The Wheel of Time Recap: Dream Weaver

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In our conversation from last week, someone directly asked me if the show “The Wheel of Time” was good. I found myself struggling to give a succinct answer. To some extent, yes, it is enjoyable for me due to my affinity for complex high-fantasy narratives with large casts and a touch of camp. Additionally, I’ve come to accept that the lighting in this show might not be particularly engaging, often appearing as blue murk illuminated by orange torchlight. It seems that one can’t truly appreciate “The Wheel” unless one already has a taste for these elements beforehand.

In its typical format, the series often swiftly shifts from one setting and character group to another, almost like a relay race, for approximately an hour per segment. Following a brief departure from this pattern last week, the program resumes this approach, juggling more than a dozen storylines simultaneously. Even for science fiction fantasy television known for its intricacy and high production budgets, The Wheel of Time truly pushes the boundary of what can be considered “a lot”.

In my perspective, it seems most logical to approach this situation geographically. That said, I’m not sure if we’ll ever be navigating through one another’s dreams, but we’ll tackle that quandary when the time comes. Out in the Aiel Waste, I find myself escorted to a local clan’s settlement before my broader unveiling as the prophesied Car’a’carn, both savior and destroyer. Here, I strike up a friendship with a child, learn that the Aiel practice polyamory, and receive a few tutorials on their customs from Aviendha, who has been tasked as a Wise One to assist me instead of scrutinizing me.

Moiraine struggles to adapt due to her intense focus on what appears to be an unchangeable truth about the future: Rand can only survive until the Last Battle if Moiraine dies beforehand, as she would hinder him otherwise. This belief, coupled with the immense power of the artifact called Sakarnen she acquired recently and Lan growing closer to Melindhra, leaves her feeling unsettled. Lan manages to pull her out of her funk with a comforting hug and some Aiel liquor. It’s worth noting that the on-screen chemistry between Rosamund Pike and Daniel Henney remains incredibly strong, unfortunately, their characters seem to have been relegated to just friends in the storyline.

At present, Moiraine finds Egwene to be an indispensable companion. You see, Egwene is a young Aes Sedai adept who’s currently mastering the art of navigating Tel’aran’rhiod, a dreamworld that mirrors our reality but has its unique characteristics. The key distinction is that harm or even death can occur within Tel’aran’rhiod, and this danger has been exploited by the malevolent Forsaken sorceress Lanfear who has impersonated Egwene’s deceased slave-driver Renna to strangle her repeatedly in her dreams.

Egwene employs her recent ability to guide Moiraine into the realm of dreams, where she encounters Siuan Sanche, a prominent Aes Sedai and former companion of Moiraine. The duo has been discreetly pursuing a common objective, which remains hidden from the rest of the order; they believe their duty is to contain the prophesied Dragon Reborn. While Moiraine’s mission was to locate him, Siuan’s role was to steer the White Tower towards following his path instead of attempting to control him.

However, Siuan’s position as Amyrlin Seat is precarious. Her former mentor and now adversary, Elaida, who has ascended to the Red Ajah’s upper echelons, aims to overthrow Siuan and return the Aes Sedai to their original purpose. This suspicion prompts Siuan to believe that Elaida might be one of the 12 Black Ajah hidden within the Tower. With the assistance of her ally from the Brown Ajah, Verrin, Siuan devises a strategy: They employ Adeleas (Nila Aalia), who had been partially brain-damaged by the Black Ajah during their assault, as an informant to disclose the location of their captured Darkfriends.

In Elaida’s hidden prison, her sole purpose is to brutally extract the true identity of the 12th sister from her prisoners. However, this plan is thwarted by one of the Forsaken known as Moghedien’s genetically-engineered Gray Man assassins. This interruption could very well have been orchestrated by the enigmatic sister herself. In a surprising turn of events, Siuan steps in to rescue Elaida just when all hope seems lost. In doing so, she acknowledges her mistake in underestimating Elaida, whom she had hoped to catch red-handed. Interestingly, Verrin, once the prime suspect for the Black Ajah ringleader Liandrin, is now seemingly forgotten, as Alayne and Nynaeve embark on their quest to find her instead.

As they journeyed towards Tanchico, the perilous city of Liandrin, the two Aes Sedai apprentices found out that the Sea Folk, skilled mariners escorting them, harnessed the One Power to accelerate their sails. These women, called Windfinders, had hidden their abilities from the Aes Sedai up until now because they wished to be free channelers and women, rather than abide by the White Tower’s guidelines. Nynaeve and Alayne decided to maintain this secret.

In another part of the vessel, Mat encounters Min who, like him, is a passenger but had been concealed in a cabin to avoid detection by the Windfinder. They hadn’t crossed paths because he was hidden away. He finds out she’s had premonitions about his suicide, but since her prediction that he would kill Rand didn’t materialize, he’s trying to appear resilient. Upon reaching Tanchico, Min officially joins the group, despite Nynaeve’s apprehensions.

In their hometown of Two Rivers, Perrin, along with his group, plans an operation against the Whitecloaks to free Mat’s family, including his mother Natti (Juliet Howland) and his sisters. With Chiad, Bain, and Faile as his allies, Perrin infiltrates the camp of these religious fanatics under the disguise of a mist conjured by Alanna Sedai. However, her surviving warder, Maksim, is so enraged by her reckless action that he ends their relationship, choosing instead to pursue Liandrin alone.

The situation didn’t unfold as anticipated. As Chiad and Bain take Mat’s sisters away, Perrin and Faile uncover, to their shock, that his mother, hiddenly a channeler, was brutally killed by the cruel Eamon Valda (played exceptionally well by Abdul Salis). Distraught, Perrin encounters the leader of the Whitecloaks, Dain Bornhald, who endorsed the woman’s torment and death, accusing Perrin and his actions against Dain’s father for leading him down a dark path. Faile seems to retaliate against Dain, while Eamon’s group is obliterated attempting to capture Alanna, who’s rescued by Maksim’s return. (In this series, characters have often survived harrowing experiences, so until we see Dain and Eamon’s demise, I remain uncertain if they’ve met their end.)

Additionally, two more individuals make an appearance at the Two Rivers, if you will. In his dream, Rand finds himself there, awestruck by how much he’s progressed; he encounters Lanfear who declares her affection for him and her intent to aid him in establishing peace worldwide, regardless of whether it involves shattering it first.

However, they’re not on their own. Moiraine converses with Siuan, while Egwene leaps between her friends’ most cherished dreams. Nynaeve reconnects with the daughter from the alternate reality she encountered under the Aes Sedai’s Arches. Alayne is paired with Aviendha in a Windfinding relationship. Mat has gained respectability and is surrounded by his family, including his living and proud mother. Perrin is back to being a blacksmith, yet he now has Hopper, his deceased companion, alongside him — and surprisingly, Faile, instead of the wife he mistakenly killed at the beginning of these events.

In conclusion, there’s Rand perched on a mountainside, taking in the view of the valley below, with Lanfear nestled beside him. It then dawns on Egwene that her relationship with Rand has been jeopardized by an immortal necromancer who harbors feelings for him, all while she dredges up Egwene’s deepest wounds and attempts to choke her unconscious. Among the Wheel of Time love triangles, this one appears to be the most complicated to me.

Watching “The Wheel of Time” can feel like finding Waldo in the land of Westeros, given the expansive backdrop and numerous personalities. At first glance or even after a thorough scan, the abundance of events happening simultaneously might be overwhelming. However, by focusing on the delightful intricacies scattered throughout, much like the quirky characters and memorable instances hidden in Martin Handford’s picture-book puzzles, you can enjoy your visual hunt for unique elements amidst the red-and-white striped shirts and hats.

In my perspective, it’s often the acting that delivers the impact in this series, as every scene seems genuinely invested, be it portraying deep emotional turmoil or casual dialogue like “Wetlanders call them the Forsaken” or “I’m calling for a vote in the Hall to cage the Dragon Reborn.” I previously noted the poignant chemistry between Pike and Henney that evokes a strong, tangible sadness; this episode effectively exploits it when Lan expresses feelings akin to hunger and thirst, but at a deeper level, hinting at unspoken sexual tension. Taylor Napier and Priyanka Bose delve into the intricate emotional entanglements of their characters, Maksim and Alanna, on the verge of estrangement. Meanwhile, Pike and Sophie Okonedo breathe authenticity and age-old emotion into the relationship between Moiraine and Siuan, a romance that has been tempered by the passage of time and the weight of tragedy.

However, subtle actions can also play a significant role, such as Josha Stradowski gradually instilling a sense of self-assurance in Rand, who’s character is being developed. For instance, the casual dismissal of Aviendha, now more amicable, subtly resembles an attempt to silence someone politely without appearing rude – something that requires finesse. On the other hand, he’s not so self-assured that he can brush off Lanfear’s advances, an older woman who introduced him to a world beyond his hometown, and offered him experiences beyond the prophecies of a wizard woman. Although she was deceiving him initially, the emotions she stirred in him are genuine.

If no other options are available, Elaida can still be relied upon as a last resort. Shoreh Aghdashloo plays her character, Elaida, exceptionally well, portraying both malevolence and arrogance regardless of whether her adversaries are virtuous or wicked – she is condescending and racist towards Siuan, and cruel and merciless to the Black Ajah. Her delight in manipulating Adeleas, even laughing when Adeleas reveals the location of the captured Black Ajah, is incredibly disturbing, although somewhat tempered by the fact that Adeleas is, at least on some level, participating in the scheme herself.

Is it possible for this seven-tier narrative structure to continue for any additional seasons needed to conclude this tale, so long as the character known as Jeff Bezos, or the Forsaken, doesn’t lose interest and cancel the show in favor of further Melania Trump documentaries? Frankly, I can’t predict the future. But I’m having a blast right now, and I intend to keep enjoying myself until something compelling makes me stop. As long as Moiraine and Lan keep exchanging drinks and laughter from time to time, our journey could last quite a while.

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2025-03-27 17:55