Brando talks more about Wheel of Time S2 and his finale reaction on his podcast here (21:39 onwards):

It's totally reasonable to dislike his novels for whatever reasons, but the rest of your comment was completely unhinged IMO. I don't think Brandon Sanderson is hurting for book sales or money or relevance. Don't be so quick to presume that anyone who doesn't like the show has some kind of insidious malicious agenda without any evidence whatsoever, lol.

I used OpenAI Whisper to get a text transcript of the audio, did some Find and Replace for names, and had GPT-4 summarise part by part. Totally no guarantees that it's a good summary. 1. Adaptation Choices: They discuss the difficulty of adapting Min's visions and Perrin's ability to smell emotions from the books to the TV format, generally approving of the changes. 2. Character Depth: The commentators are impressed by the villains in the TV adaptation, especially the Forsaken, saying that the actors bring a depth to the characters that even exceeds that in the books. 3. Narrative Choices: They discuss changes such as Moiraine losing her powers and Rand leaving his friends, considering whether these adaptational choices served the story well or not. The opinions are divided. They also talk about how the series fast-forwards certain events or brings forward developments from the books to fit the pacing of a TV show. 4. Visual Effects and Set Design: Generally, they praise the set design and visual effects but note some areas where they could be improved. They particularly liked the set design of Falme. 5. Character Arcs: They feel that some characters like Lan and Moiraine had less compelling storylines this season, especially when compared to the books. 6. Egwene and Nynaeve: Both commentators seem to agree that the Egwene-Nynaeve storyline is the strongest of the season and closest to the books. 7. Story Pacing: The episode appears to start strongly, especially after what they feel was a more setup-heavy prior episode. They discuss the pacing in the context of various character arcs and how the changes affect the show's momentum. 8. Late-Series Inclusions: They notice that some elements from later in the book series have been brought forward to appear earlier in the TV series, which they generally appreciate. 9. Comparison to Books: They engage in a lot of comparison between the books and the TV series, discussing the strength and weaknesses of both mediums. For instance, they feel Fain is a weaker character in the books but has more potential in the series. 10. Personal Bias: One of the commentators mentions that they have read all the scripts but have not watched the entire season, indicating that their reactions are influenced by their knowledge of the original story. 11. Expectations and Predictions: Throughout the discussion, there are moments where the commentators predict what might happen next or how certain decisions might affect future episodes. 12. Nuanced Opinions: The commentators don't unanimously agree or disagree on many points, demonstrating the complex feelings fans can have towards adaptations of beloved series. ### Disagreements about Rand's Skills - The commentators are split on Rand’s skills as a swordsman. Some think it’s unbelievable for him to beat a blademaster given his limited training. Others counter that he is taught by the world’s best swordsman, and being ta’veren also contributes to his extraordinary abilities. ### Questions about Character Arcs - A major concern is the unclear character arcs for the season, particularly for Rand and Moraine. The commentators feel that the TV adaptation hasn’t given Rand's character the kind of narrative arc seen in the books, where his journey is intricately tied to learning from others and realizing his limitations. ### Comparison to Book Plot Points - One commentator believes the TV show departs significantly from the book, notably in how Egwene frees herself, undermining the recurring theme of interdependence among the main characters. ### Issues with Adaptation Choices - There are complaints about Matt using the dagger from Shadar Logoth. In the book series, the dagger has malevolent influences, and using it as a weapon contradicts the theme of Matt's character arc, according to the commentators. ### Pacing and Themes - The commentators feel that the TV show often prioritizes cool scenes over thematic integrity and consistent character arcs. This is especially a concern going into adaptations of future books, where themes like self-sacrifice are pivotal. ### Technical Points - Questions arise about the mechanics of channeling over distances and line-of-sight, as well as the realism of battlefield tactics. ### General Observations - There are commendations for certain elements, like the portrayal of the Aiel, the use of crossbows, and the casting in general. ### Concerns for Future Seasons - The commentators hope that future seasons will focus more on cohesive story arcs and maintaining the core themes of the series. ### Meta-Comments - There's also some discussion about whether the show's choices align with themes and metaphysics set by the original books and whether Brandon Sanderson's own interpretation carries weight. Overall, the commentators have a mixed reaction to the finale. They appreciate some of the adaptation choices but have significant reservations about the clarity of character arcs and thematic fidelity. ### Pacing and Episode Count - The commentators believe the season needed more episodes to cover all the essential elements and arcs. ### Character Arcs and Development - The commentators appreciate the addition of Moiraine's family drama but feel it comes at the cost of time that could have been better spent on other central characters. - They question the decisions for some characters, such as why Elayne heals Rand when Nynaeve, a known healer, is there. - They criticize the treatment of Uno's character, as he appears to have been given a special role but not enough context. - They argue that characters like Perrin and Egwene have arcs that feel underdeveloped or not well justified. ### Story and Adaptation - They bring up the issue that viewers unfamiliar with the books might be confused by the storytelling. - There is dissatisfaction that certain events from the books were not adapted in a way that pays off in the TV series, like some specific scenes involving Rand and Ishamael. ### Philosophical Depth - The commentators wish the show had presented a more defined philosophical conflict, particularly between Rand and Ishamael. ### Special Effects and Mechanics - There are mixed feelings about the special effects, specifically around channeling. - The commentators point out inconsistencies with the "rules" of the world, like how the characters' abilities seem to change without explanation. ### Overall - While the commentators feel that Season 2 is a step up from Season 1, they still think the finale falls short in several areas, mainly due to pacing and underdeveloped character arcs. Throughout the discussion, the commentators struggle with separating their book knowledge from their viewing experience, acknowledging that this might influence their opinions on the show's execution. ### Characters and Plot: 1. The reviewers criticize the lack of importance and agency given to several characters like Matt, Elayne, and Nynaeve, suggesting that their roles could have been eliminated without affecting the storyline. 2. They argue that Rand didn't need to be there for the story to proceed, emphasizing that Egwene seemed to be doing all the hard work. 3. They question the logic and emotional payoff of some scenes, like how Elayne climbs the tower with an arrow in her knee and how Perrin's shield and actions seemed inconsequential. ### Setup and Payoff: 1. They discuss the lack of build-up and payoff, especially around the horn. They argue that if the horn is so crucial, then its actual use and the events surrounding it needed more weight in the narrative. 2. While they praise the casting and performances, they feel that many of the character arcs did not come full circle or had weak endings, thereby affecting their overall enjoyment of the series. ### Directing and Cinematography: 1. They praise the direction in terms of extracting good performances from the actors but criticize the cinematography for lacking engaging shots. ### Thematic Concerns: 1. They discuss how the show differs from the books and how it can affect enjoyment based on whether one has read the books or not. 2. They mention that season two was much better than season one but still felt the finale was weaker than they had hoped. ### Metaphysical Aspects: 1. They debate the dagger's treatment, saying that it was inconsistent with the show's internal logic and metaphysics. They discuss how Matt’s temptation to touch the dagger didn't make sense in the show's context, especially compared to the books. 2. Questions are raised about the horn of Valere and how it's opened, leading to further questions about the show's internal logic. ### General Verdict: 1. Overall, they agree that the season was good and would recommend it to others, particularly those who haven't read the books. However, they feel the finale failed to tie together important narrative and thematic elements effectively, leading to a "shaky land." In summary, the reviewers feel that while the season had high points, particularly in terms of performances and character development, it lacked in terms of narrative coherency, payoff, and thematic resonance, especially in the finale. ### Story Elements and Adaptation - The reviewers discuss the efficacy of introducing elements like the heroes and the Ashanderei, noting that while these things may make book readers happy, they don't always serve the show's narrative. - There's a consensus that the show might not be setting up key elements well. For example, the horn's significance didn't come across as essential in the show as it is in the books. ### Characters and Themes - The characters and their thematic arcs are discussed. They mention that Rand, in book three, learns he needs his friends and wish the show had built to that realization more effectively. - Elan is discussed in relation to Lanfear's betrayal, highlighting that the show didn't build enough around these relationships, leading to a somewhat hollow emotional impact. ### Ta'veren and Show Mechanics - There is an extended conversation about the concept of "Ta'veren" — how much of the events are driven by fate versus the characters' own choices. Some believe Ta'veren is like plot armor that helps characters survive, while others argue it only manipulates chance but doesn't negate agency. - The reviewers note that the show has not made the concept of Ta'veren clear, which makes it difficult to rely on as an explanation for characters surviving against the odds. ### Power Levels - The reviewers discuss the inconsistent portrayal of the power levels of characters, especially when it comes to facing the Forsaken. They argue that it’s shaky how characters like Egwene stand up against the Forsaken without a clear thematic or logical basis. ### Scene Execution - The blocking and visual storytelling are criticized for not effectively conveying what's happening or the significance of what's happening. - The reviewers mention that the show needs to better integrate how the mechanics of the Wheel of Time universe impact the story, citing things like Nynaeve's power block and the concept of shared power. ### Show Quality and Production - While they critique the show, they acknowledge that adapting The Wheel of Time is an enormous challenge given the depth and complexity of the source material. - They all express a desire for more episodes per season to allow for more thorough storytelling. ### Meta Criticism - The discussion is also reflective of their differing philosophies on storytelling, especially on how adaptive works should function. - They conclude by acknowledging the hard work put into the show and express their hopes for improvements in future seasons.

There's a timer and you're supposed to play the episode in sync with that timer, I think. Agree that it's not a good format at all though.

This was a very interesting watch, I'm surprised Sanderson was as overtly negative as he was with the writing and the themes.

Bookborn dropped her overall season review here:

Yep, and someone like Elayne or any random Aes Sedai could have easily done the same (assuming the Oaths are not hindering them). Rand's only unique feat in the season that demonstrated a scary amount of raw power was channeling an abnormal amount when learning from Logain. That's neat, I have not heard about Rand learning swordfighting in S3. Do you have a source?

It's not so much that he's become weaker, but rather he hasn't done anything with the Power that a bottom-tier Aes Sedai couldn't have. We know his potential is still there with that scene he seized the Source at Logain's, but in the context of the universe and the entertainment value of the shows they've absolutely taken away all the moments from Rand where he learned or demonstrated either his sai'din and swordfighting skills. He's literally got less swordfighting time than Nynaeve(??) and Perrin(???) at this point.

I would much rather Rand have much more participation in the events thus far, but that's reasonable enough, cheers. I'm just quite bummed out that "yeah he was sidelined, but watch him kick ass in Season 2!" was a very commonly seen response after Season 1, and then we got another 8 episodes (some of which were otherwise excellent) that treated Rand the same way.

Focused on the characters minus Rand. Which is the problem most people have. You don't have to agree, but it's a huge strawman to pretend that people want the show to be all about Rand. Rand should not be one of the most minor characters in this ensemble. If you agree that "it's not about Rand" is what the books were already going for, why is there a need to take away all the big Dragon Reborn moments that these same books had away from him. Would having Rand fight Ishy instead of Egwene be problematic for you somehow?

Strange. Here's the content of that page: It's a little strange to me. It really is not all about Rand. He very much needed help from others and his character arc concludes with that realization. That does not mean he suddenly isn't the Dragon Reborn, the most powerful channeler of all time, the prophesized saviour and destroyer of the world, in both the show and the books. The first book literally starts with this depiction before the first chapter even starts: And the Shadow fell upon the Land, and the World was riven stone from stone. The oceans fled, and the mountains were swallowed up, and the nations were scattered to the eight corners of the World. The moon was as blood, and the sun was as ashes. The seas boiled, and the living envied the dead. All was shattered, and all but memory lost, and one memory above all others, of him who brought the Shadow and the Breaking of the World. And him they named Dragon. I am totally cool with a more ensemble focused storytelling, but Rand still has to be the most powerful and impactful figure within the context of that ensemble. His character development depends on that on top of his his unwillingness and fear with regards to dealing with that power while needing to use it in order to do the right thing. In the books Elayne and post-damane Egwene tries to "teach" Rand how to use the Power, only to realise that they're completely bodied by Rand randomly channeling by feel. In the show thus far, none of his "feats" could not have been recreated by a novice like Elayne or a rando Aes Sedai like Liandrin. We are two seasons in and he knows neither how to use the sword nor channel, and it's a weird writing choice to say the least.

I mean he... answered "Yeah" to the question "Doesn't it feel like "The Dragon," this world-saving force for good we've heard so much about, is really all of them?" Where "this world-saving force for good we've heard so much about" is the appositive beside the noun "The Dragon".

Not sure if this is been posted around here yet, but Rafe seems to have semi-confirmed the Power Rangers theory in this new interview here with the last question, that the Dragon was "all of them". This also explains how ineffectual Rand has been across both seasons. https://ew.com/tv/the-wheel-of-time-season-2-finale-showrunner-interview/

That seems plausible on a technicality, but by that logic Aes Sedai could probably just "set my enemy's clothes on fire" or "tighten that dude's belt with great force" or "telekinetically throw a cleaver at this guy" or "summon a meteor in the sky that's only targeted in the general direction of this fortress" and call it a day, I'm not sure the third Oath would have had any meaning in-universe at all whatsoever, and the Ashaman scenes would greatly lose their impact. There's definitely no precedence in the books in this regard, too.

The Aes Sedai are really weird about using the Power to "educate" with corporal punishment, and apparently that's a-okay according to RJ. But I guess plausible deniability can only stretch so far, if Moiraine sinks a ferry with its captain on it that's pretty much a level of oath "violation" that we've not seen in the books, which is what Sando ultimately objected to, and Rafe hashed it out with Team Jordan. In the end the scene featured the boat being sucked down into a whirlpool, Moiraine stops channeling, and the silly captain goes to die with it. I'm pretty sure there's a branch of ethics that goes into this. If I fire a gun with it pointed at someone's head after robbing him, but I claim that "I did not intend to kill him, I just wanted to escape - I would have been even happier if I managed to escape while he stayed alive!", is that a plausible defense? A common answer to that question is that we cannot reasonably expect to not have caused harm in so doing, and therefore my initial claim is a huge load of copium that would have been too convenient if allowed.