If there are characters being merged, I think it more likely to be Liandrin and Alviarin. That Liandrin becomes Elaida's Keeper... But Elaida should be introduced soon, if we are to care about her, though said coup is a few seasons down the line (if they keep to roughly the same timeline for...
No, right after the whistling, you briefly see Fain in the doorway, smiling. I only noticed because I was looking because of the whistling...
I agree that the scenes with Stepin took too long. I was like "Yes, this person died, so sad, but I don't really care, since I didn't know her much on...