Sadly, I really do believe the Winterfell plotline is bad narrative and they were played by LF. I truly hope I am wrong though.
I’ll try present my argument be listing some points about this storyarc, which are credible and those who aren’t/have plot holes.
Credible narrative:
- Given their past relationship, it does make sense to me that Arya and Sansa, after all these years and all the things they’ve been through, would be even more estranged.
- Sansa is ambitious. Has always been, even without realising it, and wants power and titles. Despite her affection or respect for Jon, she doesn’t truly see him as her brother. She lied to him about LF in season 6 and she kept secret the Knights of Vale from him too. She constantly questioned his decisions in front of everybody. She was also too quick to tell Bran “he is the lord of winterfell”, when they reunited. After all, Jon was proclamed King in the North, and he left her in charge while he was absent. Why not wait and leave the brothers resolve that (non) “issue”? Unless, she still sees him as a bastard, with no rights to that “throne” (I’m ref. to Winterfell and the North). Sansa has a very strong sense of entitlement and among all the Starks children she is very similar to Catelyn, in these aspects.
- In that respect, Arya does know that about Sansa. She loves Jon fiercely and she would turn against her sister, if she thought there was a risk for Jon to be betrayed.
“Where desire and opportunity meet is a dangerous intersection.”
- Sansa has both, desire and opportunity. Jon is absent, she is good in managing her duties and she has the respect of the Lords of the North. Not to mention Vale “who came for her” and “won the battle of the bastards” (Cersei bitch mode on there). Arya can see that. She has valid reasons to fear that Sansa might betray Jon. We, as viewers, might think or know that Sansa would probably never go that far, no matter how much she wants to be the Lady of Winterfell. But not from where Arya is standing and the way she sees things. After all, Sansa’s “defence” of Jon was really weak. Cutting the heads of the Lords isn’t indeed the way, as Arya “suggested” (it was more a threat, rather than a suggestion), but Sansa could’ve done better than just: “He is doing what HE thinks it’s best.”, when the Lords put in question Jon’s leadership. Note the “HE thinks ” she used, instead of saying: “He is doing what IS best for all of us!”.
- Arya confronts her directly on the subject and she sees that Sansa does want that position. “You’re thinking it right now. You don’t want to but the thought won’t go away”. So, Arya is already starting to get suspicious about her. IMO, she starts following LF not only because she doesn’t like or trust him, but also cause she knows he is smh supporting Sansa. He’s glued to Sansa’s ass all the time. That letter must’ve been a shock for her and she has absolutely no reason to believe that LF isn’t indeed working for Sansa. We know as viewers, but why would Arya know that? Sansa is the one who told a lie to please Cersei and Joffrey (when Nymeria bit Joffrey). Therefore, taking their side and “betraying” her family. Arya might be a trained assassin. But she is still a young girl who has seen her father’s head being choped off, and her bother being paraded headless — with his direwolf’s head on instead — and mocked. Just to mention the most two significative moments about betrayl towards her family. Do I like it that the two sisters do not trust each other? Nope. But it’s perfectly understandable why that is the case. At least for now. We still have to wait season finale, in order to understand this whole thing.
However, considering all the above Arya openly confronts here and start to put pressure on Sansa, using threats also, in order to determine whether she is lying or not. That’s how I saw that scene in Arya’s room. She started to play the game waif “played” with her in Braavos, which was part of her training. I think in that moment she understood that Sansa wasn’t lying. This is my interpretation though and it is based on her stare at Sansa — while saying all those things to her — as if she was trying to see whether she is sincere or not. But above all, it was the fact that she gave her the dagger in the end. I saw that as a clue, or a poorly executed foreshadowing on writers part. Which wouldn’t surprise me.
These are allpoints which I find credible in their dynamic, considering their character since they were very young. The people who influenced them most (which is very interesting, if you analyze them) and their whole experience in this journey.
The main problem I see with LF scheme though is that it is REALLY weak and has holes. It is a plan with a very unpredictable outcome, which would cost him a lot. To me, that isn’t credible, considering LF’s character and his story arc, starting from season 1. His motivations and moves. His cunning and careful planning everything. I will present my arguments in regards, tomorrow. I see that I’ve already written a novel. Sorry about that. :)
But I would like to know if what I wrote above it’s valid or not for you.
