So in the show why was the White Tower actually gray ?

[Loose Theremin]

What was that all about ?

[bringbackthomsmoustache]

As a practical matter making the tower too white would obscure the surface details, a significant factor in a visual medium.  Also in a city primarily heated and lit by wood or coal fires the smoke would rapidly deposit a dark residue even on a building of pure white marble.  Given the criticisms of the other sets and costumes as being too clean for the setting it is a bit much to say the tower was too dark.

[DojoToad]

Sure, Rafe had his own agenda, style, and purpose for how he adapted the WoT.  Any showrunner, director, producer does.  To be honest, I don't think Rafe is that clever.

 

The simpler answer is likely what @bringbackthomsmoustache pointed out.  Centuries and more of low tech heating easily explains the dinginess of the ancient tower.  The Aes Sedai could easily 'scrub' the walls white with the Power to a gleaming surface.  I could accept that, but I also accept that showing the tower's age with some grime speaks to its permanence.

[Irvyne]

I had the same thoughts.

In my imagination, the White Tower was floor-to-ceiling shiny white marble.

In the show it's just dingy grey stone.

[Elgee]

On 9/26/2025 at 3:37 PM, Irvyne said:

I had the same thoughts.

In my imagination, the White Tower was floor-to-ceiling shiny white marble.

In the show it's just dingy grey stone.

 

Your imagination reflects what is written in the Books.

 

The show Tower looks about as squat and appealing as my ex's tackle.

[HeronMarkedBlade]

On 9/26/2025 at 10:37 AM, Irvyne said:

I had the same thoughts.

In my imagination, the White Tower was floor-to-ceiling shiny white marble.

In the show it's just dingy grey stone.

Yeah, as said above, that’s how it’s described. A gleaming, white tower.

[nsmallw]

As the Ogier and Aes Sedai were the ones building the One Tower, it being totally white and able to handle the weathering of time and staying white would've been logical. 

 

But I understand it being a tv medium they may have had to change it.