Ok- a lot of people are salty about John. But-
1. John joined the noghtwatch for what he thought would be until his last days on earth willingly to begin with. John was always an “outsider” and wanted to belong and have a family but was often regarded coldly in Winterfell and had no place outside it nor ambitions. He’s spent the series trying NOT to develop while everyone else has wanted to change their circumstances. He’s finally accepted by his family but his family splits up and Winterfell isn’t his home. He has less place there than ever as we saw when he was “king of the north” it complicated Sansa’s leadership-
- it would do so even more now since much of the north rejected him for bending the knee- much might consider him a bigger hero than ever, and many in Westeros probably hate him as the right hand of the “mad queen” who led the armies that invaded and sacked the red keep- they don’t all know what really happened or his involvement. Just he could have stopped it but didn’t. He’s also an “oath breaker” like Jaime who killed his monarch even if it was for the people. So he’s with the family he has left who he can actually be with- in a place where he can be free and avoid the things he never wanted like to be in politics and responsible for millions.
Arya went through a great deal of trauma and while she loves her family wasn’t exactly close to them- and more so after all she’s been through has changed her. She was living for revenge and realized that isn’t how she wants to live because of the hound and all that happened. So now- what does she do? She isn’t into politics or power. She doesn’t want to garden and sip tea or keep house and raise babies. She’s out of people to kill as well and has learned that living the rest of her life looking for the next name for the list isn’t what she wants. She’s tired of Westeros and her family is safe and avenged. So she wants something new she hasn’t seen before.
1. John joined the noghtwatch for what he thought would be until his last days on earth willingly to begin with. John was always an “outsider” and wanted to belong and have a family but was often regarded coldly in Winterfell and had no place outside it nor ambitions. He’s spent the series trying NOT to develop while everyone else has wanted to change their circumstances. He’s finally accepted by his family but his family splits up and Winterfell isn’t his home. He has less place there than ever as we saw when he was “king of the north” it complicated Sansa’s leadership-