Arya not turning into a "sociopath" = raped and killed girl.

She's not a sociopath; she's displaying all the proper survival skills for her world. Where are her honest and trusting parents and older brother?

Arya still works on some sort of moral code.

It should also be noted that the whole 'Rhaegar kidnapping Lyanna' story came primarily from Robert Baratheon (who was in love with Lyanna). Oberyn makes a point of saying that Rhaegar left Elia for another woman. Last season Barristan Selmy made a point of telling Daenerys that Rhaegar died for the woman he loved…

A sociopath isn't something you "change into."

You might want to re-read what you just typed. Arya is a 12 year old girl reveling in slowly sliding her sword into a man's throat. We love her for it, but she's incredibly damaged. I don't think you guys can rightly claim that this is the person she would have become if her entire family hadn't been murdered. …

Yeah, the leaving out the guard throat slitting that was in the books (Preceding this, so it's not really a spoiler) got to me. It demonstrated that she was calculating and didn't require an overwhelming emotion to kill someone.

I think's it's safe to say that in Martin's Westeros, just when one thinks their glass if half full, they realize to late that the lip is jagged and sharp.

Also curious about your 4 weeks reference.

All the stuff where Arya was about to be reunited with her mother? The stuff where Robb Stark seemed like he was going to score a decisive victory against the Lannisters, and build a family with Talisa? Etc. etc.

True enough, but she's not really the good and honorable Ned Stark's daughter Arya any more. She's becoming someone very different.

There's also a little smirk from Arya when the Hound says "F the King!" that I thought was so cute!

I read several posts this morning asking if Arya was turning into a sociopath. WTF? Really? After all she's been through, I would've expected even more violence and mayhem. She's seen and been through far more than most adults so, I applaud every evil asshole she sticks her needle in.

I mean, at least that would have been a significant enough change to have made sense! "We decided to go closer to the book version and really pimp this guy out" is a much better idea than "We decided to replace the young pretty actor you couldn't pick out of a lineup with an older, generic looking handsome actor you…

the show always seemed to hold out hope that they could come back and be restored

Shoulda gone whole hog with Daario, gave him tits and ass swords, the purple beard and everything.

I just can't overstate what an absolutely wonderful job this show and Sophie Turner are doing with Sansa. While I agree that the scene was a bit odd, the fact that Sansa still has any kindness for anyone left in her is just astonishing. While in the books we are increasingly frustrated (to a point) with Sansa being…

Love those gifs!

This part:

There were a few subtle and enjoyable character moments in this episode. The internets was kind enough to grant me some gifs of them.