Game Of Thrones Season 8 Finale: 10 Ups And 3 Downs From 'The Iron Throne'

4. West Of Westeros

Arya Game Of Thrones
HBO

Back in Season 6, Arya told Lady Crane that she wanted to see what was west of Westeros. In the final episode, she's finally setting off on that journey.

Arya's story took her away from Westeros. She had to give up her identity, learn to become a killer, and go through numerous trials, all to be able to reclaim who she was and make it back home, while maintaining a thirst for vengeance that she was now better equipped to sate.

But now, all those she swore vengeance upon are gone. She has turned away from that path because she knows where it leads, and what's more, she knows who she is. She couldn't simply settle into being a Lady, because that's not her. So ultimately, her story always had to take her away from Westeros yet again. This time, as she sets sail in a similar fashion to how she did in Season 4, she's not losing Arya Stark. She's embracing her newfound freedom from the shackles of vengeance, the direwolf sigil - and thus her family - with her. We don't know what lies beyond Westeros. We may never find out. But as Arya sails off across the Sunset Sea, there's at least a glimmer of hope.

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.