Just now, SinisterDeath said:

Doesn't matter if the argument is that a channeler shouldn't be able to use weaves without training.

 

We have tons of examples of weaves in the books that were used without training, and created on the spot out of need.

And plenty of examples are of non-ta'veren.

The scene didn't "do nothing." It showed Nynaeve channeling when angry. It showed that she is an incredibly strong channeler. And, like or not, it kept pushing the question "who is the Dragon Reborn," which is the "big question" for this season they want people speculating on and wanting an answer (which the show will deliver on). Anecdotally it sounds like the non-readers are getting at least a little mileage out of the question, though I'd be interested in some metrics.

If Rafe was being 100% straight in his AMA, we'll only see people thinking the Dragon Reborn and past Dragons have been women. We'll see no word from the Creator confirming it.

1 hour ago, comicbooksarethebestthing said:

Nynaeve is more power than logain, only rand is a little more powerful than her and she way better at things than Rand like healing.

In the books Logain is only a tad weaker than Rand. Nynaeve is stronger than any Aes Sedai in 1000 years or so, and she's definitely strong, but she's outstripped by Logain, Taim, a bunch of the Forsaken (women included), some liberated damane, and more. There is a significant gap between Rand and her.

This isn't a criticism of the show if it's changing the power rankings. I'm just commenting on where she stands in the books.

Lots of good character moments this episode. I'm still processing and will have to rewatch. I still find myself thinking "the books do it this way" on the first watch, apparently.

A few days ago I was wondering if they'd keep dogs hating saidar users and cats hating saidin users. Question apparently answered.

11 minutes ago, Beidomon said:

Q: Do you think you missed a chance to make a really iconic episode set in Shadar Logoth? It’s my favorite section of EOTW and I felt it shouldn’t have been rushed over as you skipped Mordeth, the mydraal forcing the trollocs inside and maybe even padan fain’s experience there as an epilogue. Instead, it felt rushed and disappointing all around.
A: Did we skip all those things?
 

So, that’s cute, but yeah you totally rushed through Shadar Logoth, and it’s hard to understand why, given the amount invested in the set and how well you treated Winternight.

He may mean we'll see a flashback to Padan Fain (and maybe Mordeth?) In Shadar Logoth at some point in S1 or S2.

He gave a similar reply regarding Tam's fever dreams.

I wanted to share Rafe's comments on Loial from his Reddit AMA in their own thread. 

I know many are going to be disappointed by Loial differing in some way (I'm guessing his height) from his book description, so I wanted to bring it to the forefront before people are blindsided by the change. And we can use this thread for any and all Loial changes, too.

After watching some behind the scenes, I think a significant part of the budget went into designing practical sets. Emond's Field, Shadar Logoth, Breen's Spring were all significant constructions, and that's just the first three episodes.

I also do not think the Trollocs were cheap.

When the "up and down" of the CGI was pointed out to Rafe in a Reddit AMA, he sort of acknowledged it and said that the VFX teams were very hard hit and strained by COVID. Possibly true? Otherwise I feel like he'd have ignored that question. So makes me wonder if the same budget could have gone further without COVID-related staffing issues. 

Not strictly a reveal, but I really hope we get the Rand-Maiden dynamics. I love how some treat him as a little brother, some as a big brother, and a few as a son. I want to see Rand run himself to exhaustion at Cairhien and the maidens get increasingly concerned and have to guide him back to camp with sympathy in their eyes and voices.

17 minutes ago, SinisterDeath said:

I've heard a couple of rumblings about that.

 

My guess is that they're going to age down novice acceptance to as young as puberty, which can be as young as 8. 

It'll really bring home "The Witches steal our children!"

We might not see Bode go to the Tower at all. Things get cut. Or, since TV shows sometimes say "one season is one year", next time we see Bode she'll be four years older than she was in episode one. Or recast and older.

12 hours ago, Pandemonium said:

Hopefully they delve into what brought Fain to the 2 rivers though because something attracted him.  

I'm pretty sure Fain wasn't anything special at the start. He was a real peddler who was also a darkfriend, and he served as an eyes and ears for the Shadow.

23 hours ago, Deadsy said:

 

 

RJ confirmed both would have been tainted if the women had gone along with LTT's plan.

The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills.

He was at least trying to get the ferry back so that he could cross at some point.

I've said my thoughts, nothing much else for me to add until the rest of season one plays out.

Agelessness is definitely out.

To my knowledge, spoilers aren't something that need to be hidden if you're clear in in title and flags.

While we can speculate either way, I'd just like to point out that the season isn't done and we will see the White Cloaks again, so I'd be wary of posting any certain conclusions about the consistency of the writing team until we see how it all plays out.

Just to tally off some justifications for what we saw:

• Valda no doubt considers Darkfriends and liars. His own wrong assumption might be working against him.
• On the above point, Valda may have encountered some channelers or Aes Sedai (Black Ajah) who could lie.
• I'm becoming more fond of the theory that Valda did have his suspicions, but making her feel like she was in immediate danger is a good way to get a fireball or a warder sword to the face. I suspect his approach to the Aes Sedai is based much more on surprise and following up later on leads, given the obvious dangers. We may see more scenes or exposition on that next time we see the White Cloaks.

I mean, there's the obvious "the writers are having trouble being consistent and I was an oversight" take to the issue, and maybe. But we are going to see more, so it all still could be addressed. We can't be sure yet.

I'm watching the "Inside the Episode" shorts now. I didn't realize how much of Shadar Logoth was actually physically built. 

3 minutes ago, Harad the White said:

They rightfully felt the party were goners.

*screams and shouts as Mashadar spreads* 

Fade: It's not them.

Narg: They were born twenty years ago. Almost to the day the prophecy of the Dragon Reborn predicted. Some were able to touch the Source.

Fade: It's not them.

Narg: Where next?

Fade: Illian. There are rumors the Great Hunt has been called.

Just now, Ralph said:

 

I'm not sure this is an issue

 

Canonically the Dragon can be coopted by the Dark One. The Pattern allows this. Moiraine's mission is to get to him (in book) before the Dark One does. 

 

Since she thinks gentling can't be Healed she would assume that person can't be the Dragon 

In the books, if I remember right, Moiraine chastised Rand for assuming that just because something was in the prophecies it was certain, and that the prophecies were the way things needed to happen if he were to win, but that he could still die and not do any of them.

This train feels like it's about to shake itself off the rails... And I have my part in that.

I'm getting antsy for episode four. Does that drop at midnight GMT internationally? Or will it be staggered depending on where you live?

Just now, Harad the White said:

Let's leave out all the scenes the nitpickers and naysayers don't like. The show will go something like this:

Rand wakes up. He fights the Dark One. Victory! Then the forum can go back to the lazy river.

Ah, so the speed run version. I'd make a video game allusion to Zelda Breath of the Wild, but I don't think everyone here is a gamer.

6 minutes ago, swollymammoth said:

Just curious, but how do you think they do that? I actually think this is an interesting opportunity for the writers to do something really clever that makes the show stand out from the books. Personally, I'm imagining powdered forkroot on an arrowhead or something like that would be neat. 

At the moment I'm assuming Rafe will use methods established in the books. Catch an Aes Sedai by surprise (either by slipping something like forkroot into her drink and blunt force trauma) and then either keeping her dosed with forkroot or moving her into a known stedding. While I don't like it as much, I could see Rafe not using stedding or forkroot and going instead with head trauma/pain so they can't focus. Or maybe for the show movement really will be featured as much more a part of the weaves for many channelers (with explanations for "it's all about how you learn it" for edge cases) and cutting off the hands really does mess up the typical Aes Sedai. At least in the moment. 

So... everything everyone's already theorized, lol. I think surprise and forkroot/drugs would be the most obvious and best way to handle it.

2 minutes ago, swollymammoth said:

Could be. But the writers could have saved themselves a lot of hassle by just not writing something which relies so heavily on the audience making strings of head canon assumptions in order to justify their decision. 

I'll agree with you on this point if they don't revisit the topic this season. I know we'll see White Cloaks again, and per Rafe we'll get a little more insight this season on how they managed to kidnap Aes Sedai, and if the show lasts long enough, even more detail in season three. At the moment, I have my headcannon, yes, but it's also quite possible the show hasn't shown everything it's going to show this season on some topics.

Edit: My apologies, that was not charitable, but your hot takes have become just spinning every detail in the worst light possible even if there are alternative explanations available.

1 minute ago, swollymammoth said:

There it is. Still, they should believe the Three Oaths. Again, I can't believe they haven't tested it out if they've capturing Aes Sedai all the time. Seems like the first thing you'd do. 

Might be they captured a Black Ajah witch here or there.