Game of Thrones season 8 episode 4: Arya’s decision is a callback to season one

Her words, in fact, looked back to two past moments in the show that helped establish her character

WARNING: Spoilers for Game of Thrones season 8, episode 4

Arya Stark (Maisie Williams)’s big decision in this week’s episode may have come as a surprise to some, but, in fact, it looks all the way back to events in season one.

After Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) called on Gendry (Joe Dempsie) and finally legitimised him as Gendry Baratheon of Storm’s End, he went off to propose to Arya, asking her to be by his side.

However, she turned him down with three words: “That’s not me.” Fans may recognise the phrase as a callback to a scene between Ned Stark and Arya in the first season.

When Ned tells Arya that one day she’ll be a lady and marry, she replies: “No, that’s not me.”

As Vanity Fair points out, Arya also repeated this phrase during her encounter with her direwolf Nymeria in season seven. After the beast rejects her offer to return to Winterfell, she says: “That’s not you.”

Direwolves are meant to reflect the personalities of their owners, meaning Nymeria’s decision to live wild and free reflects Arya’s own life choices.

The film’s other romantic plot left feeling fans dissatisfied, after Brienne, played by Gwendoline Christie, was shamed for being a virgin by Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage).

One moment sees Tyrion ask Brienne if she’s a virgin to which she stands and leaves. Jaime, sensing Brienne’s awkwardness, follows her to her chambers and, a few scenes later, the pair have sex.

The latest episode of the show’s final season saw Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) suffer some devastating losses after arriving in King’s Landing to face Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey).

You can watch the intense new trailer for the penultimate episode of the show here.

The show will be available on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK. 

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