LogFAQs > #884663917

Duck-I-Says posted...

Tropic_Sunset posted...

What's the point of training with a real weapon if you're going to use it correctly?

You can practice correct form while still stopping short of a killing blow. Look, it's totally alright that her style doesn't make any sense. It's a show and they wanted to make a scene that was fun to watch. If it were realistic Brienne would have ended her in 2 seconds flat, but that wouldn't be entertaining. I just think it's silly to try explain it as if it made sense from a technical standpoint when you have actual HEMA people saying it doesn't make any sense.

I don't really disagree with you. I don't think it made sense from a technical standpoint (although, no matter how you slice it, neither did training with a real weapon). But from the character view, it does kind of make sense. Arya probably wants to learn from Brienne (she beat the Hound in a 1v1 after all), yet at the same time wanted to make it clear that she isn't out of her league so Brienne would give it her all. Rather than showing what she should do, she made it clear what she can do, so they can train in earnest.

Although I could be completely wrong, that was my initial takeaway. Arya is capable, is used to people assuming she isn't, and was seeking to demonstrate that she is so she could learn from the person who is arguably the best fighter alive in the show right now (besides maybe The Mountain). Hell, twice this season so far people laughed when she talked about her list. In any case, I'll reserve full judgement for if we see them actually training later on.
---

"Nostalgia is a hell of a drug."
-Magus 10