Tag: Wheel of Time

Amazon’s Wheel of Time returns with its penultimate episode this week, and it’s a big one. After a rather slow sixth episode, “The Dark Along the Ways” amps the ante from the get-go and doesn’t hit the brakes until the end.

The episode begins with a flashback to a woman (Tigraine Mantear) fighting off men in a snowy landscape. As the camera pans down, we see she’s pregnant and trying not to go into labor for the child’s sake. It’s clear there’s something special about her, though, as she moves through the air with such ease despite her pain and being incredibly pregnant. She’s able to defeat the men with little effort on her end. It makes for stellar action sequences, and honestly, a well-done opening that becomes important later in the episode. As she’s about to go into labor, believing she’s killed most – if not all – of the men, she’s approached by another with a sword pointed toward her. It’s then the episode jumps back to the present.

“The Dark Along the Ways” opts to pick up exactly where episode six left off. The group has made their way into the Ways, with Mat deciding to stay behind. Understandably, the young group is frustrated that they can’t go back for Mat, but quickly take to following Moiraine through the ways and toward the Eye of the World. Little do they know, however, they are being followed. Eager for rest, knowing there’s a long journey ahead, the crew seeks shelter as Loial tries to make sense of the cracked Seal. Whatever has been following, however, wakes them as it launches a surprise attack. The group takes off towards another gate, knowing their original destination to the Eye of the World through the Ways is no longer feasible. As they hurry, the wind tells them stories they are not meant to believe. While they never divulge what they’ve heard to one another, the wind ultimately stirs the tension among the group.

What follows is a series of acceptance and truths. We see these individuals finally come back together for the first time since the initial episode. Despite the arguing and fear that, rightfully, plagues them, by the episode’s end, they try to do what is right. Of course, they’re not aware of what Rand was told in the Wind or what he has come to know, thanks to Min of Fal Dara. He, of course, is the Dragon Reborn. As we soon come to learn, the woman in the cold opening, Tigraine, is Rand’s mother, and he is the baby that was born that day. His mother died shortly after giving birth and he was raised by a man who bore armor and the Heron blade. It was this man who would go on to raise the baby – Rand – in the village along the Two Rivers.

It’s a reveal that fans of the book will not be surprised by, however, it is wonderfully executed on screen. The episode takes the time to see Rand go through the motions as he comes to terms with who he is. In fact, it even goes back to show us that it was Rand, and not Egwene, that channeled during the attack in the Ways. The camerawork as he goes through various emotions, knowing he is who Moiraine has been searching for is so well done. More importantly, though, the episode manages to do something many television series could only hope to do: successfully tell a backstory that not only reveals a huge secret but also manages to push the story forward with ease. It’s easy to rely heavily on exposition and dialogue to achieve such a feat, and yet, Wheel of Time manages to do so with the perfect mixture of both.

By the episode’s end, everything has turned upside down. When Lan comes to the others and tells them Moiraine has broken their bond, having left without telling him, they quickly realize she’s going with Rand to the Eye of the World.

“The Dark Along the Ways” manages to do so much within the span of fifty minutes. It’s honestly quite impressive just how well-written and acted this episode was as a whole. Rosamund Pike‘s Moiraine takes a bit of a backseat to let the rest of the cast shine this go around, giving Daniel Henney‘s Lan time to tell his own story while also igniting the romance between Lan and Nynaeve.

As great of an episode as it is, however, there’s one minor issue. With only one episode left, Wheel of Time still has so much story to unpack. Whether or not it’ll be able to successfully conclude the arc it has begun ahead of Season 2? Well, that remains to be seen.

For now, though, the seventh episode of Wheel of Time is a must-watch. From the cinematography to the music and the cast, “The Dark Along the Ways” is an impressively strong effort that will transport fans into Robert Jordan‘s world.

Amazon’s Wheel of Time has done a rather impressive job of adapting Robert Jordan’s novels. While the adaptation has not always been perfect, the series has successfully captured the feel of the novels, while also allowing for new viewers to jump into this immersive world without having read the novels. Unfortunately, though, as strong as the episodes have been thus far, “Blood Calls Blood” feels like a filler episode.

“Blood Calls Blood” picks up where “The Dragon Reborn” leaves off. After the Aes Sedai gentle Logain, the women and their Warders take to burying the bodies of the fallen. Kerene’s death is one of many, but it’s clear her fellow sisters are still struggling to accept her faith. However, their grief is nothing compared to that of her Warder, Stepin. He’s having trouble accepting her loss and what life entails without Kerene and his duty as a Warder. Despite having only appeared in two episodes, Stepin’s storyline feels vital, for his grief is palpable throughout the episode.

Stepin’s storyline is the best part of “Blood Calls Blood.” It’s a deep study into a minor character, while also further helping to explore the Warders much like the fourth episode focused on the powerful women of the Aes Sedai. Unfortunately, though, the episode realizes it has a story to elevate far too late. It is at this point it becomes clear “Blood Calls Blood” is an episode of convenience.

When the episode finally remembers that Rand and the others are still trying to find one another, it doesn’t really do much more with them than the episodes before it. They’re all still trying to make their way to the White Tower. Mat is still fending off the corruption of the madness, something further teased by Logain’s minor appearance this episode. More importantly, though, the only characters to see their stories truly move forward are those of Egwene and Perrin. After seeking safety with the Tuatha’an for some time, the pair are captured by the Whitecloaks this episode, with death seemingly certain for one of them. However, both Egwene and Perrin have secrets that ultimately help to save them.

This episode is the first we truly get to see of Perrin’s connection to the wolves on screen. While it has been hinted at in earlier episodes, “Blood Calls Blood” is the first to show the wolves coming to his aid in battle. It’s, honestly, one of the better scenes in the episode. It’s well-shot with tense action that’ll leave viewers on the edge of their seats. What follows, however, is a somber note in which the episode ends.

Unable to accept his loss, Stepin makes the decision to end his life. It’s a heartbreaking scene that is only made more powerful by the ritual that follows. Stepin’s body lay in the middle of the room as his fellow Warders gather around him dressed in white. Lan, his closest friend, leads the ritual to let go of their grief. Moiraine stands nearby, enduring the grief of her Warder, while Nynaeve stands behind her with her eyes glued on Lan. It’s the first time the relationship between the two is truly teased. Of course, with just three episodes left to go, it remains to be seen how Wheel of Time successfully brings the two together romantically.

Overall, “Blood Calls Blood” is not the strongest episode of Wheel of Time. It is, however, the most heartbreaking episode viewers will endure so far. With three episodes left, it’s only a matter of time before our group is finally reunited. Or so we can hope.

The fourth episode of Amazon’s Wheel of Time sees the team desperately trying to find their way back to each other. However, it soon becomes clear it may still be some time before the group reunites. “The Dragon Reborn” opens with Lan and Moiraine among the other Aes Sedai, who help to restore Moiraine’s strength following the poisonous attack at the Two Rivers.

The Aes Sedai are trying to hold back a man calling himself the Dragon reborn. He’s powerful, so much so it requires two of the Aes Sedai to hold him back, yet they still can’t be sure he is the Dragon reborn. Unfortunately, this makes for a rather slow-moving episode, as there’s more exposition than anything. While still a good episode overall, despite the slowness, where “The Dragon Reborn” soars is the character study of Zoë Robins‘ Nynaeve al’Meara. This is her episode to shine and shine she does.

Logain, the false Dragon, is able to channel the One Power and proves to be a handful for the Aes Sedai. He’s being caged and kept behind a shield prior to going before those at the White Tower. As the women sit nearby, projecting their shields onto Logain, we get to learn about the different types of Aes Sedai and what each color represents. Four episodes in and it’s the most we’ve come to learn about these powerful women and what they are capable of. The exposition at times is a bit much, and yes, it may drag occasionally. However, “The Dragon Reborn” is still an enjoyable installment even if it feels more like an explanatory episode for those unfamiliar with Robert Jordan‘s work.

It’s in the last minutes of “The Dragon Reborn” where things go to Hell in the best way possible. After Logain is able to break free of the shields, he manages to kill one of the Aes Sedai, much to his pleasure. As the others try to fend off his followers in the forest, a slew of Aes Sedai and their warders run to the cave where he’s being held to offer assistance. Unfortunately, an attack against Logain results in what appears to be the near-death of everyone until Nynaeve manages to channel the One Power and restore their health. The Aes Sedai then go on to gentle Logain. The episode ends with a curious stare from Nynaeve, who seems to be adjusting to her newfound abilities.

Throughout the episode, we do see glances of Rand al’Thor and Mat Cauthon, who have taken to traveling with the gleeman. While Egwene Al’Vere and Perrin Aybara spend time getting to know the caravan they’ve sought safety with on their way to the White Tower, Rand and Mat ultimately find themselves thrust into chaos as the darkness overtakes Mat temporarily. As fascinating as the Fade’s appearance is and as terrifying as the darkness overtaking Mat may appear, “The Dragon Reborn” is all about the Aes Sedai.

“The Dragon Reborn” is an episode that may divide book fans. Yes, there are some parts missing from the books, and yes, the episode does change Logain’s story a bit. However, it’s a good episode for those trying to comprehend this massive world Jordan constructed. It moves along the plot, while giving other characters time to shine. It’s a solid installment for a series that simply wants to honor Jordan’s work.