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Oh my gosh, Lanfear! *swoon*
This episode was painful in the feels (though not so much as ep6). The whole, 'we'll do our duty, and then retire and live our lives together' bookended with the end of the episode. Oh man sadness; like that actually wrenched my heart. I also loved the flashback banter, and I thought it was nice to see Moiraine before she 'changed', as Alanna described it in whichever episode that was. Duty really is heavier than a mountain.
Egwene rebraiding her hair was such a lovely nod back to the previous season. What a wonderful and subtle way to show her drawing on strength.
I wish we had more than 8 episodes, and I felt it a bit in this one, as some of the stuff/character strands could have done with some more time dedicated before we jump into the finale. I do think they have done a great job of balancing the story they need to tell with what time they do have though.
Pairing Perrin with Avi continues to be a great choice. I wish we got more there. Same with Elayne and Nynaeve and Mat in general. But the last episode may yet pull all that together.
That's a great observation about the throne being a part of the carriage. With the detail that seems to have gone into costume and set detail I wouldn't be surprised if that's exactly right. And I mean I guess she is the Amyrlin SEAT LOL.
I was in two minds on the actual ending. I agree Rand still seems under-powered, and his shield being held by one AS in comparison to Logain's 3 does seem to contradict what we have been told about his raw power, but I would guess he just doesn't know how to defend himself. I wonder if this will set up his need for a certain OP tutor next season. Certainly it feels to me that they are still drawing a parallel between him and Egwene, with them both currently being in situations where they are being controlled. But I also think they are showing us the imbalance of a world that is so heavily matriarchal (to the point the Amyrlin even comments that it'd be easier if Rand were a girl). We know the source of Egwene's strength, and we're reminded with the hair-braiding. She's also had months of training, and we know the effect of Fal Dara on her resolve and dedication to honing herself. Rand meanwhile is on his own, partly due to his own actions, and partly because Ishy seems to be going to great lengths to keep the boys separate.
They have set up Siuan's fall much more strongly than the books. She's not just the Amyrlin who knew about the DR but the Amyrlin who lost him -- and to a Forsaken no less. That was probably their one shot at capturing and controlling the Dragon as per Tower law. I can certainly see Elaida swooping in now, as well as being justified for doing so. As a general aside, I wonder if we'll find out next season that Thom has been in Caemlyn all this while.
Do we think Lanfear has shielded Siuan? I don't recall what the weave looked like, but she commented that a 'broken' Amyrlin was more use to her than a dead one.
The thing I was least a fan of was Lan's role. I feel like there's a disconnect with his motivations and methods, even with the explanation we got about why he decided to go to Siuan. Presumably he's had Verin's help getting to the bottom of the Shield (she certainly seemed sceptical back at Tifan's Well), however I don't feel like this was explicit enough, so it felt kinda odd to have a warder know more about the OP than an AS. It's like there was a scene or two missing. He couldn't have known about the Shield prior to going to Siuan, as it makes going to her unnecessary in the first place.
edit: duh, forgot about the Lan-Logain scene.
He also seemed way too willing to follow Lanfear into the waygate. I get why. They can't leave the Dragon to the manipulations of a Forsaken. But it just felt odd.
I AM SO GLAD ANVAERE ISN'T A DF... and also not convinced we aren't being played, ha. It's quite clear the DFs are in factions and don't necessarily know the identities of others. She seemed legit. I hope she is.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Oh my gosh, Lanfear! *swoon*
This episode was painful in the feels (though not so much as ep6). The whole, 'we'll do our duty, and then retire and live our lives together' bookended with the end of the episode. Oh man sadness; like that actually wrenched my heart. I also loved the flashback banter, and I thought it was nice to see Moiraine before she 'changed', as Alanna described it in whichever episode that was. Duty really is heavier than a mountain.
Egwene rebraiding her hair was such a lovely nod back to the previous season. What a wonderful and subtle way to show her drawing on strength.
I wish we had more than 8 episodes, and I felt it a bit in this one, as some of the stuff/character strands could have done with some more time dedicated before we jump into the finale. I do think they have done a great job of balancing the story they need to tell with what time they do have though.
Pairing Perrin with Avi continues to be a great choice. I wish we got more there. Same with Elayne and Nynaeve and Mat in general. But the last episode may yet pull all that together.
That's a great observation about the throne being a part of the carriage. With the detail that seems to have gone into costume and set detail I wouldn't be surprised if that's exactly right. And I mean I guess she is the Amyrlin SEAT LOL.
I was in two minds on the actual ending. I agree Rand still seems under-powered, and his shield being held by one AS in comparison to Logain's 3 does seem to contradict what we have been told about his raw power, but I would guess he just doesn't know how to defend himself. I wonder if this will set up his need for a certain OP tutor next season. Certainly it feels to me that they are still drawing a parallel between him and Egwene, with them both currently being in situations where they are being controlled. But I also think they are showing us the imbalance of a world that is so heavily matriarchal (to the point the Amyrlin even comments that it'd be easier if Rand were a girl). We know the source of Egwene's strength, and we're reminded with the hair-braiding. She's also had months of training, and we know the effect of Fal Dara on her resolve and dedication to honing herself. Rand meanwhile is on his own, partly due to his own actions, and partly because Ishy seems to be going to great lengths to keep the boys separate.
They have set up Siuan's fall much more strongly than the books. She's not just the Amyrlin who knew about the DR but the Amyrlin who lost him -- and to a Forsaken no less. That was probably their one shot at capturing and controlling the Dragon as per Tower law. I can certainly see Elaida swooping in now, as well as being justified for doing so. As a general aside, I wonder if we'll find out next season that Thom has been in Caemlyn all this while.
Do we think Lanfear has shielded Siuan? I don't recall what the weave looked like, but she commented that a 'broken' Amyrlin was more use to her than a dead one.
The thing I was least a fan of was Lan's role. I feel like there's a disconnect with his motivations and methods, even with the explanation we got about why he decided to go to Siuan. Presumably he's had Verin's help getting to the bottom of the Shield (she certainly seemed sceptical back at Tifan's Well), however I don't feel like this was explicit enough, so it felt kinda odd to have a warder know more about the OP than an AS. It's like there was a scene or two missing. He couldn't have known about the Shield prior to going to Siuan, as it makes going to her unnecessary in the first place.
edit: duh, forgot about the Lan-Logain scene.
He also seemed way too willing to follow Lanfear into the waygate. I get why. They can't leave the Dragon to the manipulations of a Forsaken. But it just felt odd.
I AM SO GLAD ANVAERE ISN'T A DF... and also not convinced we aren't being played, ha. It's quite clear the DFs are in factions and don't necessarily know the identities of others. She seemed legit. I hope she is.
![[Image: thal-banner-scaled.jpg]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/thal-banner-scaled.jpg)