So, this is the first of these posts done on a single watch, not a rewatch because we’re traveling for the holidays and unfortunately my in-laws’ internet is iffy for streaming. It also occurs to me at this point in the series, I probably don’t need a General Thoughts section because if you’re reading here, it’s probably because you’ve seen the episode… and if not I can put those in these here intro paragraphs, yeehaw. This is my favorite episode so far, though! Spoilers section covers the remainder of The Eye of the World with a dash of New Spring and some mention of The Great Hunt (but nothing specific), as well as some mid-book culture.
Also somewhat unrelated, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Rafe Judkins are now DMing and I really hope he also has circled her in as Cadsuane (someone who isn’t introduced until book 7, but given we brought Aes Sedai in earlier than they’re introduced maybe we could slot her in earlier…? We’ll see!)
Show Thoughts
Maaaaaan how about that cold open, huh? In this week’s Inside the Episode, the director says he asked the showrunner to get them a Bolt, a high speed camera which I’ve previously only seen used on the Glambot shorts on red carpets. Definitely put to stunning use here for our first look at an Aiel fight, and can’t wait to see them get more use out of it in future episodes.
Per the behind the scenes, the show’s decided to interpret the Ways as similar to the Giant’s Causeway- naturally generated basalt hexagons which in WOT were grown between the Ogier & the male Aes Sedai from the Age of Legends. They haven’t been in use in a while, though, so they’re more like the scary Nether of Minecraft (which as mentioned last week, was inspired by the Ways).
I’m glad we got more Loial, but I wish we saw him later in the episode. I’m going to guess he found a nice library to bury himself in.
Min! I don’t think changing the town we meet her in has much consequence over the greater scheme of things and it’s interesting to see how her visions manifest in a visual medium.
The argument between Two Rivers’ folk feels like stress-induced conflict, but also feels a little bit like having to fill in a scene that does work in Mat’s absence. I do wonder if Mat and Fain were supposed to have a confrontation, but I dunno, I guess we’ll see what Fain does next episode… There are images buried in X-Ray this week that show fain holding a trefoil leaf figure, and I really wish we got a couple extra minutes to show that’s how he’s traveling…
I really adore the Lanaeve scenes, and he got the jump on her this time sneaking around!
Rand has demonstrated he will do whatever needs doing to keep his friends safe, so leaving alone with Moiraine feels very on brand for him. I’m glad we got to see Tam’s mutterings as Rand took him to the village during the Winternight attack, and while I personally would’ve preferred them in episode one, maybe the pacing flows better putting them here? It probably would’ve been chaotic to check in on everyone with a pause for some feverish musings.
I’m curious about how we’ll portray the Blight next week (this week??) and what else is in store for us at the Eye of the World!
Full book thoughts + speculation
I appreciate that we saw the Lady Amalisa have an empty Great Serpent ring as a way to convey that sometimes nobles are Tower trained (or that women who train to the level of Accepted sometimes go no further), especially with Morgase’s absence this season.
My guess here is that Siuan’s dream about the Dark One being weak at the Eye as his prison is a misdirect by Ishamael, which might be why Min sees the Amyrlin in full regalia as Moiraine’s downfall. But, I don’t think we’ve had enough spooky nightmare sequences to make that seem plausible to the viewer. I’m actually ok if it’s just Moiraine & Rand heading out since the rest of the party doesn’t do a ton at the Eye of the World. I also think Someshta is going to be Tom Bombadil’d, especially after speculation with fellow book nerds who’ve read the whole series forgot that the Green Man exists.
Min mentioned seeing rainbows, carnivals, and three beautiful women. I know Rand never engages with them but is this confirmation of Valan Luca’s Travelling Menagerie?? I kid, but it wouldn’t be the first throwaway comment that worldbuilds (lookin’ at you, Birgitte doll). Min doesn’t necessarily share every vision she sees on everyone, so she should be no different in the show. Curious to see if other images come out, or if they’ll be clipped like what Daenerys saw in the House of the Undying for Game of Thrones.
A thought I had during the episode: are we going to substitute Min’s viewing of Tam for Gitara’s prophecy, especially since she referenced a baby? I doubt it since per Siuan it sounded like they were present for Gitara’s Foretelling (as they are in the books), but phrasing matters. On that note: was Rand cradling the baby version of himself, or is this potentially one of their babies?
I really appreciate Lan having some Malkier to spend time with in Fal Dara, and that a Bukama equivalent gets to live. Hey, if Kerene gets to survive 20 years past her in-book death, why not Bukama?
Alright folks: do you think we’ll get Balthamel & Aginor, or if we’ll just have Ishamael pop up? I definitely feel like we’re going to see Maigan getting collared by some Seanchan coming from the west. From casting, we know we’ve got Uno, Ingtar, and Masema for season 2 so The Great Hunt plot is still likely going to happen, but how do we get Mat up to Fal Dara? I have questionssssss.