This New 'Game of Thrones' Fan Theory About Arya Could Be a Huge Clue to Her Destiny

After almost getting trampled by civilians in Kings Landing and narrowly avoiding being killed by dragonfire in episode five of the last season of Game of Thrones, Arya is seen riding off on a white horse, free to choose her own destiny for the first time in her life. But fans are now speculating that there's more than meets the eye on that final scene.

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(Image credit: HBO)

Spoilers for Game of Thrones season 8, episode 5. 

After almost getting trampled by civilians in Kings Landing and narrowly avoiding being killed by dragonfire in episode five of the last season of Game of Thrones, Arya is seen riding off on a white horse, free to choose her own destiny for the first time in her life. In addition to the obvious symbolism (she takes care of the horse of the little dead girl she tried to save, she rode in on a black horse and rode out on a white one—her soul is pure, etc. etc.), it's a kind of sudden character turn. She decides her years-long grudge against Cersei is no big thing, just like that?? So, with that in mind, fans are now speculating that there's more than meets the eye in that final scene.

According to PopSugar, one of the theories is that Arya is actually dead, and she's riding off into the afterlife. That's a theory I looooove, but unfortunately, we can see Arya in the preview of the next episode, so I don't think it's true.

There's also a fan theory that Arya is literally the bringer of death like the grim reaper—think about that Johnny Cash song, about how Death rides a pale horse:

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I mean, I guess? I'm not sold on the exact wording there, but it would tie in to Arya's training. Now that I'm thinking about it, Arya stands a better chance of killing Dany than Jon—my theory is that Dany doesn't trust anyone at this point so she'd see Jon's betrayal coming a mile away. But I'm really, really hoping that we don't end all of Game of Thrones with a tyrannical Mad Queen ruler, so I guess I like this Arya-kills-Dany theory, sort of. 

Here's the final trailer:

TBH, I don't know what's about to happen. But I don't like it.

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(Image credit: HBO, design by American Artist)
Katherine J. Igoe
Contributor

Katherine’s a Boston-based contributor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle—from “Clueless” to Everlane to news about Lizzo. She’s been a freelancer for 11 years and has had roles with Cosmopolitan and Bustle, with bylines in Parents, Seventeen, and elsewhere. It’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.