The question that immediately arises is whether that is a significant plot point or just HBO throwing in a bit more gratuitous sex because that's what HBO does.
GOT is full of redemption arcs. Arya's journey is more exotic than most, but her great moment of decision came several seasons ago, back in Bravos. She went to Bravos bent on revenge and reciting her kill list. She joined the Faceless Men, always conflicted about whether to join them for real, or simply exploit them in order to train herself up as a revenge monkey. In the end, she declared her true identity to be Arya Stark of House Winterfell, abandoned the Faceless Men, and began her journey home. Dying in the crypts of Winterfell would be one suitable ending, but I think she'll live long enough to see Cersei finished (whether she does it herself or not). If Arya does survive the war, the question is whether she can find her way all the way back to reintegration into normal human relationships. Gendry has always been the obvious lifeline if that's her fate. Establishing the liaison with Gendry just increased the odds that Arya survives.
From a purely narrative standpoint, I was disappointed that Arya and Gendry had sex. I know, I know … it's HBO, which is a bastion of all sex, all the time. Did the showrunners never stop to consider that the fact that Arya has not been sleeping her way through eight seasons makes her a unique character? They've now brought Arya back to the pack. I guess this leaves Brienne as the only virgin on the show. FWIW, episode 2 was mostly a long goodbye to favorite characters who are about to die. Arya, however, has not yet reconciled with the Hound. I think they'll both survive the next episode and meet again in King's Landing.
P.S. One bit of magic I’d not thought of until now: what if the crypts of Winterfell are protected by the same magic that protected the Wall and the lair of the Three Eyed Raven in the North? If the White Walkers and wights can’t pass, there could be more survivors next week than we are counting on now. In terms of the storytelling, this would be a better, more plotworthy way of producing survivors of rank than improvising a series of improbable Perils of Pauline escapes from a lost battlefield. The crypts are very ancient and could even date back, in the lowest levels, to Bran the Builder. One question is whether Bran knows this and, if so, why he hasn’t told anyone. But this could be a reason Bran is waiting in the Godswood rather than the crypt, as he knows his presence breaks the spell.
Last night was basically a throw away episode.... IMHO... very little true plot movement. Wrapping up a lot of little things...
Only interesting things IMHO out of last night was the reaction of his aunt to finding out her lover was the rightful king... immediately reacted to him as a threat... I don’t know about you, but if you found out you were sleeping with your nephew or niece, even if unknowingly, I’d place that as a bigger thing to react to than finding out your claim to the throne may have a competitor.
That, and Sansa confronting Daenerys about what about the north when it is all done....
Otherwise the rest of it was just a bunch of come to jesus moments for the fanboys mostly.
I thought it was hilarious when Tormund asked Jon is the big woman still here?
I’d say Sansa is still a virgin. She was forced to marry what’shisname by Littlefinger.