Warning: Game of Thrones spoilers will obviously be found below.
Ahead of Game of Thrones‘ eighth season, Maisie Williams tipped off viewers to a wave of abundant season one references to come, and she wasn’t joking. Her stunning death blow to the Night King and surprising sex scene both referred back to extensive groundwork laid in season one (and beyond), and so does her big decision in this week’s episode, “The Last of the Starks.”
Of course, Arya’s huge leap at the Night King did inspire plenty of jokes about Gendry’s possible contribution, given that he and Arya greeted what they viewed as imminent death by having sex. The two were both fortunate to survive the battle, and Gendry began the aftermath feast with great news from Daenerys, who declared him to be Lord Gendry Baratheon of Storm’s End. The fellow was both floored and left exuberant by this unforeseen development, but his celebratory mood evaporated shortly thereafter following his disastrous proposal to Arya, which went down as follows:
Gendry: “I don’t know how to be lord of anything … all I know is that you’re beautiful, and I love you, and none of it will be worth anything if you’re not with me. So be with me. Be my wife. Be the Lady of Storm’s End.”
Arya: “You’ll be a wonderful lord, and any lady would be lucky to have you. But I’m not a lady. I never have been. That’s not me.”
This calls back directly to Arya’s first season conversation with her father, Ned Stark, who stated that she’d marry a lord and rule a castle as a lady. She then responded, “No. That’s not me.”
When Arya dropped that same line to the hopeful Gendry, people noticed the callback. And then they high-fived Arya for staying true to herself, despite the crushing effect upon Gendry’s heart. She’s got things to do … namely, to check Cersei off her list!
Arya, rejecting Gendry’s proposal: “You’ll be a wonderful lord. And any lady would be lucky to have you. But I’m not a lady. I never have been. That’s not me.”
Arya, Season 1 to her dad:#GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/sd4xiAiATY
— Sarah Lerner (@SarahLerner) May 6, 2019
Arya loving Gendry but still deciding that she’s not a lady and has unfinished business #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/gHIzXiLJbG
— Comic Canary 🏳️🌈♿️🦓 (@comic_canary) May 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/BornHillsOnly/status/1125213754344517632
Arya Stark, kills the Night King and Gendry's illusions in a day #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/JN9Puu7coy
— Valentina (@ValentinaAC14) May 6, 2019
this breaks my heart for gendry but also makes me mad proud af of arya she’s true to herself. #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/IEIkyKXPfL
— osha (@oshawildling) May 6, 2019
Gendry: *proposes*
Arya:
#DemThrones pic.twitter.com/RV2Ox0W6yB— steph🦇 (@batcuba) May 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/nottright/status/1125213537104728065
https://twitter.com/Vito43/status/1125249830232776704
https://twitter.com/yeetingson/status/1125215345969639424
https://twitter.com/jennaeglacier/status/1125238443074891778
https://twitter.com/makeupxpaol/status/1125226590185623552
There might be a silver lining for ol’ Gendry. Decider’s Meghan O’Keefe has thrown out an idea for a (lonely) Gendry-based spinoff. Sure, why not?
I would honestly watch a GoT spinoff about Gendry constantly sending Sansa panicked scrolls asking for help managing Storms End. An epistolary political comedy, GIVE IT TO ME.
— Meghan O’Keefe (@megsokay) May 6, 2019
