Adam’s Review
Another week, another short review that is way too long. The White Tower has the only storylines that move at a proper pace. It’s because they’re staying close to the source material, which were written by someone who understood plot, pacing, and character development. Nynaeve’s trial for Accepted is by far the strongest thing all season.
The main change made from the books this episode is done so to trick the viewer into thinking “They fucked this story up.” The show knows how bad it is at managing the source material and used it as another red herring. It works well, but get some new fucking tricks. The Herring is going to go extinct if you keep this up. It feels like an Intro to Storytelling class is letting a different student write each narrative thread each episode and the only ones that are doing well are the ones copying from the book.
Rand is introduced to Daes Dae’mar and despite it being one of the more boring parts of the book, I was thrilled he had something to finally do. Selene is hot, mysterious, and obviously up to something. Mat and Min escape, but it’s all Liandrin’s doing. Perrin’s group are made to swear fealty and Perrin is broken out of a one-person armored wagon by the wolves he still wants to reject.
Moiraine and Lan are almost entirely absent this episode (outside the dream) and it’s hardly noticeable. At this point, their characters (despite being two of the most important to the plot and fan favorites of book readers) should just be killed off. Egwene and Elayne spend time together and fight over stupid and predictable reasons, but their relationship develops further.
At this point, some characters feel outright ruined. Some are forgotten. We’re 3/8 of the way through the season. Perrin and the White Tower are the only narrative threads that we care about. They’re strong, but they can’t carry the whole show.
Rating: On a scale of Sheathing the Sword to Apple Blossoms on the Wind, this was Cat Crosses the Courtyard.
Garrett’s Review
You know, I think I like this season…well except for Rand and Matt’s uninteresting story-lines. I felt Nynaeve’s journey through the Ter’angreal was pretty well done and we’ll see how it informs her character. Man does Daes Dae’mar suck.
Rating: On a scale of Final Fantasy titles, this was FFX
Fei’s Review
YAS. Finally we get to see what progressing in the ranks of Aes Sedai looks like. I have been waiting for this plot point to occur, and the show does not disappoint with its depiction of the arches to become an Accepted. It beautifully shows Nynaeve’s deepest fears: leaving behind those that she loves to pursue her own power. I am here for it!
I am also getting more and more intrigued by this depiction of Selene. It’s clear that she is not just a regular innkeeper given her relative ease in getting Rand into a high society party at Cairhien. I like the mystery that her character is generating, and of course, Natasha O’Keeffe plays her beautifully.
We also finally get to know more about the Seanchan and their desire to take back what they perceive as theirs. They very quickly establish that they are a force to be reckoned with and leaves us wondering how our good guys are going to deal with these new baddies.
These story lines are so much more interesting and allows me to forgive the relatively boring ones of Mat escaping with Min from the White Tower and Rand trying to get Logaine to be his teacher. I know that Rand is supposed to be the main character, but at this point, I’d rather learn more about Hermione and Ron than Harry Potter. I suppose that this is the curse of a large cast and multiple story lines.
Rating: On a scale of Sondheim musicals, this is Into the Woods.