Gertrude

Am I a bad person for enjoying the absolute anger certain youtubers are expressing over the show? The ones who wanted a drastically more faithful adaptation and use words like 'woke' and 'agenda'. I am sympathetic if this version is not working for someone for whatever reason. We all have different reasons to be attached to art and we take away different things from it. It sucks when an adaptation falls short of what you think it should be. What I am not sympathetic to is taking that to the next level and attributing malice to the showrunner to purposefully ruin their beloved series and then spread that hate for clicks. This interpretation of the story isn't working for you - good! Go away. If not, then I will drink your tears with relish. I have zero problem with people having valid and reasoned criticism towards the show. I would actually like to see a video with that perspective. But it's either mostly positive with some gripes, or it's just flat out toxic hatred. That's why I appreciate this forum because I think we have a good mix of views and I think the criticisms are reasonable. We may not always agree on the choices they make, but we are still cool with each other and give each other room to speak their mind. Stay cool, guys.

Does it really matter? The madness is from accessing saidin, not inherently because of their biology.

See, Halima always felt like a dead end for me. More potential there than what we saw realized. Interesting idea to have eyes in Salidar, but what did she actually do? Am I forgetting something? As far as the gendered channeling, my guess is they sidestep it altogether. No real need to address it and I am fine with the idea that while the soul is tied to the ability to channel (which I think is cannon), the ability to access it is tied to the physical body. Nyneave talks about seeing the cut with Logain and others, so it makes sense to me that it's a physical thing (as much as magic can be). Like cauterizing an artery.

Just limit the channelers who are strong enough to make a gateway. Keep that number small and keep them busy doing other stuff I am not convinced any of those are essential. It can be written around.

I don't think there's room for it in this season for Egwene, but Perrin has plenty of time to explore that and introduce it to us properly. Perhaps some part of Egwene's ordeal will trigger her dreaming ability and she will talk to someone about it later. I have to admit, I am not seeing how we get enough of the Tower stuff in to put pieces in place for the girls to spread out later. I trust they have a plan, but they will be in Falme for the rest of the season, and we are presuming that next season will be mainly book 4, right? They have an interesting puzzle to figure out how to get Egwene some knowledge about her dreams and get her hooked up with Rand to go where she needs to be. Watch and Find Out I guess :p

There was speculation in S1 of who the Forsaken will be based on the statues in Stepin's room. There was one with a lute, so I think Asmodean is still around. I like the idea of Rand learning some basics from Logain, but not the practical side, thus making his deal with Lanfear more tempting. He knows there is so much for him to learn he can't get from anyone else. I think the speculation was also that Sammael was in and Rahvin out, based on a short statue. (lol) Grandal and Modhedian were also pretty uniformly agreed on. Can't remember the rest or if there was a general consensus. Just going off book stuff, Demandred and Mesaana would round things out nicely.

I get that and I agree with the decision to showcase all of what you listed. One of my favorite changes they made in the show is fleshing out the warders and making them real people with their own agency. I like the brotherhood they have built that we never got to see in the books. I like seeing Lan quietly talking to an older warder for perspective. (Tomas fucking rocks) All I am saying is that I think they are spending too much time on it and I am not enjoying this much of Lan's angst and Moiraine going it alone, even if I understand it.

I never thought about Mat getting his luck from the Horn, but it is a trigger they could possibly use. Interesting. Also regarding Moiraine, this is where her and Lan working together would have been useful. Lan tracking Rand, very believable. Nyneave, sure. Moiraine ... um, no.

I'm just going to dispense with spoiler tags, so be warned ... I do agree that making the Forsaken more formidable is a good choice. I think it was just the throat slit that took me off guard and is sitting wrong. That just seemed a step too far. If this dispenses with the resurrections, then I will be happy. My first thought about her shimmering was mask of mirrors too, but I'm not sure what she would be revealing. I don't think they are changing actresses, so what was she planning to do here? Compulsion doesn't seem her MO. I'm not surprised that Mat would be going to Cairhien, just surprised that Ishy wanted him there. I don't know what his game is with Mat there, so I guess that's where my curiosity comes from. I do like Ishy being Min's contact and giving yet another reason why someone would turn to the dark - achieving an impossible goal. (rather than just power or revenge or whatnot) And I do enjoy Alanna and her warders and time spent with Lan. Maybe it's my book brain telling me this is all a moot point anyway so it seems like stalling and obvious filler to keep Lan on screen. I would just be happier giving a little more of that time to Mat and Perrin. So little of Mat as of yet is my biggest disappointment so far this season. He's obviously the cheeky Mat we love, so more please I do love the pairing of him and Min. I am wondering when Mat's luck is going to turn and if it will be before or after Rhuidean. I hope it's before, but I could understand the choice of after. As for the Wastes, I think Rafe said we would see them. I am currently thinking we will see them in TAR, and that's where the images of Rand on the wheel is. How that will be introduced, no clue, but that seems more likely to me than actually heading into the Wastes at this point.

I used spoilers for last week's drop because three dropped at once and people may not have seen all of them when they wandered in. I kind of feel like spoilers shouldn't be needed now since people probably won't come here until they've seen it? Anyway, a mixed bag for me this week. I was really liking the ending until I didn't. Just ... what? I dislike the Lan story. I mean, I enjoy the interactions in the moment for the most part, but it just feels so disconnected from the rest of the show and I feel like it's getting too much time and I don't really understand why. We can easily cut half of that screen time out and lose nothing IMO. Just put them back together and give Moiraine her powers back please.

Right, there' are ways to twist it. I do think it was meant to be a lie, however, since she said a line to Egwene about Aes Sedai not being able to lie. Just kind of pushes the point home a bit.

We were speaking about Liandrin and if it would be revealed she was black and my brain just put something in place for me. I don't think she will be unmasked to anyone (aside from the audience). The girls will learn of Perrin's plight through a letter - something we've seen Liandrin can access. Who's to say she can't alter it before delivery? Give a very dire plea from Perrin and perhaps include Mat in the mix. She could put just enough information in their way to let them think they could use the waygates outside Tar Valon - they've seen Moiraine use it, Nyneave even opened it under duress. I'm not sure how the communication would work with the sul-dam, but this just popped into my head as a very plausible situation and explains why they went out of their way to have Liandrin reading letters to Mat.

I agree that the explanation for the Hunt is not explained well so far. I do kind of like how they folded in the Cairhien disdain for the peasants into it though. Not executed well, but I like the thought.

I'm guessing that omitting the opening allows them to squeeze another minute of screen time since Amazon has things like metrics and algorithms that they stupidly won't deviate from. If that's the reason, I'm fine with it. I liked the opening, but I like seeing more show more.

For me, Nyneave's tests were more cohesive in the show. They all work to give her the reason she needs to stay and train in the Tower - she can't protect those she loves otherwise. Sure, she failed the test as understood by the Aes Sedai, but she did emerge in the end, so that's a win. She Kobayashi Maru'd the arches. I saw her burst of channeling at the end willing the arches into being unconsciously. If we think the arches have something to do with T'A'R, then what she did feels like using need. Like I said, in the show, she's struggling to figure out why she there. In the books she's already determined because Fuck You Moiraine, but that's not a great reason and the show gives her this story that feels more cohesive and natural to me. Also regarding Lan - apparently according to an interview with Henney, there were supposed to be 4 fades in that fight. Doesn't mean they didn't change it in editing or that they executed it well at all (they didn't), but at least that was the original intention.

Sheriam? I think that's much better saved for late game shock.

They are not equals. Lan is superior, obviously :p

Can't take credit for that. I saw it somewhere and it made sense to me.

I think this can be a plausible out for people who don't know her true ajah, but I agree that this is meant to be an outright lie. They have her say a line to Egwene later 'Aes Sedai don't lie so know this is true" or something like that. That just seems like it's highlighting her earlier lie to Mat. Regarding Moriane's shield/stilling. I think she's shielded. I also think it would be cool for Siuan to figure out there is a knot (her expertise) and have Rand be able to feel the weaves forming the knot. Working together, I think they could unravel it instead of worrying about Nyneave healing a stilled women (which is waaaaay too early). We know from trailers that all three will be in Cairhien at some point - Siuan talking to Rand and Rand with Moiraine/Lan. Also the three of them in Cairhien working together would cause someone to notice and give a good reason leading later events with Siuan. We can see a conspiracy and understand why the other sisters disapprove.

I've never thought she'd replace Elaida (and as she's been cast, we see that she's not.) Alviarin was always a better option IMO. They may or may not do it, but I honestly don't know how people thought an Elaida/Liandrin merge would be a good choice. I think it's important to see a sister we know and like? turn out to be bad (Liandrin) and to have the contrast of Elaida's misplaced confidence and ego be just as, if not more, damaging.

My first thought about Min's vision of Mat is that Mat will be fulfilling his promise to Rand. When they saw Logain, Mat told Rand to promise they won't let each other become that. Rand doesn't seem to be resisting in the vision. I don't know if they could pull that off because in my mind it's not playing out that well, but obviously what we are seeing is not what we think we are seeing (Mat maliciously trying to murder Rand.)

So I was pretty pleased so far. Had some really good scenes I thought. I feel overloaded right now and need to sort my thoughts, but one stupid little detail made me so happy - ep 3

Japonisme is a new term for me, it remind me of the Egyptomania in early 20th century. Interesting. I do see your point, it's just not a sticking point for me

I'm not fussed. I'd rather they use their own interpretation to bring the costuming to life. If they had stuck to the page description, There would be very little Japanese influence outside the military, but that seems to be a change everyone likes. RJ had detailed descriptions, but let's be honest, it wasn't his area of expertise. I could never wrap my head around the description of horizontal slashes in the clothing. Vertical slashes I get because there are historical examples, but horizontal made no sense to me because structurally it would be difficult to pull off, so I just never pictured it in my head and moved on. I have always hated the description of the gleeman's cloak in the books. The idea was cool, but I could never picture it and not one single piece of fan art over the years made it look less than clownish to me. The lining of Thom's coat in the show was perfect for me. The Amerlyn's stole always look ridiculous to me as well. Anyway, it's kind of like hiring an actor to play a part - you want to make sure to give them a juicy role to pull in the good ones (adding Moiraine material to season 2, emotional Lan scenes so Henney doesn't get bored playing a stone face). If you want good costumes, you give them a little freedom to get inspired within the lines. Rand's coat is iconic and I am glad they did it more book faithful. But I also love seeing different interpretations of what French/Japanese fusion looks like. To me the important bit is not the details, but the feel. The pastels instead of dark clothing is the strongest point I think, because the dark color translates into severity and being proper and buttoned up. However, if they show that instead through their behavior, I am satisfied.

Inside the Wheel of time. Interview with costumer and make up artist, also a scene at the White Tower with Eg and Nyn training. Excellent scene and I think the costumes look pretty damn good. It's fairly long, but they show images as they are talking and Rand might make an appearance in a certain coat. https://www.amazon.com/live/broadcast/1d8c7107-36d4-4b12-a5c9-e3f6de910fe6