(take with a pinch of salt) I've heard it said that Martin is a pantser rather than a plotter, so he tends to let characters go where it makes sense for them t

(take with a pinch of salt) I've heard it said that Martin is a pantser rather than a plotter, so he tends to let characters go where it makes sense for them to go. The problem might be that because he knows the broad strokes of the ending, being closer to it means it's harder to organically get characters where they need to be - he has to become more of a plotter, which isn't his preferred approach -- sounds exhausting. I think the last 2 seasons of the show demonstrated what happens if you navigate this transition poorly.