Hands down, no doubt about it, The Cleansing is my favorite scene in Winter's Heart. I've researched that chapter (Chapter 35: With the Choedan Kal) so much, quoted it so often in discussions on the Dragonmount Yahoo Group, that it's easily one of the scenes I know the best and is indeed, one of my very favorite scenes in the entire series.

It's fantastic in the audio version too, of course. ;o)

I love the cleansing scene but I also love it when Matt gives in and calls Tuon his wife. :) There are so many good scenes but I love how this just build's Matt as a person, and man, and as a hero in the story.

Love Michael Kramer and Kate Reading to me they are the voice behind the books.

My favorite scene has to either be the cleansing, or when Nynaeve uses her ter'angreal to free Lan and Rand.

There are plenty of great scenes in this book...I personally always loved the scene where Min, Elayne and Aviendha bond Rand as their warder. I've always loved that comment from Avi "You do love me!" or something to that effect, a flash of womanly softness from a battle-experienced maiden of the spear.

The cleansing was fabulous, but I agree with the above poster...The description of when Mat makes Tuon his wife was fabulous.

I love when Mat goes into the Wandering Woman and Joline comes in to the kitchen with Settale and then Egeanin comes in and Mat pretends to kiss Joline

Have to agree with others on the cleansing as my favorite. There were still many other great scenes though.

I tried to think of another scene, because I think 90% of people will say the same thing, but honestly, I don't think anything in this book can compare to the cleansing. The sheer number of characters involved and viewpoint we get to see it through are amazing, not to mention that if this isn't one of the most significant events in the whole series, it's at LEAST in the top 3. Pure brilliance.

Winter's heart chapter 22 out of thin air. When Rand walks into the trap and calmly crushes Rochaid's windpipe.

Love that scene it really shows what a skilled fighter Rand is even without weapons or the power.

This will be and already is a popular choice, but it's the Cleansing for me. 3,000 years of animosity and distrust between male and female channelers--which seems to have filtered through to the rest of society in a reduced form--starts to heal right there. A theme of the series that I don't see mentioned often is that the "battle of the sexes" is turned up to 11 in Randland, and it probably all stems from the Time of Madness. And it was long clear that lack of cooperation between male and female channelers, standing in for men and women in general, would doom the whole world. The Cleansing is a big deal in the story for that reason, too.

The cleansing of Saidin! It was EPIC! Also the bonding of Avi, Min, Elayne and Rand.

“When the sun turns green”

Without a doubt...

The cleansing of saidin was not o nly one of the best scenes in this book but also of the entire series!

The cleansing is definitely the climax of the book, and a really good scene, but it's not my favorite in the book.

I really like the scene where Rand and Min are in Andor, and he's confronted by all his ladies. And then he's bonded to them. 'Course there's also the next bit, that's slightly comical, but it's not as good as the bonding. IMHO

I hate to follow the pack, but, I must agree, that the best scene from WH was the cleansing.... one of the most important things to happen in the series, hands down!

So many wonderful scenes from which to choose...

I think, though, that I too will have to pick the cleansing.

It is such a powerful scene, and so very significant to the entire series.

Masterful!

I'm surprised anyone said anything but the Cleansing! I waited for that for years!

Ch 12, A Lily in Winter when they bond Rand and Min feels how much pain he is in.

“Oh, Light, Rand, the pain,” Min murmured in a hurt voice. “I never knew; I never imagined. How can you stand it? There are pains you don’t even seem to know, as if you’ve lived with them so long they’re part of you. Those herons on your hands; you can still feel the branding. Those things on your arms hurt! And your side. Oh, Light, your side! Why aren’t you crying, Rand? Why aren’t you crying?”

Is my fave. :)

Mat's great escape. It was just too much fun to read!

Thought about it, but I honestly can't choose anything but The Cleansing of the Taint!. It's awesome reading about so many Channelers that do their various things to protect Rand and Nynaeve from the pending Forsaken attack! Scary to think that some of the protectors were actually darkfriends!

My favorite has to be Elayne and Aviendha bonding (re-born) as First Sisters. This was one of the scenes in this book that convinced me RJ was a truly great writer.

Definitely the scene with Lan dangling off the roof, held up only by Rand's hand. "When the sun turns green."

My favorite scene in Winter's Heart is when Mat meets Tuon for the first time and is looking around, thinking a Forsaken is going to jump out of the fireplace! :D

It has to be the Cleansing. As cliche as it is, that is the bet part of the entire book.

The Cleansing, definitely ...so complex and simple. Pivotal

Chapter 12 A Lily in Winter. Awesome chapter! Rand's 'true' bonding, Rand leaving Elayne the lily on her bed pillow (along with her babies in womb!). Great scenes, great writing (Birgitte, Min @ Aviendha going off for an Oosquai binge), love this stuff!!!