Right! Ishy said to Lanfear in S2 that he has had some practice in the World of Dreams, after she complimented his abilities. If he was able to Dream for thousands of years (or even hundreds, if it was only cyclical like in the books), he would have had a LOT of time to practice and hone some skills. We know there is the ability to track things down by focusing on need. It isn't far to extend that to focusing on extreme emotions, channeling, etc. There was a lot we didn't get into even in the books about abilities in the Dreamworld, and since so much of it is tied to will and practice, I don't think it's a stretch that an extremely intelligent Age of Legends Aes Sedai would figure out how to track down channelers, tav'eren, and more in the Dreamworld.

I loved this episode. The banter between the crew in Tanchico was golden. The intensity of Rands heartbreak and despair at the end was so well done. Some things felt a little glitchy, but I blame the shows need to pace fast to squeeze in so much. I especially loved the moment of Nyneave fighting the compulsion. And can’t ignore the cute scene of Mat using his charm on the dude in Tanchico to find the bracelet. I love seeing that Mats flirtations know no boundaries 😉 Sammuel being the “little surprise’” was such a jab from Lanfear 😅

if I recall correctly, when Graendahl used compulsion on folks, she was mostly making them absolutely adore and worship her. That didn't really require instruction. But, other times when we see folks being given compulsion and then carrying out instructions, they were verbally given. It was pretty consistent in the books, though sometimes it seemed to be inferred off-screen. I wouldn't put it past someone's brain to "fill in the gaps" after being given compulsion and carry out acts that they feel would please their master....but in the show, someone like Leane not having known Gabril's name and rank and suddenly recall it is very different from how it would have worked in the books. So, I think over-all they changed how it works in the show, which I think makes sense for a TV adaptation.

Interesting, very interesting. I originally assumed the blood and red burns on Liandrin's face were from the fire thrown around her, but I could also see it coming from some push and burn out. We know she established the precedent of doing it when she was working to shield Logain in S1. Honestly, if this was intentional and her and Siuan were over-drawing during that fight, I would be really impressed with the production team because it's consistent.

I think she was bloody from all that blood she spat out while Siuan was attacking her with fire and who knows what else. =]

Honestly, I can excuse a lot of things due to them having to adapt to TV and keeping non-book reading audience (like the deplorable tactic of the BA killing an entire family to take over the estate? How the heck are they going to cover that up...anyways..) BUT I'm a little miffed over how they have taken out the need to give verbal instructions to compulsion and having Rahvin just hit everyone he meets. On one hand, it makes it more dangerous...but on the other hand, I thought the verbal instruction part of Compulsion at least gave it balance in the books. You had to be using it tactfully. Not just walking into the Hall chocked FULL of sisters and slamming on one or all of them with out a single word spoken...come on! That's way too OP and convenient. Even if they show later that it took a lot of out-of-scene prep on his part (like setting up weaves, or whatever). Too easy. (And yes, I know they could do Compulsion with out instructions and have someone just become completely adoring to the other. But that wouldn't give them knowledge, like having Leane go from not knowing Gabriel's name to suddenly having the knowledge. It didn't work like that in the books). I'll give it makes the Forsaken more dangerous....it's just too "easy" seeming.

It is a little disappointing to me that they haven't revisited the power "burn out" that they showed in Season 1 at all. There were clear dangers to over channeling and it's not mentioned since. They also could have dropped in an in-show explanation for Nyn's being healed at the end of S1 and that was sad that it didn't happen. Aside from Moraine's display at the end of S2, I'm not really seeing a huge power creep among the Aes Sedai. The tower battle felt legit to me, aside from them absolutely sucking at tactics. I can also excuse that, because even the Red's and Greens are more used to fighting stray male channelers and possibly trollocs than other women channelers, especially those who they are supposed to trust. The healing, while convenient, is also fine. It was also pretty dependable in the books, and you just expected that unless someone had their head chopped off, they were going to get healed. A dude even had his throat cut and head nearly taken off and was healed up by a member of the Kin...so yeah. The books might have started out saying Aes Sedai were weaker than expected, but that changed, especially in the later half of the series.

I agree that I think the last Forsaken to be shown will be Asmo. It just seems too convenient that a fourth male forsaken wasn't mentioned during the meetup. Also, in the books it was pretty significant that Lanfear and Asmo were present for Rand's whole arc in the Aeil Waste...so I know it won't be hard to get Lanfear involved somehow int he show, but I think it would be clever to have a "shocking" reveal that someone in the Aeil waste, a merchant or otherwise, is a Forsaken. They fight, he gets captured or convinced/forced to teach Rand and bahm, we have it. If they make it Sammael and he teaches Rand that will be pretty annoying >_<

That was incredible. I was on the edge of my seat for the start of the episode, and then delighted by all the following. They packed SO MUCH into this first episode...if this bodes for the rest of the season, each episode is going to be rich with content. My only gripe is not being able to immediately re-watch obsessively...and now essentially waiting two more weeks for episode 2 😭 I thought the making of was pretty cool, and the follow up interviews were nice to watch. I always enjoy getting context from the actors on playing the characters and motivation.

but but but over analyzing is just what we DO! 😁 I am still hoping when March 13th rolls around there's a little more to this scene. Especially want to know why the Yellow/Black Ajah Sitter that we see in the initial fight isn't present at the gate confronting Alanna. Did she go on an errand? Was there more fighting as they made their way to the gate? I hope we get some action, and would LOVE to see Egwene kick some Black Ajah tail

The regular sisters entered that room expecting drama on the level of Real Housewives, and instead, they were surprised with a Game Of Thrones level betrayal. It makes sense to me that they could be temporarily bested by just 4 ruthless Black Ajah. Between the cut scenes, it seems that the fight takes longer...but in reality all of that happened in seconds, or a couple minutes at most. The impression of more time due to the cut scenes also makes the Black Ajah's casual departure from the Hall a little funny. The final blast they did probably incapacitated the sisters long enough to make an escape, and then our next scene inside there is the victims recovering. Clearly they aren't going to show several minutes of Aes Sedai just laying around when they have only so much time in the show. I hope the Red sister who defended against Jeaine survived, despite it showing her laying on the ground. I liked how fierce and fast to react she was. Also, when the Black Ajah gang show up at the gate, the Yellow who was in the Hall isn't there...what happens? Is she on an errand, or are there going to be more fights? I think there's also some un-explained things that Book readers might figure out, but will leave some good mysteries for newbies watching the show. I am sure they will expect this to be ALL the Black Ajah in the tower for example.....