*Warning: MAJOR Game of Thrones spoilers ahead!*
If you haven’t yet seen the third episode of the eighth season of Game of Thrones (“The Long Night”), then A) what are you waiting for, and B) do not read on. But seriously, watch it, because you can only avoid spoilers for so long.
Okay, for those of you still reading, here we go. So, by now we all know how the battle ends—Arya stabs and kills the Night King with a dagger and that leads to the death of all the other White Walkers (who are already technically dead, so maybe “death” isn’t the right word there, but deal with it).
In the intense scene, the Night King has Arya by the throat and is holding her away from himself to keep her from stabbing him. But just when you think she’s done for, she pulls a neat trick—she drops the knife and catches it with her other hand and then stabs him in his vulnerable, unprotected belly. So long, sucker! As Arya (and Syrio) says, “Not today.”
It’s actually a trick that eagle-eyed viewers know that Arya has pulled before, while sparring with Brienne of Tarth.
Here they are rehearsing it, so you can get a better look.
Arya a toujours été douée avec le maniement du couteau 👏
Crédits : https://t.co/VUCuRylCEa pic.twitter.com/iChsKUWPpJ
— Creapills 💊 (@creapills) May 1, 2019
The move is so cool that people have started doing it themselves in what’s being called “the Arya Challenge,” or just simply “the Arya.”
Do #TheArya pic.twitter.com/IMLvlCnXIr
— GABY DURAN (@GBDRN) April 29, 2019
The variations are endless. Here we see it done with a remote control.
Episode 3 spoiler without content #GameofThrones #BattleOfWinterfell#AryaChallenge pic.twitter.com/G9zi3saidZ
— Quame 🥇 (@Osuane) April 29, 2019
This guy incorporated into his hair-brushing routine.
Tenía que hacerlo. :v#AryaChallenge #JuegodeTronos #juegodetronos8x03 #GameofThrones #AryaStark #KingOfTheNight pic.twitter.com/SrNAX3Dotz
— HacheComics (@HacheComics) May 1, 2019
And this guy pulled the move while brushing his teeth.
#AryaChallenge #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/fWZFqjNGrB
— Mat Charley (@matcharley) April 30, 2019
This lacrosse player did it after winning a game.
Nichtern says #NotToday Holy Cross😤 With his six assists today, the rookie is tied for first in Army’s single-season assists record with 45👏 #GoArmy #FamilyToughnessTradition pic.twitter.com/BBDKZWXLHK
— Army Men's Lacrosse (@ArmyWP_MLax) April 30, 2019
This guy put his own spin on the Arya with a Sharpie.
#Aryachallenge #woah #GameofThrones @yamayeet pic.twitter.com/ZOAxV7pbLY
— chamomile cowboy (@IkkoSuave) May 1, 2019
And this guy tried an edible Arya with a banana.
#GameofThrones #Aryachallenge pic.twitter.com/VeFp3rgghR
— Phenomen79 (@phenomen79) May 1, 2019
This one’s pretty similar, only with a vegetable instead of fruit.
*Spoiler Alert*
Arya’s Night King moment simplified with a Carrot ✅ pic.twitter.com/tBZyeNnit7— 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘆 (@BenLangley) May 1, 2019
Here someone tries it with a microphone (a nice twist on the ol’ mic drop).
“Who taught you how to do that?” “No one.” @GameOfThrones @FOXLA #AryaChallenge pic.twitter.com/2aBBe1FzHB
— Pablo Alsina (@PabloAlsina) May 2, 2019
Keys? No problem.
#Aryachallenge #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/ydoJZkM9Pe
— Avi Wechsler (@AviWechsler) April 29, 2019
A mug? Easy. (Although that could have gone very wrong.)
#notoday #AryaStark #AryaChallenge #AryaKillsNightKing #AryaForTheWin Happy Morning …and what do we all say to stress “ Not Today “ #GOT pic.twitter.com/FxYA7fYc4f
— Amit Kumar Nanchahal (@thecorpcommguy) May 2, 2019
And just look how useful it is to this plumber at work.
Not today gas line!#AryaChallenge #TheArya #NotToday #AryaStark #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/LeizZ1WHpQ
— M. Cary & Daughters Plumbing (@mcarydaughters) May 2, 2019
Even kids are getting in on it.
My daughter doing the #AryaChallenge pic.twitter.com/H2m47Pdlkj
— Carl Hooker (@mrhooker) May 2, 2019
But this guy tried it with an umbrella and ended up damaging his phone.
https://twitter.com/rchmnds/status/1123693120120655873
That’s the thing—this could so easily lead to someone getting hurt. Just like the Bird Box challenge, where people ran around blindfolded (SMDH).
https://twitter.com/starboyssk/status/1123710454206017536
BUT so far it doesn’t seem that anyone’s been hurt (besides that one guy’s phone).
As long as no one’s using actual Valyrian steel, maybe it’ll all be okay. And it is fun as hell. AND at least it’s not the #TheonChallenge.
Glad folks are doing the #AryaChallenge instead of the #TheonChallenge which involves running head first into oncoming traffic for no reason.
— 🤷🏾♀️ Queen of Sheba 🍁🍂 (@SabaSmw) May 1, 2019