Recommended music: Neil Young – The Needle and the Damage Done
It’s #WhateverWednesday and #WesterosWednesday! Today we’re checking the damage done by ‘Needle’ on the way to Harrenhal and looking at the Funko Game of Thrones Legacy Collection Arya Stark!
During the first four seasons of HBO’s Game of Thrones, Arya Stark’s role is defined by her subversion of traditional gender roles in Westeros and her transformation from a lively noble child into a tough survivor.
In Season 1, Arya turns away from the usual expectations for a highborn girl and chooses archery and sword fighting instead. When Jon Snow gives her the sword “Needle” and she starts her “water dancing” lessons, she begins to define herself through her rebellious spirit.
After her father is executed, Arya is forced to go on the run. In Seasons 2 and 3, she travels through a war-torn land while pretending to be a boy. When she is held at Harrenhal, she meets Jaqen H’ghar, who introduces her to the Faceless Men. Arya starts reciting her nightly death list, which helps her cope with her trauma and drives her need for revenge.
In Season 4, Arya teams up with Sandor “The Hound” Clegane in a partnership marked by distrust. Their journey becomes a dark coming-of-age for Arya. As the Hound teaches her, she loses what innocence she has left and faces the reality of killing. She begins to cross names off her list, showing she can be cold and calculating.
Ultimately, Arya’s early story is about losing her innocence. After seeing her family destroyed at the Red Wedding and leaving the wounded Hound behind, she turns away from her old life and sails to Braavos. She changes from a powerless victim of political events into an independent and deadly person who takes charge of her own fate.
When Season Four was released in 2014, Funko took a new approach instead of their usual Pop! vinyl figures. Gentle Giant sculpted the Legacy Collection in a 1/12 scale. The Arya Stark No. 09 figure shows her early-season “Arry” fugitive look.
The figure has nice detail on her textured tunic and wraps, and the resemblance to Maisie Williams is just okay. With over 20 points of articulation, Arya can do basic sword-fighting poses pretty well. The bent legs make it hard for her to stand without a base. She comes with her iconic sword, Needle, which has sharp silver-and-gold paint. Be careful, though—the hand is molded tightly, so the thin hilt can break or get paint scraped off when you put it in her hand. Luckily, this Series 2 figure is sturdier than the fragile Series 1 figures and makes a great addition to my GOT collection.
I’ll be back next Wednesday with more toys from Westeros. Happy 15th anniversary, Game of Thrones!
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