Game of Thrones: 5 OMG moments from season 7, episode 4

Brienne and Pod from Game of Thrones season 7 episode 4. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

Arya and Brienne throw down

Getting beyond the literally awesome scene between two of the most powerful women in all of Westeros, oh good lord this scene’s implications. Arya and Brienne hold back lethal strikes between each other, as Arya gauges how she might fare against the Hound knowing Brienne beat him. There was a satisfying air of mutual respect between the two warriors throughout the scene, particularly when Arya gives Brienne props for defeating the Hound and when Brienne asked Arya who’d taught her her impressive swordswoman skills and she replied with the ultimate cool girl mic drop: “No one.”

Above the fray, Sansa and Littlefinger are surprised to find the long-lost Stark sister can wield a sword and dagger with unsettling ease. Sansa’s expression watching the interaction is hard to read, but it appeared to be a mix between admiration for her sister and terror as the reality of what Arya’s been up to all this time really started to sink in (though she couldn’t tell from the fencing that Arya’s MO varies and has included creative murdering methods like feeding enemies their children in pie form before slitting their throats, etc.). Littlefinger’s expression on the other hand, was a little more classic Littlefinger. A sly smirk and some side-eye, living up to his schemer rep.

While Sansa and Littlefinger and cheerleader Pod all look on in amazement, the seemingly overlooked detail just may be how when Arya first meets anyone who doubts her capability to kill, she gets the first strike.