Game of Thrones introduces countless fascinating characters who aren't around long enough to explore. That's one of the many downsides of establishing a reputation for killing off big names. One of the show's most impressive accomplishments is building distinct personalities that communicate a lifetime in their death. Syrio Forel, the First Sword of Braavos, is best known for training Arya Stark in his unique swordplay style, the water dance. Like Syrio, there's more to the dance than meets the eye.
Game of Thrones features some of the best sword fights broadcast on TV. Movies have classic duels from The Princess Bride or Pirates of the Caribbean, but TV rarely delivers the same level of technique or panache. Westeros enjoys communicating violence in many ways, but a few straightforward clashes stand out. Most warriors win battles through brute force or years of experience, but Syrio Forel had other methods.
What is the Water Dance?
The water dance is a swordplay style that allows smaller, more slender fighters to beat armored warriors in single combat. It prioritizes speed and skill, in contrast to the brutal, heavy combat favored by knights and soldiers. Most Westerosi knights carry longswords or greatswords, some wielding weapons as long as they are. The water dance demands thin rapiers, light thrusting weapons that move faster than heavier steel. Water dancers wear little to no armor, allowing them to move quickly and freely. This leaves them vulnerable to attacks but enables them to dodge strikes that would otherwise find purchase. They stand sideways and pin their free arm behind their backs, creating a smaller target. Their rapiers can't pierce heavy armor, but separations between plates can allow a skilled water dancer to weaken their opponent's stance before opening them up for a killing blow. The water dance is challenging to learn, but it places a practitioner in a class aside from most warriors. Master Syrio Forel explained it like this:
Now we will begin the dance. Remember, child, this is not the iron dance of Westeros we are learning, the knight's dance, hacking and hammering, no. This is the bravo's dance, the water dance, swift and sudden. All men are made of water, do you know this? When you pierce them, the water leaks out and they die.
Who uses the Water Dance?
Eddard Stark hired Syrio Forel to teach his daughter Arya the water dance. Forel was the First Sword of Braavos, the most celebrated warrior among a culture of combatants. Braavos is the richest of the Free Cities, known for its diversity and social acceptance. Swordsmen in Braavos are called bravos, and they're masters of the water dance. The city encourages duels, with anyone carrying a blade after nightfall considered a potential challenger. Bravos wear bright, colorful outfits that draw attention. They generally revel in fights, engaging foes without reason to put on a show or prove their skills. The water dance earned its name from a widely beloved location for Braavosi duels, the reflecting pool next to the Sealord's Palace. Fighters are seen mirrored in the water, making duelists look like they're dancing across its surface. The best warriors work their way up to find positions like Syrio's. The water dance has mixed reviews from varied experts in the field.
Eddard hires Syrio when he finds Arya's sword, Needle. He teaches her, a small girl, how to fight while accounting for her small stature and slim sword. Syrio's tenure working for House Stark ended poorly. After Eddard was falsely arrested for treason, House Lannister's guards came to take Arya. Syrio held them off so she could escape, letting her leave King's Landing after her father's execution. In the show, he immobilized three armed men at once with a wooden sword, losing the battle after his opponent broke his training weapon. In the book, he kills or maims five warriors with the same wooden stick. Arya assumes he's dead, but his death is never depicted. Sandor Clegane later argues that Ser Meryn Trant, Syrio's presumed killer, was a terrible swordsman. He may not have known Syrio was fighting with a stick, but he dismisses the water dance and firmly advocates heavy weapons and armor. By Season 7, Arya uses water dancing to fight Brienne of Tarth to a standstill, suggesting that the style has merits.
The water dance style is a mixed bag. Larger, stronger warriors win most fights in Westeros. An outsider faces an uphill battle, but a unique technique can turn the tide against the usual victor. The bravos and their water dance see combat in entirely different terms from the knights in Westeros. Arya still hasn't had the chance to demonstrate how far she's come in the books, but the water dance shows it can do what it claims to do. Bravos and their water dance could change the face of war in Westeros, but it could also lose against the right suit of armor.
