By now, it’s common knowledge that many fans were not satisfied with how many of the storylines of Game of Thrones ended. But while there were certainly more than a few disappointments, one relationship that seemed to conclude in a way fans enjoyed was between Arya and The Hound.
Certainly, this was one of the more unusual duos on the show, but it was always entertaining to see them together. Their relationship eventually formed into something very interesting, but despite what some fans think, it was never friendship. Here are some of the reasons why Arya and The Hound aren’t friends on Game of Thrones.
Attempted Murder
One of the cornerstones of the relationship between these two characters is attempted murder. While The Hound has at least had the decency not to outright try to kill Arya, she took several opportunities to either threaten to kill him or actually attempt it.
After The Hound kidnaps Arya, she contemplates stabbing him in his sleep which he, of course, anticipates. When he mocks her “water dancing” training, she responds by trying to stab him through his armor. She eventually stopped, but it’s hard for a relationship to recover from that.
Kidnapping
The Hound and Arya’s long journey together started after he kidnapped her from the Brotherhood Without Banners. That’s not a great way to start a friendship. These two were not on good terms to begin with, but the abduction certainly didn’t help to smooth things over.
Their relationship always has that barrier because they wouldn’t be sending anytime together if he wasn’t forcing her to stay. Any admiration she eventually feels for him could be the result of Stockholm Syndrome rather than genuine feelings.
Negative Influence
Some people found Arya’s defeat of the Night King unlikely, yet she was clearly the most skilled assassin on the show. Her skills developed over time as she learned from many different teachers, including The Hound. However, it’s clear that he had one of the most negative influences on her.
Though Arya has always fought against injustice and been willing to take things into her own hands, The Hound guided her on a path of pure violence. His contempt for the world became her contempt for the world, turning her into a darker person.
Butcher’s Boy
Arya, and the audience, first come to understand The Hound as a ruthless man in the show’s second episode. After Arya and Joffrey get into a fight, the Stark and Lannister houses are out looking for the children, including Arya’s friend Mycah, the butcher’s boy.
Mycah was an innocent bystander in all of this, but The Hound, working under the Lannisters, rode the boy down and killed him. This cruel behavior earned The Hound a place on Arya’s list, and is a horrible act that does not deserve to be forgiven.
His Redemption
After The Hound is left for dead, he is saved by a holy man and given a second chance. When we are reintroduced to The Hound, he seems to be on a path of redemption, though that does not last long. He might not be working for the Lannisters anymore, but he is still a man consumed with violence.
We the audience are supposed to think that The Hound is a changed man and is therefore worthy of friendship with Arya. But there is not enough change in him to justify it, so the friendship never quite feels like it is developed.
Mercy Kill
After all the times she tried to kill him, Arya finally gets the perfect chance following his brutal fight with Brienne. The Hound is left badly injured and unable to go on. Helpless, he asks Arya for a merciful death. Despite wanting to kill him previously, now that he is asking for it, she won’t help him.
It had seemed at this point that the two were forming some sort of bond, but this moment really halts any progress their friendship had made. It is one of the cruelest things Arya has ever done and sets her on a darker path. She also doesn’t ever show any remorse for it.
Sansa
As their relationship develops, it becomes clear that The Hound, while acting as though he is using Arya as a bargaining chip, actually sees himself as her protector. That is a nice thought, but it loses some of its charm since this is not the first time he’s treated a Stark girl like that.
While in King’s Landing, The Hound also takes it on himself to become a protector for Sansa Stark. Though he doesn’t seem to prey on young girls that same way other characters in the show do, his protection of them seems to be more for himself than them.
Protection
There is another problem with The Hound’s role as protector of Arya. While Sansa could certainly have used a friend in King’s Landing, Arya seems to be the character who requires the least protection in all of the show.
While she wasn’t always a badass assassin, Arya has always been able to take care of herself. In fact, once The Hound is incapacitated, Arya chooses to go on her own, and she handles herself rather well. As it turns out, The Hound was a pretty unnecessary bodyguard.
Revenge
There are many characters in Game of Thrones who are motivated by revenge, but perhaps no characters more so than Arya and The Hound. She creates a list of all the people who have wronged her and need to die, while he makes it his mission in life to kill his abusive brother, The Mountain.
If these two were true friends, they would help steer each other away from this unhealthy path. Instead, they seem to fuel each other’s revenge fantasies, and even travel to King’s Landing together to carry out their respective murders.
Father Figure
Many fans see The Hound as even more than a friend to Arya. Having put his life on the line several times for her and always looking out for her, some think he becomes something of a father figure to her.
If that is the case, it is another example of why their relationship isn’t as healthy as people seem to think. Arya already has a father figure in Ned Stark. He did all the things The Hound did for Arya, but he also tried to send her down a better path. Though Ned is gone, she is better off remembering what he taught her rather than The Hound’s lessons.
