It was really, really stupid, it ignored all of the Prophecies of the Dragon, ignored that only men can channel Saidin and therefore go mad, just contradicted so much lore in the opening gambit for no good reason...

Sorry - you're right, I just checked this.

I hope they renew for a 4th season - would love to see the show progress to its conclusion. Whilst I have my criticisms of the show and some of the direction it has taken I think S3 was the strongest season so far. They just need to pull things back on track a little more, respect the source material and nod to it where they can. I feel like they could do with a small committee of readers they bounce things off. So overall, I wish the show well, but I do wish they would focus more on Wheel of Time how it was meant to be, not how the showrunner intends it to be - but again, my opinion and ymmv.

Suian did know that the Oath Rod shortens lives - the Kin lived longer than Aes Sedai bacause of this - it was stated explicitly in The Gathering Storm. Although yes - tv version probably doesn't know. Very true - the continuities are becoming increasingly separated unfortunately.

I think the Oath Rod used by the Aes Sedai was used during the AoL as a Binding Rod to deal with criminals - remember the Oath Rod has very negative effects for Power Users. I think the Oath Rod is just a surviving ter'angreal relic from the AoL that during the AoL was much more common - I think they were part of a law keeping hardware stock, perhaps with each one being owned by a local governance.

I don't think this was MoM - I think this was the Creator acting through the Pattern. A Bubble of Good if you will.

If this was book Rand I would agree - but TV Rand has also been getting a little bit jiggy with Lanfear and at this point is not morally clear, considering his experiences in the Pillars and his understanding that he has to break the Aiel. Honestly I thought it was fitting and a good way to establish their bond, I remember at the point where Moiraine gets pushed through the frame she is one of few people Rand trusts and an even smaller circle of those he will willingly risk.

I actually liked that scene - and it did reflect a point in the books where Rand began to trust Moiraine, coming off the back of Rhuidean it was well placed considering their shared traumatic experiences in the pillars and the rings respectively. TBH I like most of the scenes with Rand - Josha does a great job with him and he is so close to my head canon Rand.

Regarding criticisms people have of the Healing in the show - what is annying me is they are completely ignoring the physical cost. Until late in the Third Age all Aes Sedai Healing took its power from the recipient (with the exception of the Healing weave used to refresh strength which took its strength from the caster). It wasn't until late in the Third Age when Nynaeve al Meara rediscovered an ancient Healing technique which draws its power from the Source - I *think* she was inspired with the Aligning the Matrix weave from Damer Flynn to then use all Five Elements in different way, as opposed to the usual Healing which focused on Air, Spirit and Water. The show has completely ignored this - not even an acknowledgment like with Matt just eating constantly in the Tower. Aes Sedai can be near death then healed and start throwing around weaves, this is not how Healing works. This isn't just "healing magic" - the Wheel of Time has specific sets of metaphysical laws, things work in a particular way and if you just start tweaking here and altering there you end up with something that isn't even logically consistent. The same can be said with Season 1 when the whole Dragon Reborn search also included the women - despite the Prophecies being very specific and clear the Dragon Reborn must be a man. It's these sort of inconsistencies that just don't make sense to anyone familiar with the books. Healing all ailments without any consequence is not true to the source material.

I have finished reading the Great Hunt a few days ago. Thoroughly enjoying my first re-read of the series. One thing I always loved about WoT were the Magic System and the metaphysics of the world. I loved the rules and the consistency of the One Power system, it always felt fully formed and fully fleshed out to me. On my re-read I am noticing some of the earlier differences before the One Power and metaphysical nature of WoT was more clearly defined. So far I have found the following, that while not necessarily inconsistent, stand slightly separate from the rigidity of the One Power and its internal mechanism and consistency: The Black Cords at the Eye of the World. Using Tar Valon coins as tracking devices. The connection between Healer and Healed. The time loop in the Great Hunt Which brings me to the prophesized Battle above Falme - Rand vs. Ba'alzamon - are there any in world explanations for this? Or anyone have any ideas? My initial thoughts were Mask of Mirrors but from the Rand PoV it seems he is actually in the Sky or in a weird sort of holding place for physical reality. Any thoughts?