One issue w/ Arya killing NK is that it had no impact on her arc. When it happened, I thought that it made sense because of her link to death. But after that, it was back to usual for Arya. She was in alone, shooting arrows, ready to finish her list in KL & never going back North. She must be considered a legend for killing NK but we barely saw that. NorHow she felt about people who were on her list helping her & dying. It didn't change her perspective on anything.
That was another HUGE issue with it. I was thinking in my head immediately after 8x03 aired that it would change everything for her. That it would give Arya a deeper connection with the North and a better appreciation for the people who live there. Because she just saved them. I thought they’d hail her as a hero this would emotionally effect her, because she’s never been valued before, and then she’d wanted to take care of/protect those people and it would segue-way into her becoming a leader for them. I also thought it would change the way people viewed female warriors, at least for a time. Because they’re all incredibly misogynistic but a woman saved the world. I thought they’d have a newfound respect for women and female warriors after that. And ultimately I thought the show was gonna end with Arya and Sansa (at least) being co-Queens, although my ideal fantasy ending was all the Starks being co-Kings and Queens the same way the Pevensie’s were in Narnia.
That fact that as you said it had ZERO impact on her character development or growth was such an insult to her character and to the audience. Not only that but it somehow undid all her character development from seasons 6 and 7. In season 6 she reclaimed her identity as Arya Stark, and in season 7 she chose her family over revenge. She was specifically on her way to King’s Landing to kill Cersei when she turned around and rode for Winterfell. And then for some reason because she kills the NK she decides to backtrack on her previous decision and realize that actually, killing Cersei was all that mattered after all. And then she ends the show leaving home and abandoning her identity as Arya Stark.
It’s just so unbelievably frustrating I don’t think I can express in words how let down I feel. Because Arya truly was on an upward trajectory ever since season 6, her mental state was clearly improving each episode that passed. She was doing so well and D&D undid all of that. 2 seasons of development obliterated in 1 episode. For what?

















