'Game of Thrones' Season 8 Episode 2 Predictions: Arya's Weapon Is for ... 

The Season 8 premiere of Game of Thrones boasted multiple reunions, including a scene between long-lost allies Arya and Gendry. She was on an important mission, however, when she went to see her old friend, who’d made his way to Winterfell alongside Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen. Arya entrusted Gendry with plans for a new weapon, and a brazen new theory posits that while the weapon’s purpose is to kill the Night King, she won’t be the one to wield it.

Possible spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 8 below.

Redditor u/certifus theorizes that Arya wasn’t commissioning Gendry to make a weapon for her. Instead, the weapon is for her brother, Bran (aka the Three-Eyed Raven). After all, Arya already has a weapon, a dagger made of Valyrian steel (which can be used to kill White Walkers). She’s fought off and killed several people over the years, and in Season 7, she was also able to spar with Brienne of Tarth as an equal (and she beat the Hound in a fight!). So there’s no reason that Arya needs a new weapon.

“The weapon is for Bran,” u/certifus writes. “Episode 1 made it very clear that Bran can see into the future and this commissioned weapon is for Bran when the Night King comes after him.”

The theory is an interesting one and highly plausible. The plans for the weapon are “similar to a spring loaded hidden projectile weapon,” which makes it easy for Bran, whose mobility is limited, to use it from a distance.

The only catch is that previous trailers for Game of Thrones Season 8 clearly showed Arya fighting at the Battle of Winterfell with what looked like the spear she’s asked Gendry to make. So that complicates things a bit, though it’s still possible she could be using some other weapon, or that she could fight with the new spear before handing it off to Bran at just the right moment.

The design for the weapon includes a spear that can be separated into two parts. Arya makes sure to mention that the tip of the spear should be made of dragonglass, which is one of the only materials that can kill wights and White Walkers.

As the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran is of the most powerful beings in Westeros since he can see everything that’s ever happened and maybe even change the past. The Night King is also well-aware of Bran and his powers, and probably plans to take him out as soon as possible.

In that scenario, commissioning a long-range weapon specifically for aiming and shooting it at the Night King makes a lot of sense. Bran probably saw the details of the weapon in his mind and relayed the information to Arya. At this point, Bran is playing the long game, and there’s no telling what he knows about what’s to come.

Fans have long speculated about which Game of Thrones character would be the one to kill the Night King. A previous theory suggested it might be Jaime Lannister, while others believe Jon Snow or Arya will be the one to deliver the final blow.

Considering Bran knows the Night King’s history, him being the one to kill the leader of the White Walkers would have a much bigger impact. Whether Bran kills the Night King or not, no one, not even Jaime, should underestimate him. Especially if that new weapon really is for him.

Game of Thrones Season 8 airs Sundays at 9 p.m. Eastern on HBO.