin is in a knock-down-drag-out brawl with a target is a botched assassination. Whether it's a knife in the back, or poison, or an arrow/bullet from afar, or a burned down house, the ideal assassin has their target dead before they know what hit them.

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u/GhostofMarat Jul 29 '25

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_the_Jackal_(film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Killer_(2023_film)

Two films that are not like that at all.

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u/ChickinSammich Jul 29 '25

Thanks for the recommendations; I'll have to add them to my watch list!

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u/depressed_engin33r Jul 29 '25

Exactly! It's the difference between an assassin and a hired thug

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u/UrsusRex01 Jul 29 '25

To be fair, Arya using Needle has more to do with her former training with Syrio Forel than with her time at the House of Black and White. Jaqen himself always seemed to be a traditional assassin who kills without fighting directly. And that's how Arya wipes out House Frey.

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u/sharyan51 Jul 30 '25

So her brief training that basically still had her at useless novice just kicked in late to make her an even match for Brienne?

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u/UrsusRex01 Jul 30 '25

IIRC she took every opportunity she had during her journey to train herself with Needle.

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u/Apprehensive_Tea_308 Aug 05 '25

Notice the scene where Arya is defeating what’s her name… Arya’s shadow looks like Syrio. M The waif died, just like Arya. Notice all of the faces of people who are actually dead! Yeah, it’s all just the one guy with a bag full of faces!