The final season of Game of Thrones, particularly episode five “The Bells,” is widely criticized for its rushed storytelling and confusing moments, such as Arya Stark’s unexplained horseback ride through the ruins of King’s Landing. This scene’s symbolism remains ambiguous, with some fans speculating connections to a horse from the books or biblical imagery. Notably, the horse may reference a prophecy from George R.R. Martin’s A Dance with Dragons, where Melisandre envisions a “grey girl on a dying horse,” initially thought to be Arya but later revealed to be another character, Alys Karstark, highlighting the theme of misleading prophecies in the series.

Melisandre’s vision and its partial fulfillment in the books underscore the unreliable nature of prophecy in the Game of Thrones universe, a motif that resonates with Daenerys Targaryen’s controversial descent into madness in the show. The reminder of false or ironic prophecies invites viewers to reconsider the significance of foretold destinies, such as Daenerys’ role as Azor Ahai reborn, and suggests that some narrative elements in the final season, though awkward, may carry deeper thematic intentions about fate and misinterpretation.