DO NOT READ AHEAD IF YOU DON’T WANT SPOILERS ABOUT GAME OF THRONES, SEASON 8 EPISODE 5. DO NOT.
So if you’re still here, I’m assuming you’ve watched Game Of Thrones latest episode – the 5th of 6 for the final season. Yes, we’re down to the wire now folks, but for some reason the showrunners decided dedicating 5 strong minutes at the end of their second-last ep to Arya Stark stroking a white horse’s nose in the middle of a burned-down Kings Landing was a good idea.
[jwplayer W7JCDnGm]
Given the moment was allowed so much airtime in an otherwise fast-paced episode, it’s led to theories. Why was the horse there? Is the fact it’s a white horse meaningful? And so on. The internet is coming up with a lot of theories, and honestly? They are all ridiculous to me.
1. It’s The Hound Reincarnated
Seriously? We’re going to go with this? The Hound a) would never let any god reincarnate him and b) when has reincarnation ever been part of the Game Of Thrones universe? It hasn’t. I know The Hound had a nice relationship (in the end) with Arya, a sort of Uncle/Niece vibe, but I also do not think his spirit gives enough of a shit to come back as a horse to… help Arya get out of Kings Landing.
2. The Horse Is Daenerys And Arya Is Death
Well not *is* actually Dany but is symbolic of her – remember how she was given a white horse by Drogo back in season 1? And then it died in season 2 because they didn’t have enough water? Well some folks think it’s all very symbolic that a white horse has come to save Arya and Arya is riding it, and Arya is.. Death? It’s kind of blended with this theory…
3. It’s Christian Imagery
Since when has Game Of Thrones played with Christian imagery? Answer: never. But one of the theories floating around on Reddit is that the horse is a nod to Revelations 6:8:
“I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.”
So this is how Arya would be “Death”. She has absolutely been killing a lot of people – important people, like the Night King. And I hundo-p think she’ll be out for blood with Dany, but are we really going to slap some Biblical theories on this?
4. It’s Bran
Some people reckon Bran’s warged into a horse to come save his sister. TBH this is the least stupid theory (to me) and explains how a basically fine horse is prancing around a completely burned-down Kings Landing virtually unscathed. But also… Arya’s not really in trouble, is she? At least not in as much trouble as I’d say Jon was before, when the Lannister army was trying to kill him. Or even Arya BEFORE the city burned down. Surely if Bran’s been watching this whole time he would have sent help earlier? Maybe 4,000 ravens to carry someone out of the city? Jks. But you know what I mean. Seems a bit of a stretch.
5. It’s A Prophecy
Some have connected the horse to a section in Game Of Thrones book A Dance With Dragons, in which Quaithe says to Daenerys:
“The glass candles are burning. Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun’s son and the mummer’s dragon. Trust none of them. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal.”
I can see how people got here but also – this prophecy is about trust, and Dany doesn’t trust Arya at all really. Unless it’s foreshadowing something that’ll happen in the final episode…
6. It Shows Arya’s Change Of Heart
This one comes directly from Reddit – Arya rode in on a black horse with The Hound, but maybe the white horse represents her change of heart regarding being a vengeful soulless assassin. As user Hunting1111 wrote:
I do like this theory… my wife and I had another. She rode in on a black horse, just like the hound with vengence and hate in her heart, she chose life and to give up her hate to live. To not be like her partner the hound. She even seems to shift from mindless assassin to help the woman and child, showing humanity which she hasn’t had for a few seasons. She leaves on a white horse, pure and clean of the burden of vengeance? Again, without believing the spoilers it’s fun to guess and imagine what comes next
Anyway. My take? Given how this season’s gone it’s probably just a dumb horse that cantered into the shot and they were like “uhhh, ok Maisie just go with it, give it a pat and hop on”.
