I think they are going for a slow build with Rand for a few reasons: (1) you have to give screen time to the other actors. A series focused primarily on Rand would suffer from weaker characterization of the remaining players. A good example is The Last Kingdom (one of my favorite shows). They are able to develop Uhtred, Brida, and Alfred quite well. Other characters are relegated to the side which works for TLK but would not for WoT (2) avoiding the power problem. Rand has god-tier abilities. It is very difficult to craft situations where it feels as if he is in real jeopardy, especially when you can’t be in his head. RJ was able to really drill down on Rand’s internal conflicts, his fear of the OP, his madness-tinged rationalizations, and his personal code. Those things are harder to do in the show. Going slower will allow for his big moments to be earned and avoid the “Mary Sue” problem. (3) avoiding repetition. Rand has basically the same arc in each of the first three books. I certainly agree that Rand has been sidelined for much of the series so far. But I am confident that his time is coming. Remember, some of the same people who are complaining the loudest actually thought that Nyn was going to be the Dragon. That didn’t happen, nor is Rand going to be a bit player for much longer. He is ascendant as demonstrated by the visuals of the final scene atop the tower in Falme.

Hmmm. Who is “screaming from the rafters”? Seems like a more apt characterization of those who feel the need to bash the show at every opportunity. Rafe is making a show that is focused on the characters. The characters (all of them, not just Rand) are what make Wheel of Time special.

Yeah. This is the pull quote: Tells me Rafe understands the source material.

My take on it is that Avi believes Rand is the Car'a'carn and she will be advocating for him when they return to the Waste. She will be challenged by other Aiel, probably the Shaido but also the wise ones. Her arc will be sticking to her beliefs, I'm guessing.

I agree that it should be a weave. I don't think it should have the time-altering properties from the books. More like it just burns that soul from the pattern.

If he were battling all out, he wouldn't just stand in place throwing fire. He would use balefire, wouldn't he? Or use a more creative weave that attacked from behind Egwene's shield.

Yes there was a tonal shift. Purposefully aging the characters up and making them more worldly and less naive. Their “defining personalities” have not changed at all. Rand is still kind and innately gentle. Mat is still a reluctant hero who loves his friends and a strong drink. Perrin is still a deliberate thinker who is slow to anger and fears losing control. Egwene is still driven and loyal. Nynaeve is still stubborn, rash and superior.

So they made him a different kind of thief? That’s a modification, not an assassination. And one that fits with the shift in the other main characters.

How was his character “assassinated”?

My anecdotal evidence: I have two teenaged boys. Neither have read any of the books. The youngest (16) did not like S1 at all and routinely clowned it as being worse than "the 100" (a CW show). He only started watching S2 because he was in trouble the night we started it so couldn't be on his phone or game console. He liked episode 1 enough that he wanted to watch episode 2 instead of going to bed. He is now invested in the series and asks when we are going to watch the next one. The oldest (18) tolerated S1, but thought it was only okay. He was interested in S2 and watched every episode intently. This kid (who can't be brought to care about practically anything) was firing off questions left and right about the lore, the characters, and actively theorizing all season about what was going to come next. He is super excited for S3. My wife has read through book 5, but got bogged down and wasn't interested in finishing. She liked S1 better than I did and way more than the kids. She loved S2 to the point that she broke our unwritten rule and watched an episode without me. My two best friends from childhood (who are both old cranks like me) both liked S1 way more than I did and thought I was silly for complaining so much about the final episode. Neither realized that S2 had been released yet and neither have started watching it yet, but are both planning on binging it over the weekend.

100%.

Agreed. And I think there's no better way to do that than via Elayne. Elayne brings her friends to Camelyn hoping her powerful mother will right the ship. Morgase at first seems inclined to help, but is compelled away from that decision by Rahvin. Could be really fascinating tv.

Think this is meant to be a WAFO. I’m reasonably confident we will get some more info on this from Mat next season.

I think they have confirmed sets for Camelyn.

I didn't take it as her 'naming him' but rather as an expression of her individual belief. In terms of what that does to the Rand/Avi relationship, I need to reserve judgment. But it will have ripple effects.

The Horn gave Mat his memories back. Him blowing it is how the writers are going to level Mat up, give him his luck, make him a better fighter, etc. That was the purpose.

My Season Three predictions: Rand and Egwene will go to the three-fold land along with Mo and Lan. Lanfear and Asmo will be there. Rand's arc will take him through Rhuidean and end with him being declared the Car'a'carn (and I'm hoping it will be a one-on-one, no power sword fight with Couladin after training with Lan for much of the season). Lanfear and Mo into the twisted stone ter'angreal as the S3 cliffhanger. Nynaeve, Mat and Perrin will decide to return to the Two Rivers by way of Camelyn where Elayne thinks they will get help from Morgase. We will get Rahvin doing his seducer thing. Mat will explore the palace and find the Tear version of the ter'angreal in Camelyn instead, ending up in Rhuidean with Rand and will save Rand from betrayal by Sevanna. Mat gets his fight with Galad (and Gawyn?) in Camelyn. Perrin will continue on to the Two Rivers. The Battle of the Two Rivers will be the big set piece of the season. Perrin will meet Luc (who I think will be made into one of the Forsaken, perhaps Sammael) Ewgene will train with the Wise Ones. Elayne and Nynaeve will have to flee from Rahvin after discovering that he's a Forsaken. Moggy will be tormenting Nynaeve. The Tower coup will happen with Elaida installed as Amyrlin in the finale. This will be the "slow plot" for the season as we get a deeper dive into Tower politics. At the end of S3: Rand will be ascendant; Perrin and Bornhald will hate each other and be uneasy allies; Egwene will not get a ton of screen time but will be leveled up somehow; Mat, Rand and Egwene will be together and returning from the Waste; Nynaeve and Elayne will be headed toward Tanchico (or maybe Ebou Dar); Lan will be bereft.

Which is basically why Egwene rejected them.

https://www.nielsen.com/top-ten/ Wheel of Time held strong in its second week. 3rd rated original series. No drop off in numbers from its first week.

Maybe. But I think it’s fair to say that GoT entered the cultural zeitgeist after the Red Wedding.

“Normies” didn’t start talking about GoT until season 3 or 4 though. The Red Wedding was the first thing I remember people talking about “at the water cooler”.

Very inconsistent. I think we are supposed to infer that his time with it taught him that it had those capabilities. It was never shown to us. Nor ever explained how Loial survived. It's BAD and EVIL and apparently acid.

There's a first time for everything... I agree with @Mailman. I have no idea what the Dagger does or doesn't do or how it works. I know it's EVILTM. That's about it. It's my biggest gripe with the show so far.

And movies do some things better than tv. Big battle scenes, complex CGI, wall-to-wall action/adventure all work better on the big screen than on the small.

Yes it does. Those that evaluated both seasons preferred season 2. It’s just not mathematically significant. I’m not saying it’s proof, I’m saying it is evidence. Those things are not the same.