Technically the Aes Sedai ring is awarded once they reach Accepted level not full Aes Sedai. So anyone who failed the test for Aes Sedai should theoretically be allowed to retain the ring, assuming they don't go around acting like a full Aes Sedai.

And keep in mind Morgase has an Aes Sedai ring even though she never reached Accepted level with near non existant ability to channel. So exceptions are definitely made.

Personally I don't really need chamber pots to have much of a presence. I can assume people can do their private business.

Also I have it on good authority that borderlanders eat rocks for food.

To be honest the 1st book doesn't do the best job of showing a world where women hold the lion's share of the power in the world. Seriously look at who the main leaders are in the 1st book. 

- In Eamond's Field you have Bran + village counicl and Nyneave + women's circle, but you barely see any of the second, with Nyneave getting barely any time as a leader in the village. The Village council is far more present

- The mayor of Baerlon is male although he of course never appears

- The ship captain Bayle Domon is male

- The leader of the Tuathan is male

- The leader of the Whitecloaks is male

- The lord of Fal Dara, Agalmar Jagad is male

- The main antagonist Baalzamon/Ishamael is male

Literally the only real exemple of female leadership in the 1st book is Morgase. So for a series which stands out for the greater power and agency given to women, it is notably not that present in the 1st book. Obviously later books rebalance it, but It's not suprising that the show wanted to do that earlier especially for minor characters who are unimportant in the long run.

If I remember correctly, in the books Moiraine really didn't want to use the power while in the Ways. Not because it would attract Machin Sin but because the Ways corrupt everything and when she used the One Power it was shown to be affected by the Ways.

Wheel of Time fans are nothing if not obsessively detail oriented. Would Shaiel be able to fight off several Companions at once? Is there any proof she wouldn't be able to? How does her being in labor affect that (keeping in mind a number of people here have no idea what that's like)? Wouldn't each labor be different depending on the woman and the situation?

I have no clear answer, but I'll simply say that, if it is a slight bit over the top, I'd rather that than it being underwhelming. The Aiel are meant to be incredible badass warriors. Hold back your readers instincts and enjoy it for being an introduction to the lethality of the Aiel is my 2 cents.

2 hours ago, Jaysen Gore said:

The thought that occured to me:

  Hide contents

No, Rand!! you Can't!! You are not the creator!! - Moiraine in the Stone of Tear

 

I don't think it's related to the viewings but I so hope that moment is in the show, because of how heartwrenching it is.

2 minutes ago, Yojimbo said:

I haven't read every page of this thread, so I may have missed it.  But is nobody even a little miffed at how accepting Rand is that he is the DR?  I mean, he only fought against that idea for the next two books until the Stone fell and he held Callandor.    Having him be this accepting basically nullifies his entire motivations for what he does for the next two books.  But whatever I guess.   

Normally I would be a little offput but realistically if Rand even somewhat thought that he was the Dragon Reborn (and even he can't deny the signs in the book) and that his friends would therefore die if they ended up between him and the Dark One, then he would 100% go full martyr to save his friends and loved ones.

I'm not sure what will happen in the last episode however someone is cast as Small Girl on Western Shore which suggests that the Seanchan will be introduced as a cliff hanger.

tEoTW ending is pretty messy so I'm willing to give a lot of leeway for how it turns out. However I will be very dissapointed if the Horn of Valere is omitted from the books. Between the end of book 2 and the twist in book 14 I just can't understand not including it.

15 hours ago, Jaysen Gore said:

And with the 3 beautiful women line, there goes my hopes for Egwelayne

I'm like 90% certain it will be Elayne and Aviendha who are in a relationship together as well as with Rand.

Just now, TheDreadReader said:

 

My first thought after this was when Mat asks the 'finn for something to keep the Aes Sedai away from him (I forget how he phrased it in the book).   Having a couple run-ins with the Reds would go a long way towards setting that up.

 

Didn't even think of that but yes for sure. Just generally it ties into so many people thinking the worst of Mat but then him proving everyone wrong by being a hero. It has a lot of potential I think.

Overall I thought it was pretty good. Some thoughts:

- They probably went a tad over the topwith Tigraine slaughtering soldiers 3v1 while in labor, but I can accept it for purposes of showing the Aiel (or Aiel trained people whatever) being very deadly

- Machin Sin talking in to everyone in their own voices was pretty cool I thought

- They're cutting corners with Nyneave being able to do what she's doing there but let's see where it goes particularly concerning her block

- Agelmar not so nice with Aes Sedai. Not sure what that's about but alright

- Loved everything about Min to be honest, thought she was fantastic

- A love triangle.....of course there's a love triangle. Perrin is supposed to be Rand's go to guy come on man

- Egwene being on one hand very self sacrificing and brave, but on the other overly sure of herself and stand offish is one point

- Lan flash stepping behind Nyneave. I like I like.

- Lan is much more open with Nyneave than in the books. I'm interested to see where they go with this. I'm hoping the fact that Moiraine got away from him is gonna cause him to push Nyneave away a little at first until finally his barriers break down a bit

- Reds going after Mat ?. I'm very sad that Mat can't be a part of the Eye. But on the other hand I think they can do some really interesting stuff with Mat seeing as how everyone but Rand is doubting him. Huge redemption arc incoming

- Yay finally Rand is revealed to be the Dragon Reborn! Called him being the one to channel in the Ways.

Overall my only big complaint in the episode is the whole Rand, Perrin, Egwene triangle which....yuck. I'm not even sure what the point of that drama is considering there's plenty of tension already. Only thing I can think of is to give Perrin something to work with for now. But meh I don't like it.

16 hours ago, bringbackthomsmoustache said:

 At 15 a boy tends to think of himself as a young man (even if with hindsight he later comes to recognise that he was an idiot for thinking that).

Nonsense, that's darkfriend talk that is.

What's that line about statistics already?

That would be cool but I kinda doubt they would spend the time necessary for that on a simple flashback.

She’s 23 actually. How old is the actress?

13 minutes ago, EmreY said:

Dumai's Wells, while beloved by most, seems like a contrivance to me.  I would be quite content to see it changed dramatically.  Except for the kneeling part.

What do you mean exactly by contrivance? Just that so many armies ended up there?

To be fair I don't think its a uniquely GOT thing that when you go really far north, it tends to get cold...

2 minutes ago, fra85uk said:

 

I think the only difference is that Moraine does not use the OP in the book to open the gate.

Yep, which seems like an unforced error to me so hopefully there’s a reason for that change.

1 minute ago, nsmallw said:

There was a cut scene where Loial was showing something on a map to Moriaine and Lan.

IF they had put that scene into the show, i think it would have been less confusing. Maybe only Loial knew the locations of the ways and was needed for that purpose in the show. But I do feel that they shouldn't have had Moraine be the one to open the portal. Loial should have done it as in the books. 

Moiraine opens the gate in the books, Loial just leads them to it. And of course he's needed to guide them through the Ways.

34 minutes ago, DigificWriter said:

@Lethira the second Moiraine and Siuan have two huge secrets to keep:

1) They're working together to seek out the Dragon Reborn

2) They're involved in an ongoing sexual relationship

Strictly speaking, the Aes Sedai wouldn’t care about their relationship normally.

Its only relevant because it would reveal they’re not opponents as they’re deceiving the Aes Sedai into believing. 

1 minute ago, dwn said:

 

I agree it's not a trivial change, and it would require Moiraine take on at least part of Cadsuane's role. However, thinking like a show producer--and like a book reader when Caddy first appeared in ACos--why replace the mentor/advisor character with a different one part way through?

 

(Everyone complains about Perrin's plotline, but Mat spends more than 4 books in Altara. Surely that can be rearranged a bit.)

Mergin Moiraine and Cadsuane is the only feasible way of keeping Moiraine with Rand, but man would I dislike it. I'm not a great fan of Cadsuane but her character is very different to Moiraine', and going from 

- Rand is very distrustful of Moiraine but eventually comes to rely on her

to

- Moiraine dies devastating Rand and effecting his character for the rest of the series

to

- Moiraine show back up not that long after, does a 180 on her dynamic with Rand eventually leading to Rand nearly ending everything

I'm not sure how that would turn out honestly.

It was confirmed he couldn't see her weaves, he just reacted to the effect of her weaves. 

3 minutes ago, dwn said:

 

In the books, by the time they've entered the Ways in Caemlyn Rand really hadn't done much either, beyond survive. I honestly don't see much difference between the books and the show in this regard.

Rand hadn't achieved any more in the book than he has in the show at this point, that's true. Main difference right now is that we don't see Rand struggle with his identity like he does in the books. So they're gonna have to do a fair bit of catch up once they finally drop the DR mystery.

6 minutes ago, Masha said:

The Dragon reincarnates over and over again just not in every Age but when he is needed. RJ wasn't clear that a Dragon is always a male except that situation with Lews Therin made next Dragon guaranteed to be male. 

I posted this further back in the thread, but it was actually quite clear in interviews that the Dragon is always male:

https://www.theoryland.com/intvsresults.php?kwt='dragon soul'

However other Heroes could serve to fulfill the same role the Dragon does in other ages/turnings.