Talk:Samantha Nishimura/@comment-177.1.239.83-20160928184257/@comment-2038153-20160928192109

That was really more down to Crystal Dynamics' apparent issues with Sam. It seems that a few people at Crystal had it out for Sam and wanted her out of the way but thanks to her her sudden popularity from the comics they couldn't just kill her off. So they had Pratchett "park" her and that was done via her still having a peace of Himiko's soul still inside her.

As for Lara not visiting Sam it's strongly implied that Lara didn't know where Sam had been moved to, likely the result of Sam's mother blaming Lara for Sam's condition. And it's flat out stated in Rise that Sam didn't want to see Lara. Also note how cold Lara acts in Rise which is in complete contrasts to how she acted in the comics.

I think this is because of what happened to Sam along with everything else that happened in the series up to this point. Lara has lost pretty much everything she cares about. Her father is dead, her surrogate father died protecting her, her family name is still in pieces and now the person she loves most seems to hate her. Is partly possessed by the creature that destroyed her innocents and there is nothing she can do to help her.

And finally, as I've mentioned before, Lara gave up her quest to hunt down Trinity and Avenge her Father the moment she heard that Sam was in trouble. She even says as much in the issue 7, "My father is dead, I can't save him. Sam is alive, I have to help her." She cares about Sam that much that even when dealing with a organization that is bent on taking over the world and killed her only actual family member Sam's well-being still takes precedence.

Now there's no question that Lara and Sam's relationship has been hit hard over the series. Sam feels that Lara doesn't treat her as a equal despite that fact that Sam has helped her in the past and Lara is still likely feeling hurt by what Sam said to her in The Queen of Serpents arc. The followup arc to Choice and Sacrifice should be Lara and Sam mending their relationship, with Sam apologizing for what she said to Lara in the last arc and Lara proving to Sam that they are equals by taking Sam with her on her next adventure and NOT leaving her behind.

Also Sam's parents should play a role with them coming to take Sam away from Lara and Sam chooses to stay because she needs Lara as much as Lara needs her.