She wasn't allowed to pick up something she intended to use as a weapon to harm the sul'dam. But the collar is not a weapon and she isn't using it as one.

He saved Egwene from Trollocs in the Ways. He made the correct choice in T'a'R before freeing Ishamael. He worked his way in to get access to Logain. He killed Turak. He killed Ishamael. (1) she did nothing to destroy the army of Trollocs, she was used as a battery by Amalisa. (Terrible choice, awful episode, forgivable due to circumstances as I've explained ad nauseum). (2) Who did Egwene heal? That was Nynaeve. (3) She gained her freedom. I admit that this presents some sort of hole in terms of how she could touch the collar (perhaps because it was no longer linked to a sul'dam). (4) She interposed herself between Rand and Ishy. As discussed elsewhere, it is unclear to me that Ishy wanted to beat her at that point - he's playing the long game and chose to sheathe the sword. Remember his dialogue with Lanfear about actually believing in and speaking to the Dark One. And yes, Egwene earned her moment by suffering as a damane, being dehumanized and controlled. In spite of those challenges, during which she learned just how powerful she was, she managed to retain her composure. Despite being faced with incredible odds, she stood as a shield between Ishamael and Rand demonstrating her determination to protect her friends at any cost. You know, just like Egwene in the books.

I'm sorry this is happening to you.

It was Tam's sword that burned up. You saw Perrin fight with a sword: (1) on Winternight; (2) against the Seanchan; (3) against the Whitecloaks. I think that there are absolutely some politics involved. There is certainly an effort to showcase strong female characters and emphasize diversity. And there is, I'm sure, a degree of pandering to critics who vote for awards, who clearly skew in a particular political direction. Neither of those things are bad in and of themselves.

Yes. Because he hasn't had much of an idea of how to use the power and has been trying not to channel because he's afraid. I'll be willing to be $1 million internet dollars that he doesn't spend any time in the fetal position next season. I agree that Rand, Mat and Perrin have not yet gotten to be the stars of the show. Thus far Moiraine, Nynaeve and Egwene have been given the biggest moments. This doesn't mean that the boys aren't ever going to get to shine. Their journeys are just starting (much like they were in the books). Yes. Because Rand hasn't learned to fight with a sword yet in the TV universe. So ... it makes sense that he wouldn't have fought with it? Your argument is that Rand knew how to use a sword better in the books. You are correct. Here's your gold star.

We've seen Perrin fight competently already several times this season. He fought competently during the first battle with the Seanchan before the damane took them off the board. He fought competently during his fight with Aviendha and the Whitecloaks. He was traveling with the Sheinarans and we can reasonably conclude that he picked up a thing or two. (Not to mention that he fought competently against the trollocs on Winternight, implying some degree of existing ability.) Perrin's arc is that he fears his rage. In battle he loses control. That led him to kill Laila (still not my favorite call). He struggled with that, especially after being introduced to the Tinkers. It paralyzed him at Fal Dara (the worst written episode of the show, but one that I believe needs to be forgiven because of all of the problems caused by Barney Harris's departure and COVID shutdowns. I think Rafe mostly just sort of tries to pretend that episode never happened.) He's now gained some of his mojo back. But now he's killed Bornhald the Elder. And that's about to have some consequences which will put him right back in the crosshairs of that same problem. Will he handle it differently? Will his experiences in the wolf dream help or hinder him? I'm sorry, but your effort to portray me as a sycophant falls flat. I have been critical of the writers many, many times in this forum. I'm just not inclined to view everything through the lens of politics and I'm far more tolerant of changes to the books that serve the purpose of making better TV.

“But Rand won’t have earned is fight with Turak. Rand hasn’t even trained with Lan, he won’t earn his skills.” “Rand should be a blade master already” Same people. As was pointed out a ways back, they are consciously trying to avoid power creep. Rand is OP. He has god-tier powers. The entire point of the novels is to explore the idea of how a kid from a farm would handle those powers. The show is going slow with Rand on purpose so that his ascension can be given the chance to be earned. The female characters that you hate to see elevated so much (except, strangely Nynaeve who has been exhibit A for how women have been ‘raised over men’ - I’ll get to that in a minute) are following their own development arcs. Thus, Egwene gets to finally show how powerful she really is and her fierce loyalty to Rand and the other people she cares about. She gets to pay off her captivity by demonstrating her capacity for taking punishment in service of that loyalty. Moiraine gets her power back. She renews her relationship with Lan and she gains the confidence to be the agent who proclaims the Dragon. She has now completed alienated herself from the Tower and is fully in Rand’s service. The fact that she eliminated the shield on Rand is thematically satisfying. They have each rescued the other from having been cut off from the source. Nynaeve is in the process of her own arc now. She has a crisis of confidence to overcome. Elayne was better and more effective than she was even wounded. Elayne’s tactics were more effective. The woman who people literally said was going to be made into the Dragon Reborn because of Rafe’s politics has been almost useless. Why? Because it is her own individual arc. She needs to learn control. Control of the power, control of her emotions, and to know when she needs to relinquish control to someone else. Can we please try to get a little bit of perspective?! They are depicting the emotional journey of these characters. Many of the changes serve that purpose.

He has not had time to process those deaths, yet. Once again, you have to allow some time for him to grapple with all of that. Which is basically the next part of his arc: “okay, I accept that I’m the Dragon. What does that mean?”

Rand is not yet familiar with Lanfear’s casual brutality. He knew she would rescue him, but he didn’t know she would massacre civilians to accomplish his escape.

I’d forgotten. Explain. Which character is in a different place and why?

You just blow past the explanation. When Mo says she would kill 1000 innocent people to protect Rand, she establishes that protecting the Dragon as the internal justification which permits her to “bypass” the oaths: by definition, if they are trying to harm the Dragon, they are all Darkfriends.

I’m sorry, but the character development has not been “poor”. The CGI has been much improved this season. The fight scenes have been … mid … but I’ve seen far worse. She didn’t. She sunk 3. The rest retreated, as Lan observed.

I agree with this. But just remember - it’s the characters that make the story. Consistent plots and tight world building will avail nothing if the characters aren’t engaging.

Just try to let go of your expectations. It’s a different turning of the Wheel or a portal world. I try enjoy it for what it is, instead of worrying about what it isn’t.

I’m sorry you dislike it so much. But for me, this is very good television. I’m eagerly awaiting season 3.

Seems like he understands them just fine to me. All of the characters are exactly where they are supposed to be in their emotional journeys.

Sorry dude. This show definitely has legs.

I read it more like a coach working the refs before a game. Or a politician trying to get ahead of a bad jobs report.

Yeah. That’s not what he said. He was lamenting the fact that the strike limited the ability to promote season 2. Sounds like he was trying to get in front of poor viewership numbers. But the show has been doing well and is picking up good reviews.

The author knows his history. He did a fantastic job of making Uhtred into a believable historical figure. There's some very powerful dialogue coming at the end of S3 that alludes to this.

Such good stuff ahead! Alfred is such a calculating bastard, isn't he? But at the same time, I admire his commitment to his faith and his duty. I find it to be such a great portrayal of that period in history.

I just browsed the episode by episode critic's reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. In terms of critical reception, you can tell that this season is doing things well. As the season has gone on the critics have gone from lukewarm to very positive in a nearly straight line. Interestingly Episode 7, which is one of the less popular here, gets the highest marks from the critics.

Oh, I'm so excited!! LOL I think the relationship between Uhtred and Alfred is one of the most amazingly well-written things in all of television. I'm a little in love with David Dawson.

I can't finish my novel because I get in a doom loop of blaming myself for being a terrible writer after I constantly feel the need to revise and then just chuck everything.

I'd say that if there is near universal agreement on anything, it's that Tarwin's Gap was the worst part of season 1.