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)

By Katherine J. Igoe

published 15 May 2019

in News

Game of Thrones fans have ideas about what happened to Arya Stark after season 8, episode 5.
Some think she's dead; others think she's death, personified (does she have a particular Mad Queen to kill, perhaps?).
There's also a fan theory that Arya may die in season 8—which would be the most upsetting end for the badass character.

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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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.