S1E8, The Eye of the World, with book spoilers

Lyndo Shiranui

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I can't even say it was a good episode, I would probably give it a 6.0 rating and that's it. I hate how they hyped us for nothing, there was no fight between Rand and Forsaken and they literally gave Rand's help on Tarwin's Gap to Agelmar's sister... really, show? They baited us in the trailer showing us the preperations for a big battle, yet we saw nothing. A big nothing. And why Agelmar's sister had to stand on the open field? She could watch better how battle was going from the walls of Fal Dara and she could be safer while she was channeling from there...

And a huge error: There was at least fifteen steps distance between each arrow hole on the walls, yet crossbowmen stood side by side. I can't even...

I want to talk about the good stuff in the episode too but I can't right now, I am deeply disappointed and I am at shock that how they decided to make a show of a book series which contained lots of huuuuge battles, yet you can't even show properly a normal sized battle.
 
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Ty al'Djinn

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I feel a bit like Charlie Brown, regretting trying to kick the ball again. I have been enjoying the show, but man… after the finale, if they don’t redeem it literally episode 1 of season two, I don’t know if I will continue watching. I sincerely hope they can redeem this in Season 2. I just don’t have the perspective to see episode 8 as good changes, and I’m feeling pretty betrayed.
 

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I had to keep reminding myself that this is a different turning of the wheel.
 

Ty al'Djinn

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@Roheryn ni Galghandhrei t'al'Djinn made me feel better with her thought that Matt was probably supposed to blow the shorn but they couldn’t do that anymore and no one else could blow it, so they had to rewrite the whole episode.
 

Lyndo Shiranui

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@Roheryn ni Galghandhrei t'al'Djinn made me feel better with her thought that Matt was probably supposed to blow the shorn but they couldn’t do that anymore and no one else could blow it, so they had to rewrite the whole episode.

But the thing is, if you can easily give Rand's epic part on Tarwin's Gap to Agelmar's sister, you can also make someone else blow the horn... but I don't think they would display the heroes of the Horn even if Mat stayed, for they couldn't even show us a proper battle. We only saw Agelmar and like 5 crossbowmen fighting (not even fighting, just shooting arrows).
 

Alyria Ess

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Guys, easy...lots of book stuff happened.

If Moiraine is stilled, Nynaeve will heal her, as she does. Maybe she is somehow still shielded tho I dunno.

Rand's dream thing is actually a scene Egwene deals with during her raising, even up to the name of the baby, Joiya.

We learn that Aes Sedai can burn out.

We see Mat in Tar Valon, which is where he's supposed to be anyway.

The Horn of Valere shows up and Padan Fain has it, as he is supposed to.

Loial is probably fine.

Look, we wanted this show, the money was tight, they're doing the best they can. Look for the positives.
 

Lyndo Shiranui

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If Moiraine is stilled, Nynaeve will heal her, as she does. Maybe she is somehow still shielded tho I dunno.

Rand's dream thing is actually a scene Egwene deals with during her raising, even up to the name of the baby, Joiya.

We learn that Aes Sedai can burn out.

We see Mat in Tar Valon, which is where he's supposed to be anyway.

The Horn of Valere shows up and Padan Fain has it, as he is supposed to.

These are the good sides of the episode for sure, also the opening with the Age of Legends was great. But... are you not even be able to show us a proper duel between Rand and a Forsaken? Even a low budget fan movie could display such a duel. This is a season finale, and literally nothing happened except the horn thingy. We don't even know what Rand did at the Eye. I really want to like the show but I am tired of trying to find excuses to like it.
 

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Owena al'Saturni

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Guys, easy...lots of book stuff happened.

If Moiraine is stilled, Nynaeve will heal her, as she does. Maybe she is somehow still shielded tho I dunno.

Rand's dream thing is actually a scene Egwene deals with during her raising, even up to the name of the baby, Joiya.

We learn that Aes Sedai can burn out.

We see Mat in Tar Valon, which is where he's supposed to be anyway.

The Horn of Valere shows up and Padan Fain has it, as he is supposed to.

Loial is probably fine.

Look, we wanted this show, the money was tight, they're doing the best they can. Look for the positives.

Girl, yes!
I tried to find an appropriate gif, but have had too many pre-Christmas Eve Beers.
 

Elanda Tonil

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I feel a bit like Charlie Brown, regretting trying to kick the ball again. I have been enjoying the show, but man… after the finale, if they don’t redeem it literally episode 1 of season two, I don’t know if I will continue watching. I sincerely hope they can redeem this in Season 2. I just don’t have the perspective to see episode 8 as good changes, and I’m feeling pretty betrayed.
At this point, I’m upset (meaning sad, not angry) enough that I might not give them episode 1 of season 2. This episode is exactly the type of thing that was making me want to completely ignore the series. :(

I’ve spent all evening looking for the positives and the only positive for me was I liked the conversation between Nynaeve and Lan.
 

Keara Careen

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I liked the beginning and the ending of the season finale a lot. A series has to take creative liberties, and I'm okay with how it's being re imagined. I'll be honest, I would hate this show if it was a rehash of the books I read when I was a teenager. It should be its own thing - think of it as "inspired by" rather than needing to be a like for like retelling.

Costuming and set design is on point!
 
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Well, I think this was the weakest episode of them all.

First of all, I think they took “burning out” a bit too literal. Most likely a channeler would still herself before actually dying IIRC.

Also, what the hell was up with Egwene healing a dead Nyneave?! I mean, seriously…

And the seals? Why are they huge and attached to the ground?!

I dunno, this was simply not a good episode, I’m sorry.
And that’s before the very bad graphics of the battle.
I seriously hope Amazon ups their game for season 2 graphics wise. I know they wanted to build actual sets instead of green screens, but the cost in bad CGI elsewhere is terrible, way to bad for a show of this magnitude. Seriously, the first season of Game of Thrones looked much better with less budget! (Yes, I went there…)

I hope season 2 fixes things. The Great Hunt is my favorite book of the series. If they screw that up, I might not keep watching. Seriously. And I was trying to be very positive this entire season.
 

Vallah al'Dera

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Love that they included that line Lan says to Nynaeve, I was giddy at that part.

disliking that the Tamrylin called LTT “Dragon Reborn” as I’m pretty sure they just referred to him as the Dragon.

absolutely love the scene at the Far Western Shore, though it’s not what I pictured and have to adjust.

the rest of the episode I have very mixed feelings on. I’m not happy with it but I’ve decided it was due to not having a Mat and the changes they had to make because of it.

I hope season 2 fixes things.
 
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I liked the episode. It's not my favourite but it's in top half of the season.
I liked Rand/Forsaken battle. It was a battle of wills. Ishmael tries to seduce him (as he does) and Rand resists him. Though did anyone also notice Ishy smiling while being attacked by Rand?

I recommend watching Brandon Sanderson's watch party:
There are some huge spoilers for all the books (including the last one) but his commentary is very interesting.
 

Arella Mathara

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The Age of Legends is my favourite part of the books and I loved all of it in the show. Seeing entire scenes where they spoke in the Old Tongue was magnificent! Sad we didn't get Someshta but I wasn't expecting them to include him tbh.

I see where they are going with the Ishamael/Rand battle but I wish they wouldn't have teased Tarmon Gai'don quite so much, lol.

Seeing Nynaeve letting someone else take the reins to that extent was special :laugh:

And poor Brother Book! Nynaeve get your butt moving :tug
 

Azlan Marenellin

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I enjoyed the episode.

Before I get crucified, let me explain.

That episode was not from The Eye of the World. I didn't have to remind myself it was another turning of the wheel, it was so blatantly obvious I had to remind myself it was based on TWoT.

I have many issues if we're assuming it was supposed to be a faithful representation of the story. I just finished the episode a few mins ago, and I have to say they really missed the mark with the Eye battle, the Gap battle, and specifically the linked circle. Unless I'm remembering wrong, one of the biggest benefits (other than the raw power available) is that a circle of linked women cannot burn out. The leader can draw all they want, but nobody in a linked circle can burn out, and I'm angry they changed that for the show.

While it appears Moiraine is stilled, I am not convinced. Ishy placed a shield on her and tied it off, and being that he was the second most powerful male channeler of the age of legends, and exponentially more powerful compared to Moiraine, it would make sense that she's shielded, especially since the oaths should have broken. Not her bond, necessarily, though if I'm not mistaken that was also a consequence of stilling, but definitely the oaths since that's a necessary plot point.

The battles I don't care for, but series battles are rarely satisfying anyway. Overall I enjoyed the episode, all things considered, but it wasn't an episode of Wheel of Time from the books. It was an episode of a show that shared some similarities but was otherwise unrelated.

I'm not even mad. I'm just kinda disappointed they couldn't keep it together, and I'm seriously wondering how they got renewed for a second season before release, and begging for them to up their game dramatically for season 2.
 
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I liked the episode. It's not my favourite but it's in top half of the season.
I liked Rand/Forsaken battle. It was a battle of wills. Ishmael tries to seduce him (as he does) and Rand resists him. Though did anyone also notice Ishy smiling while being attacked by Rand?

I recommend watching Brandon Sanderson's watch party:
There are some huge spoilers for all the books (including the last one) but his commentary is very interesting.

He got Rand to break a Seal, so now more Forsaken and hes still kicking around. He got a big win

also totally unrelated but Ishy gave me the vapors *fans self*
 
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sorry to double post but I am still learning how these boards work!

So like I watched it last night and slept on it and was it what I was expecting not really. But it gave me things to think about and wonder and I like that. I do not want a verbatim retelling of a story I already know the ending to. I want to be surprised and I was, were they good surprises not all of them but some where.

I loved seeing the AoL and hearing them speak in Old Tongue it made me really happy.

I loved Lan and Nyneave because they are just the best and I cried during their exchange before he left to find Moraine.

I wish the Aes Sedai rings werent the most hideous things in the history of everything. (that wasnt in the episode a lot just felt like it needed to be said):mdd

I wasnt jazzed with the E and N healing thing there at the end I was very confused on how that worked like I understand Deus Ex Machina and stuff but also come on wtf :cheeseeni:
Loial isnt dead and if he is there will be a reckoning the likes this world has never seen :fire


Did I love everything about the episode no but I remember its not going to be exactly how I want it to be its for a new generation of people and a new retelling so I am going to remember that I can go back and read the books and the things I remember any time. Then I can go and watch the show and see a whole new retelling of a story that I love and it seems other people are loving as well, which means they might read the books to see whats going to happen and then they get just as excited. Its not going to be perfect because nothing would be tbh, but I love whats happening. :love
 

Catt Heckathorne

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I watch everything based on a series with the realization that they *can't show everything exactly or do everything exactly as written.* I mean, do we really want an entire chapter about hat shopping (to paraphrase The Princess Bride book!verse) and skirt smoothing and sniffing while everyone is building up to battle?

Also, to quote The Princess Bride, death can be healed if there is still a spark of life (difference between "mostly dead" and "all dead"). I'm thinking specifically of a certain Pharoah (can't remember which one) who died, and his body didn't decompose for several weeks. Finally it was the embalmers who probably eventually killed him, because he'd gone into a type of coma where life signs weren't actually visible, but they were still there.

Same idea here. Egwene was able to Heal Nynaeve because she wasn't dead, just on the brink of death.

As for the Seanchan......I totally predicted that ending. They are such a huge part of the storyline for TGH, as is Padan Fain taking off with the Horn.

Also, I find it super interesting that they've paralleled The Handmaids Tale TV!verse with this season of WoT. The main Ajahs we saw (Red, Blue, and Green) are the exact colors worn by females in The Handmaids Tale. The mouthpieces worn by the damane are also a direct nod to the lip rings worn by some of the Handmaids.

As for Moiraine, I agree she's shielded. She said "I can't touch the Source." And yet she was still telling Rand "I can't lie" AFTER the whole neutralizing thing. When Siuan and Leane were stilled their Oath bonds broke.....Moiraine is still bound by them if she's saying she can't lie.

The dreamshard had Joiya, who was actually part of Egwene's Raising test.
 
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