Many Game of Thrones fans could not tolerate sex scenes involving Arya (played by Maisie Williams), who they have seen grow up from aged 11 in season one.
They questioned if she was old enough for such scenes and also took to Twitter to vent their disgust at the HBO show for including the scenes.
Now, showrunner David Benioff has spoken about why they included the scenes and what they represent.
He told The Hollywood Reporter: “For us, what was interesting about this episode was that this is our last night together, and I think everyone would face the end in different ways.
“Some characters want to make love for the first time because they’ve never done it before, and other characters are getting drunk and singing songs.
“Everyone faces [the end of the world] in different ways. But they’re all facing it and that’s why this episode was so important to us because it’s all these characters that we’ve been following for so long and now they’re facing a common enemy.”
For him it is all about creating firsts in a season that is bringing the characters’ stories to an end.
Some fans believe they would have been quite happy never seeing Arya’s sex scenes with Gendry (Joe Dempsie), as it confirms the girl they loved from season one has grown up.
One fan tweeted: “I could’ve gone my whole life without seeing Arya in a sex scene on Game of Thrones.”
Another added: “Just finished watching the second episode of season eight. Arya’s love scene was beyond uncomfortable to watch. Arya is the most interesting character, she doesn’t need trashy sex scenes.”
Arya star Maisie tried to explain to Entertainment Weekly what the scenes means for Arya: “It was really interesting because it’s a very human relationship for Arya. This is something she’s stayed away from, an emotion we’ve never really seen her engage with. David and Dan were like, ‘It’s the end of the world, what else would you have her do?’
“This may be is a moment where Arya accepts death tomorrow, which she never does — ‘Not Today.’ So it was that moment where she says, ‘We’re probably going to die tomorrow, I want to know what this feels like before that happens.’
“It’s interesting to see Arya be a bit more human, speak more normally about things people are scared of.”
The episode gave fans their final glimpse of the calm before the storm as it ended on the Battle of Winterfell beginning.
Facing potential death, the characters saw this as a final opportunity. This included Jon Snow (Kit Harington) revealing to Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) his true parentage and his relationship with her.
Daenerys was visibly fuming as it could spell the end of her relationship with Jon and also her chances of claiming the Iron Throne.
Arya was also given the weapon she plans to defeat the enemy with by Gendry and the end of the episode teased the battle is about to commence.
Fans have noticed a resemblance between this weapon and the one used in season five by Waif (Faye Marsay) to fight Arya.
Meanwhile, if Arya’s romance with Gendry continues, she might reveal his secret claim to the Iron Throne in order to get the crown herself.
Fans will have to wait to find out if the end of the world does come and Arya was right to show this different side to her personality.
Game of Thrones season eight continues next Sunday on HBO and Sky Atlantic on Monday at 2am.
