@@alananimus9145 Interesting interpretation. I personally think that Liandrin thought of her as a sister. I would assume that to all Tower outsiders, Aes Sedai would refer to Novices and Accepted as sisters in certain circumstances, but perhaps you're right!
@@UnravelingthePattern that doesn't actually make sense for the character as established in the books or show. I find it difficult to believe that she sees anyone as her equal and to promote a novice or accepted as being her equal seems really out of character. It's not about what is true but what she thinks is true. Unless it's some kind of 4D chess where everyone who dies in the test becomes an honorary sister. But that doesn't make sense either.
@@alananimus9145 Yes, I mean, to be fair, we know she's Black Ajah, so she probably is lying. But I'm saying that it could technically be the truth in some circumstances. The Oaths are tricky that way and the Aes Sedai even trickier.
@@UnravelingthePattern wait….when did this happen? Could she have become a black ajah off screen and she was putting her own red ring in there? Maybe the black ajah rings have a weave that make it look like another color? 🤔 still seems like a stretch
Egwene’s “problem” with earth is that she can detect all the different elements of earth, and doesn’t see the stone as a whole but as many different minerals and elemental parts. I think they are foreshadowing some future skills…
While that would be good forshadowing, I am kind of sick and tired of 90% of the screen time going to Egwene, and Moraine. I understand that Rafe is a big Egwene fan, but there is a large amount of the later story dedicated to her; can we see a little devolopment for Rand and Mat.
Lauren, you seriously have a gift; and I don't mean the excellent composition of your videos... Your ability to see things in a positive light is (now that I think of it) the most refreshing thing about your vids/posts. And you don't do it in a way that seams naïve, but just genuinely from a prospective of giving the show-runners the benefit of the doubt. And your overall knowledge of the book series you bring to and tie into this streaming series (on a macro and micro level) is >insert chef's kiss here
Wow, thanks so much for the kind words. I hope to meet you at WoTCon or somehwere some day! That means a lot. I tend to like things. Some people don't believe me and think I'm following some Amazon script or something, lol. I just love the Wheel of Time and I hope that shines through in everything I make. Thanks again, I really appreciate it!
There is no way you are a real person … do you work for the show ? If you are a real person my mind is blown , the show is hilariously poorly written to the point that it could be used as a case study in bad writing and character development. Anyway , seems super weird .
Thank God this channel is growing, channel is dedicated for Wheel of time, there are plenty of short details we definitely miss as we are non book readers, thankyou so much!
Liandrin says, "a dozen letters now, and not a single mention of Mat Cauthon." If Perrin had (as he likely did) mention Mat in every single letter, that's twelve mentions, not one. It's totally an Aes Sedai truth, not unlike "we were never equals". Buuuuut...doesn't mean she's not lying anyway about other things. Doesn't mean she's not using her "respect for Nynaeve" and her "boredom with Mat" excuses to cover her fear over failing very specific orders to get the Two Rivers folks, all of them, alive in one spot.
I am not a book-reader so the show is all I have to go on and I got hooked after the pilot. These explanation videos really help me feel like I can understand what’s going on! Thank u for not just summarizing what happened in the episode but explaining too and even giving ur own theories 👍🏽👍🏽
Yes!!! I have been checking your channel every few hours since the episodes were released for your reviews. Finally, the moment has come. Hope the business trip went well, too!
A little thing that not many fans, including book readers, noticed. Liandrin quickly formed a blade with the one power when taunting Nynaeve and trying to provoke her. The Aes Sedai oaths says that they are not to use the power as a weapon or make weapons with it unless they are in danger, fighting servants of the dark one, or to protect the lives of another Aes Sedai or a warder. None of those things were happening in that scene. If you know you know. Excellent and subtle hint there by the show writers.
Yes, but to be fair, there are so many Oath loopholes. The exact wording in the show is "To make no weapon with which one person may kill another." I'm sure Liandrin wasn't intending to kill Nynaeve, so technically it's still possible. That said, I do like that this is another hint that maybe she's not bound by the Oaths.
Suian made a sword in the analogous scene in the book. I always understood it as they could make a sword of, say, air but couldn’t do anything with it unless they are in danger. They can’t help someone make a weapon with the power because they would be making something meant to kill.
She straight up lies to Mat that they haven't mentioned him in the letter, I think that one is just obvious as far as I know Aes Sedai cannot tell a lie they become gagged or something similar. So that one is basically confirmed
@@alexanderericson8628 Are you _sure?_ What was the _exact_ wording, do you happen to remember? I recall it as Liandrin reading _some_ of the letter, then saying something like: "No mention of you, isn't that sad". She could have been (truthfully) describing her own _reading_ of the letter, rather than the letter's actual contents. (Assuming I remember the scene correctly; I could be wrong.)
While that would be clever, I think you are giving the writers too much credit, this loophole could be them being bad at their job, or not caring about the source material. I do think so far this season is a large improvement over the first; I don't think the writers contain that level of skill; and what is a mistake we are attributing to brilliance. Let's have the whole season play out before we say they are great, or just got lucky with 2 episodes.
I didn't notice that Leila had raised her weapon in the direction of Perrin before you pointed it out! There couldn't have been other trollocs in the room to fight at that point....so why was it raised? Definitely will be obsessing over whether or not she was planted now!
Ever since someone posted that screencap, I have been on the Laila-was-a-Darkfriend train. Even if, apparently, Rafe denies it. He's not Aes Sedai - he can fib
I noticed that when I watched the first time but just brushed it off! Now that it was pointed out, i feel validated that I’m not crazy and I saw that too 😅
I've been anxiously awaiting your episode one video! You're quickly becoming my favorite wheel of time content creator. The production quality is amazing, you're so thorough, and I love your positive, optimistic outlook on the show. Keep up the great work!
My impression of the scene was that Moraine's hand in the water is a callback to season 1 when she ran her hand through the water with the one power, heating it. The "previously on" had this to remind the audience of her former power. The camera lingers on this to show her inner turmoil at the loss.
Adeleas was actually there too at the end, Verin shouted 'cover your ears' but Adeleas was the one who channelled the sound that made the fades stagger.
I wanted to make a comment about Perrin's wolf abilities. It was always going to be a challenge to show wolves "sending" Perrin information for his use. The ability is basically a form of telepathy. I do not know how many times I have seen book fans lament how weird it would be to have wolf voices in Perrin's head, that Hopper "talking" would be extremely cartoonish if done wrong. At times Perrin says the sendings are in the form of visual pictures. What if these time warp images are the things that the wolves have seen for themselves, they are sending the images of what they've seen to Perrin to warn him?
I think the visions could be explained as a sixth sense wolves have if there is a strong enough scent. Ties in with how they send information telepathically, and kind of their connection with TAR too. Elias is going to drop some exposition on this soon surely, whatever it ends up being.
@@UnravelingthePattern YES! but instead of seeing rather than smelling, its interpreting the smells as images. My theory is that it is more than a combination of the wolf & sniffer abilities. If the attributes of being a sniffer are given to wolf brothers, then Perrin and Elyas are super smellers. So, Perrin is literally smelling the scent trail of what has occurred. The scents are so strong and he is unused and untrained in his abilities in being a wolf brother that the smells are manifesting as images. There are no wolves around so it can't be a visual or telepathic thing, so everything he "sees" is a past event. Think about how many times RJ highlights Perrin smelling something...jealousy, passion, fear, worry, etc...When he smells the events, he smells adult male 1, adult male 2, little girl, etc... and he is interpreting them as images (convenient for us viewers). If both Perrin & Elyas now have sniffer abilities (which is why Ingtar hired Elyas) then they also "smell" the violence. Processing the smells (again) as images. Anyway, that my theory. :)
dogs communicate in ways that aren't evident to us mere humans. they have other senses we don't understand. including picking up on magnetic fields and understanding the change in seasons in ways we don't understand..or have lost our ability to understand.
Thank you so much for having a cogent discussion of episode one. I appreciate the way you present the information. I have never read the books but have enjoyed the show never the less. I look forward to your next recap and discussion.
I second all the comments already made about the quality and content of your videos, and I would like to add that you have a wonderful voice!! So pleasant to listen to 😅🤗
It seems clear to me that they have merged Hurin and Elyas into a single character, a Sniffer and a Wolfbrother in one. But not just their characters, also their abilities. Hence, not only can Elyas and Perrin communicate with wolves, they also can now "sniff" out violence. Based on that, I believe they depict this new ability of Perrin's as him "seeing" or sensing the violence visually, almost as if Perrin was there in the room while it happened. An interesting twist, and one I like. As Hurin was likeable and intriguing on his own, but nothing much ever came of that character or his unique ability after Book 2 and a small scene later on. Seems and feels much more useful to give this ability to Perrin, as a strong sense of smell seems to be in line with his other enhanced wolf senses. Smart move.
Needing to show Perrin's abilities I'm wondering if they will be conveying his ability to smell others emotions visually like this as well. I could possibly see them cutting this ability and replacing it with Hurrin's entirely, that might be easier for an audience to understand on screen.
It is smart. However, I wonder who they will put in place of Hurrin. I would argue that Rand’s bonding with Hurrin and Hurrin’s adoration of Rand led to a very important lesson/realization Rand needed to learn.
I’ve noticed a few retcons/clarifications (not sure which!) this season that I’m very happy about: Nynaeve: ‘The Aes Sedai can heal anything short of death’ (following the season 1 concern that Egwene had healed a dead Nynaeve!) Loial: Has grown! (Enough said! I’m so pleased about this) Myrddraal: Are back to their otherworldly movements (skipping frames like they are in and out of this reality) This and the Loial one may have been intended last season but omitted due to the Covid problems etc. Multiple mentions: ‘THE’ Two Rivers (rather than season 1’s ‘Two Rivers’ - with the omission of the aforementioned ‘The’)
I agree that Liandrin did not technically lie. There were all these letters and Liandrin did not mention Mat's name once. She did not say the letters did not mention him. I'm not convinced Liandrin has crossed over yet.
I believe she has, but you don't want to go making obvious lies. She has to copy the letter so the girls can have the original with perrin's handwriting, and is trying to manipulate Mat. Being able to hand the letter to him and show she isn't "lying." Sometimes the "truth" can serve her purposes as well as a lie
I love your videos. And your take on watching and thinking before bookcloaks bash the show. Also, thank you for noting the Mat vs Mat Cauthon difference when Liandrin is reading the letter. Of course Perrin doesnt mention his full name in a letter to friends. What, is he Aiel? Can't wait for the next video!
I didn't coin the term, but I can't think of a more perfect and fitting one. Children of the books... dogmatic with no ability for nuance or change, with the complete a Inability to appreciate differing views or circumstances? ^chefs kiss*
There are some book purists, but many people just have an issue watching “developing characters” be super powered as Deus Machina. Also many of the changes rip me out of the fantasy world the show is trying to create. Just an instance, purifying water is difficult not because of the amount of power but the skill and know how. But healing when Nynaeve wants it just requires her will and strength. In the context of the show’s explanations she was more likely to shred everyone last season. I really like the books… so I probably fall into part of your bookcloaks. Trying to enjoy the show and see the world their going for, I’m just not getting the consistency of the world or how it works. It’s why I like this channel, though there is much said here that contradicts or glosses over the inconsistency. At least it gives an optimistic option for the reviews and thoughts.
I'm preeeeeetty sure we should know who the Aes Sedai in the df social scene is. Also, RJ was just as motivated if not more motivated by the concept of Yin-Yang as he was by gender/sexuality when it came to the male/female half of the source.
@@UnravelingthePattern There was one definitive clue in Ep. 3. 👀 Totally understand the "spoiler light" approach and that's why I've remained ambiguous.
Absolutely love this season , everything has been improved , the details are next level , writing acting cgi all look so much better ! I am enjoying how much our fav characters are developing and the story is evolving and the world is also getting bigger
When I first watched this episode, I thought Perrin's vision was a 'sending' from wolves who had witnesses the attack, sharing their memory of it with him. But episode 2 has me questioning that. I think the surface level of what Igntar says to Perrin is meant as " when we find Fain, maybe don't just kill him on sight before we can question him, okay?"
Season 1 brought me to the book series, fell in love with the story and consumed every book like air, moved on to Sanderson's other series. Pumped for season 2 its great so far but I just don't get why some book fans hate it, I see the show as a different turn that was fit for tv... Plus live action hopper jumping around, more plz
I think perrin's visions might be actually glimpses into the recent past by looking into TAR, rather than due to smelling. That would explain why he hasn't realized anything is different about his sense of smell yet. Perhaps a wolfbrother whose eyes are always golden are also always seeing an overlay of TAR over the real world, sort of like Min but more complicated and includes architecture and objects as well as people.
Thank you for another excellent breakdown. Great catch about the opening scene. I took Fain's unveiling himself and breaking ranks with the other Dark Friends at the Dark One Social as a sign that he is starting to become something other than a high ranking Darkfriend. On the scene there Nynaeve gets a 'lesson' from Liandrin it seemed to me that the flows around Nynaeve were moving so much faster than those around Liandrin. Could this be due to Nynaeve's agitated state or her greater power?
Good thinking about Nynaeve's flows. I'm sure it took all of Liandrin's effort just to try to pin and shield Nynaeve. Nynaeve pinned her back with little effort I think.
We do know Padan Fain slowly goes insane, all because of the dagger. He no longer fears Fades, can control the Trollocs and seems quicker to kill opponents.
I loved how you said about the letter. Because it does ask the question did she lie or not. I am on the side she didnt. Because she used his full name and yet the letter only said his first name. A true Aes Sedai answer if there is one that been shown in the show
Great channel and break downs. As “just” a show watcher the number of times you use the phrase “book fans” is Genuinely just something I noticed and once I did … well, at least in this episode, you used it a number of times
I have watched up to episode 3. Not going to spoil anything or go on a rant, but for me, all I have left of this show is Loren's enthusiasm and love for the Wheel of Time. I'm glad there's people out there who love these books as much and maybe more than I do. I'm going to finish the season and I'm going to come back and watch your videos Loren, but at this point I'm immensely discouraged. Anyway, thanks again for the great video and and your sincere enthusiasm. I truly appreciate it.
I'm sorry you're discouraged, but I totally understand. I appreciate your kind words! I wish I had time to really dive deep into all of my feelings about every little thing. I have disappointments too, but I just try to focus on the good and try to find common ground with the books I love. I do have high hopes that they will get closer to the books as they go and that the show will make it to the end of the story.
Layla also suffered from depression and if you look closely, you'll see that she was a cutter ( IYKYK ). The Dark could seemingly offer her a lot. And I agree with all your other arguments about her as well. Don't forget other clues like "She is NOT your pack" and the Layla Death Stare thing which is very much a Dark One thing. *Power over death.
About Perrin's ability. I thought it was actually portraited well. Hear me out, you cant really show in a decent manner him picking up scent, so having these visions with "traces" emitting from the characters is better in my opinion. As usual, they need to tweak it a bit, for starters drop the slow motion and actually do the opposite, make it fast and focused as an wolf would see and react. But hey, just my 2 cents i guess.
9:18 Yes, the bathing is a classic scene after SA in film or TV. It's as if whatever he did to her was akin to rap. Took something that was hers. It's very allegorical to SA.
In the X-Ray for the episode it lists the location of the first scene as in Tel'aran'rhiod ... which I think makes sense and clears up the 'where' question. It also, for me at least, clears up why the little girl was brought to a Darkfriend meeting with her 'mum'. It makes much more sense to my head canon that the little girl has latent dream powers and accidentally dreamed herself into her Darkfriend mother's dream-meeting! Ishamael is then like 'oh, small child with latent dream powers and a mother who is already a Darkfriend ... let's get this girl turned to the Dark EARLY!'
X-Ray content says that the prologue is in TAR/Unknown location unless they changed it. Has me wondering if that even is a little girl and not someone Ishy is manipulating in the dreamworld? There is precedent of changing another persons form in TAR. I do think you are right about the location but it's a mirror of it in TAR. It also could be the little girl running away in Perrin's vision but I did some comparisons and it doesn't look like her to me. She does seem to go right to the women in the tinker skirts. Great vid as always. The tone and feel is really a lot better this season, really happy about that. Not sure where I stand on the whole Moraine/Lan dynamic, that's kind of where they are losing me right now but it's nothing hampering my enjoyment of the show at the moment.
@@UnravelingthePattern You were right about the tone of this season too. Different but it somehow feels right and feels like characters are slowly being pushed towards a major plot point. I'm digging it so far.
Oh my! What an amazing video. You go into so much more than just a breakdown of the episode. Your content is pure gold Lauren. So packed with quality and not a moment of fluff.
I was so excited to watch S2, but to be honest, I was kind of disappointed by this episode. I know it needed to be done, catching up with what everyone is up to, but it made me feel like nothing really happened and it really was a filler episode. My partner (who did not read the books) fell asleep, which gave him the rest to not want to watch the show anymore :( But I do see the improvements overall to S1, that is out of the question. A bit too dark at time (from a brightness point of view) but we did learn a lot more about all the characters. I did not fresh up my memory by re-reading the books again (as I did in S1), so I could enjoy the series more. And even though I really did not want to compare, it was really hard. On the plus side, it all got better with halfway through E2 :D Still really looking forward to the series. Good job on the recap, it also did help me shift my views again, so thank you :)
There were three major Shienarans on screen for the "Hunt for Fain" scenes. Ingtar, Uno... and was the third supposed to be Masema? I never caught his name. Started a reread of the books a few weeks ago, I'm at the end of book 3, perfect timing for season 2. Have been trying to pick out who's who but it's been difficult in some cases.
Another fantastic video, Lauren! Loving season 2 so far. So many great direct book nods interwoven with the adaptation blending books 2 & 3. I love how we are seeing part of Moiraine's book 3 arc where she was having eyes & ears randomly arrive to drop snippets to her. I think we can all surmise the contents of the "poem" which we will most likely see in Episode 4.
I had an issue with Ingtar telling Perrin that maybe had a reason too… even listening to Talk’aran’rhiod this morning and their take on it. Until watching your video just now I didn’t consider [SPOILER] that he was likely being very introspective, if you know what happens later… hmmmmmmmmm (honestly I keep forgetting he is Ingtar because book Ingtar was much more aggressive all the time (maybe I’m just used to Michael Kramer’s reading of him). Odd that I never thought of that sooner
Yeah, there are MANY full book spoilers I want to discuss at some point. I do think that Ingtar is trying to justify his own choices, and that he's not really talking about Padan Fain. He wants Perrin to forgive him, and I'm hopeful that time will come.
I'm trying to enjoy the show for what it is ... a retelling of the original story. Like most, there are some things I've liked, others I've been ... enh. There was one event in a later episode where I was ready to take back that generosity and turn it off for good, but thankfully it got resolved. I'm hopeful about this season and hope there's a few more. All in all, I've enjoyed seeing characters that I love come to life and the world of Randland on the screen.
⛔️Spoiler Warning⛔️ ⛔️Books 1 - 12⛔️ ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● My theory with Parrin's wife in the show is that it gives more of a reason behind his going beserk over rescuing Faile when she is captured at the end of book 8
Pretty sure what they were actually doing was the shadow step thing they can do in the books (thought it isn't touched on often outside of Eye of the World). Thought I guess Warder cloaks would have a similar visual effect.
Yep, I mentioned her name but this is meant to be spoiler-free for show-only people. I definitely think she and Liandrin were pushing their "Mazrim Taim" agenda to the other Sitters.
Fantastic video as always. I was a bit surprised/"sad" when they mentioned the Sniffer and it turned out to be Elyas, I was fully expecting Hurin. Do you think this means they are cutting the character/merging him with Elyas?
I think Mo is still wearing her ring. In thr bath shes wearing a long thin chain around her neck. I think it has her ring. I cant imagine her feeling able to not have it on her person.
About Liandrin and the potential lie, she could technically be referring to her telling of the letters, she didn't mention mat in any of them despite him being in there, so her saying not a single mention of mat is referring to her not mentioning him once and how that must be painful, she could technically not be lying her as she never mentioned him, she doesn't say the letters didn't mention mat, only that she received 8? letters and 'not a single mention of mat', that's technically the truth as she doesn't mention him once
**** BOOK SPOILERS AHEAD: WEAR A HELMET **** I _really_ hope they're gonna pull a fast one on us and make Liandrin _not_ Black Ajah. I've always felt that there was a distinct lack of sympathetic/multi-dimensional Reds in the books: Almost to a woman they were portrayed as myopic, self-destructive, sadistic, vindictive, ignorant and/or outright evil. Liandrin has _some_ of those qualities, but we saw a _lot_ more out of her in just these three episodes than we saw out of any of the Reds in the books, at least as I recall. I've heard some fans speculate that they might be planning to fold Elaida into Liandrin, and have her lead the White Tower coup. I hope they don't go in that direction, and write Liandrin in a way that gives more nuance to the Reds throughout the show. (Has anyone caught her telling a lie?)
I'm pretty confident Elaida will be in S3. Also, I won't spoil it for you but there was a shot in one of the teasers that makes me think Liandrin is definitely BA. But we'll have to wait and see!
Thanks, I guess, for explaiing the episodes. I haven't read the books, enjoyed season 1, but I don't understand a damned thing going on in season 2.... And that's a serious problem.
Super small thing, but its nice to see women being competent in all elements, especially fire and some earth. Instead of leaning too heavily into splitting elements into more manly and womanly. I'd like Rand to use a few more elements but fire makes sense for now given where he's at.
The Watch Hill thing bothered me as well. Maybe they crossed the Mountains of Mist, past Baerlon and Natrins Barrow I guess? Maybe Padan Fain is just taking a hard route? Or there are a bunch of hills that overlook a wide area that was used for lookout and defense and were named as such, idk
