Honestly, if you look at the sprawling mess of noble houses and backstabbing lords in Westeros, most of them aren't worth a second glance. They talk about honor while sharpening knives for their brothers. But then there’s Brienne of Tarth.
She’s the one character who actually meant it.
When people talk about Brienne of Tarth, they usually focus on her being a "strong female character." That’s a boring label. It’s also kinda reductive. Brienne isn’t just a woman with a sword; she’s the only person in the entire Seven Kingdoms who actually believes in the fairy tales. She’s a romantic living in a slasher flick.
The Identity Crisis of Brienne of Tarth
Let's be real: Brienne is an outsider. Born on the Sapphire Isle, the only living child of Selwyn Tarth, she should have been a lady. She tried. She really did. There’s a heartbreaking bit in the books—and hinted at in the show—about a "betrothal" that went south because she wasn't "pretty" enough.
The world told her she was a failure as a woman. So, she decided to be a knight instead.
But it wasn't just about picking up a blade. It was about the code. While the "real" knights like Meryn Trant or even Jaime Lannister (early on) treated their vows like suggestions, Brienne treated them like gospel.
George R.R. Martin didn't just write a warrior; he wrote a deconstruction of chivalry. Think about it. The most "perfect" knight in the story isn't a knight at all. She’s a woman who can’t even legally hold the title for 90% of the series.
Why Gwendoline Christie Was the Only Choice
The casting was vital. Gwendoline Christie is 6'3". She has this incredible, expressive face that can shift from "I will murder you" to "I am a vulnerable child" in two seconds.
In the books, Brienne is described as actually, well, ugly. Crooked teeth, freckles, a bit of a "horse face." The show obviously made her more conventionally attractive because, well, it’s TV. But Christie captured that internal awkwardness. That feeling of being too big for the room.
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She once mentioned in an interview that playing Brienne required her to tap into her own experiences of being told she didn't fit the mold. You can see it in every scene. Especially when she’s with Renly Baratheon.
The Jaime Lannister Factor
Their relationship is the best thing the show ever did. Period.
It started with mutual loathing. Jaime called her a "wench" and "beast." Brienne saw him as a man without honor—the Kingslayer. But then something shifted in that bathtub at Harrenhal.
When Jaime tells her why he actually killed the Mad King, he isn't just venting. He’s stripping away the armor. He sees in her a mirror of the person he used to be before he got cynical and bitter.
Brienne of Tarth didn't just escort Jaime; she saved his soul.
And let’s talk about that knighting scene in Season 8. "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." It’s probably the most earned moment in the entire series. When Jaime says "Arise, Brienne of Tarth, a knight of the Seven Kingdoms," it’s not just a title. It’s the world finally acknowledging what we already knew. She was always the best of them.
Book vs. Show: The Differences Matter
If you’ve only watched the HBO series, you’re missing some of the darker, weirder stuff.
In the books, Brienne’s journey is much more of a slog. She wanders the Riverlands looking for a "maid of three-and-ten." She meets a guy named Nimble Dick (yes, really). She gets half her face bitten off by a guy named Biter.
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It’s brutal.
The show gave her more "wins." She beat the Hound in a duel. She actually found Sansa. In the books, she’s currently a prisoner of a resurrected, vengeful Catelyn Stark (Lady Stoneheart) and is being forced to choose between her oath to Catelyn and her love for Jaime. It’s a mess.
The Ancestry Secret
Here’s a fun bit of lore: Brienne is likely a descendant of Ser Duncan the Tall.
George R.R. Martin has basically confirmed this. Duncan was a legendary knight from the Dunk and Egg novellas. He was huge, humble, and a bit "thick as a castle wall." Sounds familiar, right?
In the books, Brienne even finds an old shield in the armory at Tarth that matches Dunk’s personal heraldry—an elm tree under a falling star. It’s a beautiful connection. It means being a "true knight" is literally in her blood.
What We Can Learn from the Maid of Tarth
Brienne teaches us that loyalty isn't about the person you serve; it's about the person you are.
She served Renly. He died. She served Catelyn. She died. She served Sansa. She survived. Through it all, Brienne never wavered. Even when everyone laughed at her. Especially when they laughed at her.
She lived her life by a set of rules that no one else followed.
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The takeaway? * Honesty is a weapon. Brienne’s inability to lie often got her into trouble, but it’s also why people eventually trusted her with their lives.
- Appearance doesn't dictate worth. The world saw a "freak," but the history books (which she eventually wrote in herself) saw a hero.
- Oaths are heavy. If you’re going to make a promise, be prepared to carry it to the end of the world.
Where to Go From Here
If you're still obsessed with the Maid of Tarth, you should definitely dive into the source material.
Read "A Feast for Crows." It’s the fourth book in the series and it’s where Brienne really shines as a POV character. You get inside her head and realize just how much she struggles with her own self-worth.
Check out "The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." These are the Dunk and Egg stories. Knowing Brienne's ancestry makes reading about Dunk’s bumbling, honorable adventures so much more rewarding.
Brienne of Tarth wasn't just a side character. She was the moral heart of a story that tried its best to have no heart at all.
Stop looking at her as a "female warrior" and start seeing her for what she really is: the only true knight Westeros ever had.
Next Steps for the Fans
- Re-watch Season 3, Episode 5 ("Kissed by Fire"). The bathhouse scene is the turning point for the entire series. Pay attention to the silence between the lines.
- Explore the House Tarth Lore. Research the "Sapphire Isle" and why the water is that specific shade of blue (hint: it’s not actually sapphires).
- Read the Dunk and Egg Novellas. Discover the parallels between Duncan the Tall and his descendant. You'll see the same "thick as a castle wall" stubbornness that makes Brienne so lovable.