23 minutes ago, Hudson said:

Rafe does not understand the source material.

Rafe does not appreciate the source material.

Rafe is not skilled enough to do the source material justice.

#ReplaceRafe

All very true.

I thought LTT is the Tamyrlin Seat when he is alive? And how does LPD ever know the Dark One may taint the source? She thought it's a risky plan, which is true, but that's all they know. I hope a AoL flash back could clear all the "arrogance of men" nonsense, but it only makes it worse. With the peaceful and sci-fi view outside the window and LTT's poor arguments, who would suspect the Light is already badly losing. The actor also does not give me the correct vibe. LTT is wise, kind, has published tons of books, well respected all over the world, keeps all sorts of authority and fame under his belt, self-assured to the extend of arrogance, and has also lived for 400 years. The acting is more like a young man at Rand's age.

These are only the complaint I have for the first 5 minutes. I have a long list to go on. For example, what's the point of burning Nyn out just to let Egy heal her? Is Nyn dead, or stilled, or simply hurt? If it's the last case, then we should see the other 3 women also being alive for S2, because if Egy can heal such a wound, than surely Nyn can heal the others as well. And if Egy is healing death or stilling...... well, I'm put nothing past the show now.

Lan surely has done a great job after Ep1.

- Loss E4 in SL,

- tracked by Nyn,

- killed by Logain,

- failed to watch Stepin from suicide,

- let Moraine step into the way first,

- his parents were "slaughtered" and he was "smuggled out",

- bedded Nyn and next day imply he'll not wed her,

- tricked by Moiraine,

- couldn't track Rand and Moirain by himself, and literally did nothing through the entire Ep8.

I admit most of these things are somewhat reasonable in their own sense. But by putting all of them together and taking away all his OP moments in the book (such as riding alone into a bunch of monsters and coming back alive), the most badass non-channeller man in the book does seem pretty incapable in the show.

If Moiraine originally thought Egy is the DR, then does she intend that sa'angreal for her and now sa'angreals can be used by both males and females? I also notice that the show itself never explained saidin and saidar, and their are two different sources of the One Power. It is explained in short animes but that's far from enough. The magic system is something that needs to be explicitly explained in the show, and this is the world building you need for S1, not some random bloody Aes Sedai and Warder bond which is only a side system and doesn't come into significance much later. Moreover even for the bond, they never explain outright it's actually a magical thing, and I see some of the non-book readers are quite confused by it.

Back to saidin/saidar, in this episode Ishy actually told Rand to surrender to the power, which is exactly the opposite to the way men channels. And Rand IS channeling Saidin,  because we can see the taint. However the animated shorts actually put it in the right way, so I don't understand what the show is doing here. Here are some guesses:

1. Ishy is misleading Rand. Not likely in my opinion. Unless he trusts Rand, as a first time learner, can break the seals for him while "being rushed away by the raging torrent of Saidin".
2. Rand is not only channeling Saidin. Which means he may be using Saidar or the True Power along with it. Though I also couldn't remember any "surrender" involved in using the True Power. 
3. Show male channelers simply also surrender to the OP when they channel. Nobody ever promised the show and the animated shorts follow the same rules.
4. The first three guesses are all based on the assumption that Rafe and the writers have a clear magic system in their head, no matter how it differs from the book. It also may be the case that they simply do not know what they are writing, even though "every change is well thought through".

I can keep on with Aglemar's poor defence strategies and Seanchen throwing waves at an empty shore with mountains at it's back. But it'll go on for ever.

According to the Rand in this episode, I'm wondering if they'll keep book Rand's confusion about really being the DR or not in book 2 and 3? It seems his alright with it right now.

I really want to hear some prophecies directly quoted in the show. They are really well written, but all we get right now is some indirect reference, and a lot of Moiraine's doubt over it. Having in world people trust it less could work, but I'd say at least give the full material to the viewers for some entertainment and interpretation.

Dislike every change they've done with Perrin in the show. I can endure killing a wife, even though I'd agree with Brandon's killing or hurting Muster Luhan by accident. But now what's all about this love triangle? PHEW! It's pointless even in the show in the sense that it got dismissed 5 minutes away, but it does do my boy Perrin dirty.

Another thing to add, Lan's background story is not as impressive as it is in the book. I'm ok with show's version. "Last king and queen made a valiant last stand against the shadow" vs "on the night my family got slaughtered" aren't really different, both are true. But they certainly give different vibes, and I prefer the first over the second. And "13 best swordsmen cut a path out" vs "they smuggled me out". The second statement isn't wrong, but it takes away so much from what really happened. Simply saying something like "my parents ordered a group of armsmen to bring me to safety while they tried to make last defence, and that old man is the last surviver of those armsmen why made it out" can give much a similar vibe to the book's and doesn't take up any more time. I'm nitpicking here, but this is something I don't really understand about the show. Sometime they can directly pull the stuff from the book and have no time issue with it, but they just want to add some small twists here and there.

4 hours ago, Jaysen Gore said:

Hollywood reality strikes; the actor they had originally hired for Agelmar got a much better gig, so they had to recast. But instead of causing confusion with an actor switch, they're causing it with a character switch, as Lord Yakota is in season 1, and Agelmar in season 2

That's Ingtar

41 minutes ago, Mailman said:

And the worst moment of the series by far instead of telling Siuan that she had found the Dragon Reborn the thing the 2 of them had worked towards for 20 years the thing that means the salvation or ruination of the world they have sex first.

Exactly. I'd imagine the first thing Siuan and Moiraine talk about when they meet in private is the DR. They literally searched for the Dragon for 20 years, and man-kind rids on their shoulder. But the show depicted it as something to be casually dropped after sex.

2 minutes ago, phoenixtrinity said:

 

I can respect that, and I didn't intend to be unfair. I can't speak for LotR, as I haven't read it (I know, I just couldn't get into it ? ), but to me GOT feels almost more different between its book and show adaption than the WoT so far. I'm not saying the WoT show is the best thing since sliced bread, since it does certainly have differences from the books, but I guess all of the comments about things like Loial's height or the color of the weaves makes me wonder what people really need out of the show to make it positive in their eyes.

From what I can remember, GOT Season 1 is much closer to to the book than WoT show does. 

36 minutes ago, JaimAybara said:

a little disappointed Mat didn’t wander down to the training yard. I thought this episode was going to introduce Galad and Gawyn for Mat and my biggest qualm at the moment is Rand is falling way behind compared to the rest of the cast in character development. Even Mat and Perrin. Collectively the boys are the weakest narratively. Perrin should have wiped the floor with some of the Whitecloaks, Mat’s out of the woods now but still hasn’t developed a ton of his skills, and Rand is still kind of bland. Egwene and Nynaeve have had so much beneficial screentime in comparison. All three of lads feel quite useless and it’s really starting to bother me. 

 

True. In the book Perrin killed a whitecloak, Mat shot at a few Trollacs, and Rand frighten tons of people by wearing a heron marked blade. Their edges are all down played in the show for some mysterious reason. Hope we get some fun quarterstuff soon.

Overall is fine. I guess Mat got left behind because of the recast, but I hope there is a better way to do it in the show. The entire world is going to overrun by Trollacs and Mat saying "nah" feels out of character for me. Don't like what they have done with Loial. The actor is great, but he barely has any character building at all. I mean, the show doesn't even explain what an Ogier is. We may get to know more about Loial and Rand and their friendship when they travel along the ways. But I have hoped the same thing last week.

I guess DO being sealed at the Eye is a misdirection, Shayol Ghul surely cannot be cut.

No direct quote of the Prophecy yet, no talking Ishy, no mention of the heron on the blade (Lan doesn't even comment on it when Rand points it at him), no mention of the danger of learning the Open Power without guidance. Sure, book to show adaption cannot be 1-to-1 and blah blah. Yet it still makes me sad.

I like Logain in Ep4 and Siuan in Ep6, and think Steppin in Ep5 is unnecessary, but I really miss Rand's adventure. Since the DR will be revealed next episode, I'd say Rand's simple shephard stage wasn't really flashed out in the show, we get some moments here and there, but most time Rand is only a side character. And people needs to feel attached to him before he begin to grow too hard.

Find Moiraine's line about "daughter of the river" when she swear on the oath rod is a bit weird. That's certainly not something to be said between "enemies". Did Moiraine make a ward around her and Siuan or was she whispering? The reds were literally just to the left of Siuan. Either way, other people can see her mouth moving without noise or at least notice a period of silence. Don't know how to make it unsuspicious to other sisters.

Another random thing I'm thinking is Rafe's comment that people don't really trust the prophecies since they are so old. But then would anyone believe Rand is the true DR even after he pulled out callandor or start fulfilling other prophecies?

4 minutes ago, Jaysen Gore said:

if the rumors that the DR is revealed in Ep7 are true, this is the cold open in 8. 

I thought Ep8 will open with LTT, since his cast and the cast of another AoL Aes Sedai is listed under 8.

7 hours ago, Gothic Flame said:

"Incompetent" is a strong word. In the book Nynaeve and Elayne get shielded...and the instant Elayne cries out "They have me shielded!" He jumps atop the enemy hitting an air wall...which broke the concentration needed for a shield. (And acting very much as a warder in this regard)

 

I'd say Lan is aware of his own strengths and his own weaknesses. 

You're right. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm not a native english user so please forgive my misuse of the word.

10 minutes ago, Harad the White said:

Book Lan is different than Amazon Lan. Proven. Book Matt is different. Book Moiraine is different. Maybe you think Lan is more different. In any case, for the purposes of Amazon, is Lan a good character, and a consistent character?

Show Lan can still be a good and consistent character even if they make him a Dark friend. The point is, I perfectly accept book to show adaption cannot be one-to-one, but I don't see how it their change with Lan can "help the WOT universe". Book Lan is one of the fan favourite characters, which says his arc and characterization in the book is a great success. Stoic characters has also been successful on screen before, and breaking the "stoic male trope" just for the sake of breaking a trope, even if it is a good one does not make sense to me.

9 hours ago, RextheDog said:

ask yourself do you really want the guy to be robotically undefeatable? is that the character you want to see?

Well, yes. But note the book Lan is never "undefeatable", I can remember several cases where he is incompetent facing a channeller, and that's absolutely alright. And there is a long way from being "undefeatable" to "failing at every task". The show Lan gives no vibe of an uncrowned king with the weight of Melkior on his shoulder, and I don't see how him saying "death lighter than a feather" can be as impressive as the book Lan.

This is the first episode that does not give me the vibe of the book. I understand plots must be cut for the sake of time, but then they decided to film a bunch of Steppin grief moments instead. The funeral at the end is also very awkward for me.

Since meeting the loyal family of Andor is dropped, the only thing left for Rand and Mat on their separate journey would be meeting Loial and seeing Logain, which I believe will both happen in Tar Valon. So I guess they'll arrive there in Episode 5, and probably meet Loial, maybe some more moments for Mat's sickness. Not sure if they'll see Logain in Episode 5 or 6.

Perrin and Egwene will be captured by WC in episode 5. From a previous teaser/trailer showing the reunion of Egwene and Nynaeve in where I believe is the White Tower, I don't think Nynaeve will be there to save them. Moiraine and Lan may decide to leave the AS party to search for the four, but I don't think that's going to happen. So Perrin and Egwene will have to escape on their own, with some channelling, wolves, and the help of Tinkers. I also think we are going to get our first Perrin Goldeneye moment in Episode 5.

I hope the show give some time for Nynaeve to be sick due to her first outburst channelling in Episode 5, and explain about blocks and stuff. The showoff at the end of Episode 4 looks great, but it may give show viewers a biased impression that Nynaeve can "rage" over anything.

Generally agree with your prediction on episode 6 and on. I heard that the DR will be revealed at the end of Episode 7, so that's probably when Rand obviously channels  for the first time. I'm still wondering how does that rule out the other candidates. Maybe we'll see the confrontation between Siuan, Moiraine, Verrin and Rand in book 2 be adapted at the end of Episode 7. And we'll probably see the flashback of Tam's fever dream.

6 hours ago, WhiteVeils said:

She definitely is stronger, and that's just fine. Why shouldn't she be?

Anyway....did anyone else notice the beginning credits had changed?

She shouldn't be stronger than Logain to the extend that stunned him. Lanfear certainly tops Nyn, that makes Nyn at most in the second strongest female rank. Taim is rightfully a forsaken in both power and impacts, and Logain is his rival (I think they will keep Taim). So that makes Taim and Logain at least around the second strongest male rank. Even if they are aligning the strongest men and women channellers in the show, Logain and Nyn should still come close in strength. I'm not even referring explicitly to the rankings in the book, but making sense out of story structure.

A little concerned why Logain was so amazed by Nyn channeling.

Nyn unconsciously channelled light or being a Tar'veren could explain him shading his eyes, though I dislike the later idea.

The books Logain is supposed to be stronger than Nyn, only below Rand, Ishy, and Raven. Even if the show runners decide to wipe the male/female difference in the One Power, Logain, in the 2nd strongest rank of male channellers, should still be about the same strength or stronger compared to Nyn, who is at best in the 2nd strongest rank of female channellers. Of course, there are possible explanations such as Logain is stunned by Nyn's healing ability, which surely tops anybody in the series, or that he hasn't come into his full potential yet, etc.

Considering Rafe said he is going to expand Logain's role, I'm not too worried that he is being nerfed in the show just to demonstrate Nyn is a potential dragon candidate. A reasonable explanation of the scene by the show runners will make me satisfied.

All being said, this is the only concern I have with this episode, I'd say it's a solid 8.5~9/10 and is by far my favourite episode till now.

Making first time viewers think the Dragon may be female. Fine.

Making Aes Sedai think the Dragon may be female. Also fine.

Making the Dragon actually can be female? Absolutely NOT fine with me. I hope for the first two, but we probably cannot tell which is the case until near the end of season 1.

I really do not understand why they should change this lore. If they are going for "the chosen one can be a female" thing, it still makes no sense. Rand will be the Dragon Reborn by the end of the day, then why the effort? They can very well just mention the female counterpart of the Dragon for the sake of woke and feminism, instead of making the Dragon possibly a female. Which leads to all sorts of inconsistency in world building they'll have to fix, and irritating book nerds like me.