Honestly aside from the pacing, which all fight scenes have as you want the audience to follow the action and allow for different camera angles etc... But I actually appreciate how Alanna, as a Green, tactically decided how to control a fight against a superior force. First she does an attack and disorients her opposition, knocking some down and throwing up dust as cover. Then she and her 2 warders close the distance while dodging the single retaliation sent their way. By getting in close they surprise the Black Ajah as I suspect they don't train for CQC. While "cheezy" in execution I think tactically it worked really well and showed by the Green Ajah is the battle Ajah. The coordination between Alanna and her Warders was impressive.

It was very Bollywood and I think it was intentional for her international audience.

OMG Who thought that "The Shredding" cold open would be the worse part of episode 1. I should say my least favourite part of episode 1. Like hook up that entire episode to my veins and let me live in peace. I just want more of everyone just hanging out and talking. So Many thoughts, it might take awhile to organize them all. Wish everyone the best. The wait for the next episodes is going to be very difficult.

Blunted steel swords have been used in training throughout history. While the books described most of the practice swords as bambo poles lashed together if I remember correctly. I imagine they are not using those on screen simply because Western audiences wouldn't gel with them. So much things put on film is changed simply because audience's expect certain things even if those things are terribly wrong.

I just stumbled upon this clip myself, it was fun to watch. I enjoyed the energy of it. I can certainly see people being unhappy with the choreography though. I took it as 2 young boys purposefully trying to show off for the audience though. I am very curious what they are going to do for the characters of Gawyn and Galad. They certainly have evened out their sword skills in this particular bout. I wonder if they will keep Galad with his extremely Binary world view. He certainly seemed to be enjoying the audience in this clip.

If the conversation takes place after the BA escape that could be the reason that their plans change.

I really like both of these scenes but the one with Rand in Moiraine in particular. Just a solid tension underlying the whole thing. Rands growing frustration and Moiraines continued exasperation. Just makes me more hype for the season.

Could be a flash back, either a cold open in episode 8. Or possibly part of Rands trip through the columns. Either way is a plausible way to have Ishy this season without "bringing him back".

Agreed, it was a lovely twist and the showrunners certainly made sure it was a play on bookreaders. I know my partner loved the moment. I must admit the fight in the books never sat well with me. Rand with a couple months sword training, admittedly with the best swordsman in the world, was able to beat a Swordmaster. Even with the Flame and void and Lews Therim's memories/skills bleeding over it just seems like quite a leap to beat a Heron-marked blade in 1v1. The description of the fight though.... whoa, that is on another level. Absolutely loved the imagery RJ was able to invoke with his choice of words during sword battles.

I don't believe it was an access key in the 13th depository. I do believe that in the list of stolen ter'angreal that was given to The Towerpuff girls there was a Lady in the nude statue among the list. So possible just another of the sleepweavers. I could be wrong and they might change it to something else I still don't think it would be an access key. I believe this mostly due to what they have shown us of Moiraine and the Chodan'ball. If this is the route they have gone with I think it is a downgrade compared to the book but I'll just have to wait and watch.

Or a hidden weave known only by the Aes Sedai who knew of the 13th Depository existence.

As someone mentioned earlier this fight was incredibly quick. Probably less than a minute in length, two tops. Between the slow motion, the cuts to other scenes and multiple camera angles for the "cool factor" it is easy to see why so many of the sitters were caught off guard. Barely able to protect themselves let alone process the fact that this is actually happening, that their sisters of decades(potentially centuries) are devil worshipers. 2-3 sitters are killed almost instantly. I imagine the Whites and greys would be worried about taking cover and avoid the falling debris. Both Yellow Ajah members (black and light) immediately start healing when the opportunity comes. Alanna and Leane both stop fighting when Suian is knocked down. That number advantage drops quite quickly I think.

The way Verin led Yassica into figuring out the Black Ajah was responsible for compulsion being using on Sheriam was masterful. Walked right around that Oath.

Either Verin has amazing reflexes or she knew the attack was coming. It looked like she was able to blunt most of the attack(compulsion?) and then looked to her sister on how to react. It is so fun to theorize again!

I really enjoy it as well. The action looked quite good. Some solid show don't tell moments. There was some dialogue that felt very stilted and I wonder if it was just a poor edit or cut down scene. But otherwise I was quite happy with it. Also did you guys catch the Twisted Redstone door frame at 8:38. Decorated with what appears to be snakes and foxes.

Why does a potential time jump make you cringe? The early books had several lengthy time jumps between them. 1-2 months between tEotW and tGH. Something like the entirety of Winter between tGH and tDR. Certainly as the books progress the time jumps become less of a thing but they are present early.

I would also suggest pausing at 8:38 timestamp.

I can see why........ on the other hand Jeanine......

Rand did admit he loved Selene in like episode 3. While the shock of learning her true identity could change it I doubt all his feelings are gonna. Especially if Lanfear is going to appear more sympathetic this season as she tries to manipulate him more to her side. Actually it will be interesting to see how they play with that as Lanfear attempts to avoid the notice of the other Forsaken. Moghedien's threat seemed quite real.

Agreed, I think Egwene will spot Rand with Lanfear in Tel'aran'rhiod. Maybe that is who Lanfear appears to be looking at while kissing Rand in that one shot.

There is just so much in this trailer it is difficult to organize my thoughts. The Exciting! Perrin is my favourite character in the series and his story in tSR is amazing. The trailer is giving me massive hype for the Two Rivers plot this season. I love the look of Perrins armour and axe. Lolial's makeup seems to be..... better this season. The two shots of him in the trailer just looked better than previous seasons. Everything we have seen of Rhuidhean is fantastic. The shots of the columns and the rings are gorgeous. Certainly they surpass my imagination of what they looked like. I think it was a really good decision to have Josha play his past lives when Rand takes his trip through the Columns. In the couple of shots we have the crew have done a solid job of making him look different enough that it shouldn't be to confusing for non-readers. Although I am sure some people are going to be extremely confused when we have Da'shain Rand meet Mierin and think, huh I thought he was Lews Therin in the AoL. It sounds like going to the Waste is going to be Rand's idea. I am glad they kept it this way. Laia Costca is frigging creepy as Moghedien. enough said. The Black Ajah battle at the tower is looking promising. I was a little worried when we initially heard about it but the couple of shots we have look solid. Looks like we are getting more Tel'aran'rhiod and the beginning of Egwene's dreamwalking abilities. The Disappointing =( Seems my prediction was wrong and we will not be getting Gaul in Perrin's story this season, if ever. But at least we have Bain and Chiad going to the Two Rivers, I do appreciate their dynamic in the books. Not enough Mat in the trailer but I suppose that is why we got the feature last week starring him. But at least we know he is getting the Foxhead Medallion this season! I am concerned about the pacing for this season. The trailer showcases so many things and I just don't know how they are going to fit it into the 8 50 minute episodes and not feel rushed. And this is coming from someone who doesn't mind a brisk pace(Arcane season 2). A minor thing but I am disappointed that Bair will be taking over Amys role in the book. Ultimately a minor character and a minor change but I just liked Amys in the books. Sarah Nakamura explained why this happened. That it was a late dollars & cents thing versus a creative thing and had they had circumstances been different they would have likely swapped the other way. But oh wells I am sure I have more thoughts but this is all I could get out this morning.

Kinda how I view the episode. I really love everything the Rand, Moiraine and "The Dark One", I think that was really well executed. But the rest of the episode is so messed up due to other factors we really do not know what it should have looked like. Losing Barney Harris alone forced big changes to his and Perrins(I think) finale arcs. Losing the Trolloc stunt actors, the location for the blight, needing to suddenly budget for a CGI Battle that wasn't planned for at all. It is honestly wild that it turned out as functional as it did.

I think the memories from Falme could fade, leaving holes in his memory. Might be wishful thinking but I can be hopeful. I also don't think they will leave Mat with the Shadar Logoth dagger as his ashendarei. I am not sure if Moiraine will get the doorway answers along with her Rhuidean visions. But there has to be some event that provokes? forces? incites Rand's trip to the waste. Could move that scene from Tear to Tar Valon without to much effort.

Difficult to fully say. In the books Rand breaks the first seal when using the Eye of the world. After it is broken it is just as hard as regular cuendillar as Lan breaks his best knife by trying to scratch it. It isn't until much later that the seals become brittle to the touch. Around the time that Nynaeve and Egwene reach Salidar. In the show Rand breaks the seal using an Angreal/Sa'angreal. Afterwards Moiraine identifies it as cuendillar. In season 2 we see Ishamael breaking Lanfears seal using a specific weave and then at the end of the season we see him dusting off his hands after breaking the remaining ones. Moiraine says at the end of season one that cuendillar is suppose to be indestructible. Bayle Domon attempts to sell Moiraine a piece of cuendillar from Lanfears seal and believes it to be worth a lot so we can assume that cuendillar is still a valuable substance. I am not sure if it is mentioned in the books but my head canon is that once Rand broke the first seal it allowed the dark one to start corrupting the remaining seals. I choose to believe this same thing is happening in the show. Rand needed an Angreal/Sa'angreal to break the first. Ishy needed to weave to break the 2nd and by the end of the season he was able to break the rest by hand.

Egwene's healing of Nynaeve has been talked about to death. The show made major mistakes visualizing that scene to the audience in part due to covid. As for Egwene's triumph she and Nynaeve were batteries for a poorly trained Accepted(Noivce?). Whether or not you liked it Rand turning down Ishamael's offer and his rescue of Moiraine was a triumph. While the victory did not end as expected it was a short term win. Egwene vs Ishy in Falme. She did not go toe to toe with him. She held a failing defensive posture for a surprising amount of time but that is training for you. She did not once find time to strike out and she was about to lose until Perrin joined her. Agreed on Rand stabbing Ishamael as anticlimatic. While it was satisfying to see Rand get branded on the palm the moment did not seem to have the impact I was expecting. I personally loved seeing Egwene handle Renna on her own as it was immensely satisfying. I wouldn't have minded seeing Nynaeve and Elayne saving her. But this is mitigated by having Nynaeve's arc being that she needs training, that she can't rely on her own ability or just ignore it. Also Rand broke a cuendillar seal on his own without training, you want to talk about power? He also got to merc Lord Turak and his retinue. I know book fans were hoping for the duel but all of my friends absolutely loved that moment.