The Haunting Of Bly Manor: 9 Henry James Stories That Inspired The Series
6. The Way It Came
The Way It Came tells the story of an unnamed narrator who is convinced that two of her friends are destined to meet as they share a psychic connection — they both saw their parents appear to them just before they died. Although the man and woman agree to meet to compare accounts, they are continuously prevented from doing so.
Over time, the man and narrator become engaged and the woman is invited to finally meet her fiancé. However, the narrator has last minute reservations about introducing them when she remembers everything they have in common, and makes up a lie so they don't meet. When the man finds out, he makes the narrator go and apologise in person, only to find she has died.
The man realises that he finally met the elusive woman the night before, as she came to him in a psychic experience during the final moments of her life. Still jealous of their connection, which transcends death, the narrator breaks up with the man, who kills himself years later, likely to be united with the woman.
In episode four of Bly Manor, we learn that Dani had her own reservations about getting married to her childhood friend Edmund. After revealing her true feelings, he exits the car and is immediately hit and killed by a truck. She is subsequently haunted by his ghost, which comments on the theme of supernatural connection found in the story.
Just as the characters in The Way It Came experienced unfulfilled love, Dani feels the same way with Edmund, likely due to her interest in women. Despite all the tragedy that occurs, breaking off the engagement is what led Dani to Jamie. The ending also reveals that, even after death, Dani is reunited with Jamie when she places her hand on her shoulder, likely a result of Jamie’s storytelling keeping her memory alive and freeing her from her horrific fate.
Plus, this episode shows Hannah, Jamie and Owen bond around the fire after Owen's mother's funeral, relating further to the themes of how grief brings people together.