A lot of East Asian animation makes use of internal dialogue, and occasionally, live-action dramas from the region do too. In contrast, inner monologue seems relatively rare in Western TV/movie. I know I’ve come across them before, but none springs to mind immediately that I've seen recently. One of my favourite web novels, Lord of the Mysteries (which spans over 1,400 chapters), is being adapted into an animated series. The first 200 chapters will be condensed into just 13 episodes, airing this weekend. (For comparison, Wheel of Time has only around 700 chapters.) I’ve been thinking about how the adaptation will handle inner monologues, since the protagonist frequently uses internal thought to solve occult mysteries - a key part of the novel’s tone and depth. I recently saw a trailer where the main character walks the streets while his inner voice is narrated, which gives me hope that they’ll retain this important narrative device. Whether the adaptation will succeed overall remains to be seen. But it also makes me wonder: Could Wheel of Time have been better adapted if it leaned more into internal dialogue rather than shying away from it?

I’m not sure I have any particularly valuable insights. After finishing AMoL, I don’t think I’ve re-read the series again - or maybe only once (so it has been a long time though I surprise myself by what I remember). But before that, I re-read the books multiple times, starting back when the series had only reached LoC. In many ways, the books ended for me in KoD. While the last 3 books were an ok read for me, I never quite connected with them in the same way (nothing against BS - I enjoy his series that he writes). Season 1 reminded me that, despite thinking that the last 3 books were weaker, EoTW was still my least favourite. In fact, I wouldn't have read WoT if I had only bought book 1 when I was 14. I foolishly bought 6 books in one go thinking it would last me a long time. The outrage of wasting my money (and it was a lot of money for a 14 year old) pushed me to slog through book1 and into book 2. Fortunately, I started to enjoy the series around then. Harem storyline: It is funny, I largely forgot Rand had a harem romance. The proliferation of Harem and Reverse Harem storylines in novels/light novels/webnovels (across English, Mandarin and Korean ones that I read or Japanese Animation i watch) are such that I now drop those books without question. Amongst the lightnovel/webnovels there is quite a clear divide between readers who are willing/love to read harem and those who absolutely unwilling to even entertain such a series even with a minor side plot of harem (which I fall into the latter). It was actually a strange relization for me that even with a series I once loved and re-read so many times, this trope (even reasonably minor in the grand scheme of the story) remains a deal breaker. I am glad they went with the polyarmory storyline - I wouldn't debate whether it was the right thing to do or not for series - this is simply discovery that the trope is an absolute deal breaker for me. A big part of the charm of the books for me in my teen was the gender dynamics. Those exaggerated, often comedic misunderstandings between men and women. All the “wool-headed men” and “light help me, women are impossible” moments that peppered the series were reflective of how my parents’ generation spoke and thought. I initially thought I missed it. But as the series went on and I imagine how that played on screen, I am glad they tone that down signicantly (probably largely absent). Firstly, I don't think it can translate to screen (or dialogue) rather than in the character's headspace. Secondly, it is quite dated - I don't know if that comedic element would translate to the generation after mine (my nephews' generation). It is not how my siblings and I would interact so that may be largely lost on them. It is hard to know. hmm... I guess the only insight in all this that the show has shown me is maybe I have outgrown WoT. I remember it being a big part of me - but I still feel a great love for it - which is an odd feeling.

It's a shame - good bye WoT again

I saw this as a specific response to Elaida calling her a River trash or something in a previous episode. The snubby new Amyrlin does not the satisfaction of "river trash" being cowled even after stilled and deposed.

I believe that relates to Siuan and Leane's healing when they tried to wake her to make her angry after the yellows all had a go to make her mad. I've always read that as meaning the healing was complete ("what was already healed"), and the "wound" was gone, rather than partially healed.