Arya Stark's Kill List: who's left for Needle in Game of Thrones season 8?

Arya has steadily been ticking names off her murderous list - but who is still left on her Kill List? - HBO
Arya has steadily been ticking names off her murderous list - but who is still left on her Kill List? - HBO

Whilst some people count sheep to get themselves off to sleep, Arya Stark recites the names of all who have wronged her. The aim, in case you haven’t worked out already, is to quite literally strike those names off.

Over the course of the show, Arya has received training from some of the best in the business, and it's all helped her on the way to becoming Westeros' most ruthless asassin. First, Syrio Forel taught her the art of sword fighting like a nimble Braavosi, then, she learned how to fend for herself in the unforgiving real world from the Hound. More recently, Arya has returned from the House of Black and White, where she learned the art of disguise from the enigmatic Faceless Men.

Game of Thrones's youngest assassin (not to be confused with the show's youngest warlord, Lyanna Mormont) has made good headway on the list she started constructing back in season two. But with the promise of even more bloodshed in season eight, here is a refresher of who was on Arya's list – and how many people have been struck off SO FAR.

Cersei Lannister

Cersei Lannister played by Lena Headey
Cersei Lannister

Why does Arya want to kill her?

Cersei falsely accused Arya's father, Ned Stark, of treason and organised his arrest all the way back in season one. What began a trickle of unpleasant events led to a deluge of horror for the young Stark. First, Ned was executed, which led to the North to declare war on the Lannisters, and swathes of Arya’s family being killed in various horrifying ways.

Is she dead yet?

Cersei remains very much alive and continues to make herself comfortable on the Iron Throne. If anything, the golden-haired queen has become more powerful since she was added to Arya’s list. Although on the face of it the Starks and Lannisters are now in an alliance against the Night King, it’s unlikely that Arya’s vengeful lust can be restrained for too long. Cersei should probably watch her back.

Ilyn Payne

Ilyn Payne
Ilyn Payne

Why does Arya want to kill him?

This somewhat defies the advice of "don't shoot the messenger", but Payne lopped off Ned Stark’s head on the orders of Joffrey. One could argue that he didn't really have a choice, especially as Ser Ilyn doesn’t have a tongue (it was torn out by the Mad King), so couldn’t exactly challenge the instruction.

Is he dead yet?

We've not seen Ilyn die on screen, but the man who plays him, Dr Feelgood's Wilko Johnson, has been out of the limelight with a remarkable battle against cancer in recent years. He's now in recovery, so Ilyn may return to the show.

The Mountain

The Mountain, before his armoured days
The Mountain, before his armoured days

Why does Arya want to kill him?

She was forced to witness The Mountain (aka Gregor Clegane) lead a group of Lannister torturers in tormenting local people at Harrenhal. 

Is he dead yet?

Technically he has already died once. But his enormous body has been creepily re-animated by Maester Qyburn. Could Arya kill him again? The nimble Oberyn Martell and his poisoned spear managed to feel The Mountain first time around, so Arya’s stealth, training and agile movements could tear down Ser Gregor once and for all.

The Red Woman

Melisandre
Melisandre

Why does Arya want to kill her?

Melisandre lured Gendry away from the Brotherhood Without Banners to use him for black magic. She'd probably want to kill Melisandre anyway, mind, despite the fact The Red Woman brought her beloved brother Jon Snow back from the grave. 

Is she dead yet?

The chances of Arya ticking this name off her list decreased significantly when big brother Jon banished the Red Woman from Westeros. However, Melisandre has prophesied that she is fated to die in the Seven Kingdoms, so Arya could still get her bloodthirsty wish.

Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr

Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr
Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr

Why does Arya want to kill them?

The pair sold Gendry to Melisandre.

Are they dead yet?

Thoros met his icy maker in season seven when he froze to death after being bitten by a wight bear. Beric is still alive, and - as of episode 2 of season 8 - off Arya's list. But now that his Red Priest is gone he has no hope of being resurrected (again).

Polliver

Polliver
Polliver

Why does Arya want to kill him?

The Lannister servant knocked Arya over during the attack on Yoren before stealing Needle and mocking her beloved sword. The utterance that sealed his fate? "Fine little blade; maybe I'll pick my teeth with it".

Is he dead yet?

Very much. Arya exacted her revenge after encountering him in a tavern, where he tried to buy her virginity for a chicken. After Polliver was ambushed by The Hound, Arya retrieved Needle and killed him while repeating his own words back to him. The delicious look on his face as he finally clocked who his murderer made it one of the show's most satisfying death scenes.

Joffrey Baratheon

Joffrey Baratheon
Joffrey Baratheon

Why does Arya want to kill him?

Let's face it, who wouldn't want to kill Joffrey? Of course, Arya's reasons are more specific than most: she blames the sadistic former boy King for ordering the murder of her friend Mycah, and the execution of her father Eddard.

Is he dead yet?

Thankfully, yes. Joffrey was poisoned back in season four, at the so-called Purple Wedding, in a murder engineered by Olenna Tyrell, with some aiding and abetting on the part of Littlefinger. Rather than delighting at Joffrey's demise, Arya was annoyed that she wasn't there to watch: “I wanted to see the look in his eyes when he knew it was over.” 

Rorge

Rorge
Rorge

Why does Arya want to kill him?

Rorge, like others on Arya's kill list, threatened to rape her when he was a prisoner for the Night's watch. 

Is he dead yet?

Yes, but only after a little kill list admin from Arya. Rorge ambushed her and The Hound at a rural homestead, and is swiftly captured by him. It is only after Arya learned Rorge's name that she decides to add him to the list, then kill him.

Walder Frey

Walder Frey
Walder Frey

Why does Arya want to kill him?

Aside from being a thoroughly odious individual, Walder Frey carried out the brutal murder of most of House Stark – who were his guests – at the Red Wedding. 

Is he dead yet?

Oh yes. Arya, disguised as a servant, slit Frey's throat, but only after feeding him a pie which was filled with the flesh of his two sons. She then took on his own appearance before poisoning what was left of House Frey in a feast that was eerily reminiscent of the Red Wedding.

Meryn Trant

Meryn Trant
Meryn Trant

Why does Arya want to kill him?

It was greasy Kingsguard Meryn Trant who murdered Arya's old "dancing master", swordsman Syrio Forel (although Syrio's death was never shown on screen, and many believe he may have secretly escaped).

Is he dead yet? 

Yes. Last season, Arya used her newly acquired "Faceless" skills to disguise herself as an unknown young girl in a brothel, and exact revenge upon the unsuspecting Trant. It was one of the most gruesome yet satisfying murders of season five, with Arya revealing her true identity, the stabbing him in the eyes and chest before, finally, slitting his throat.  

Tywin Lannister 

Tywin Lannister
Tywin Lannister

Why does Arya want to kill him?

While he wasn't present in person, Arya knows that Tywin was the mastermind behind the Red Wedding.

Is he dead yet?

Yes, very much so: Tywin's own son Tyrion managed to beat Arya to the punch, dispatching his not-so-dear old dad with a bow and arrow back at the end of season four.

The Hound

The Hound
The Hound

Why does Arya want to kill him?

In season one, acting upon the orders of Joffrey, he murdered Mycah the butcher's boy, Arya's friend. Since that fateful day on the King’s Road, we’ve seen the pair form a loveable but reluctant double act. They ate chicken, murdered ne’er do wells and haphazardly roamed the countryside together. This unlikely bond still didn’t quite soften Arya’s sense of justice, as she left him injured in the middle of nowhere rather than giving him the satisfaction of a swift death.

Is he dead yet?

No, although Arya, who left him for dead back at the end of season four, doesn't yet know this.

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