Egwene is my favorite character and I loved her sacrifice. I thought it was emblematic of who Egwene was. Sacrifice was what she thought was the true essence of what it meant to be an Aes Sedai, especially the Amyrlin Seat - servant of all of those who walked in the Light. I think Egwene would consider it to be a fair trade to give up her life to save the world. I also think Egwene's sacrifice is something she thought an Aiel would do. She saw many Aiel who would do what they thought was his/her honor required and not worry about the consequences. I thought the Lanfear reveal was interesting. I can see both sides. On the hand, I can see it playing out as it seemed to be in text: Lanfear tries to compel Perrin using the One Power but underestimates Perrin. He breaks the compulsion and kills Lanfear. In this scenario, we know that Perrin was as able to do stuff in the World of Dreams that few if any have other done. The way he can enter without being asleep and without channeling. Lanfear says she herself does not fully understand what Slayer does (and what Perrin later figures out how to do) and recognize that in the World of Dreams a weave of One Power is just another manifestation of someone's thought in the World of Dreams. As with the other Chosen, Lanfear underestimates what Third Agers can do. We see examples of this throughout the series (the warder bond, unraveling a weave, or using a gateway as a window, for example). On the other hand, Lanfear is meticulous enough to make Perrin believe that he needs to kill Lanfear and does. We also have been told that she is a master of the World of Dreams (with possible only Moghedian being more proficient in the World of Dreams). In hindsight, I should have realized something was off about Lanfear's death. Not because I thought she would never underestimate Perrin (see the previous paragraph), but rather, I am not sure that had gotten over his Two Rivers cultural bias if killing a woman. Maybe the only reason Perrin could kill Lanfear was because Lanfear created an illusion that Perrin was able to do so. I read a fan's question on one of NaeBlis' videos on this subject. He/she said that Rand now has Lanfear's mindtrap (because Moridin had it on his person before the last battle started, always had it on his person). After the soul transfer, Rand now has it. This person said that if Lanfear wants it, then Lanfear will have to confront Rand. I am not sure if Rand has Lanfear's mindtrap post Last Battle. But I do wish Matt and Brandon discussed the ramifications of Lanfear's mindtrap post Last Battle.
I feel that Egwene's death was totally in character. One thing that you knew about her almost from the beginning was that she would do what was required of her, no matter how hard it was. She was the one who could heal the Pattern from the wounds caused by so much use of balefire and she made the ultimate sacrifice when it was required. I am so stoked by the news that there will be GAMES that we can play with the Cards of Time! I can't wait for WotCon!
I loved Egwenes death. It actually made perfect sense to me and made me feel as though all she went through was for a true reason. I also thought the Lanfear reveal is awesome, but haven't had time yet to really look at the interactions of her with Perrin during TLB to see how much was really shown to us. I know that there was the foreshadowing of preparing a move to trick the opponent into thinking they knew what was coming next. I never thought to equate this to Lanfear in that scene. Masterful and I still love Perrin hugely. Some feel it detracts from him, but I don't, it adds. Great show!
Lanfear: I loved it. It actually is very satisfying with all the foreshadowing through the book. It really seemed she wasn't loyal to the DO and that she wanted out, and she was very clever. It just wasn't clear cut. But great to hear that she got away.
I still think it’s so funny that the scene with Lanfear was written so obtusely that even the obsessive wheel of time fandom didn’t figure it out in a whole decade.
The best part of the WoT Up! card is the Gawyn Heart tattoo on Jon's arm. I wish the picture of Jon on his card had him with the Gandalf beard. Jon's beard is too neat in the card.
I always thought that because Rand and Moridin fought outside the pattern, and he took over Moridin's body that Rand actually had gained the ability to use the true source. That perhaps, his death was a reflection of Christianity as RJ had many religious inspirations for The WOT. Once Rand died and came back he had obtained the power of, "god" in a way. So, he inevitably has the power of creation.
I’ll never understand why fans like it when their favorite characters die. I get it that their story arc drives them to face challenges that are deadly and that realistically, not everyone gets to ride off into the sunset, but I’ll always prefer when my favorite characters survive. None of this diminishes Egwene’s ending, but I like Rand’s ending better.
It is very possible that Rand has a new type of power he needs to learn to use. Brandon has said he doesn't think a sequel series will be made. RJ didn't leave enough to go by and he has his own worlds to look after. So, whether Lanfear survives, there is a new power in Randland, Jenn Aiel can surface once again and Matt and Tuon populate their new palace, we will not get to enjoy another age, or new turn of the wheel of time. Sad.🥲
I love the fact that Lanfear lived but I think that the fact that she faked her death was redundant and pointless. Almost everyone thought that she was dead already.
I always thought Lanfear was alive, that her death was a dream. It simply fit everything else. I guess I'm happy to know it wasn't just me. As to Egwene i hated her death but understand why it had to be.
I am glad I am not the only one who was upset with Egwene's death. It seems like they built her up the entire book to be this amazing leader who was going to get the white tower unified etc. It feels like they killed her off because they needed to kill off a character from the first book for ratings.
I'm with you on Egwene. She wasn't my favorite character. I actually dislike her at first but I enjoyed her in the later books and loved her arch at the end.
It definitely makes way more sense that Lanfear pulled a fast one on Perrin especially considering she was such a master in Tel'aran'rhiod. Clearly the foreshadowing was not as blatant as Matt thought since none of us seem to have picked up on it. ;)
Any chance we will get S2 this Decade? WOT picked up some resurgence during the Rings Of Power run last Aug-Sept surging back into the top 10 and we still have no idea if it will even be out this year, let alone what month. Northern Summer at best and even that chance is fading.
I’ll never change my mind about hating Egwene’s death. In my opinion, it would have been so much better and more satisfying had she lived. She loved life more than most.
That's what makes the sacrifice that bit more significant. It's an interesting comparison to Moridin, who hates life and was willing to destroy everything and everyone to finally and totally die himself, whereas Egwene is all about life, and is willing to give it up to preserve it for everyone else.
It made sense that Ewgene's death was meaningful and occurred right after her warder died. Very similar to the fate of Eldrene after Aemeon was killed in battle
