spoilers S3E1 - Discussion / Global Fan Event

[SinisterDeath]

Season 3 - Episode 1: To Race The Shadow
Director: Ciaran Donnelly

Writers: Justine Juel Gillmer

Runtime: 1 h 11 min

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Episode Description:
Chaos erupts within the White Tower as our heroes beocme targets of a new evil.

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Let's keep DM Tidy, and try to keep all discussions pertaining to S3:E1 to this topic for the next few weeks.

When reading beyond this point, you should expect to encounter Full Spoilers Up to the ending of Episode 1 only, and full book spoilers in this topic.

[Pandemonium]

just watched it.  to me, this is the single best wheel of time episode yet

 

so many callbacks to the books, finally some good humor with Matt, bubbles of evil kind of, Maiden's kiss, Elayne and Aviendha getting it on, grey man, massive Aes Sedai battle,  Lan's Malkieri blade, Egwene's accepted test, Matt's new memories linked to the horn, Moiraine losing control of Rand, Egwene's resolve... and so much more

 

Very strong first episode, we have got to spread the word

[Ithillian Turambar]

I had to take the dog out, just when Elayne came in to talk to Rand.

 

Was it something she said that made him want to go to the Aiel Waste?

[Elder_Haman]

  On 3/8/2025 at 8:04 PM, Ithillian Turambar said:

I had to take the dog out, just when Elayne came in to talk to Rand.

 

Was it something she said that made him want to go to the Aiel Waste?

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Not explicitly. But they did have a conversation where she talked about "your people" and I think he put two and two together.

[DreadLord31]

Just finished Ep1 Fan Event. Initial thoughts: 

1) It was good Tv. Started with a “bang” and was compelling throughout. 
2) Lot of things to love as book fans: bubbles of evil, grey man, OP battle, Red Stone doorframe, Rand reading prophecies. Good set up that he needs to win over the Aiel. Mention of Tear and Callandor. I think the more positive fans are going to be overwhelmingly supportive. 

3) But There are definitely some major changes that really hard-core fans could hate: everyone starting in TV and Aiel openly walking through the streets and it’s no big deal? Lanfear and Moiraine working together (and that’s what the bubbles of evil are?) Moggy is the only Forsaken that makes grey men & Lanfear is surprised she’s at work there? And I know people are gonna complain about the cold open battle because there’s quite a bit of - why would they do that - stuff (just walk out of the tower rather than kill them/get killed by Alannas Warders when it’s 7 on 1 Aes Sedai?) stuff like that. 
 

But I still say… it was good Tv! I want more! 

[A Memory Of Why]

I have mixed feelings..

 

For starters, I think Chiad could make me sing 😍 / but I care nothing for Bain 😐

 

Bubble of evil was awesome 😃/ except it was just Lanfear 🙃

 

Omg Lanfear 😱 / omg, Lanfear 😏

 

Greyman was cool 👻 / Moggy makes them?

 

Matt randomly dropping the old tongue 😃 / its because of the horn 🥲

 

Elayne and Avi are getting close 🙂 / oh no, they're really getting close 🙃

 

Still processing but overall I quite enjoyed it, a good start. Like the previous seasons the changes feel jarring, but still i feel i enjoyed it far more than any other episode.

 

Keen and excited for what's coming, we heading to the waste baby!

 

Do we know if we're getting 3 episodes dropped next week like previous seasons?

[Elder_Haman]

  On 3/8/2025 at 9:15 PM, A Memory Of Why said:

Do we know if we're getting 3 episodes dropped next week like previous seasons?

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Yes we are!

[Elder_Haman]

My thoughts on this episode:

While I still like S2E6 best for its emotionality, this was the best episode of the show in its totality. They've really upped the stakes in a number of different ways and set up some very interesting plotlines moving forward.

 

Certainly lots of changes to the books. The things I loved (in no particular order):

• Elayne. She's wonderful.
• Egwene's determination and focus. (I can't wait to see her train with the wise ones).
• Snakes and Foxes!!
• Maiden's kiss.
• Mat really feels like Mat now.
• Josha has a lot of range as Rand.
• Moghedien is terrifying.
• The grey man looks great.
• The CGI is on point.

The biggest improvement? Changing the aspect ratio makes everything feel more cinematic. Great choice.

 

I did not like:

• The Old West standoff, slo-motion. (The action after was top notch)
• Bain and Chiad's casual "hey, we're going with you cause I have 'toh"

These feel a little too "Marvel" for me. But as far as I'm concerned that was a home run. If the rest of the season matches this intensity, we will definitely get another.

[Mailman]

I have not seen the full episode yet but someone linked what appears to be the fight between Alanna and the black ajah and if that has not been altered it is some serious CW level crap.

[Elder_Haman]

  On 3/9/2025 at 3:56 PM, Mailman said:

I have not seen the full episode yet but someone linked what appears to be the fight between Alanna and the black ajah and if that has not been altered it is some serious CW level crap.

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There is one really bad shot of Alanna doing a flip. Otherwise, I thought the fight choreography was really well done.

 

Also, the whole slow walk to the center thing didn't seem as pronounced in the live episode.

[Skipp]

  On 3/9/2025 at 4:40 PM, Elder_Haman said:

There is one really bad shot of Alanna doing a flip. Otherwise, I thought the fight choreography was really well done.

 

Also, the whole slow walk to the center thing didn't seem as pronounced in the live episode.

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It was very Bollywood and I think it was intentional for her international audience.

[Ithillian Turambar]

But, did we get a close up shot of her clenching her fist first?

Edited March 9 by Ithillian Turambar

[Elder_Haman]

  On 3/9/2025 at 5:13 PM, Skipp said:

It was very Bollywood and I think it was intentional for her international audience.

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You know, I hadn't realized that. But you're right. Actually that whole fight had a little bit of that flavor to it. Gotta say it isn't my favorite, but I remember hearing that the show has a huge east Indian following.

[Mailman]

  On 3/9/2025 at 4:40 PM, Elder_Haman said:

There is one really bad shot of Alanna doing a flip. Otherwise, I thought the fight choreography was really well done.

 

Also, the whole slow walk to the center thing didn't seem as pronounced in the live episode.

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The blacks clearly seeing Alanna and not bothering to set up any shields to stop an attack. We know from the Tower battle scene how effective the blacks are at combat and yet it is now their turn to do nothing.

 

You don't have a problem with 2 warders just running up and stabbing the blacks. We saw how effective a whole corridor full of warders were when confronted by just 2 blacks with 2 Aes Sedai to support them.

 

Why did Allana warders choose to just stab Liandrin when they were going to perform a beheading afterwards. She was defenceless with her back turned and 2 warders are unable to complete a killing blow.

 

Healing now seems to be insta cast with zero recovery time for the injured. Why are we worrying about Ivhon I'm sure he will be healed and fine in a minute.

 

Alanna pausing in the middle of the fight to do her chessy I'm kicking your arse grin allowing the blacks to regroup.

 

The flip is just embarrassing, and I did not see any effects indicating channeling to aid it.

 

Now the biggest issue unless Alanna is shown to have a Angreal at some point then how did the woman who had a 4 to 1 advantage in the Hall and fail to win do so much damage when outnumbered 6 to 1.

 

Why on earth would Liandrin bother to use the sword to kill Alanna. I will tell you why because instead of simply using a thread of air or another fireball to kill the helpless and exposed Alanna the story wanted to kill her warder instead.

 

The massive number of jump cuts made the scene hard to follow. This scene was just terrible.

Edited March 9 by Mailman

[Mailman]

I have to say doing a fan event early screening that you have to register for is potentially a great move for shows. Especially in latter seasons you will almost always get a massive majority of early season fans being the ones to register and detractors will not want to register thus allowing you a good chance to set up a seemingly good wave of talk and reviews deserving or not leading into the official release.

 

Tricky but I suspect probably effective.

Edited March 9 by Mailman

[Elder_Haman]

  On 3/9/2025 at 10:26 PM, Mailman said:

You don't have a problem with

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No. I don’t try to pick apart the internal logic of action scenes. 
 

[Mailman]

  On 3/9/2025 at 11:05 PM, Elder_Haman said:

No. I don’t try to pick apart the internal logic of action scenes. 
 

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How sad that the story, world building and good writing just mean nothing as soon as an action scene starts. How do you enjoy something when the stakes of a fight are so meaningless so as to not require some logic to govern them.

[Elder_Haman]

  On 3/9/2025 at 11:18 PM, Mailman said:

How sad that the story, world building and good writing just mean nothing as soon as an action scene starts. How do you enjoy something when the stakes of a fight are so meaningless so as to not require some logic to govern them.

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How sad that you can't just watch something and have to spend your time picking at the logical inconsistencies of a fantasy environment as opposed to simply enjoying the story, worldbuilding and writing.

[Mailman]

  On 3/9/2025 at 11:26 PM, Elder_Haman said:

How sad that you can't just watch something and have to spend your time picking at the logical inconsistencies of a fantasy environment as opposed to simply enjoying the story, worldbuilding and writing.

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Good worldbuilding and writing is not having logical inconsistencies riddled throughout your story be it in an action scene or not.

[Turin Turambar]

 Based on what we have seen of Liandrin so far in the series, I completely believe she is petty and arrogant enough to slow roll a kill and use Alanna's warders own sword to kill her.

 

I did notice the healing thing. There is no way she should have been able to channel in the Hall after being healed, and definitely not after it happens again in the street.

[Elder_Haman]

  On 3/9/2025 at 11:30 PM, Mailman said:

Good worldbuilding and writing is not having logical inconsistencies riddled throughout your story be it in an action scene or not.

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It is really a shame that things so often fail to meet your lofty expectations. I find it more enjoyable to … enjoy things … instead of trying to tear them down to prove to everyone how bad the thing is. I don’t find that fun.
 

Nor do I get personally offended that some scenes in fantasy/sci-fi/action television shows have scenes that don’t hold up logically.

 

The perfect is not the enemy of the good in the place I choose to live. 

[Mailman]

  On 3/9/2025 at 11:36 PM, Elder_Haman said:

It is really a shame that things so often fail to meet your lofty expectations. I find it more enjoyable to … enjoy things … instead of trying to tear them down to prove to everyone how bad the thing is. I don’t find that fun.
 

Nor do I get personally offended that some scenes in fantasy/sci-fi/action television shows have scenes that don’t hold up logically.

 

The perfect is not the enemy of the good in the place I choose to live. 

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Ok so we have a baseline for where we are coming from in terms of our enjoyment as I find it hard to immerse myself in the story when these issues constantly break it up.

 

Given that will you admit that the things I mentioned are in fact legitimate issues even if they do not stop you from enjoying the show.

[Skipp]

Honestly aside from the pacing, which all fight scenes have as you want the audience to follow the action and allow for different camera angles etc...

 

But I actually appreciate how Alanna, as a Green, tactically decided how to control a fight against a superior force.  First she does an attack and disorients her opposition, knocking some down and throwing up dust as cover.  Then she and her 2 warders close the distance while dodging the single retaliation sent their way.  By getting in close they surprise the Black Ajah as I suspect they don't train for CQC.

 

While "cheezy" in execution I think tactically it worked really well and showed by the Green Ajah is the battle Ajah.  The coordination between Alanna and her Warders was impressive.

[Mailman]

  On 3/9/2025 at 11:36 PM, Turin Turambar said:

 Based on what we have seen of Liandrin so far in the series, I completely believe she is petty and arrogant enough to slow roll a kill and use Alanna's warders own sword to kill her.

 

I did notice the healing thing. There is no way she should have been able to channel in the Hall after being healed, and definitely not after it happens again in the street.

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Maybe but she could have just killed them all that kind of feels like more her character.

 

Having no consequence healing of pretty much death and be insta cast makes it hard to have stakes. And you would assume that Alannas warders would know that so not going for the kiling blow first makes little sense.

[Mailman]

  On 3/9/2025 at 11:42 PM, Skipp said:

Honestly aside from the pacing, which all fight scenes have as you want the audience to follow the action and allow for different camera angles etc...

 

But I actually appreciate how Alanna, as a Green, tactically decided how to control a fight against a superior force.  First she does an attack and disorients her opposition, knocking some down and throwing up dust as cover.  Then she and her 2 warders close the distance while dodging the single retaliation sent their way.  By getting in close they surprise the Black Ajah as I suspect they don't train for CQC.

 

While "cheezy" in execution I think tactically it worked really well and showed by the Green Ajah is the battle Ajah.  The coordination between Alanna and her Warders was impressive.

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But why did the blacks not raise a shield when they saw her. The shields block both channeled and physical attacks. Why did they just stand there and wait for her to attack first.

 

And too many jump cuts the bane of modern action scenes.

 

Edited March 9 by Mailman