S3E6 - The Shadow in the Night

[Fiona_12]

It wasn't awful, but I wasn't terribly impressed either. 

 

Moghedien's compulsion of Elayne and Nyaneave was great, until she scratched Nyaneave. That felt totally out of character for her. 

 

I enjoyed Elayne's singing, and like others, I was very amused when she understood the meaning of the song! But she quickly overcomes it. Maybe the show will have her learning as many bawdy songs as she can instead of swear words.

 

I really couldn't care less about Liandrin's history. We learned enough about her motivation for being a dark friend already. 

 

I enjoyed seeing the garden at Cold Rocks Hold. It's minor, but it was a good culture building scene. The little girl getting angry at Rand for touching her spear and telling him he dishonored her felt over the top though. 

 

It was good to hear that Saidar and Saidin are different, and what Rand said sounded like it came straight out of the books, but the context didn't make sense. Moiraine would not go to him for advice on handling the OP. 

 

I have hated the love triangle the entire time and am so glad that's over. I really didn't like that they made Rand a cheater, but I was glad he pointed out to Egwene that he was never enough for her. At the beginning of S1, she dumps him to train with Nyaneave.

 

The fight scene with Sammael was mostly lame, except for seeing just how strong in the OP Rand is.

 

Many people have already said it, but the Caution girls healing Alanna was just awful. The entire arc with Alanna and Maksim has been awful, and it ticks me off because I really loved Alanna up until now. They should have killed off Maksim and kept Ihvon, and he and Alanna could still have gone to the TR for the same reason, but without the pointless contrived drama.

 

Perrin and Faile - ugh. Faile's mother was a darkfriend? Double ugh. She lied about her family and background in the books, but if that's supposed to be what she's doing here, it's a ridiculous story to make up. More likely it's to give her some trauma that will affect their relationship.

 

This is the first time I did not laugh at something Mat said it did. 😞

 

Did anyone else notice that Egwene did not get in trouble for disobeying the Wise Ones about T'A'R? Just a mild scolding. Big surprise. 

 

Overall, 6 out of 10 for me.

[Sabio]

A weak way for Perin and Faile to bond over tragedy and left a lot of questions.  Mom killed Faile's brother and Faile fled, so what happened to mom?  It was just a weak way for Perin to transition in he understood and his killing his wife.  Even though Perin did plant an axe in his wife, so not sure it's totally equal.

 

Edited April 4 by Sabio

[DigificWriter]

Isn't wasn't physically in Tanchico. Liandrin fell asleep, and he touched her dreams.

Edited April 4 by DigificWriter

[Figs and Mice]

  On 4/4/2025 at 5:20 AM, DigificWriter said:

Isn't wasn't physically in Tanchico. Liandrin fell asleep, and he touched her dreams.

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Not really the issue , though...  The question was whether Ishy should have been free to touch the world at all in that time frame. He wouldn't have been in the books ; but a lot of the detail as to his ability to partially escape his captivity isn't made altogether clear so I will give them a pass - more or less. As they are clearly intent on continuing to expand the Liandrin arc I don't mind the scene.

 

The other thing about it is that seeing the actor back - even briefly - gives me hope that we may yet see Ishy back (even as "Moridin" , though having the same appearance may be a problem !)

[Mailman]

  On 4/4/2025 at 5:09 AM, Sabio said:

A weak way for Perin and Faile to bond over tragedy and left a lot of questions.  Mom killed Faile's brother and Faile fled, so what happened to mom?  It was just a weak way for Perin to transition in he understood and his killing his wife.  Even though Perin did plant an axe in his wife, so not sure it's totally equal.

 

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Also wouldn't your natural reaction to someone telling you that the horn had been sounded be disbelief, I'm not sure what the picture proved and how does anyone actually know what it looked like since it has been lost for 1000's of years so how she recognized it is beyond me.

 

The fact that she is a hunter is a book beat theft as well, the hunt has hardly been mentioned in the show and the fact that she is a hunter this is what the 2nd time it is mentioned.

[DigificWriter]

  On 4/4/2025 at 6:17 AM, Figs and Mice said:

Not really the issue , though...  The question was whether Ishy should have been free to touch the world at all in that time frame. He wouldn't have been in the books ; but a lot of the detail as to his ability to partially escape his captivity isn't made altogether clear so I will give them a pass - more or less. As they are clearly intent on continuing to expand the Liandrin arc I don't mind the scene.

 

The other thing about it is that seeing the actor back - even briefly - gives me hope that we may yet see Ishy back (even as "Moridin" , though having the same appearance may be a problem !)

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Season 1 already established that Ishy was repeatedly touching people's dreams whilst still Sealed, so why is it suddenly an issue in this episode when nobody objected to it earlier?

[forte12]

  On 4/4/2025 at 12:45 AM, Mailman said:

Worse than last week's episode.

 

So some random dude in a bar happened to have access to the 2nd bracelet, oh FFS.

 

Healing, healing, healing ,healing. Utter rot and a rod that the show is now incapable of escaping.

 

Taylor Napier cannot act.

 

Min gets a vision on a random dude that will be killed by the BA but does not see any visions on one of the actual BA?

 

Moggy spitting in the food just so childish.

 

People remember Liandrin 95 years later and know what she looks like despite looking vastly different to when she left?

 

Guess the murder house really was stupid as it led to them being found. Again a rando happens to overhear a conversation and provide the information.

 

Sammael a couple of options 

1 He is taking Asmo's place, if so his capture is pathetic.

2 It is not really Sammael but a fake armed with a ter'angreal weapon or the channeling being faked by someone close.

3 He is dead, but how? Why is no one even checking on him we know that the Forsaken can regenerate.

 

Where were all the Aiel? Except for Avi not one Aiel responded to the amazing noise and lightning display that occurred, Moiraine and Lan appeared to just walk over. Hardly the ever-ready super alert fighting force.

 

Elaynes singing was quite good, did sound a bit like auto tune though.

 

Egwene's acting remains a clear stand out from the rest of the cast.

 

Moggys interrogation scene was pretty good I don't think we needed all the giggling and the choice to cut Nyn seemed needlessly risky and stupid.

 

I'm not sure why Fain needs the whitecloaks help? Is he separate from the trollocs if so then how did he kill all the whitecloaks reinforcements?

 

Liandrins first use of the power being so super precise and the fact that she was then able to instantly reproduce it. Why not have her simply knock them out back or kill them both with a blast of the power giving her the precision and control to replicate the same narrow focussed ability twice with such control is not good

 

There are things I am missing but this was just terrible.

 

 

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I really wish you would just stop posting or watching this show- it's not fun to read your takes anymore or to really have you in the discussion. If you hate this so much- and think everyone on the show is so terrible from acting to writing ( which Napier's acting was 100% fine this episode, Jesus Christ, something tells me these comments have more to do with his personal life than what's on screen) you should save yourself and us all the time and just... stop. 

[JayceDa]

I liked this episode though I have some of the same disappointments that others have expressed here. Reading through all of this there have been multiple people comment on Ishy and how he recruited Liandrin 95 years ago, but couldn't have as he was bound, etc.

 

I'm going to put this in spoiler tags, just in case I am about to violate something I am unaware of (or haven't read yet) as I am newly registered and because I am going to quote the books:

 

  Reveal hidden contents

As posted by "Loial for President" on this forum back in 2020, quoting Sylas K Barrett on Tor.com:

 

  Quote

The events of the Prologue of The Eye of the World take place after the final confrontation and the resealing of the Dark One’s prison. Lews Therin has already been taken by the taint, but Elan Morin is there to restore his faculties, to taunt him over what has been done. This shows that he was never imprisoned as the others were; somehow he escaped that fate, and has been free in the world since then, no doubt able to orchestrate much mischief. Then, when Rand confronts Ba’alzamon in his dream while at the Stag and Lion, he repeats the creed that the Dark One and all the Forsaken are bound in Shayol Ghul, and Ba’alzamon responds with anger.

“Fool, I have never been bound!” The fires of his face roared so hot that Rand stepped back, sheltering behind his hands. The sweat on his palms dried from the heat. “I stood at Lews Therin Kinslayer’s shoulder when he did the deed that named him. It was I who told him to kill his wife, and his children, and all his blood, and every living person who loved him or whom he loved. It was I who gave him the moment of sanity to know what he had done. Have you ever heard a man scream his soul away, worm? He could have struck at me, then. He could not have won, but he could have tried. Instead he called down his precious One Power upon himself, so much that the earth split open and reared up Dragonmount to mark his tomb. (TEOTW, p. 203)

At the time, I took this as a poetic speech. Believing Ba’alzamon to be the Dark One, I assumed that he meant that, despite being imprisoned, he is not “bound” because he has had the ability to reach out to touch men’s souls, to influence them and their world. He stood figuratively at Lews Therin’s shoulder because it was the Dark One’s taint that caused it. He gave Lews Therin his momentary glimpse of sanity because it was through Shai’tan’s power that the healing was done. But looking at it now, I see that it can be read literally. Elan Morin, also known as Ishamael, the Betrayer of Hope, was actually there. It’s much more simple than I took it all to be.

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Ishy was never bound/fully bound and was able to touch and influence the world.

 

I also wonder if Ishy finding Liandrin in her dream was actually more a case of her need bringing him to her rather than his need seeking her out?

[Pandemonium]

rand will confront rand.  when rand is mad she will be like-- do you like my gift?  we will see Sammael chained and ready to train Rand.   i'm pretty sure sammael will feature alot in season 4 if Amazon doesn't cancel the show.  the question to me is if they off Sammael/Asmodean amalgamate in season 3 or in season 4.  

 

if season 3 ends with a 'you? no!' moment it would be the best cliffhanger ever.  please give us that fan service rafe.  I will take also take that cliffhanger in season 4 as well, even if it as an episode ending cliffhanger.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pandemonium]

I liked how it didn't even look like Rand was trying to kill Sammael.  If it was really that easy for him, does he even need Sammael as a teacher?  

 

Loved the Hills of tanchico.  i actually like the show version of tanchico better the book version.  Whenever i re-read the books i am always rushing through that section with a little boredom.  it is funny to me that i like Elayne's singing better than thom's.  i never really liked his singing from the first season.

 

I'm loving how all the Forsaken and black ajah are scheming against each other and killing each other.  Amazing.  

 

For those that criticize Matt for finding the bracelet that easily-- this is what a ta'veren does.  The show didn't explain it that well, but thom did mention how Rand and Matt were tugging at the pattern.

 

Pretty great episode overall and getting me pumped for the season finale!  it looks like episode 7 will be purely two rivers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Seaine's eyebrows]

Taraboners = Scousers now? That's a change I can get behind 🤭

[A Memory Of Why]

Yeah, I think it's obvious to the casual reader that either Mats luck or Tar'vareen nature kicking in for the bracelet find / Thom. 

 

I'd prefer Tar'vareen though, I kinda like the idea that this barely explained phenomenon is used in a way that makes rewatches fun.

 

For Sammy.. it was a bit dark for me but I thought he true powered buggered off?

 

Could be wrong..

[Mailman]

  On 4/4/2025 at 9:01 AM, A Memory Of Why said:

Yeah, I think it's obvious to the casual reader that either Mats luck or Tar'vareen nature kicking in for the bracelet find / Thom. 

 

I'd prefer Tar'vareen though, I kinda like the idea that this barely explained phenomenon is used in a way that makes rewatches fun.

 

For Sammy.. it was a bit dark for me but I thought he true powered buggered off?

 

Could be wrong..

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I thought the same early but there was a body that at least looked like him in the rubble after Rand started to try and save the girl. Fairly sure Moiraine looked directly at it in one part.

[notpropaganda73]

 

  On 4/4/2025 at 7:58 AM, Pandemonium said:

I liked how it didn't even look like Rand was trying to kill Sammael.  If it was really that easy for him, does he even need Sammael as a teacher?  

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I thought this was a nod to the books and when Lews Therin would take control, or Rand would do something without realising it. Ask him in the next episode if he could consciously do exactly what he had just done, and I doubt he would be able to.

 

I'd like to reiterate I liked the vast majority of this episode, there was a lot to get through and the Cauthons Healing really annoyed me, but for the most part I think it was good. A lot of things I think are really coming back to the issue the show has had from the start - not enough time. Another 2 episodes each season would really be a sweet spot for adaptation purposes in my opinion.

[Mailman]

  On 4/4/2025 at 6:46 AM, forte12 said:

I really wish you would just stop posting or watching this show- it's not fun to read your takes anymore or to really have you in the discussion. If you hate this so much- and think everyone on the show is so terrible from acting to writing ( which Napier's acting was 100% fine this episode, Jesus Christ, something tells me these comments have more to do with his personal life than what's on screen) you should save yourself and us all the time and just... stop. 

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Well I wish more people would recognize the shows shortcomings. Don't read my posts if you don't want too, easy solved.

 

Napier's acting has been IMO consistently terrible throughout the show. The only person I have thought was worse was the person who played Uno who looked like he was really trying hard but did not have the skill or look to back it up. 

 

I have praised various people for specific acting sequences throughout the show and even in the post you quoted.

 

It does not matter in the slightest what Napier's personal life is I am solely judging him on his acting ability.

 

 

 

[Yamezt]

  On 4/4/2025 at 8:42 AM, Seaine's eyebrows said:

Taraboners = Scousers now? That's a change I can get behind 🤭

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I saw an interview with Kate Fleetwood - She also read part of the books and remembered that Liandrin slips back into her rougher accents when under pressure. 

When she she saw the script for s3 that Liandrin was going back to her home in Tarabon and the setting in docks, she tied it to her family, who were from Liverpool, and apparently a lot of them worked in the docks and seamen. So she thought, wouldn't it be great if Liandrin's home accent is Scouse and so she suggested it so that Liandrin could slip into scouse accent when under pressure. And they told her to go for it

[Seaine's eyebrows]

  On 4/3/2025 at 3:10 PM, Mirefox said:

The only way these writers know how to show a relationship is by having characters bang.  They couldn’t write an evolving relationship to save their lives.  

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To be fair, neither could the author of the series 🤪

[Seaine's eyebrows]

  On 4/4/2025 at 9:29 AM, Yamezt said:

I saw an interview with Kate Fleetwood - She also read part of the books and remembered that Liandrin slips back into her rougher accents when under pressure. 

When she she saw the script for s3 that Liandrin was going back to her home in Tarabon and the setting in docks, she tied it to her family, who were from Liverpool, and apparently a lot of them worked in the docks and seamen. So she thought, wouldn't it be great if Liandrin's home accent is Scouse and so she suggested it so that Liandrin could slip into scouse accent when under pressure. And they told her to go for it

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Oh I love that! My dad is from Liverpool so it's a special accent for me.

[notpropaganda73]

That's awesome, I love the Scouse accent as well 

[king of nowhere]

  On 4/4/2025 at 6:24 AM, Mailman said:

Also wouldn't your natural reaction to someone telling you that the horn had been sounded be disbelief, I'm not sure what the picture proved and how does anyone actually know what it looked like since it has been lost for 1000's of years so how she recognized it is beyond me.

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I wondered that about the books too.

How are the hunters supposed to recognize the actual horn?

Sure, it's supposed to have a writing on it, and i can bet you in every city you could buy a dozen "authentic" horns of valere

[Mailman]

  On 4/4/2025 at 11:11 AM, king of nowhere said:

I wondered that about the books too.

How are the hunters supposed to recognize the actual horn?

Sure, it's supposed to have a writing on it, and i can bet you in every city you could buy a dozen "authentic" horns of valere

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There would be the writing but I think the only true proof would be blowing it. Finding it stashed at the bottom of the eye of the world with the other items allowed Rand and co to be pretty sure they had the real deal as well.

 

The books had plenty of fake horns and pieces of Logains cloak and such scattered through the story. The WC fake spy master was reported to have bought a number of fake horns if I recall correctly.

[DreadLord31]

  On 4/4/2025 at 5:20 AM, DigificWriter said:

Isn't wasn't physically in Tanchico. Liandrin fell asleep, and he touched her dreams.

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Ok … then I give it a pass. But that didn’t seem to be the case the first two times I watched it (but I wasn’t paying close, close attention because though I like Liandrin and Kate Fleetwood I’m pretty tired of someone who was a very minor book character being the main antagonist.) 

[Elder_Haman]

I loved this episode from front to back. I didn’t even mind the Cauthon girls healing Alanna. 
 

This is starting to be really good television. 

[Vosha]

  On 4/4/2025 at 3:48 AM, DreadLord31 said:

Upon further further inspection and  reflection … I bump this episode down to a 1 out 10. lol

Why, you say? That’s a huge reduction?!
 

Well, Because (as someone else pointed out I think) the Cold Open says “Tanchico 95 years ago” … 

And ends with Ishy helping Liandrin. Ummm… if Ishy was free 95 years ago that raises a bunch of questions… and plot holes. 
 

Also, as someone else pointed out - I rewatched it like 10x in slow motion… 

those are definitely flaming swords they gave Avi. And … Sammael was stabbed from behind through the heart one moment - perfectly fine the next? 
And they had an Aiel slice Egwene and her fall back onto the bed and then fine the next moment to run out and then fine to watch the attempt at healing death. 
 

Sooo yeah… at this moment … man, the lack of ability to write/execute a good fight without someone being massively injured one moment and then fine the next… that’s really really bugging me now. 

 

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Eh, Ishy had been partially sealed/free in the books for quite a while, right?  Also, there is a 0% chance that those are swords.  It's shocking that anyone would get that from the scene.  The blades look like spear blades and you can see the long handles. 

[DreadLord31]

  On 4/4/2025 at 12:36 PM, Vosha said:

 

Eh, Ishy had been partially sealed/free in the books for quite a while, right?  Also, there is a 0% chance that those are swords.  It's shocking that anyone would get that from the scene.  The blades look like spear blades and you can see the long handles. 

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Ok - I thought he was in the real world and that would be a dealbreaker (didn’t they watch their own Season 1?! lol). 
 

Seriously? I watched it like 10x and in slow motion and every time I thought they were swords. So it’s not … obvious. And that would be a dealbreaker for me (didn’t they watch their own S3? lol!) 

Edited April 4 by DreadLord31