S1E5: "Blood Calls Blood" - w/Book Spoilers

Alyria Ess

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I read Liandrin's touching of Moiraine's face and hair to be a power move, kind of the way you sometimes see between men in a corporate setting when the ladder-climber steps up to a rival and while talking to them also takes initiative to brush off their jacket or straighten their tie for them. Kind of a passive-aggressive move to establish superiority, whether it works or not.

Men do this to women as a power move too, and it's gross. This feels more like that, to me.
 

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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I definitely agree that it was a power move, I don't see a romantic past between Liandrin and Moiraine.
 

Onis O'Leia

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Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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That is because we didn't see him. We heard a whistle in the background. That was Fain's whistle.
Oh! What scene is he whistling? And was it actually him whistling or one of those sound effects?
 

Aduiavas Ida

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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 screen, and hardly from the books. Can we move on now?" I thought we would get scenes from the Hall of the Tower this episode as well, but we are clearly spending at least one more episode in TarValon.

I don't think they will merge Elaida and Liandrin, but maybe some of the things Elaida does will be Liandrin instead? Liandrin can't both be handing over the three girls to the Seanchan, then later having them back in the Tower when they return...

And I agree, Maddin as Egwene is AWESOME. Did Valda die though?
 
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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 screen, and hardly from the books. Can we move on now?" I thought we would get scenes from the Hall of the Tower this episode as well, but we are clearly spending at least one more episode in TarValon.

I don't think they will merge Elaida and Liandrin, but maybe some of the things Elaida does will be Liandrin instead? Liandrin can't both be handing over the three girls to the Seanchan, then later having them back in the Tower when they return...

And I agree, Maddin as Egwene is AWESOME. Did Valda die though?

You see his face?
I only saw his hands while he whistled, then he moved back and vanished.
 

Kranerian Vrammar

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We see Fain from two different angles, both standing in a doorway. One where he's watching Rand and Mat walk along the street, and another looking up at them on the balcony.

JObqHBD.png

ElTW8RE.jpeg
 

Khisanth al'Danya

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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 screen, and hardly from the books. Can we move on now?"

I get what everyone is saying with this, but at the same time it is demonstrating for those not familiar with the books the impact that the loss of one of the Bonded pair can have on the other. It is also demonstrating some really great positive masculinity in the interactions of the Warders with each other in the aftermath.

Also, I am pretty sure that Valda is not dead. Just a gut feeling.
 

Elania al'Manir

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I’m not sure how I feel about them changing Caemlyn for Tar Valon, (in all honesty, if they already needed a city, why not build Caemlyn instead?)
They needed to do Tar Valon because they're incorporating the heavy Aes Sedai presence now instead of next season as a part of the world-building. This way we get the Hall early on to establish the politics as a set-up for later events as well. I'm guessing we'll see Camelyn in season 2.

Did Valda die though?
We see him in a subsequent shot outside the tent, on his knees and grabbing his shoulder where he got stabbed. I don't think the knife wound is fatal, especially because it doesn't make sense to kill off the character now.
 

Ahmyra al'Ruley

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That is because we didn't see him. We heard a whistle in the background. That was Fain whistling.

He was there. Very briefly and hard to see but he was there.
 

Imzadi Hopewind

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In @Kranerian Vrammar’s post, you will also see novices with band, as in Tower. Wonder how accepted will be dressed like?

And I saw Fain’s hand because the CC said whistling, so I watched for him. But I see that I actually noticed Fain as well, but really not. :geek

In behind scenes for episode 5, we also get explained the singing of both furnals, Alanna’s singing, and the man singing, it is voice that only women and man can do. Interesting.

Finally Loial, I loved the first scene, since we meet 2 important books as well. I am missing the ears, so I wonder how they will show when Loial is mad?

The way Lin touched Moiraine, seems like that they have a backstory, like that Lin wanted to be pillow friend, but Suian got choosed?

Goldeneyes :pleased-1:

Valda is not dead, he got stabbed in shoulder, so that is not deadly as other kind of wounds.

Nice way of showing non-violent way.

Wonder if Fain steal the dagger and they all follow him up to Fal Dara?
 

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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Oh wow that’s very sneaky of Fain. I never saw him.

On Valda, I think he’s too awful to be gone so soon.
 

Ahmyra al'Ruley

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Anyone else see the stones with script on them and think Portal Stones?!?!
 

Yenie Antagar

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Anyone else see the stones with script on them and think Portal Stones?!?!
YES!
Either that or just weird road markers... :shifty

I grabbed screenshots though:
Just before whitecloaks, Perrin and Egwene walk past this:
unknown.png

unknown.png

unknown.png
 

Yenie Antagar

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Also, grabbed some screenshots of Novices and Accepted, including Fain showing behind the Novices:
unknown.png

unknown.png

unknown.png
 
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Yeah they probably took it and darkened and ruined it. They’re both supposed to be Ogier-built, and I think from the same general era, so it makes sense for the architecture to match. We just don’t know that yet in show lore.

Also, are they merging Liandrin with Elaida? Some of the politics talk suggests they’re setting Liandrin up for a coup.

so far my biggest problem with the show is how some of it seems to have a sound stage feel. The street scenes particularly. I’m not sure exTy why. It never comes across as looking real. Too clean, slightly fake looking or something.

hopefully they can work on that. As other than that I’m really loving it.

I think merging Elaida and Liandrin would be an excellent change. Liandrin is such a throwaway lackey. But you see so much of her. Elaida is the big bad, and you hardly see her at all.

merge of the two is a lot stronger.

Book spoiler
with the exception that Elaida isn’t Black Ajah. Putting a black sister on the Amrylin Seat js quite a big change. I’ll have to think on how that would change the story. Not sure.

I’m not sure how I feel about them changing Caemlyn for Tar Valon, (in all honesty, if they already needed a city, why not build Caemlyn instead?), but they did nailed the events of the book - the procession, Logain’s laughter at seeing Rand, Loial, etc

ey needed to do Tar Valon because they're incorporating the heavy Aes Sedai presence now instead of next season as a part of the world-building. This way we get the Hall early on to establish the politics as a set-up for later events as well. I'm guessing we'll see Camelyn in season 2

this is probably the best change yet.

we spend SO much time at the White Tower with the girls and the Aes Sedai becomes such a huge part. But we don’t get to it until The Great Hunt. Bringing it forward into this early makes a lot of sense.

the tricky part will be the leaving Tar Valon part and explaining how we end up with the original group going without reinforcements in natural way. Or if they do bring reinforcements make it feel like not breaking the original vibe too much.


Honestly not sure what is going to be the inciting moment to head for the Eye at this point and to suddenly take the ways……. Wait and see now I guess.


Damn weekly schedule. I want to binge it.
 

Elania al'Manir

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I’ll have to think on how that would change the story.
They do have a research consultant who answers exactly that question when there are changes.
AMA w/ Rafe on Reddit said:
I have Sarah Nakamura (our incredible WoT goddess) talk me through the long-term ramifications of any changes so that we know what's going to happen. Sometimes to drive her crazy I will send a casual email that's just like -- "Hey, can you work up a long-term ramifications list for if we kill Thom?". And just keep going like it's a totally normal day as she collapses as a human being. Then tell her we're not going to kill him. I think it helps keep her on her toes, but she probably disagrees, haha.
 

Kranerian Vrammar

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I think they're going to have to go the route of having Fain steal the dagger next episode. Otherwise you have it and Mat both in Tar Valon, and Moiraine wouldn't want the group to leave until she figures out what's going on with him.
 
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