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(Move the information about the portraying out to be a new section; correct the information according to the interview of the actor himself; add reference.)
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{{Heraldry
  +
|image = Stark shield icon.png
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|link = House Stark
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}}
 
{{Character
 
{{Character
 
| Title=Syrio Forel
 
| Title=Syrio Forel
 
| Image=Syrio_Forel.png
 
| Image=Syrio_Forel.png
 
| Season=[[Season 1|1]]
 
| Season=[[Season 1|1]]
  +
| First="[[Lord Snow]]"
 
| Last="[[The Pointy End]]"
 
| Last="[[The Pointy End]]"
 
| Appearances=3 episodes <small>[[#Appearances|(see below)]]</small>
 
| Appearances=3 episodes <small>[[#Appearances|(see below)]]</small>
 
|Titles=The First Sword of Braavos
 
|Titles=The First Sword of Braavos
 
| Aka=
 
| Aka=
| Status=[[:Category:Status: Uncertain|Uncertain]]; Believed Dead according to [[Arya Stark]]
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| Status=[[:Category:Status: Uncertain|Uncertain]]; last seen fighting Ser [[Meryn Trant]], likely deceased
 
| Place=[[Braavos]]
 
| Place=[[Braavos]]
 
| Allegiance=[[House Stark]]<br>The [[Sealord of Braavos]]
 
| Allegiance=[[House Stark]]<br>The [[Sealord of Braavos]]
 
| Family=
 
| Family=
 
| Culture=[[Braavos]]i
 
| Culture=[[Braavos]]i
| Religion=[[God of Death]]
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| Religion=[[Many-Faced God]]
 
| Actor=[[Miltos Yerolemou]]}}
 
| Actor=[[Miltos Yerolemou]]}}
{{Quote|The First Sword of Braavos does not run.|'''Syrio Forel'''|The Pointy End}}
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{{Quote|The First Sword of Braavos does not run.|Syrio Forel|The Pointy End}}
   
'''Syrio Forel''' is a recurring character in the [[Season 1|first season]]. He is played by guest star [[Miltos Yerolemou]] and debuts in "[[Lord Snow]]." Syrio Forel is a master sword-fighter and instructor hired by Eddard Stark to train Arya Stark.
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'''Syrio Forel''' is a recurring character in the [[Season 1|first season]]. He is played by guest star [[Miltos Yerolemou]] and debuts in "[[Lord Snow]]." Syrio Forel is a master sword-fighter and instructor hired by [[Eddard Stark]] to train [[Arya Stark]].
   
 
==Biography==
 
==Biography==
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===[[Season 1]]===
 
===[[Season 1]]===
 
[[File:Syrio Forel.jpg|thumb|190px|Syrio is hired to teach [[Arya Stark]] the ways of a water dancer.]]
 
[[File:Syrio Forel.jpg|thumb|190px|Syrio is hired to teach [[Arya Stark]] the ways of a water dancer.]]
After arriving in King's Landing, Lord [[Eddard Stark]] discovers that his daughter [[Arya]] owns a sword ([[Needle]], a gift from her half-brother [[Jon Snow]]), but has not been properly trained to use it. He hires Syrio Forel to train Arya in its use. Forel accepts the commission and begins to train Arya in how to use the sword in the Braavosi style, known as the [[Water Dance]]. Arya's lessons are kept a secret; her sister [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]] believes that Arya is getting "dancing lessons".<ref>"[[Lord Snow]]"</ref>
+
After arriving in King's Landing, Lord [[Eddard Stark]] discovers that his daughter [[Arya Stark|Arya]] owns a sword ([[Needle]], a gift from her half-brother [[Jon Snow]]), but has not been properly trained to use it. He hires Syrio Forel to train Arya in its use. Forel accepts the commission and begins to train Arya in how to use the sword in the Braavosi style, known as the [[Water Dance]]. Arya's lessons are kept a secret; her sister [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]] believes that Arya is getting "dancing lessons".<ref>"[[Lord Snow]]"</ref>
   
 
Eddard finds Arya balancing on the top of some stairs. She tells him that Syrio set her the task to improve her balance.<ref>"[[Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things]]"</ref> Arya chases cats to improve her dexterity and speed on Syrio's suggestion.<ref>"[[The Wolf and the Lion]]"</ref>
 
Eddard finds Arya balancing on the top of some stairs. She tells him that Syrio set her the task to improve her balance.<ref>"[[Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things]]"</ref> Arya chases cats to improve her dexterity and speed on Syrio's suggestion.<ref>"[[The Wolf and the Lion]]"</ref>
   
 
[[File:Syrio Forel 1x08.png|190px|thumb|Syrio duels Ser [[Meryn Trant]].]]
 
[[File:Syrio Forel 1x08.png|190px|thumb|Syrio duels Ser [[Meryn Trant]].]]
Syrio and Arya have another lesson, but Arya is distracted. Syrio tells her that she is more vulnerable when she is "with her trouble" rather than concentrating on the here and now. He teaches her how to forget her troubles so she can concentrate on fighting.<ref>"[[A Golden Crown]]"</ref> After Eddard's arrest for treason, [[Lannister]] guards led by Ser [[Meryn Trant]] of the [[Kingsguard]] arrive to take Arya into custody. Syrio informs them that he will protect her. When they try to barge past him, he disarms one guard with a training sword. He fights off a mass attack by the guardsmen and then engages Ser Meryn, telling Arya to run. When she asks him to come with her, he tells her, "The First Sword of Braavos does not run." Arya flees, and (unseen) Syrio and Ser Meryn continue their fight, echoing sounds as if a sword was dropped on the ground. Presumably, Ser Meryn Trant was disarmed by Syrio.<ref>"[[The Pointy End]]"</ref>
+
Syrio and Arya have another lesson, but Arya is distracted. Syrio tells her that she is more vulnerable when she is "with her trouble" rather than concentrating on the here and now. He teaches her how to forget her troubles so she can concentrate on fighting.<ref>"[[A Golden Crown]]"</ref> After Eddard's arrest for treason, [[House Lannister|Lannister]] guards led by Ser [[Meryn Trant]] of the [[Kingsguard]] arrive to take Arya into custody. Syrio informs them that he will protect her. When they try to barge past him, he disarms one guard with a training sword. He fights off a mass attack by the guardsmen and then engages Ser Meryn, telling Arya to run. When she asks him to come with her, he tells her, "The First Sword of Braavos does not run." Arya flees, and (unseen) Syrio and Ser Meryn continue their fight.<ref>"[[The Pointy End]]"</ref>
   
 
===[[Season 4]]===
 
===[[Season 4]]===
Arya believes Syrio to be dead, and tells [[the Hound]] that he was killed by Ser Meryn Trant, however this may be false (see above.)<ref>"[[First of His Name]]"</ref>
+
Arya believes Syrio to be dead, and tells [[Sandor Clegane|the Hound]] that he was killed by Ser Meryn Trant. Sandor proceeds to mock Syrio, claiming that Trant is a poor fighter, and that anyone could beat him as long as they have armor and a sword.<ref>"[[First of His Name]]"</ref>
  +
  +
=== [[Season 5]] ===
  +
  +
A vengeance is taken for Syrio at last, when [[Arya Stark|Arya]] kills [[Meryn Trant|Meryn Trant,]] out of revenge for whom she believes killed Syrio after the [[Massacre in the Red Keep|arrest]] of her [[Eddard Stark|father]].
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
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{{Quote|- Do you pray to the gods?<br> - [[The Old Gods of the Forest|The Old]] and [[The Faith of the Seven|the New]].<br> - There is only one god, and His name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: "not today".|'''Syrio Forel''' and '''Arya Stark'''|A Golden Crown}}
 
{{Quote|- Do you pray to the gods?<br> - [[The Old Gods of the Forest|The Old]] and [[The Faith of the Seven|the New]].<br> - There is only one god, and His name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: "not today".|'''Syrio Forel''' and '''Arya Stark'''|A Golden Crown}}
 
==Behind the Scenes==
 
==Behind the Scenes==
Braavos and the Free Cities are loosely similar to the medieval Italian city-states, vaguely "Mediterranean", so actor [[Miltos Yerolemou|Miltos&nbsp;Yerolemou]], a Greek Cypriot based in London, portrayed Syrio with an accent "a little Greek, a little Italian and a little Spanish, and then pushed it East into Persia".<ref name="Interview of Miltos Yerolemou"> [http://mywalkoffame.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/conversation-with-miltos-yerolemou/ Conversation with Miltos Yerolemou]</ref> Given the diverse polyglot nature of Braavos, there is no way of taking Syrio's on-screen accent as "typical" of all Braavosi (the way that Cersei could recognize [[Shae]]'s [[Lorath]] accent). The Spanish dub of the TV series produced in Spain renders Syrio's speech as an Arabic accent, to try to maintain the impression that he is a foreigner to Westeros.
+
Braavos and the Free Cities are loosely similar to the medieval Italian city-states, vaguely "Mediterranean", so actor [[Miltos Yerolemou|Miltos&nbsp;Yerolemou]], a Greek Cypriot based in London, portrayed Syrio with an accent "a little Greek, a little Italian and a little Spanish, and then pushed it East into Persia".<ref name="Interview of Miltos Yerolemou">[http://mywalkoffame.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/conversation-with-miltos-yerolemou/ Conversation with Miltos Yerolemou]</ref> Given the diverse polyglot nature of Braavos, there is no way of taking Syrio's on-screen accent as "typical" of all Braavosi (the way that Cersei could recognize [[Shae]]'s [[Lorath]] accent). The Spanish dub of the TV series produced in Spain renders Syrio's speech as an Arabic accent, to try to maintain the impression that he is a foreigner to Westeros.
   
 
==In the books==
 
==In the books==
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Syrio tells Arya how he became the first sword of Braavos. He was chosen over stronger, faster, and younger men because he was perceptive - he saw while others were blind. He was invited to an audience with the ruler of Braavos, who had a cat on his lap. The ruler said to Syrio, as he had said to all the others that had failed this test, to look at the fantastic animal that has been brought to him from far away, was she not astonishing. Syrio replied "I see many like him every night in the streets of Braavos, it is a tomcat." The ruler pressed him with questions on the ears and the belly but Syrio maintained his answer. Others answered with flattery and unfounded claims about the virtues of the animal. Syrio was chosen over all of them. The lesson to look carefully and see what is truly there is taken to heart by Arya.
 
Syrio tells Arya how he became the first sword of Braavos. He was chosen over stronger, faster, and younger men because he was perceptive - he saw while others were blind. He was invited to an audience with the ruler of Braavos, who had a cat on his lap. The ruler said to Syrio, as he had said to all the others that had failed this test, to look at the fantastic animal that has been brought to him from far away, was she not astonishing. Syrio replied "I see many like him every night in the streets of Braavos, it is a tomcat." The ruler pressed him with questions on the ears and the belly but Syrio maintained his answer. Others answered with flattery and unfounded claims about the virtues of the animal. Syrio was chosen over all of them. The lesson to look carefully and see what is truly there is taken to heart by Arya.
  +
  +
Eddard is bemused by Syrio's odd training methods, which see Arya balancing on one foot for hours and chasing cats around the Red Keep, and is not impressed when she returns from her classes covered in cuts and bruises. He suggests hiring another swordsman to instruct her, such as [[Barristan Selmy]] or [[Jory Cassel]], but Arya insists that she only wishes to be trained by Syrio.
   
 
His appearance differs from his TV series's counterpart, described in the book as a slight, bald man with a beaked nose. In the DVD commentary, author [[George R.R. Martin]] himself said that he didn't care about such minor differences, being more concerned with the satisfying performance of the actor.
 
His appearance differs from his TV series's counterpart, described in the book as a slight, bald man with a beaked nose. In the DVD commentary, author [[George R.R. Martin]] himself said that he didn't care about such minor differences, being more concerned with the satisfying performance of the actor.
   
Braavos is the most diverse of the Free Cities , being founded by escaped slaves of the [[Valyrian Freehold]] who originally came from all the far corners of that empire. As a result, there is no set Braavosi "ethnicity" or set of typical physical features, in contrast to how people from the Free City of [[Lys]] tend to be blonde and fair-skinned and the people of [[Myr]] tend to have dark hair and olive-colored skin. As the most powerful of the Free Cities and a major economic hub, it is also much more diverse and "cosmopolitan" even compared to the other Free Cities. The [[Common Tongue]] of Westeros is not Syrio's first language, and Arya describes him as having an accent, a "lilt", but the books don't describe it in detail. 
+
Braavos is the most diverse of the Free Cities, being founded by escaped slaves of the [[Valyrian Freehold]] who originally came from all the far corners of that empire. As a result, there is no set Braavosi "ethnicity" or set of typical physical features, in contrast to how people from the Free City of [[Lys]] tend to be blonde and fair-skinned and the people of [[Myr]] tend to have dark hair and olive-colored skin. As the most powerful of the Free Cities and a major economic hub, it is also much more diverse and "cosmopolitan" even compared to the other Free Cities. The [[Common Tongue]] of Westeros is not Syrio's first language, and Arya describes him as having an accent, a "lilt", but the books don't describe it in detail. 
   
Syrio's battle with Ser [[Meryn Trant]] in the TV series is portrayed much as it was in the books: except that Syrio does far greater injury to his opponents with his wooden sword, like killing with a blow through the eye. He continues to fight the Kingsguard even after his wooden sword is broken, and as Arya runs away she hears his battle cry. In both the series and the book, his fate is left uncertain.
+
Syrio's battle with Ser [[Meryn Trant]] and the Lannister guards in the TV series is portrayed much as it was in the books: except that Syrio kills or maims most of his opponents with his wooden sword. He kills one with a blow through the eye and breaks another's kneecap. As Arya watches Syrio fight, she realizes that he had merely been toying with her during her training sessions. He continues to fight Trant even after his wooden sword is broken, and as Arya runs away she hears his battle cry. In both the series and the book, his fate is left uncertain.
   
When Arya first sees [[Jaqen H'ghar]], he somewhat reminds her of Syrio. This led to fan speculation that Jaqen and Syrio are the same person, but so far it has not been verified.
+
When Arya first sees [[Jaqen H'ghar]], he somewhat reminds her of Syrio, and to her surprise, he knows her real identity. This has led to fan speculation that Jaqen and Syrio are the same person, but so far this has not been verified.
   
 
According to the TV series official [[pronunciation guide]] developed for the cast and crew, "Syrio Forel" is pronounced "SEER-ee-o For-EL".
 
According to the TV series official [[pronunciation guide]] developed for the cast and crew, "Syrio Forel" is pronounced "SEER-ee-o For-EL".
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{{Reflist|2}}
 
{{Reflist|2}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forel, Syrio}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forel, Syrio}}
  +
   
 
[[de:Syrio Forel]]
 
[[de:Syrio Forel]]
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[[ru:Сирио Форель]]
 
[[Category:Characters]]
 
[[Category:Characters]]
 
[[Category:Recurring Characters]]
 
[[Category:Recurring Characters]]

Revision as of 10:48, 23 September 2015

"The First Sword of Braavos does not run."
―Syrio Forel[src]

Syrio Forel is a recurring character in the first season. He is played by guest star Miltos Yerolemou and debuts in "Lord Snow." Syrio Forel is a master sword-fighter and instructor hired by Eddard Stark to train Arya Stark.

Biography

Background

Syrio Forel is a bravo and master sword-fighter, originally from the Free City of Braavos where he spent nine years as the First Sword of the city, before relocating to King's Landing.

Season 1

Syrio Forel

Syrio is hired to teach Arya Stark the ways of a water dancer.

After arriving in King's Landing, Lord Eddard Stark discovers that his daughter Arya owns a sword (Needle, a gift from her half-brother Jon Snow), but has not been properly trained to use it. He hires Syrio Forel to train Arya in its use. Forel accepts the commission and begins to train Arya in how to use the sword in the Braavosi style, known as the Water Dance. Arya's lessons are kept a secret; her sister Sansa believes that Arya is getting "dancing lessons".[1]

Eddard finds Arya balancing on the top of some stairs. She tells him that Syrio set her the task to improve her balance.[2] Arya chases cats to improve her dexterity and speed on Syrio's suggestion.[3]

Syrio Forel 1x08

Syrio duels Ser Meryn Trant.

Syrio and Arya have another lesson, but Arya is distracted. Syrio tells her that she is more vulnerable when she is "with her trouble" rather than concentrating on the here and now. He teaches her how to forget her troubles so she can concentrate on fighting.[4] After Eddard's arrest for treason, Lannister guards led by Ser Meryn Trant of the Kingsguard arrive to take Arya into custody. Syrio informs them that he will protect her. When they try to barge past him, he disarms one guard with a training sword. He fights off a mass attack by the guardsmen and then engages Ser Meryn, telling Arya to run. When she asks him to come with her, he tells her, "The First Sword of Braavos does not run." Arya flees, and (unseen) Syrio and Ser Meryn continue their fight.[5]

Season 4

Arya believes Syrio to be dead, and tells the Hound that he was killed by Ser Meryn Trant. Sandor proceeds to mock Syrio, claiming that Trant is a poor fighter, and that anyone could beat him as long as they have armor and a sword.[6]

Season 5

A vengeance is taken for Syrio at last, when Arya kills Meryn Trant, out of revenge for whom she believes killed Syrio after the arrest of her father.

Appearances

Template:Season One Appearances

Image gallery

Quotes

"- Do you pray to the gods?
- The Old and the New.
- There is only one god, and His name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: "not today".
"
Syrio Forel and Arya Stark[src]

Behind the Scenes

Braavos and the Free Cities are loosely similar to the medieval Italian city-states, vaguely "Mediterranean", so actor Miltos Yerolemou, a Greek Cypriot based in London, portrayed Syrio with an accent "a little Greek, a little Italian and a little Spanish, and then pushed it East into Persia".[7] Given the diverse polyglot nature of Braavos, there is no way of taking Syrio's on-screen accent as "typical" of all Braavosi (the way that Cersei could recognize Shae's Lorath accent). The Spanish dub of the TV series produced in Spain renders Syrio's speech as an Arabic accent, to try to maintain the impression that he is a foreigner to Westeros.

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Syrio Forel was once the First Sword of Braavos, the most skilled bravo or sword-fighter of the city, in the service of the Sealord himself. He specialized in a style of combat known as 'water dancing', favoring a light sword and expert balance over the Westerosi style of hacking at one another with massive swords in heavy armor. It is unclear why he departed Braavos to relocate to King's Landing.

Syrio tells Arya how he became the first sword of Braavos. He was chosen over stronger, faster, and younger men because he was perceptive - he saw while others were blind. He was invited to an audience with the ruler of Braavos, who had a cat on his lap. The ruler said to Syrio, as he had said to all the others that had failed this test, to look at the fantastic animal that has been brought to him from far away, was she not astonishing. Syrio replied "I see many like him every night in the streets of Braavos, it is a tomcat." The ruler pressed him with questions on the ears and the belly but Syrio maintained his answer. Others answered with flattery and unfounded claims about the virtues of the animal. Syrio was chosen over all of them. The lesson to look carefully and see what is truly there is taken to heart by Arya.

Eddard is bemused by Syrio's odd training methods, which see Arya balancing on one foot for hours and chasing cats around the Red Keep, and is not impressed when she returns from her classes covered in cuts and bruises. He suggests hiring another swordsman to instruct her, such as Barristan Selmy or Jory Cassel, but Arya insists that she only wishes to be trained by Syrio.

His appearance differs from his TV series's counterpart, described in the book as a slight, bald man with a beaked nose. In the DVD commentary, author George R.R. Martin himself said that he didn't care about such minor differences, being more concerned with the satisfying performance of the actor.

Braavos is the most diverse of the Free Cities, being founded by escaped slaves of the Valyrian Freehold who originally came from all the far corners of that empire. As a result, there is no set Braavosi "ethnicity" or set of typical physical features, in contrast to how people from the Free City of Lys tend to be blonde and fair-skinned and the people of Myr tend to have dark hair and olive-colored skin. As the most powerful of the Free Cities and a major economic hub, it is also much more diverse and "cosmopolitan" even compared to the other Free Cities. The Common Tongue of Westeros is not Syrio's first language, and Arya describes him as having an accent, a "lilt", but the books don't describe it in detail. 

Syrio's battle with Ser Meryn Trant and the Lannister guards in the TV series is portrayed much as it was in the books: except that Syrio kills or maims most of his opponents with his wooden sword. He kills one with a blow through the eye and breaks another's kneecap. As Arya watches Syrio fight, she realizes that he had merely been toying with her during her training sessions. He continues to fight Trant even after his wooden sword is broken, and as Arya runs away she hears his battle cry. In both the series and the book, his fate is left uncertain.

When Arya first sees Jaqen H'ghar, he somewhat reminds her of Syrio, and to her surprise, he knows her real identity. This has led to fan speculation that Jaqen and Syrio are the same person, but so far this has not been verified.

According to the TV series official pronunciation guide developed for the cast and crew, "Syrio Forel" is pronounced "SEER-ee-o For-EL".

See also

References