Frustratingly Close Calls

[April-lee]

Does it frustrate anyone else that Jon and Bran are in the same village at the same time but totally miss each other? Or when Bran passes under the wall with the help of Sam but Sam never mentions it to Jon? Also how Arya and the Hound arrive at the Red Wedding barely moments too late? You keep waiting for certain characters to reconnect with each other in the book so it's rather frustrating when they are sooo close but yet so far away.

[Chris]

Haha, I remember going annoyed at that. I guess that's just one of the great things about the books, though.

[Michael]

I agree. It's annoying especially with Jon and Bran because they love each other and Bran could have used some help and support. With Arya, she would have just been killed at the Red Wedding as well.

[Kati]

Or when Jaime and Brienne buy the horses from that inn, and then Arya, Gendry and Lem (and others) end up at that inn, where Arya reveals herself to the man who was from Winterfell and worked with the horses, I obviously can't remember his name.

[April-lee]

Kati wrote: "Or when Jaime and Brienne buy the horses from that inn, and then Arya, Gendry and Lem (and others) end up at that inn, where Arya reveals herself to the man who was from Winterfell and worked with ..."

Yes I forgot about that one as well! Especially since Brienne is on a mission to return Arya and Sansa to their mother!

[Maria]

And at the end (spoiler alert of course!) where Arya is headed to where Sansa is at and is very close before changing course. GRRM is too cruel to us!

[[deleted user]]

This is where Mr. Martin irritates me. He purposely protracts reunions to make a more emotional impact when characters actually do reunite. I hate it just as much as the next guy, it's a cheap storytelling tactic (that Tolkien practiced but was much more than forgivable as it was relatively new.)

[Will]

I disagree. What need is there for any reunions? It would counteract the entire plot. You are basically asking for a different story.

[April-lee]

In spite of the finding the "close calls" extremely frsutrating...especially when you're right into the story and literally sitting on the edge of your seat and yelling/groaning/crying at the book (as I've been known to do...lol)... I DO agree that it is important to the overall plot and storyline that they don't meet at that time as they are on different paths, etc. Doesn't make it any less frustrating when you read it for the first time though...

[Danielle]

I was disappointed that Arya wasn't reunited with Nymeria, yet she has traveled through the area where Nymeria is leading a wolf pack.

[Petter]

Have any characters who used to hang out before all hell broke loose reconnected at all? I can't remember any, can you? :)

[Chris]

He's just avoiding doing what most other writers do. I imagine some reunions will happen at some point, but I think the whole series is going to go for a few more volumes yet.

[April-lee]

Well Petter as far as the first five books (view spoiler)[ none of the Stark kids have reconnected (hide spoiler)] but as there are two more books planned (possibly more, you never know with him) I'm assuming it wil happen at some point. After starting this thread I continued re-reading the series and realized there's actually quite a few close calls in all the books. I think that'll just make it all the more worthwhile when any reunions do happen.

[Dena]

Danielle wrote: "I was disappointed that Arya wasn't reunited with Nymeria, yet she has traveled through the area where Nymeria is leading a wolf pack."

Danielle wrote: "I was disappointed that Arya wasn't reunited with Nymeria, yet she has traveled through the area where Nymeria is leading a wolf pack."

I was so excited at that point in the book only to be disappointed! Hoping that they will be reunited in the next books. I am a sucker for happy endings.

[Petter]

Thanks for the info, April-lee. One thing though, when an author raises expectations that way, he'd better deliver!

[Felicia]

I agree that it is frustrating, like in the first book when Catelyn travels to King's Landing to tell Eddard about Bran's fall, and see's him for the last time she COULD have taken Sansa and Arya back with her they both sensed that bad things were happening in king's landing, it would have saved sansa and arya so much grief and Catelyn would have had her daughters with her... BUT then we would end up with an entirely different story, these "close calls" are frustrating but they keep you reading...

[TheBohemianBookworm]

April-lee wrote: "Does it frustrate anyone else that Jon and Bran are in the same village at the same time but totally miss each other? Or when Bran passes under the wall with the help of Sam but Sam never mentions ..."

It drives me bonkers.

[Jeanine]

No, they make for exciting reading.
I love the close calls.

[Brooklyn]

Petter wrote: "Have any characters who used to hang out before all hell broke loose reconnected at all? I can't remember any, can you? :)"

Cersei and Jaime were the only ones so far.

[Brooklyn]

But to answer the question. Oh yes, it is exquisite torture. As an author I wish I could be half as ruthless to my readers. As a reader it has me gnashing my teeth and turning the pages.

[Brunilda]

There were some close calls that I felt like they shouldn't happend (and I'm very glad they didn't!). For example, when Arya is close to the Eyrie where Sansa is. Although it would be nice to see the two sisters together, I never felt that it was Arya's destiny to be there, specially because of her personality, she wouldn't agree with her aunt, obey or behave properly like Sansa does. It would be the old Arya story all over again and we all know she is WAY more tougher at this point.

It came to my mind how she would behave with Robert. Just imagine the fights and arguments they would have! Complete opposite characters...

[Robin]

Felicia wrote: "I agree that it is frustrating, like in the first book when Catelyn travels to King's Landing to tell Eddard about Bran's fall, and see's him for the last time she COULD have taken Sansa and Arya b..."

Wouldn't Arya and Sansa end up at the Red Wedding? If that happened?

[Brandon31577]

Bruna wrote: "There were some close calls that I felt like they shouldn't happend (and I'm very glad they didn't!). For example, when Arya is close to the Eyrie where Sansa is. Although it would be nice to see t..."

You want to see me fly?I dont know how why dont you show me first.Mooooommmmmiiiieeee.

[Brunilda]

Brandon31577 wrote: "Bruna wrote: "There were some close calls that I felt like they shouldn't happend (and I'm very glad they didn't!). For example, when Arya is close to the Eyrie where Sansa is. Although it would be..."

Hahahahaha exelent!