Game of Thrones was known for producing some of the most iconic characters in recent television history. From Cersei to Sansa, from Dany to Tyrion, these men and women were a key part of the popular culture landscape for the better part of a decade. However, there’s one character that seemed to occupy a special place in the hearts of many fans, and that was the young Arya Stark. From the moment that she appeared on the screen, she cast a certain kind of spell, and it lasted right up until the final episode.
However, there are still a few unanswered questions about Arya that fans have.
Is She Azor Ahai?
Perhaps the most pressing question about Arya is this: is she, in fact, Azor Ahai? This figure was one of the most important in the Game of Thrones mythology, precisely because this was the person that was supposed to defeat the darkness.
Given that Arya was in fact responsible for slaying the Night King in one of the most important moments in the entire series, it seems pretty likely that, against all the odds, she was in fact Azor Ahai (either that or the prophecy was utter bunk, which is equally likely).
Does Arya Feeding The Freys To Walder Doom Her?
It’s very satisfying when Arya, having trained among the Faceless Men in Braavos, manages to exact her long-overdue revenge against the Freys (who were, after all, responsible for murdering her family).
However, some have wondered whether this might doom her, as it did to the legendary Rat Cook, who also cooked people in a pie. However, this possibly-mythical creature was condemned for violating guest-right, while Arya was in fact exacting vengeance for the Freys’ crime against her family.
Why Does She Embark For A Voyage Of Exploration At The End Of The Series?
In the final episode of the show, everyone seems to get a satisfying conclusion. Arya, finding that she isn’t really satisfied with any of the futures offered to her in Westeros, decides to get on a ship and go sailing off to find new adventures and explore new lands.
While this might seem a bit of a strange choice for her, it actually fits, since this is an echo of the seafaring of Nymeria, the legendary queen that Arya seems to take as a role model.
Why Does She Never Just Send A Raven North After She Escapes The Slaughter In King's Landing?
The slaughter that occurs in King’s Landing at the end of season one is just one of many traumatic incidents that occur throughout the series, and unfortunately Arya is caught right in the middle of it. Though she soon enough escapes, for some reason she doesn’t send a raven North to tell the rest of her family that she survived.
While this might seem a bit illogical, it’s important to remember that ravens are usually in the keeping of those of noble blood, and it’s pretty likely that Arya wouldn’t go to any of them for fear of exposing herself to her enemies.
Does Jaqen Always Know She’ll Never Become No One?
The dynamic between Arya and the Faceless Man Jaqen is one of the most interesting in the entire series, precisely because he seems to know her better than she knows herself. A nagging question, however, is whether he knows that she’ll never become No One, one of the fundamental conditions of being a Faceless Man.
Given how everything ends up taking shape, it seems likely that he knew from the beginning that her real test was going to be whether she had the will to remain true to herself.
Is She Really One Of The Best Fighters In Westeros?
As the seasons progress, the series shows many exemplary fighting men and women. This begs the question: is Arya really one of the best? As it turns out, she is not just skilled in the arts of assassination, but also has a mean hand with a sword.
This can most clearly be seen when she duels with Brienne and, time and again, manages to best her. It’s a strong testament to her formidable skills as one of the best warriors in the Seven Kingdoms.
Why Didn’t Arya Just Kill Littlefinger And Take His Face?
One of the most satisfying moments of the later seasons of the show is when Arya finally kills Littlefinger, ending his nefarious scheming that has clearly already cost her family so dearly. One can’t help but wonder, though, why she didn’t just kill him earlier and take his face, rather than going through all of the manipulations.
Most likely, it was because Arya (and Sansa) wanted to savor the experience of having him humiliated in front of the entire court before dispensing justice.
Did The Waif Really Stab Arya?
Another pressing question is whether, in fact, the Waif stabbed Arya. The Waif is, of course, Arya’s nemesis in Braavos, and she is seemingly dispatched to kill the Stark girl by Jaqen, with specific instructions not to make her suffer.
However, she fails to follow instructions when she stabs Arya and seems to take pleasure in doing so. It’s entirely possible, therefore, that this was an elaborate test by Jaqen to see whether his other acolyte was suitable for being a Faceless Man (which she clearly wasn’t).
What Was With The White Horse In The Final Season?
The last season is a bit of a frustrating watch for many fans, who lamented some of the poor writing choices. In addition to everything else, there’s also the mysterious incident with the white horse, which comes to Arya after she survives the dragonfire that Dany rains down on King’s Landing.
It’s hard to say exactly what the writers were going for here, though it might be that they wanted to associate her with the pale horse of death of Christian eschatology.
Why Didn’t Arya Kill Cersei?
As the final season marches toward its conclusion, it seems very likely that Arya will at last get revenge against Cersei, the woman who caused her so much heartache and trouble. Ultimately, however, she is talked out of it by the Hound, who urges her not to pursue vengeance.
It’s a bit of a frustrating ending to this arc, frankly, but it does have the advantage of allowing Arya to become something more than just an assassin.