House Stark has always been associated with direwolves, and their bond runs deeper than what we’ve seen in Game of Thrones. If anything, the show barely scratched the surface of their connection, both literally and figuratively.
We remember that in the beginning, the Stark children found a litter of orphaned pups, one for each of the siblings: Robb names his wolf Grey Wind, Sansa gets Lady, Arya has Nymeria, Bran takes Summer, Rickon with Shaggydog, and Jon Snow receives Ghost.
The most interesting fact about the Starks is that they aren’t only believed to be in possession of wolf blood, but they have the ability to warg into their direwolves as well.
Arya Stark’s reunion with Nymeria in Game of Thrones Season 7 was a huge letdown
Direwolves in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire played a more significant and crucial role in House Stark’s legacy than in Game of Thrones. The story opened with the scene mentioned above, which the author also previously claimed was the very first idea he had when he started writing the books.
While each of the Stark children had their own stories with their direwolves, Arya’s connection with Nymeria remained unparalleled. She named her after the warrior-queen of the Rhoynar whom she greatly admired.
In the first season of the show, Arya had to send away her direwolf to ensure its safety after it had bitten Joffrey Baratheon. They did not see each other again until Season 7 when Nymeria found Arya alone in the woods. She invited her old friend to come with her and return to Winterfell, but she’s clearly living a new life now, leading her own pack of wolves.
A fan on Reddit expressed disappointment at how this scene could have carried more weight and left an impact on Arya’s future. Moreover, the show has forgotten that Arya could warg into Nymeria, a thing she has done numerous times in the books.
Remember when Arya bumped into Nymeria and her whole pack of badass wolves and how it had zero effect on Arya’s future?
by infreefolk
It’s still a massive waste of opportunity that they did not explore this side of the Starks, because if there’s anything cooler than riding a dragon, it would be having the ability to possess the body and mind of animals and perceive the world through their senses.
Maisie Williams on the unexpected reunion of Arya and Nymeria
Arya and Nymeria’s reunion was indeed an emotional one, and Maisie Williams believed it was better that they parted ways again. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly (via Harper’s Bazaar), she said, “It’s even nicer that they don’t live happily ever after. Nymeria has created her own world and created her own pack and isn’t ready to be Arya’s pet.”
It’s just upsetting that it reached this point, where Arya’s connection with Nymeria was glossed over for sentimental value. Fans know how tight their bond is in the books because she regularly wargs into her, which keeps her identity as a Stark.
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