S3E3:Seeds of Shadow

[SinisterDeath]

  On 3/15/2025 at 4:54 PM, Jaysen Gore said:

- I love the wedding destruction by the BA sisters, except that it is too brazen; they will stand out too much in the community to have that kind of mass murder done. It would draw a lot of attention. Likely the necessary kind without Juilin to find them, but still...Even

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On this front, it looks to me like they murdered every witness in that building.

And then you have Tiny who can use compulsion on anyone who comes knocking.

 

So yeah, it was 100% brazen and could draw attention... But they've removed anyone who could have fled.... and anyone who starts asking questions is going to leave with a nose bleed.

 

  On 3/15/2025 at 4:54 PM, Jaysen Gore said:

- I so wish there had been more witnesses for Mat and the boys besides Nynaeve, but we got it, and it was really well choreographed, and I liked the prefight mental prep from Mat. Kudos to all. Big WIN

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Yeah, I kind of wish we'd have gotten a little more time with the two brothers getting a little warder training, before Mat walked in there, laid them out flat so the head warder could have started talking about the tale of the greatest swordsman (the one defeated by a farmer with a stick) as Mat and Nynaeve walk off)...

 

  On 3/15/2025 at 4:54 PM, Jaysen Gore said:

- Mat and Min making up, on the boat to Tanchico, and he's gonna swing. so while one of my favourite Mat moments are being broken (more on that in a second), the big points are being brought back in. WIN

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That he is.

 

  On 3/15/2025 at 4:54 PM, Jaysen Gore said:

- Lan and Melhindra. Nervous about this, especially with the Ring of the Malkieri kings handed over earlier. I expect this is going to turn the "Dark One's own luck" moment into one of a spurned lover.  And if they give Lan the blanket toss, that will be a long way out of character. Not win

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Yeah, I'm expecting this to be a long con of some sort. Possibly a call back to NS.

 

  On 3/15/2025 at 4:54 PM, Jaysen Gore said:

- we've had 7 of the 8 Forsaken namechecked, with the 8th being obvious (tune in next week?) and with Taim on the board, we know the end game of the major villains. Also love Nae'blis chat, since that means the DO is still a player in their games. WIN

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Huzzah!

  On 3/15/2025 at 4:54 PM, Jaysen Gore said:

- oh boy, where to begin on Zarine Bashere. We got the Mandarb joke - though without the horse - and the new name (though we never got Min's prophecy, so I don't know if Berelain exists). But the main thing for me is in my head, Faile was an immature child who ran away as a Hunter as a lark, who had to grow up to be worthy of being a queen. This woman is not that - this woman is adult, world weary with hard edges, and professionalism. So we'll get sparks with Perrin, but it's possible we just lost her character arc. So we'll see

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I mean, given the whole Perrin / Faile arc in the books, this is either a win or a lose depending on how you look at it. lol 

A more mature Faile could easily be a win if it means less... well, what makes a lot of people hate Faile.

[The_Watcher_And_Wanderer]

  On 3/14/2025 at 3:31 PM, SinisterDeath said:

I seem to remember someone somewhere asking about Elaida's hands shaking and I can't find the comment now... 

 

But I wonder if they're making that a side effect of ongoing compulsion?

Also, she called for "Alice".

I wonder if Alice is

  Reveal hidden contents

"Aran'gar"

 

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I’m assuming the shaking has something to do with foretelling. It did clue right before she had a discussion with Min on that subject. 

[SinisterDeath]

  On 3/15/2025 at 5:28 PM, The_Watcher_And_Wanderer said:

I’m assuming the shaking has something to do with foretelling. It did clue right before she had a discussion with Min on that subject. 

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That's also great thought, considering the last character we knew had a foretelling, literally died from it.

[The_Watcher_And_Wanderer]

  On 3/13/2025 at 10:40 AM, A Memory Of Why said:

Ok, so again I have lots of thoughts.. overwhelming positive at that.

 

Gunna need a bit to wrap my head around it all, but I do want to say.. 

 

How awesome was that cold opening? 

 

Forsaken dissention, cool ass gateways, nae'bliss - oh my 🤗

 

Confirmation of Ravin and Semirhage! I think i got it backwards with Asmo merging with Ravin, so now we only have one unconfirmed male forsaken.

 

And when Moggy popped out! 

 

The whole scene was very entertaining. One of the consistently cool things they've done with this show is the forsaken scenes.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't think I'd mind if they flipped it and made all about the "chosen" and how they would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for those kids.!

 

P.s. loved they finally gave us the title opening, always liked that. Kinda wished they changed it per season to fit the themes though.

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I was really surprised to hear Semirhage mentioned. I thought for sure that both Asmodean and Demondred would be included among the show’s Elite Eight. Honestly I’m thinking that the eighth Forsaken will be Asmodean. For one thing I believe his name was already mentioned in season 2 (though not 100% on that) secondly while Demondred was a constant and often compelling presence in the books, his ultimate reveal was a bit underwhelming and added little to the story. Overall he really didn’t do all that much in the books and while I will miss him, the show can easily do without him.  

[SinisterDeath]

  On 3/15/2025 at 5:44 PM, The_Watcher_And_Wanderer said:

I was really surprised to hear Semirhage mentioned. I thought for sure that both Asmodean and Demondred would be included among the show’s Elite Eight. Honestly I’m thinking that the eighth Forsaken will be Asmodean. For one thing I believe his name was already mentioned in season 2 (though not 100% on that) secondly while Demondred was a constant and often compelling presence in the books, his ultimate reveal was a bit underwhelming and added little to the story. Overall he really didn’t do all that much in the books and while I will miss him, the show can easily do without him.  

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There's been talk that we might get a character like "Aran'gar", so I wonder if they won't just merge the two?

 

We know that we have "4 Girls" and "3 Boys".

Lanfear, Graendal Moghidean, and Semi for the "Girls", and Ishy, Rahvin, and Samuel for the Boys.

 

So if "Asmo" is an entertainer like Boy George and Chappell Roan rolled into one, perhaps Lanfear didn't mention Asmo'gar because of her disdain for Asmo'gar's attempts trying to flirt with her man? lol

[The_Watcher_And_Wanderer]

  On 3/13/2025 at 6:41 PM, king of nowhere said:

lanfear mentions sakarnen as a female sa'angreal. does this mean there is no choedan kal? will rand cleanse the source with only callandor? doesn't seem enough.

 

the healing waves that the yellows were trying to heal mat were the best channeling cgi yet.

 

elaida is badass. they absolutely succeeded in painting her as a skilled politician with only a handful of scenes.

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I’m just glad to see them acknowledging the divide between male and female half’s of The One Power. Up until now they really seemed to be downplaying that aspect. Not holding my breath but maybe, just maybe, before the season is over we’ll hear the words “Siadin” and “Siadar” uttered. 

[The_Watcher_And_Wanderer]

  On 3/15/2025 at 5:53 PM, SinisterDeath said:

There's been talk that we might get a character like "Aran'gar", so I wonder if they won't just merge the two?

 

We know that we have "4 Girls" and "3 Boys".

Lanfear, Graendal Moghidean, and Semi for the "Girls", and Ishy, Rahvin, and Samuel for the Boys.

 

So if "Asmo" is an entertainer like Boy George and Chappell Roan rolled into one, perhaps Lanfear didn't mention Asmo'gar because of her disdain for Asmo'gar's attempts trying to flirt with her man? lol

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I too have heard the Aran’gar rumors and unless they take a major turn from the books we know that Rhavin and Asmo are headed for the chopping block sometime soon so I’m thinking maybe one of them becomes Aran’gar. And perhaps the other becomes Osan’gar?🤔

[DigificWriter]

If we get Forsaken being resurrected/reincarnated, it's likely to just be in the same bodies they previously had, for the simple reason that it's more logistically practical to bring back already-established actors than casting new actors to play the characters.

[SinisterDeath]

  On 3/15/2025 at 8:09 PM, DigificWriter said:

If we get Forsaken being resurrected/reincarnated, it's likely to just be in the same bodies they previously had, for the simple reason that it's more logistically practical to bring back already-established actors than casting new actors to play the characters.

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They recast Cenn Buie from Season 1 in Season 3.

 

All the way back in S1E1, they orginally cast Cenn Buie as David Sterne, but they renamed his character to "Annoying old man" in the credits. Then in S3E3 they cast Cenn as Gregory Gudgeon.

 

They also recast Ihvon between Seasons 2 and 3. I believe because he was busy with another project. Same Character, different actors.

All I'm saying, is given the source material? And what these characters are up to. It may not be that crazy to recast someone else to play that role in future seasons... specially if the person you're having play for only part of a season knows their character's going to die and get played by someone else. The real trick, is training the new person to showcase the same mannerisms...

[Windigo]

On the Forsaken 
Lanfear specifically mentions, Moghidean, Graendal and Semirhage, and the boys. 

So there is no knowing that either Graendal or Semirhage are "girls", we just know they are not part of the "boys" I could easily see either of them as non-binary. 

[A Memory Of Why]

  On 3/15/2025 at 5:28 PM, The_Watcher_And_Wanderer said:

I’m assuming the shaking has something to do with foretelling. It did clue right before she had a discussion with Min on that subject. 

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I was thinking it could be Elaida resisting the compulsion.

 

Did you notice how the close up of her hand specifically show her bracelet, and than she tries to give a necklace to Tsutama who rejects it as to gaudy and says it suits Elaida..? 🤔

 

  On 3/15/2025 at 5:53 PM, SinisterDeath said:

There's been talk that we might get a character like "Aran'gar", so I wonder if they won't just merge the two?

 

We know that we have "4 Girls" and "3 Boys".

Lanfear, Graendal Moghidean, and Semi for the "Girls", and Ishy, Rahvin, and Samuel for the Boys.

 

So if "Asmo" is an entertainer like Boy George and Chappell Roan rolled into one, perhaps Lanfear didn't mention Asmo'gar because of her disdain for Asmo'gar's attempts trying to flirt with her man? lol

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That's interesting, i was thinking Asmo being merged with Rahvin who likes people listening to him.. prattle 🤨, and calling him a politician I'm doubting it now.

 

Them dying at the same time also had me thinking this but that's a great point on the daggers'gar. I can see them taking out Asmo and Rahvin and the DO stacking the decks and bringing them back in different bodies, Rahvin the mind controlling womaniser being Arrangar. Don't know how well that would work in today's climate though.

 

Side note; where is Mats evil dagger? Why is nobody talking about it?

[DigificWriter]

  On 3/15/2025 at 8:41 PM, SinisterDeath said:

They recast Cenn Buie from Season 1 in Season 3.

 

All the way back in S1E1, they orginally cast Cenn Buie as David Sterne, but they renamed his character to "Annoying old man" in the credits. Then in S3E3 they cast Cenn as Gregory Gudgeon.

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That's not a recasting; that's a change in character.

 

The primary reason roles get recast is if the original actor is unavailable or otherwise leaves. It's far simpler, logistically and practically, to, for example, bring Fares Fares back as Ishy - if he's available - than to introduce a completely new actor and say that said actor is Ishy reincarnated (especially since the Metaphysics of reincarnation are different in the show than in the books).

[Finnssss22]

How's this for a hot take...(Major spoiler warning for non-book readers, seriously, do not click the tag if you don't want to know).

 

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Looks like they're replacing Melindhra trying to get Mat to go for glory/corrupt him to Lan being her target.

My wild guess hot take on this though is what if she is actually Graendal?

 

[The_Watcher_And_Wanderer]

  On 3/16/2025 at 12:17 AM, Finnssss22 said:

How's this for a hot take...(Major spoiler warning for non-book readers, seriously, do not click the tag if you don't want to know).

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Looks like they're replacing Melindhra trying to get Mat to go for glory/corrupt him to Lan being her target.

My wild guess hot take on this though is what if she is actually Graendal?

Thats a good thought, Graendal has been mentioned twice and we haven’t seen her yet. Or maybe we have🤔

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[DreadLord31]

  On 3/16/2025 at 12:52 AM, The_Watcher_And_Wanderer said:

 

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Here’s another hot take… 

Semrihage was just mentioned in episode 3 by Rahvin & we haven’t (that we know of) seen her either.

But what if 

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They merge Semrihage and Alviarian & give the Mesanna plotline to Semi?? 

 

[The_Watcher_And_Wanderer]

  On 3/16/2025 at 1:17 AM, DreadLord31 said:

Here’s another hot take… 

Semrihage was just mentioned in episode 3 by Rahvin & we haven’t (that we know of) seen her either.

But what if 

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They merge Semrihage and Alviarian & give the Mesanna plotline to Semi?? 

 

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I would be good with Semi filling Mesanna’s roll especially considering that The White Tower has been made such a central part of the TV storyline Mesanna seems more essential to the story than Semi. The only issue with her being Alviarin is the Alvarian was already present before the Forsaken were released. 

[Mailman]

Less damage in this episode than the train wrecks of the other 2 still too much time spent on the tower politics though.

 

Mats arc is not bad and out of all the characters he by far feels the most like his book persona at this point.

 

The fight between Mat and the princes was one of the better ones in the show I still dislike using steel weapons and I think the fact that Mats part looked awesome show you could have you wooden swords, but apart from that the only criticism I have is the super strange holding hands move the princes use in the middle, I mean seriously who thought that was a good idea.

 

So few extra in the Aiel scenes. Why so small looks cheap.

[Turin Turambar]

The Aiel were there, you just couldn't see them because they blend into the waste so well, lol. 

[Mailman]

  On 3/16/2025 at 7:32 AM, Turin Turambar said:

The Aiel were there, you just couldn't see them because they blend into the waste so well, lol. 

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I would actually love something like that to have been shown.

[DreadLord31]

  On 3/16/2025 at 1:40 AM, The_Watcher_And_Wanderer said:

The only issue with her being Alviarin is the Alvarian was already present before the Forsaken were released.

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 Was she? I don’t remember that. But that would mean my hot take is wrong for sure - or they’re just really really incompetent writers - which I don’t think is the case. They had a lot of challenges with S1 & S2. But even then has flashes of awesome. 

[Krag]

I've overall been skeptical of the show, but agree that this season is a step up compared to the previous 2.

 

I was glad to see the main titles this episode - I like seeing the writer and director before the episode plays.

 

One thing that I can't get over is Min's costuming. Every time she is in a scene I wonder what show she stepped out of to land in this show. Her white collared suit look just clashed with everything else - she should be in some boardroom in some cyberpunk show, not hanging out in Tar Valon. 

[Elder_Haman]

  On 3/16/2025 at 7:12 AM, Mailman said:

Less damage in this episode than the train wrecks of the other 2

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“Train wrecks?” Come on, man. 

[SinisterDeath]

  On 3/16/2025 at 7:32 AM, Turin Turambar said:

The Aiel were there, you just couldn't see them because they blend into the waste so well, lol. 

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Hey! I said that when they looked at the caravan. 

"There's a thousand Aiel there, you just can't see them!"

[Windigo]

  On 3/16/2025 at 7:12 AM, Mailman said:

still too much time spent on the tower politics though.

 

 

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This is where it is so difficult to appease book readers. The books have so much depth and story with arcs and characters and everyone has their own favorite parts.  The Tower politics, the Salidar arc and Aes Sedai power struggles are some of my favorite parts of the books, and I am thrilled to see them showing more of it, I was happy to see the Galad, Gawyn, Mat fight but would not have cared if they had not because it is not a scene that I ever felt a connection too or cared that much about. 

[DigificWriter]

Touching on whether or not the wedding slaughter would draw attention to the Black Ajah, I would point out that it happened inside a private residence that belonged, in some way, to Liandrin given that the groom was a member of the family of her own (presumedly dead) husband.