Game Of Thrones: 10 Arya Mannerisms & Traits From The Books Maisie Williams Nailed

Though the first season of House of the Dragon was warmly received by fans, the final season of Game of Thrones remains highly criticized. Even one of the series stars Maisie Williams recently shared her opinion that the show “fell off at the end.” Regardless of the final season, many fans point to Williams’ own performance as Arya Stark as one of the show’s consistent highlights.

Fans of George R.R. Martin’s books will also recognize just how much Williams brought the character from those pages to life. From the things fans love about Arya like her willingness to buck convention to the more questionable things like her violent path, Maisie Williams nailed key aspects of Arya Stark on Game of Thrones.

Her Refusal To Conform

One of Arya’s very first moments in the series is her leaving her needlepoint class to show off her archery skills with her brother. It quickly establishes that she is a young girl who is not going to abide but what others think she should do simply because she is a girl.

Arya in the book is similarly bored by what is expected of her as a highborn lady. She dreams of being a knight and detests the kind of “girls” activities she is pushed into. She also doesn’t care at all about how Sansa and others view her as strange for forging her own path.

Her Dedication To Training

Wanting to be a knight or warrior is not something Arya thinks of on a whim. She dedicates herself to becoming a better fighter as soon as a sword is placed in her hands for the first time. This is best seen in the books with how she puts aside the rest of her life to become a member of the Faceless Men.

One plot hole with Arya in the show is that her time with the Faceless Men is glossed over considerably. However, Williams is able to maintain Arya’s dedication to her training by showing how she learns more from each fight she is in and each warrior she meets, from Syrio Forel to The Hound.

Her Left-Handed Fighting

Williams clearly has the same dedication to her performance as Arya does with her training as a warrior. In the books, Arya is described as a left-handed fighter. Though Williams herself is right-handed, she decided to learn to fight in this manner to remain accurate to the books.

It might seem like an unimportant thing to bring over from the books, but it adds a little more to Arya as an underdog and someone who goes against the norm. And of course, it is another reason to praise Williams’ commitment to the role.

Her Closeness With Jon

Arya certainly always had the desire to be a warrior, but Jon Snow was the first person to encourage her on this path. The scene in season 1 of Game of Thrones in which Jon gives Arya her first sword, Needle, highlights their closeness.

Similarly, Arya and Jon are very close in the books as well with Arya considering Jon closer than her trueborn siblings. It is easy to see in both the books and the show why they share a kinship as they are both somewhat outsiders in their own family.

Her Desire For Justice

Some fans share the unpopular opinion of Arya that she is an unlikeable and smug character on Game of Thrones. However, while her journey might seem self-involved at times, she has also proven that she has a strong hatred for injustice and wants to see people pay for mistreating the helpless.

In the show, Arya targets people who prey on the weaker, such as the torturer at Harrenhal known as The Tickler and Walder Frey. In the books, she is similarly willing to make others pay, naming one of The Mountain’s men to her kill list after overhearing him laugh at a story of brutality towards the smallfolk.

Her Rebellious Nature

Arya’s rebellious nature does not just come from her not wanting to be a proper lady. She is someone who wants independence in every situation and pushes back against every type of authority she comes across.

Whether it is as a prisoner of Harrenhal, The Hound, or the Brotherhood without Banners, Arya refuses to be told what to do. Williams does a great job of showing these aspects of the character as a mix of her youthful stubbornness and her refusal to be bullied.

Her Vengeful Spirit

The death of Ned Stark changes Arya in a profound way and it becomes her mission in life to find revenge. While vengeance is something many Game of Thrones characters desire, Arya is consumed with it at all times.

One of the changes the show makes to Arya in the books is her list of names. There are a few differences in who makes that list, but the fact that the list is such a big part of both the show and the books highlight how important revenge is to her. Even as a Faceless Man, she chooses to carry out her own vendettas than follow their rules.

Her Loss Of Innocence

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of Williams’ performance is how she shows Arya quickly losing her innocence. Season 1 of Game of Thrones saw her as a child who loved adventure and exploring. However, she is quickly shown the horrors of the world and becomes more withdrawn and cold over time.

Though Arya is younger in the books, she isn’t able to hold onto her innocence any longer than her show counterpart. By the end of the most recent book, she has lost all childlike wonder and it seems like a large part of Arya Stark is gone.

Her Recklessness

Fans of the books will know Arya is much smarter than she appears in the show. But that is not to say she doesn’t still make mistakes. She has a reckless nature to her, failing to be strategic or rushing into situations, including the Red Wedding, without considering the danger.

Williams incorporates these moments into the show, making for some of the direst of moments for Arya. As skilled of a fighter as she might be, these moments allow her some much-needed vulnerability.

Her Courage

A big part of the reason Arya can be reckless at times is that she never lets fear stop her. Certainly, in both the books and the show, there are times when Arya is afraid. But she is also never one to turn away from a challenge if she thinks it is the right path to take.

In the books, she helps stage a rebellion at Harrenhal and joins The Hound in a fight against Lannister soldiers. Williams’ performance helps the audience believe that a young girl is capable of such things. Though it is unclear how Arya’s story will end in the books, seeing her sail off into the unknown in the series finale felt fitting for such a brave character.

NEXT: 10 Daenerys Mannerisms And Traits From The Books Emilia Clarke Nailed On Game Of Thrones