Danny Franks

The voice Josha did was pretty good, though. He sounded so old and weary. His performance in this episode really deserves award recognition. I don't think so. Muradin was just there to show that some Aiel really cannot handle seeing their history. Obviously, he has different blood ancestors to Rand, to a point, but each Aiel will have an ancestor who broke his or her oath. And go back far enough, maybe all modern Aiel are descended from Charn. He became a killer, it doesn't matter how. If it had been a clear accident, maybe there might have been a little leniency, but I'm not sure about that. Him immediately deciding to keep the spear but reiterating that a sword has no purpose but to kill was a shorthand way of showing that refusing to use swords is a remnant of the Way of the Leaf.

A couple of bits that kind of bother me - Alanna getting pin cushioned without another Aes Sedai to heal her. I worry that they're going to somehow have Bode Cauthon heal her, which just seems to be an egregious simplification of how using the One Power works. Egwene being good enough to find all the dreams she wants to see, after what seems like a few nights of practice (at most). Honestly, I like the messy, soap opera stuff with Lanfear. She's so vindictive, it makes me wonder whether she actually pulled Egwene into Rand's dream. If she did, that's amazing. The Whitecloaks burning Natti Cauthon will probably outrage some book readers, despite Natti never having a single line of dialogue in the books. The Whitecloaks in the show are obviously far more ruthless and effective than in the books, and they have to be, to be seen as a real threat.

Sulky Aviendha and Cold Rocks Hold. Now I really feel like I'm in the Aiel Waste. The Aiel in the show are a lot less stoic than in the books, but that's not a bad thing at all. Aviendha: "Wetlanders do not share lovers?" Rand: 'You think I could convince my girlfriend that we should open up our relationship to the psychotic, mass murdering ex of my previous self?' Look, Rand, I know she's hot. But you cannot fix her. I'm not a fan of overly precious kids, so I shared Aviendha's disdainful look at Rand being so perfectly nice to Rhuarc's greatdaughter. I wasn't sure if Moiraine was a bit peeved that Lan was getting some attention, or if she'd just developed a bit of an addiction to playing with her ball. Turns out she's realised she's going to have to sacrifice herself. The dream world looks just like the real world. That's handy for the effects department. But something I realised with this episode - Egwene doesn't know who Lanfear is, or what she looks like, and she doesn't know Rand has even met her, let alone had a passionate love affair with her. I'm not sure I buy how quickly Egwene has learned to navigate there, though. But her seeing everyone's dreams was fun - Nynaeve as the Wisdom again, Elayne doing Titanic with Aviendha, Mat with his family, Perrin with his wolf and his falcon and then... oh dear, Rand, caught red... minded? I love how adept Aes Sedai are at politely slashing each other with words. Suian and Elaida were so nasty to each other. Really interesting difference in the worldly perceptions of them - Suian is definitely a "servant of all" type while Elaida is caught up in the power and prestige of the Amyrlin Seat. Nynaeve being a terrible sailor is perfectly Nynaeve. Elayne reading up on Tanchico and lecturing the others is perfectly Elayne. She's such a rule follower. Mat and Min just need to hook up. They actually work well together. In case we didn't have enough reason to dislike the Whitecloaks, they're wolfkillers and mother burners as well. Valda really is absolutely despicable, the epitome of lawful evil.

Right. It's nice that Mat goes to Rhuidean in the books, because there is a camaraderie between him and Rand that's welcome (although Mat is still secretly thinking of ways to get away from Rand for pretty much the whole journey). But he absolutely doesn't need to be there, if the twisted doorway isn't there. We know they've not abandoned the Aelfinn/Eelfinn because of Min's viewing of Mat hanged. Though my guess is they'll combine them so he only goes through one doorway. So it's just a case of putting the doorway somewhere else. In Tanchico, Tar Valon or Tear is perfectly fine. Thank you. The cudgel of "Judkins/the writers don't care about the source material" is beyond tired, and utterly disproven with every episode. There's no way they could not know and care about the source material to produce the adaptation they have. Because it's absolutely clear that they're thinking about how to adapt the entire story, rather than just adapting scenes or chapters or even books. They're having to think several books ahead with every decision they make, and you can't do that without knowing them very well. It's also curious that so many of the people who say that the writers don't care about the source material are often misremembering or selectively remembering the source material themselves. I will also say that, when it comes to Mat, it's absolutely clear that they want to do his book three storyline, which is very popular with book readers, but they don't want to do the book three storylines for anyone else. Which is fine, because book three is no one's favourite Rand, Perrin or Egwene material.

I love that Elayne only looks slightly evil. But it remains true - being evil makes you hotter.

Adding Janduin to Rand's past lives was smart, to ensure that it's clear to the viewer what's going on. But man, I wish they hadn't had him kill unveiled. I have to assume some producer said that they needed Josha unveiled so people could see it was him. But we should never, ever see an Aiel kill when they aren't wearing their veil. That should be rule no.1 of putting the Aiel on screen. And then they had Lewin kill that bandit without his dust veil up. So those two choices really undermined the moment where Lewin raised his veil and signified that he was a new type of Aiel. The veil (to hide the shame of killing) and the refusal to touch swords are two remnants of the Way of the Leaf, which makes them such a tragic part of Aiel culture. I liked that they changed Sevanna's way of drawing attention from "look, boobs!" to a more striking and bonkers appearance. I don't like that they gave the Shaido black cadin'sor. Or that the Aiel in the Rhuidean flashback all had such different looks. I get that they want to show there are different clans, but the thing about Aiel is that they could always tell what clan someone was from, but no one else could.

It's more that both the modern Aiel and the Tuatha'an are offshoots of the "true Aiel" who were entrusted with the tree saplings in the Age of Legends. Both broke their oaths to the Aes Sedai - the Tuatha'an by abandoning the caravan and the Aiel by abandoning the Way of the Leaf. I've always thought the Way of the Leaf is too extreme in its pacifism. Seeing your daughter or granddaughter kidnapped, probably to be raped, murdered or sold into slavery, and all you can summon is "we bury our dead and move on," feels practically sociopathic. And all those deaths were by cutting Moiraine's throat. Even in alternate timelines where it probably didn't happen, Lanfear is petty and vindictive enough to kill Moiraine as Moiraine tried to kill her.

This episode adapted my absolute favourite two chapters of the entire series, and I think it was almost perfect. The history of the Aiel is something I've always cared so much about, as they're my favourite culture in the series and they're underpinned by such a tragic journey from the people they used to be to the people they are. The crystal pillars of Rhuidean being the test for Aiel who want to be chiefs, is so good - are you strong enough to face your history? And I've always found a delicious irony in Rand, a wetlander, being the Car'a'carn, and it being so much easier for him to face that history than for any other Aiel. For him, he experiences the suffering and pain and witnesses the transformation, but for Muradin it's all that plus an existential crisis that simply can't be endured. The Aiel exist as they are because they were oathbreakers. They were supposed to follow the Way of the Leaf, they swore to. All that's left of that oath is their refusal to touch a sword. I thought Josha did an amazing job as all his different ancestors, from the stoic warrior to the hobbit-esque peaceful Aiel to Mierin's acquaintance who didn't even understand the possibility of violence. Distinctly different characters, with different outlooks and attitudes and voices. The two real standouts - Lewin saving his sister, and being told by his own mother to hide his face, the face of a killer. And Charn, who was so sweetly admiring of Mierin Sedai and witnessed the Dark One breaking the fabric of reality (incredible effects and sound design on that). I could gush over it for hours. Other stuff - I really liked the turnings of Moiraine's life, and all the different things she apparently could have tried to do - bonding Rand, gentling Rand, killing Rand, swearing fealty to Rand, boning Rand, boning Lanfear. And they all seemed to end the same way - with her death. So how does she find the path to success? This is the first time Ayoola Smart has convinced me as Aviendha. The desperate statement that she's a Maiden of the Spear and the little look of agonised resignation when Bair broke her spears, and then the disdain for Rand and his tattoos. Sevanna looks ridiculous, I love it. Couladin is a moody, moody boy. Not sure about the wisdom of the Shaido wearing black. It doesn't seem like it would camouflage them in the desert as well as the Taardad colours. I really liked Natasha O'Keeffe's performance as Mierin. You could see the differences between her and Lanfear, she looks genuinely lighter and happier, and considerate of other people, but then you see the hidden grief over losing Lews Therin.

Min the scholar. That always seemed very weak to me in the books. She starts reading and it turns out she really gets this philosophy stuff, and she figures out that the turning of the Wheel means that the Bore has to be effectively undone. Okay. I mean, Herid Fel already figured that out but died before he could reveal it. And Rand doesn't even try to do that until he realises that destroying the Dark One won't work. My biggest problem with Min in the books is that she seems to exist to be Rand's crutch - the doting, devoted woman who always tells him he's doing fine and always defends him against criticism, even when he's absolutely off his rocker. And that is the side of her that most of the "Min is waifu" types latch on to - the loyal, devoted woman who follows her man wherever he goes and supports him unquestioningly. These are the same people who usually hate Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve because they're too bossy or too boring. And they're always the types who seem to read the series as a male power wish fulfilment, with no other level to it. They unironically say the end of Dumai's Wells is the coolest moment in the series. They love scenes where the women "get put in their place," by men. They are the worst of the WoT fandom. I get that RJ may have felt like that was a valid interpretation of what being a woman can be, and I suppose there are a lot of women who are like that (and a lot of men who would like them to be). But it makes Min the least interesting female character in the entire series, from my point of view. I'd be all for the show making her more interesting and independent, but I think what they've demonstrated so far is that she's actually superfluous. Pairing her with Mat has given her a slight reason for existing, but otherwise she lifts right out and nothing is changed.

So Gaebril is actually Rahvin, using a complicated Compulsion weave to make everyone think he's been in Andor for years. Who could have seen that coming? I really like the bickering Forsaken. I've heard it said that, while the heroes of the Wheel of Time are in an epic fantasy story, the Forsaken are in a workplace comedy where they're always conspiring against each other, with varying degrees of competency. That one scene did so much to establish them as characters - Rahvin the ladies' man who thinks he can talk anyone around, Sammael as the belligerent, disagreeable jerk who wants to pick fights, and Moghedien as the lunatic in the corner who everyone fears might have a knife up her sleeve. Oh, and Lanfear thinks she's smarter and better than them all, and likes to show it. I do like that this show is giving lots of "women of a certain age" the opportunity to kill it in scenes together. Verin and Elaida snidely bitching at each other was great. But I fear Verin and Leanne are underestimating Elaida and her plans. Absolutely insane scenery again, for the Aiel Waste (or the Threefold Land). I think they filmed in South Africa, and it was worth every penny they spent. Lots of Aiel lore, and hopefully lots more to come. I liked the scene between Perrin and Alanna, about the losses they've both suffered. Interesting takes on grieving rituals, but that apple tree has grown very quickly. And interesting thoughts on Alanna and Maksim, where things clearly aren't rosy. Bain and Chiad really want to kiss an Ogier, don't they? But man, that smile Chiad gave when she put her foot on the bench across from Maksim... I'd definitely play Maiden's Kiss. And probably lose. Lord Luc is not how I imagined him. Very strange casting choice, but okay. Faile is absolutely how I imagined her. Very perfect casting choice. I guess Liandrin has given up what little subtlety she had, but her and her friends definitely went on a fashion-forward shopping spree before arriving in Tanchico. Rand, Lanfear is definitely leading you by the nose. And you're falling for it like an idiot, because she's really hot. Loved Mat beating up Galad and Gawyn. I've been waiting for that, and it absolutely lived up to expectations. Galad being such an overbearing "unhand her, you ruffian," white knight is perfect for him.

My soapbox opinion about E.R. - They should have built the show around Susan, rather than around Mark and Doug. She was a very sympathetic, engaging character, and Sherry Stringfield played her with so much charisma and charm in those first two and a half seasons. Following her career progress, and the self doubts she clearly had, while she was trying to figure out how to be a mother to Suzy, would have been great television.

Episode 2 - I really loved seeing Compulsion work in real time, as Gaebril inserted himself into the memories of everyone. It's so creepy. That moment of blankness when Elayne meets him, before the memory inserts itself. And then he knows exactly how to interact with Elayne even though he's never met her before - joking effortlessly about Galad, knowing she likes to drink. There are so many levels to what he's doing with the One Power. It seemed like the scene with Elayne and Gaebril put the notion into his head that he could get rid of all Morgase's support system - Elayne, the brothers and Elaida, and have her completely isolated. I wonder if that's why she agreed to let Elayne stay, and not anything Elayne herself said. Galad and Gawyn are complete fuckboys. It's hilarious, and in keeping with the more modern take on sex and sexuality that the show has adopted. I guess Galad's ineffable sense of right and wrong won't quite be the same, which is fine. Him just being a stiff, self-important prick is more than enough.

The locations in this show are absolutely incredible. That shot at the end, coming over the mountainside to see the desert beyond, was breath-taking. I didn't realise Olivia Williams was playing Morgase. That fits. I did know Shohreh Aghdashloo was playing Elaida. That really fits. "That war is over now. Because I won it." That's a hell of a line. Morgase is ruthless and clearly a smart ruler. The power struggle between a queen and the Amyrlin Seat was very cool to watch (especially a queen who studied at the White Tower). I did like that Morgase does seem to clearly love her daughter and not see her as a tool or just the furthering of her house. Pulling Elayne out of school would have been a big move, though. That girl needs an education! Galad and Gawyn are two handsome, obnoxious gits. Perfect. I love how stiff Galad is, and how obviously different he and Gawyn are from each other. The scene with them showing off for all the novices was hilarious. Mat being clearly envious was even funnier. Ryma Sedai was rescued from the Seanchan. That's good to see. I have to say, I really like the bold colours of the costuming, and they seem more vivid than ever this season. The yellows really pop. Bain and Chiad are quiet stars. They seem so curious and forthright in all their scenes. Egwene's mother's expression when she met Loial and the Aiel was a picture. Alanna and Maksim used the Ways without an Ogier? Of course Perrin thinks he can just make everything right by giving himself up. Aviendha won't stop throwing shade at Rand, and it's not the kind of shade Aiel value (book reader joke, there). Aiel hating swords is a very fun cultural feature in the books, and I'm glad for it to be introduced, along with the Aiel prophecies of the Car'a'carn. I realise in this episode that Egwene now has first hand knowledge of insane, murderous Rand, from her Accepted test, and that she's unlikely to ever be able to forget, no matter how much she tells herself it wasn't real. And we keep seeing these snippets of Rand being tempted by the One Power, the edges of insanity when he talks about it, and we realise that the future Egwene saw could be very real. The contrast of Egwene's nightmares of Renna to Rand's warm, happy dreams with Lanfear was great. And you're watching his dream thinking that maybe Lanfear isn't all bad, maybe she can be fixed... Then you learn that she's torturing Egwene, the "doe-eyed cow," out of jealousy and malice. And finally. Aiel. Lots of Aiel.

There's a line in The Path of Daggers that says something like, "in the darkness, they shared another secret together," that makes it sound like they're banging, but I really think RJ just meant that they took the chance to talk at night about Rand and their feelings for him. Other than that, I don't think there was really any gay subtext to their relationship. They literally adopt one another as sisters. Unfortunately, some people always interpret love between unrelated people as sexual. Egwene and Elayne both seem to think that Aiel sister-wives have sexual relationships with each other, because they both think of whether they could share a man and find it incredibly embarrassing to consider. But the Aiel themselves are vague on it, and I tend to think it just depends on the three people in question. But I do think the world has changed quite a bit since RJ wrote these books in the 90s, and as strange as Rand having three women read back then, it would be flat out unacceptable to most viewers of a TV show in 2025. So having the girls be into one another does make sense. But I really don't know how they're going to fit Min in, because she hasn't even met Elayne in the show (I've only watched the first episode of season 3) and has still only met Rand once. If it was up to me, I'd make a more radical departure and make Min and Mat a pairing, which spares us from having to pretend we like a woman who keeps other women as slaves, just because Mat likes her. I agree with all this, and didn't mind too much when Rand and Egwene tried to be intimate and she freaked out. It did feel like two people falling into an old, comfortable pattern but finding it didn't fit any more. But I didn't like the button to the scene, where she says she wants to try again, and it seems like they did end up having sex (I might have to rewatch to be sure, but that's how it played to me). The writers already have a very difficult needle to thread with Rand and his women, without dragging out his relationship with Egwene.

I liked the change to the bubble of evil - making it a construct that Lanfear uses to push Rand into action - because it just felt a bit... strange in the books. It makes sense when you understand the nature of the Dark One, but I don't think the show can pile on too many different shades of the same evil. Just make it simple. Not sure about Rand and Egwene. On the one hand, I really like how they're using it to highlight Egwene's PTSD and the lingering effects of being collared. But on the other, they need to make this relationship break cleanly and relatively painlessly at some point, especially as Rand is going to spend most of the season in the Aiel Waste with Aviendha. I really like Mat being more communicative about the memories, and actually asking Nynaeve for help. It shows remarkable growth from last season, but it also departs from an aspect of most of the book characters that would get very tiresome for most TV audiences - that people never communicate and explain what's going on with them and that they need help. Mat doesn't need to suffer and pretend he's fine. It seems like they're folding Semirhage into Moghedien, which makes a lot of sense for the creepy factor. Freezing someone's blood just to show how much it hurts is such a Semirhage move.