How a Crucial Part of Arya’s Story Was Cut from One Game Of Thrones Reunion

While the early seasons of Game of Thrones closely follow George R.R. Martin’s novels, they omit significant aspects, particularly regarding the Stark family’s identity as wargs. This ability allows the Starks to mentally connect with animals, especially their direwolves, an important trait highlighted in the source material but largely absent from the show.

In the novels of Song of Ice and Fire, the warg skills of the Stark siblings are evident, yet they are barely explored in the HBO series. Although Bran has some display of these powers, he does not fully utilize his potential. The wildling Orell demonstrates a more complete mastery of warging, showcasing what it means to be a true warg. This conscious decision to minimize the magical elements, focusing instead on the political struggle for the Iron Throne, significantly impacts character development and narrative depth.

Diminished Warg Powers Weakens Arya’s Connection to Nymeria

Neglect of Arya’s Bond with Nymeria

In Song of Ice and Fire, all Stark siblings exhibit underlying warg potential, but Arya is the most attuned to this ability after Bran. She frequently enters Nymeria’s mind during her dreams, creating an invisible link that sustains her connection to her direwolf. This relationship offers Arya a reminder of her Stark roots, comforting her in her journey as she distances herself from her name for the sake of survival.

Sadly, the absence of Arya’s warging abilities in Game of Thrones diminishes her relationship with Nymeria. Their bond seems to diminish after Arya releases Nymeria early in Season 1, leading to a disconnection that viewers may overlook. Consequently, Nymeria’s reappearance in Season 7 becomes somewhat disorienting, lacking the emotional depth that such a reunion could have carried if their magical bond had been acknowledged.

A Missed Opportunity: Arya and Nymeria’s Reunion in Season 7

Enhancing Emotional Impact Through Their Connection

The emotional reunion between Arya and Nymeria in Season 7, Episode 2, is a poignant moment, yet its impact is muted by the absence of Arya’s warg powers. Highlighting this connection could have paved the way for a more profound narrative, creating a more believable scenario for Nymeria’s response to Arya. While animals are known for their long memories, the direwolf’s choice to stand down her entire pack for Arya could appear improbable without the underpinning of their shared magical bond.

Furthermore, Nymeria’s choice to remain with her pack rather than follow Arya could have resonated more deeply had their warg connection been emphasized. Their intertwined qualities are established through Arya’s warging in the novels, a dynamic that strengthens their relationship. Arya’s whispered words “that’s not you”to Nymeria as she turns away draws a parallel to her own struggles with identity introduced in Season 1, further enriching the emotional fabric of the scene.

If the series had not sidelined Arya’s bond with Nymeria, this reunion could have held substantial meaning. Unfortunately, the show largely disregarded the magical elements integral to the Stark family’s narrative, leaving viewers to wonder about the depth of Arya’s relationships and experiences in comparison to the original texts. There remains hope that Martin’s future works may give a more compelling treatment to Arya’s long-awaited reunion with her direwolf.

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