This post contains frank discussion of Season 7, Episode 6 “Beyond the Wall.” If you’re not caught up or don’t want to be spoiled, now would be the time to leave. Seriously, I won’t warn you again. Skedaddle.

Say what you will about the tension brewing between Arya and Sansa, at least their volatile sisterly dynamic is based on a long history of failing to understand each other. But why was Sansa so unkind to Brienne of Tarth who steadfastly spent an entire season waiting for her in the snow watching for a candle in a window?

And then once that was all over, the pair had such a lovely bonding moment in Season 6.

So what is with the Season 7 attitude, Lady Stark? Well we can trace Sansa’s Brienne issues back to Episode 5 of this season. When the elder Stark sister watched Arya and Brienne spar in the Winterfell courtyard, she was reminded that the lady warrior wasn’t loyal only to her.

Notice Sansa’s silent discomfort with the idea of having to share Brienne with Arya? She, understandably, worries that Brienne would bond more easily with her sister given how much the two women have in common. More pertinently to the event’s of this week’s episode, notice Littlefinger noticing Sansa in that Episode 5 moment. Never fail to make note of a Littlefinger side eye.

Fast forward to this week where Sansa is concerned about Arya attacking her. Littlefinger gently and oh-so-innocently reminds her that should she and Arya come to blows, Brienne will be there to settle the fight. She is, after all, sworn to protect both Arya and Sansa. He knows damn well Sansa will be worried that Brienne will choose her Arya over her.

Fast forward again to Sansa coldly dismissing Brienne from Winterfell in order to remove a potential ally from her sister’s side. (Seriously, how did this Stark sister stuff escalate so fast?) Brienne makes the mistake of pointing out, once again, that she’s sworn to protect both Arya and Sansa which is, of course, exactly what Lady Stark does not want to hear. So she lets Brienne have it and it’s the absolute worst.

So this is why the show would have you believe Sansa was so quick to forget all that Brienne did for her and dismissed her with such callous cruelty. It’s depressing and just another part of Sansa’s inconsistent characterization this season. Shall we make up a different, more charitable reasons for Sansa’s actions? Why not! Let’s pretend Sansa abruptly sent Brienne down to King’s Landing because she’s secretly and sweetly trying to matchmake her right-hand woman with the Kingslayer.

All joking aside, this is probably the real real reason the writers have contrived for Sansa to be so brusque with Brienne. The warrior swore she would never leave Sansa and Arya’s side, but Game of Thrones wants to deliver another juicy Brienne and Jaime reunion before the season is over. Look for the two of them to meet again at the Dragonpit in next week’s finale and try to forgive Sansa. She’s just a victim of patchy writing.