Unlikely Game of Thrones Character Could've Saved the Starks If They Listened

Summary:

• Catelyn Stark foresaw the most tragic developments for her family and tried to prevent them by convincing the others.
• Lady Stark demanded Bran stop climbing walls; Ned stays in Winterfell; and Robb stays true to his word to the lords.
• Unfortunately, the other Starks never listened to Lady Catelyn, and the House was almost destroyed as a result.

Despite Game of Thrones having multiple lead characters who had spotlight on them at different times, it’s hard to argue that the members of House Stark were the core actors in most events. Sadly, many Starks’ suffered a terrible demise, and the House borderline went extinct (thankfully, it won’t) — but all of that could have been avoided if its members only listened to their matriarch, Catelyn Stark.

Catelyn Stark Foresaw Most Tragedies

Game of Thrones has two major storylines that develop independently of one another: the Night King’s rise and, well, the game of thrones itself. While there was little to no way for Lady Stark to influence the former, she could — and tried! — to prevent the most devastating tragedies for her House when it came to the latter.

The most important events of Game of Thrones’ political side kick off in the premiere episode with Bran Stark’s “accidental” fall. Bran was pushed from the tower window by Jaime after witnessing him and Cersei in action, starting a chain of events that would plunge Westeros into chaos. What did Catelyn Stark say? “No more climbing, Bran!”

The next part came soon after with Lord Eddard Stark following his friend King Robert Baratheon into King’s Landing to serve as his Hand. This, too, would end up disastrously, with the Stark patriarch’s death — and the following war waged by his heir, Robb… What did Catelyn Stark say? “Don’t go south, Ned!”

Catelyn Stark Was Right Until the End

During Robb’s war, Lady Stark was also a wise advisor to him. She specifically told her son not to execute Lord Karstark, which would cost Robb half of his army, and not to go back on his promise to Lord Frey, which would end in the Red Wedding. Until her dying breath, Catelyn was right and tried to convince her family of it.

If anyone in House Stark actually listened to their matriarch, the most terrible events that almost destroyed the northerners would not have happened, from Bran’s “accident” to Ned’s execution to Robb and Catelyn’s deaths. The Starks loved to compare themselves with the wolves who stuck together — but when it was needed the most, they failed to recognize the better judgment of their mother.