2 minutes ago, Sir_Charrid said:

sex that starts to permeate from book 3/4 onwards

Now yer talkin'! Except for those below 18, ofc. (16 in the UK).

1 minute ago, JaimAybara said:

It is much easier to find a stand in at distance for Gimli, then finding someone that pushes 8 ft tall for Loial.

Not sure that's true. If I understand what you mean, in a long-shot a small person next to normal size people would suggest Gimli. Conversely in a long-shot on WoT, a tall person next to small people would suggest an 8' tall Loial. The problem is when Loial and normal-to-bigger sized people like Rand are in the same room.

5 minutes ago, Agitel said:

Now, I'm not saying the inquisitional system is a paragon of justice, or is as good as or better than today's systems and laws. But in context of what it was moving on from, it was really intended to raise the bar on how trials were conducted.

And the subject: heresy. Any "trial" on that subject is going to be an abuse, regardless of the niceties.

2 minutes ago, JaimAybara said:

Good 4) I liked Loial. I really did. When he was talking over them as if they were not having a side conversation had me chuckling. Also not mad about how tall he is. Filling pockets full of books. Nice touch. 

Agreed. Just wonder what it would take to do both: achieve what you said plus make him 50% bigger. How is he going to mow down bad-guys like in the book?  Did the venues in the book there have big doors and high ceilings? Was Loial always stooping to leave/enter rooms? I sorta remember that.

Someone above mentioned perspective tricks with cameras to make him look even larger. Not sure that is enough to sustain the illusion. In LoTR they solved the opposite problem with Gimli. Wonder why the Loial problem is inherently more difficult.

2 minutes ago, FanofKnotai said:

Pagan Fain can also be heard whistling in episode two right before Mat decides to explore Shadar Logoth. It’s the same song in this episode (5)

That's new. I thought he was religious! ? But good catch. A big complaint in episode 1 was that they downplayed PF. Just building him up in a subtle and satisfying way.

2 minutes ago, Wolfbrother31 said:

There you go - a complaint about gore ?

Sorry but I will never equate the two, irl or on the screen.

1 minute ago, Wolfbrother31 said:

makes WoT - in my opinion, even this WoT, better than GoT) is that they are NOT shoving gratuitous nudity and sex in our faces. 

In defense of gratuitous nudity...hey it happens irl. No one talks about gratuitous torture and violence.

2 minutes ago, Wolfbrother31 said:

 

I like Galad. I hope we get him in S2. 

And as you know the Questioners wrt to the WC, were the Inquisitors wrt to the otherwise tolerant Church.

22 minutes ago, FanofKnotai said:

Truly, Questioners are known for their balanced, measured, and fair judgment in the books

A historical example of this "fair and balanced" judgment is Tomas de Torquemada, the Spanish Dominican friar who headed the Spanish Inquisition. I completely forgot that the WCs were the hero's of WoT.

15 minutes ago, Badmaw said:

This is just cheaply done and a big disappointment.

Good rant! You got company here. Glad you liked GoT.

36 minutes ago, AdamA said:

2800+ named characters already in it, so as soon as Kerene and Steppin show up, I'm just waiting for them to die,

Yes. I'm starting to get overfilled with the homages to LoTR, but I thought this could be pointing to the other recent franchise GoT. People seemed to like that when apparently important characters died--it makes it "gritty." So maybe Stepin was the sacrificial lamb in the "we're sorta like GoT' attempt.

12 minutes ago, Reader said:

 

Thom "you can never have too many knives" Merrilin

Do you mean he has tips on all his knives?

Just now, Elder_Haman said:

Of course. I think I was meant to. It was an intentional tip of the hat.

That's okay, too. But the hat has been tipped a bit too often for my tastes. There's the Intro speech in which Moiraine tips her hat to Galadriel's intro, the Tam speech to Rand, that tips his hat to Gandalf's speech to Pippin, and a few other cinematographic choices. I can't recall as many "tips" in other franchises. 

1 minute ago, Elder_Haman said:

Meh. It was an homage. Bothered me not at all.

Honestly, didn't you think of LoTR viewing it? Granted it didn't bother you.

25 minutes ago, Meskell said:

They could’ve just any other Warder if they wanted a designated screamer.

Lan is the star.

8 minutes ago, Katherine said:

However, I also thought it was a lovely metaphor for the pattern and the re-birth of souls. When an AS dies, their ring (like their soul) disintegrates

Right. To get that across that metaphor, there were many choices to show on screen. But, the way the director and cinematographer chose to display it, was an overhead view of the ring floating on the "lava" only to see it dissolve moments later. An unnecessary copy of the PJs' One Ring in the Cracks of Doom. That image is unforgettable in cinema history, and now every time WoTs1e5 is re-watched...groans.

8 minutes ago, Windigo said:

Obviously he found her in the Library or Gardens, but this was poorly executed and a shortcut.

Things in the episode bothered, but not that. The melting ring scene did. That was like having Child Valda answer Eg after, "Truly religious people would let us go," with "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." It's not inconsistent with the situation, but it kinda takes you out of this story.

18 minutes ago, MasterAblar said:

I think if Lan was given a bit more chance to shine in his role as a warrior equaled by none, I wouldn't be bothered by him at all.

The battle at EF was the start. He held off a few squads of Trollocs while Mo handled the rest. There's something to grown on. Not so much to do in the Camp skirmish, tho he kept Nyn safe.

11 minutes ago, DojoToad said:

Fanatical works as well

Not quite. A group can be fanatical and not try to impose its will murderously on others. An example of this is Comic-Con attendees. ?

3 hours ago, DojoToad said:

Doesn't need to be facist

But it coitainly helps. How about the word "authoritarian." That takes in left and right, and should cover the WC and the Spanish Inquisition, Joseph Stalin, etc.

3 hours ago, DojoToad said:

me of being an N&N

I thought you self-identified? If you're not, great!

3 hours ago, AusLeviathan said:

Oh the scene is definitely set up in such a way that it looks to be the case, it's apparently completely unintentional though.

 

Based on what Rafe said it appears they were trying to be symbolic by having Perrin cut her with the axe whilst she held the hammer to set up for that character arc of axe vs. hammer. Unfortunately their attempt to put focus on the hammer created the impression that she was trying to kill him and was a Darkfriend.

What is the source of this material?

7 minutes ago, chri5 said:

Who besides a dark friend would kill her husband and blame it on Trollocs?

Yeah. That why I wasn't sure it was a serious theory. Wait, to be fair, it could have been an independent contractor evil dudette. Or, a murderer as I responded. But even then the distinction with a DF is subtle.

I wish I knew how to fit a new quote in the edit box above . @Caddysedai would be so proud.

2 minutes ago, chri5 said:

This is sidestepping like a bloody Aes Sedai. 

It doesn't matter what anyone sez. Just look at the screen and believe your lying eyes. 

Just now, chri5 said:

Lol, it was the same angle. On a rewatch of that original scene it amazes me how clear it actually was that she had the hammer up like that. 

Right! I thought axe so we need another vote.