Adam’s Review
This episode served to remind me of how different my taste is from the general public. The dumbing down of the show and removal of critical elements has been my biggest pet peeve for the series so far. It annoys me to hear people say they don’t mind as the show stumbles it’s way through what was compelling storyline on the page.
That said, If you’re a fan of clunky exposition, constant monologues, and action scenes that don’t serve to move the plot forward, this isn’t your episode.
This is, however, one of the best examples the series offers so far of characters speaking in dialogue and not emotionless exposition and monologues. Moiraine and Siuan speak TO EACH OTHER about important matters, not filler. You can hear them talk about their struggle with their task, not just in general terms to let the audience know what is happening.
The “controversial” love scene shows that these two people who simply long to be in each other’s presence have been far apart for so long. Their one night together has passion before they again face the grim reality of their duty. The only way they can continue in their mission to defeat the Dark One is for Siuan to exile Moiraine.
True to her mission and her CHARACTER, Siuan not only carries out the sentence but she calls upon Moiraine to swear on the oath rod in front of the Hall of Sitters so no one will question it. She rips out her own heart and condemns the person she loves most in the world to never again be at her side to make the cover seem believable.
It’s such a strong scene that it genuinely pisses me off to hear people upset that there wasn’t enough action. Go watch a Michael Bay movie. I hear there are cool looking robots and a hot chick in skimpy outfits. You won’t have to worry about plot. Or thinking. Or feeling.
That said, this episode had it’s own use of CGI, and holy fuckballs, was it good. The scene with Moiraine pulling the darkness from Mat was, for me, the best interpretation of what this could have looked like. This episode is one of the best of the season. Dialogue, character development, sacrifice, tragedy that isn’t heavy handed. This was The Wheel of Time. Finally.
Rating: On a scale of a serial port to a fiber cable, this was a USB-C.
Garrett’s Review
I may have come across as unkind about this episode in the main feed; it’s not as good as the other eps, however, it’s still pretty awesome. I have enjoyed the other 5 so much that this felt a little lacking. But…Moraine fought a shadow and it was fuckin’ cool.
Rating: On a scale of Vanilla to Cookie Dough, this episode was…Strawberry?…IDK, strawberry is still kinda good though, right?
Fei’s Review
This is an episode of transitions and backstory. I didn’t find all of it as interesting as I did the previous episodes, but I did enjoy a lot of the work that Rafe is doing to push cinema and TV forward. BIPOC women speaking to each other about the plot and not about men or race? Two powerful women revealed as queer? I’m all about it.
The plot thickens, but with it comes plodding storytelling. So, while I appreciate many aspects of this episode, I felt like I was saying, “Hurry up and get to the point already!
Rating: On a scale of best to worst wines, this is a Trader Joe’s two buck chuck… necessary, but let’s face it: kinda boring.