Didn’t Maester Aemon pretty much already allude to this in his fever-dream state towards the end? Something like, “we never thought it would be a female”.
This is what’s irritated me so far about this season. The “big reveals” aren’t all that big. Sam finds out there’s dragonglass on Dragonstone. No kidding...Stannis admitted as much a few season earlier.
I miss the intrigue and cleverness of the first few seasons. Seems most of the show now is fan service.
But, I’m hooked, and I’ll see it through to the end.