Stark revenge/ Arya's next move

[Darksky]

3 hours ago, DutchArya said:

I love how you got literally NO argument to 99% of what you wrote here by Darksky. Well done Gaz!

The description of the character Darksky seems to know as "Arya" doesn't even exist. It's actually laughable! The same raging, confrontational, wild, mad, psychotic, anti-social, moron Darksky thinks Arya is - somehow she can spend hours in complete silence, blind on a street corner, memorising the foreign coins in her begging bowl with only her thoughts to keep her entertained. SO UNCONTROLLABLE! The same girl who would save a 3 year old orphan girl everyone else wanted to leave for dead - so heartless and a people-hater! The same girl who felt pity for 3 dangerous men and risked her life to save them from a horrible death of burning alive. The same unintelligent people-hating girl who jumped off her horse and gave water to dying Northmen who she considered a part of her pack. So anti-social, she missed being Cat of the Canals (she loved being Cat) and spending time on the ships and the harbour, listening to stories about Aegon and his Sister Wives, making friends and learning riddles, languages and new tricks.

Arya the anti-social lurker who interacts with "fishermen, outlaws, soldiers, whores, mummers, assassins, poisoners, politicians, lords and ladies, squires, grooms, serving girls, freeriders, butcher boys, porters, brewers, bakers, braavos, beggars, smiths, apprentices, Night Watch members and recruits, sailmenders, ropemakers, taverners, courtesans, guardsmen, water dancers, ect."

 

 

 

 

You're posting this in the wrong section of the forum. I was under the impression we were discussing the show and show Arya.

So now Arya gets Mary Sue-d. She's so great, intelligent, cunning, just, beautiful, skilled, generous, protective, loving, adaptable, perceptive, inspring, strong, good (regardless of all those brutal murders and sadistic mutilation), amicable, assertive, humble, eloquent, communicative, dutiful, honourable but not to the point it's a hindrance (code of honour = flaw, undesirable in a leader right).

All in all, absolutely no shortcomings. Just perfect.

She has the potential to be the most awesome ideal leader to have ever led. Who cares she has never been groomed for leadership and has no experience governing a doghouse. She will be the Queen Westeros needs but doesn't deserve. She's the one to lead men to victory against White Walkers. Jon who? Dany who? Tyrion who? Jaime who? 

And all of that while being a teen girl of unimposing stature.

[a black swan]

25 minutes ago, Darksky said:

You're posting this in the wrong section of the forum. I was under the impression we were discussing the show and show Arya.

So now Arya gets Mary Sue-d. She's so great, intelligent, cunning, just, beautiful, skilled, generous, protective, loving, adaptable, perceptive, inspring, strong, good (regardless of all those brutal murders and sadistic mutilation), amicable, assertive, eloquent, communicative.

All in all, absolutely no shortcomings. Just perfect.

She has the potential to be the most awesome ideal leader to have ever led. Who cares she has never been groomed for leadership and has no experience govering a doghouse. She will be the Queen Westeros needs but doesn't deserve. She's the one to lead men to victory against White Walkers. Jon who? Dany who? Tyrion who? Jaime who? 

We were refuting your claim she has shown no intelligence. As well as describing her as some anti-social waste of space. Oh wait, there's some shadow she can lurk in! Can't risk being around a human being. Nope. She might snap and kill them because you know "she's crazy" because you say so. You go from people defending against your character assassination to Arya is "perfect" when no one ever said that. 

And again, stop acting like everyone who has ruled was groomed that way. The Queen Arya grew up idolizing never fought on a battlefield but she was brave and intelligent and used her mind to conquer and rule. Does that mean she has no flaws? No. It's has been said several times in this thread that Arya's future is somewhat of a mystery and nothing is set in stone. 

 

[Winter's Cold]

2 hours ago, Darksky said:

You're posting this in the wrong section of the forum. I was under the impression we were discussing the show and show Arya.

So now Arya gets Mary Sue-d. She's so great, intelligent, cunning, just, beautiful, skilled, generous, protective, loving, adaptable, perceptive, inspring, strong, good (regardless of all those brutal murders and sadistic mutilation), amicable, assertive, humble, eloquent, communicative, dutiful, honourable but not to the point it's a hindrance (code of honour = flaw, undesirable in a leader right).

All in all, absolutely no shortcomings. Just perfect.

She has the potential to be the most awesome ideal leader to have ever led. Who cares she has never been groomed for leadership and has no experience governing a doghouse. She will be the Queen Westeros needs but doesn't deserve. She's the one to lead men to victory against White Walkers. Jon who? Dany who? Tyrion who? Jaime who? 

And all of that while being a teen girl of unimposing stature.

Well Jon did have a Leeroy Jenkins moment last season. Wouldn't his impulsive actions disqualify him from leadership if Arya's rashness is such an issue?

Dany has allied herself with raiders and barbarians. She is also very rage driven. Isn't she returning to Westeros to get revenge for her family? The same thing that you're criticizing Arya for?

Tyrion failed to anticipate and prepare for the Master's attack on Meereen. That was certainly a failure in his duty as governor and an indictment on his leadership.

Jaime still appears to be a lapdog of Cersei, someone who is now indirectly responsible for the deaths of all three of her children. He has shown himself to be a capable military leader especially after his capture by Robb and the loss of his arm by Hoat(book)/Locke(show). However, he has never shown much political leadership. He has also failed twice in his duty as Kingsguard. He also cuckolded the king and thus is partly responsible for the destruction that the realm has undergone.

Arya is not a perfect person. Her getting surprised by the Waif shows that. But she does have many admirable qualities as well flaws like many other characters including Jon, Dany, Tyrion and Jaime. 

[Gaz0680]

3 hours ago, Darksky said:

You're posting this in the wrong section of the forum. I was under the impression we were discussing the show and show Arya.

So now Arya gets Mary Sue-d. She's so great, intelligent, cunning, just, beautiful, skilled, generous, protective, loving, adaptable, perceptive, inspring, strong, good (regardless of all those brutal murders and sadistic mutilation), amicable, assertive, humble, eloquent, communicative, dutiful, honourable but not to the point it's a hindrance (code of honour = flaw, undesirable in a leader right).

All in all, absolutely no shortcomings. Just perfect.

She has the potential to be the most awesome ideal leader to have ever led. Who cares she has never been groomed for leadership and has no

No one is Mary Sueing Arya. She has several flaws. And your list of traits there was a complete exaggeration. I don't think I've seen anyone ever call Arya generous, amicable, humble or eloquent.  Even dutiful and honourable are not traits people tend to associate with Arya. She has the least sense of honour of any of the Stark kids (except maybe Rickon, whose sense of honour we have no clue about). Jon, Robb, Sansa and Bran certainly all placed more importance on being honourable than what Arya ever has. 

Hell, in season 2 Haqen Jaqar even said to her "a girl lacks honour" and Arya pretty much just shrugged her shoulders. Arya does what she feels is right and is not governed by any rigid code of honour like her father was. Never has been.  Arya is also wilfull and occasionally reckless can all be potentially dangerous qualities for a leader.

However, there is a clear subtext in the books about leadership in Arya's chapters and even if we look at her journey in the show, it is clear she does possess many natural traits needed in a leader.  Yes, she hasn't been groomed for it, but you don't necessarily have to be. Some people are just natural leaders.

 

 Arya is quick to identify people's motives and even at her young age, works things out for herself, doesn't just believe what she is told and cannot be easily manipulated (like most of her family can because of their sense of honour). 

Arya is also adaptable and a quick thinker - example when Tywin essentially breaks her cover, identifying her as a girl in Harrenhal and places Arya on the spot, asking her why she is dressed as a boy. Instead of freezing up like a lot of kids would in this situation, Arya remains calm and immediately responds "safer to travel my lord", to which Lord Tywin replies "smart".

 

 

 

 

[Darksky]

It's just wishful thinking on the fans' part when they theorise either Arya or Sansa would ever be a Queen. It's a patriarchal society. For any of them to become a Queen, they'd have to either a. conquer the North or South and seize the position by force (they don't have their own armies), which would turn them into usurpers. People would not accept their rule. b. marry a King and become a Queen Consort. Not any options left for that scenario to come to pass. In the South, it will be either Dany or Jon or no one. In the North, it will be Jon or Bran or Rickon (if we include the books). Bran and Rickon would have to die and without issue for Sansa to inherit and Bran, Rickon and Sansa would have to die without issue for Arya to inherit. But it's a moot point, in the show the ruler is now chosen not inherited anyway. Neither Sansa nor Arya are going to marry her cousin or brother. Only Euron's an option if he prevailed and managed to hold onto the Iron Islands' independence.

Dany has no birthright claim to the Iron Throne. She will have to conquer Westeros if she wants to rule over it.

[MoreOrLess]

1 hour ago, Darksky said:

It's just wishful thinking on the fans' part when they theorise either Arya or Sansa would ever be a Queen. It's a patriarchal society. For any of them to become a Queen, they'd have to either a. conquer the North or South and seize the position by force (they don't have their own armies), which would turn them into usurpers. People would not accept their rule. b. marry a King and become a Queen Consort. Not any options left for that scenario to come to pass. In the South, it will be either Dany or Jon or no one. In the North, it will be Jon or Bran or Rickon (if we include the books). Bran and Rickon would have to die and without issue for Sansa to inherit and Bran, Rickon and Sansa would have to die without issue for Arya to inherit. But it's a moot point, in the show the ruler is now chosen not inherited anyway. Neither Sansa nor Arya are going to marry her cousin or brother. Only Euron's an option if he prevailed and managed to hold onto the Iron Islands' independence.

Dany has no birthright claim to the Iron Throne. She will have to conquer Westeros if she wants to rule over it.

For me theres just a fundamental difference in the way the story has delt with Ayra and Sansa's characters compared to Jon and Dany. With the latter two I think the journey has always been sign posted towards leadership, the tests they've faced and lessons they've learnt have been about proving there moral suitability to lead. Sansa and Ayra have like they developed in terms of maturity and skill but I think that morally its been a case of flaws developing due to the extreme hardship they've been though.

There obviously not nearly as immoral as the various villians and the hardship they've been though is so extreme that I think there moral flaws are more excusable but still I think that the obvious climax for there stories is facing these moral flaws and either overcoming them or being consumed by them.

That's why I think Kings Landing and Cersei makes the most sense for Ayra, it means she doesn't give up on revenge BUT it also clearly gives her the chance to switch from revenge to a more moral action potentially stopping Cersei destroying the city with wildfire. That's not to say that I can't see other ways a moral climac couldn't be reached in either the Riverlands and/or with Sansa but they do seem more diversionary, just returning home and becoming Jon's master assassin doesn't really seem like has a climax to it though.

 

[scotcat]

1 hour ago, Darksky said:

It's just wishful thinking on the fans' part when they theorise either Arya or Sansa would ever be a Queen. It's a patriarchal society. For any of them to become a Queen, they'd have to either a. conquer the North or South and seize the position by force (they don't have their own armies), which would turn them into usurpers. People would not accept their rule. b. marry a King and become a Queen Consort. Not any options left for that scenario to come to pass. In the South, it will be either Dany or Jon or no one. In the North, it will be Jon or Bran or Rickon (if we include the books). Bran and Rickon would have to die and without issue for Sansa to inherit and Bran, Rickon and Sansa would have to die without issue for Arya to inherit. But it's a moot point, in the show the ruler is now chosen not inherited anyway. Neither Sansa nor Arya are going to marry her cousin or brother. Only Euron's an option if he prevailed and managed to hold onto the Iron Islands' independence.

Dany has no birthright claim to the Iron Throne. She will have to conquer Westeros if she wants to rule over it.

^^^^  This.

 

[Darksky]

On 3.09.2016 at 1:33 AM, Le Cygne said:

A girl seems to be putting all of that together. And there are lots of hints with Jon, too.

Show is all over the map, and makes little sense. What's next could be anything, but ultimately there's a lot of repetition for going home and her connection with Jon (both of those things are big in the books, too).

In the books, when Arya was headed home to Winterfell, she wanted to go to Jon first, "to the Wall, before Winterfell." And Jon referred to her in similar terms, he wanted her to be brought home to him, "Bring her home."

On the show, she's been headed home for a while, just like the books, she keeps trying to get there. And Jon is the family she's closest to. She has mentioned him several times, as well as going North and to Winterfell.

She mentioned Jon several times in season 4. She said, "My brother game me that sword" and "I want to go North, to the Wall." In season 5, she cried when she had to part with Needle. Then in season 6, she's a Stark of Winterfell going home.

Also for our viewing enjoyment, here are some of those hints from the show again:

"My brother gave me that sword!" (and in another scene, "You say your brother gave you that sword") (season 4)

"I want to go north! To the Wall!" (season 4)

Arya cries while she has to part with Needle (season 5)

"A girl is Arya Stark of Winterfell, and I'm going home." (season 6)

Mentioning someone mather-o-factly and in passing doesn't equal great love and deep bond. Everytime ((like all 5 of those times) she was just stating facts or responding to a question, not expressing her feelings.

She tried Riverrun and The Eyrie, she knew Winterfell was taken by the enemies, so of course she'd plan to go to the Wall. It was her last option. And as far as she knew Jon was the last family member she had. Actually no, she didn't know Benjen had been MIA. So to her, there were to Starks at Castle Black. She just tried to do what Sansa achieved. Go to Jon for safety. Are Sansa and Jon connected on a deeper level because she decided to seek him out in distress?

Let's not forget Jon hasn't even mentioned Arya in passing once.

No need to bend over backwards to try to maintain that show Jon and Arya do have the same bond as their book counterparts. The showrunners simply decided to scrap that part of their characters and arcs. And perhaps for a reason.

[Winter's Cold]

32 minutes ago, Darksky said:

Mentioning someone mather-o-factly and in passing doesn't equal great love and deep bond. Everytime ((like all 5 of those times) she was just stating facts or responding to a question, not expressing her feelings.

She tried Riverrun and The Eyrie, she knew Winterfell was taken by the enemies, so of course she'd plan to go to the Wall. It was her last option. And as far as she knew Jon was the last family member she had. Actually no, she didn't know Benjen had been MIA. So to her, there were to Starks at Castle Black. She just tried to do what Sansa achieved. Go to Jon for safety. Are Sansa and Jon connected on a deeper level because she decided to seek him out in distress?

Let's not forget Jon hasn't even mentioned Arya in passing once.

No need to bend over backwards to try to maintain that show Jon and Arya do have the same bond as their book counterparts. The showrunners simply decided to scrap that part of their characters and arcs. And perhaps for a reason.

The bond isn't the same because they scrapped the North remembers plotline from the show. They replaced fArya with Sansa and Rickon and we saw what Jon was willing to do for them. We also saw how happy Jon was when he thought Benjen had returned. Family is paramount for Jon and in Season one at least Arya was his most loved family member. There's no reason why that would have changed either. Once Arya returns to the North, we'll see whether or not that close bond still exists. 

[Meera of Tarth]

51 minutes ago, Darksky said:

 

No need to bend over backwards to try to maintain that show Jon and Arya do have the same bond as their book counterparts. The showrunners simply decided to scrap that part of their characters and arcs. And perhaps for a reason.

@Le Cygne's post didn't say that the bond between them is the same, but that Arya still remembers Jon fondly in the show. We know that Jon hasn't remembered Arya in the show (in words), but the contrary is not true at all.

There is nothing in her post that suggests your statement and, in fact, everything from this post has actually happened in the show. The bond exists.

Reading the whole post is advisable before responding.

Quote

Mentioning someone mather-o-factly and in passing doesn't equal great love and deep bond. Everytime ((like all 5 of those times) she was just stating facts or responding to a question, not expressing her feelings.

She tried Riverrun and The Eyrie, she knew Winterfell was taken by the enemies, so of course she'd plan to go to the Wall. It was her last option. And as far as she knew Jon was the last family member she had. Actually no, she didn't know Benjen had been MIA. So to her, there were to Starks at Castle Black. She just tried to do what Sansa achieved. Go to Jon for safety. Are Sansa and Jon connected on a deeper level because she decided to seek him out in distress?

Let's not forget Jon hasn't even mentioned Arya in passing once.

It's not only stating factings or responding to questions, it's more than that. If Arya was antisocial or didn't care about JOn /rest of her family would she cry in that scene?

 

[Karmarni]

Yet again, it has to be noted that the show sucks at making people seem important to each other. Bonds? What bonds? Where's Ghost? Isn't that a bond? And yet, he disappeared from Jon's side. Feelings? What feelings? None of the characters give a shit about feelings {ie. the S06 ending ambiguity of Jaime and Cersei; the ambiguity of Sansa and LF}. And when they do attempt feelings, they contradict themselves from scene to scene. Show = action and very little personal drama.

Jon and Arya do have a connection. The show has done it's part in attempting to show that. I don't doubt that Arya will end up in Winterfell and maybe at the Wall. I think the continued lack of warging that the show has gone with, the general downplay of magic except for dragons, is actually a good indicator that when Ghost and Nymeria finally make their five second bows in the show, it will be with Jon and Arya at their sides. 

[Le Cygne]

1 hour ago, Meera of Tarth said:

It's not only stating factings or responding to questions, it's more than that. If Arya was antisocial or didn't care about JOn /rest of her family would she cry in that scene?

 

That was a beautiful scene... And full of very deep feelings. They built this up over several seasons, this didn't come out of nowhere, like certain plot devices they use.

The scenes speak for themselves. She loves Jon, he's the one she's closest to, and family matters to her. Maisie said the same, Jon is the one who keeps her going.

And yeah, she went headlong into a nest of killers to get Needle back, because "My brother gave me that sword." And there was a follow up scene, too. And more.

Just for fun, here's this, too (the birth of Needle!)

They also show Jon understands Arya, they cut to him here.

And this is good, too. Ned tells Arya, "You are a Stark of Winterfell, you know our words... Winter is coming... In the winter, we must protect ourselves, look after one another."

Also, I kept watching the video, there's this, too: "Arya and Jon have a close relationship. I think Jon can identify with Arya a lot more because she's a bit different."

[Karmarni]

2 minutes ago, Le Cygne said:

And this is good, too. Ned tells Arya, "You are a Stark of Winterfell, you know our words... Winter is coming... In the winter, we must protect ourselves, look after one another."

Yes! That's almost a mission statement for Arya, I'd say.

[Mandzipop]

Another way to look at Arya's path is who's story will she be merging with? What impact would she have on that story?

The North. There are a number of reasons I can't see her heading there just yet. The primary one is that I can't see the show putting all the Stark children back together this soon. So then you have to look at which of the remaining Stark children will have the most significant impact to Jon's story. Bran has information that can turn the northern storyline on it's head. Bran heading south is also likely to cause the wall to lose it's magic. I also think for emotion and tear jerker purposes, there will only be one Stark reunion per season. As Arya was the closest to Jon, I think they may save the most emotional reunion til last. I'd say going in reverse order from least emotional between Jon and Sansa to most emotional with Jon and Arya.

The Riverlands. Goodness knows what is going to happen in the Riverlands. If Arya is skilled in leadership and that is a major plot for her character going forward, this might be where she stays. I'm not entirely convinced that the battle with the Whitewalkers will take place in the north. If Bran passes the wall and goes to Winterfell, the magic within the walls of Winterfell will also be totally useless. That means people will be heading south. Jon will also need the backing of the Riverlands. If Edmure is given the Riverlands back, I'm not sure that he'll help Jon. Arya may take matters into her own hands as she has the Tully blood. She may even manage to get Jamie onside (I can't see Jamie sticking with Cersei after that face he gave her in s6 ep10). That could make the Riverlands the second line of defence against the Whitewalkers. If the show were to go down some route like this, the merging wouldn't need to be complete by the end of season 7. I'm not saying that the show would do this, but the Riverlands plots are a complete mystery right now and considering there are so many characters there, that is a surprise.

The South and Arya's kill list. If the show is going to go down the predictable route that all characters are driven by the desire for revenge, then Arya will go to Kings Landing to seek out Cersei and the Mountain. The show tends to go down the predictable revenge route. People can say everything about hints and character nuances, but the show does this typical revenge plot time and time again. Arya has been on a revenge path since season 2, I can't saee that they are suddenly going to change their preferred character motivation for something else especially when said character is already driven by said motivation.

My prediction for Arya is to go south and it has nothing to do with the character herself. It is based on what the show constantly does. They will turn a stubbed toe or a broken fingernail into some sort of revenge arc. I can't see them taking away an established revenge arc away from an existing character. As this is the show, it is how D & D write the character arc, they always go for the revenge arc. It's predictable.

 

[Darksky]

Give D and D a couple of million dollars and an extra month for post-production and you will have plenty of Ghost.  Bringing direwolves to life on screen and making them look believable is time and money-consuming, and way harder than writing about them on paper or word doc. There's an enlightening interview with Sapochnik stressing the hardships of filming GOT and those are just the tip of the iceberg. Difficulties that people are ignorant about but love to complain when things don't go how they imagined.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/29/arts/television/game-of-thrones-miguel-sapochnik-emmy-awards.html?_r=0

Martin wrote ASOIAF to be unadaptable. The very fact GOT exists, on TV budget and has achieved what it has is an accomplishment of nearly stratospheric proportions.

Writing a book is hundred times easier. Except for George Martin it seems.

@Meera of Tarth

That Arya scene with Needle. The actress cried indicating Needle is a precious gift she can't be parted with but D and D don't consider it to be of sentimental value. Needle is Revenge.

[Meera of Tarth]

1 minute ago, Darksky said:

 

@Meera of Tarth

That Arya scene with Needle. The actress cried indicating Needle is a precious gift she can't be parted with but D and D don't consider it to be of sentimental value. Needle is Revenge.

Interesting, I know about what Maisie said, but not the showrunners. Do you have a source of that?

[Le Cygne]

3 minutes ago, Meera of Tarth said:

Interesting, I know about what Maisie said, but not the showrunners. Do you have a source of that?

The showrunners said Needle is "a very very special gift"...

[Meera of Tarth]

3 minutes ago, Mandzipop said:

Another way to look at Arya's path is who's story will she be merging with? What impact would she have on that story?

The North. There are a number of reasons I can't see her heading there just yet. The primary one is that I can't see the show putting all the Stark children back together this soon. So then you have to look at which of the remaining Stark children will have the most significant impact to Jon's story. Bran has information that can turn the northern storyline on it's head. Bran heading south is also likely to cause the wall to lose it's magic. I also think for emotion and tear jerker purposes, there will only be one Stark reunion per season. As Arya was the closest to Jon, I think they may save the most emotional reunion til last. I'd say going in reverse order from least emotional between Jon and Sansa to most emotional with Jon and Arya.

The Riverlands. Goodness knows what is going to happen in the Riverlands. If Arya is skilled in leadership and that is a major plot for her character going forward, this might be where she stays. I'm not entirely convinced that the battle with the Whitewalkers will take place in the north. If Bran passes the wall and goes to Winterfell, the magic within the walls of Winterfell will also be totally useless. That means people will be heading south. Jon will also need the backing of the Riverlands. If Edmure is given the Riverlands back, I'm not sure that he'll help Jon. Arya may take matters into her own hands as she has the Tully blood. She may even manage to get Jamie onside (I can't see Jamie sticking with Cersei after that face he gave her in s6 ep10). That could make the Riverlands the second line of defence against the Whitewalkers. If the show were to go down some route like this, the merging wouldn't need to be complete by the end of season 7. I'm not saying that the show would do this, but the Riverlands plots are a complete mystery right now and considering there are so many characters there, that is a surprise.

The South and Arya's kill list. If the show is going to go down the predictable route that all characters are driven by the desire for revenge, then Arya will go to Kings Landing to seek out Cersei and the Mountain. The show tends to go down the predictable revenge route. People can say everything about hints and character nuances, but the show does this typical revenge plot time and time again. Arya has been on a revenge path since season 2, I can't saee that they are suddenly going to change their preferred character motivation for something else especially when said character is already driven by said motivation.

My prediction for Arya is to go south and it has nothing to do with the character herself. It is based on what the show constantly does. They will turn a stubbed toe or a broken fingernail into some sort of revenge arc. I can't see them taking away an established revenge arc away from an existing character. As this is the show, it is how D & D write the character arc, they always go for the revenge arc. It's predictable.

 

I think that Arya's intentions will be to go North, where her family is, but I'm  not sure if that is what will happen, since  trouble can appear. There is also the fact that she will have to struggle with revenge vs family at some point of the story. I agree on that maybe they  will be focusing on one Stark per season, but considering that we don't have as much episodes, it could be different. Or they could even meet in a different place than Winterfell.

I also think that RV's and the South will be where the WWs will eventualy go.

[Darksky]

6 minutes ago, Meera of Tarth said:

Interesting, I know about what Maisie said, but not the showrunners. Do you have a source of that?

I think it was Inside the Episode video. I don't remember. They said Arya sees herself as an avenger, a symbol of revenge and Needle is an instrument of revenge and that's why she couldn't throw it away. Not because it was from Jon or reminded her of Winterfell.

[Meera of Tarth]

 

7 minutes ago, Darksky said:

I think it was Inside the Episode video. I don't remember. They said Arya sees herself as an avenger, a symbol of revenge and Needle is an instrument of revenge and that's why she couldn't throw it away. Not because it was from Jon or reminded her of Winterfell.

They say Needle is her instrument of revenge, but they also say this is the revenge of her family.

and also the very very special gift part:

13 minutes ago, Le Cygne said:

The showrunners said Needle is "a very very special gift"...

 

Thanks @Le Cygne!! So yes, they say it is a very very special gift and they remark 

Quote

Letting go of Needle would be letting go of Arya Stark.....and she's not ready to be no One

So to sum up, Needle is an instrument to avenge her family, a very special gift (from Jon Snow) and she can't be No One.

I think it is clear that Arya cares about Jon. And she cries. That was very moving and very similar to the scene in the books. I loved it.