The Wheel of Time Recap: The Red Wedding

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There’s a satisfying sense of accomplishment when a show acknowledges your attentiveness. In the last episode of The Wheel of Time, we met Lord Gaebril, the amiable prince consort of Queen Morgaise of Andor. At first glance, he appeared to be just another pleasant individual who didn’t quite fit with the rest of the royal family… or so it seemed. However, there was a subtle hint that something wasn’t quite right, as everyone who met him paused briefly, before quickly composing themselves and welcoming him warmly. It was almost as if they knew something we didn’t. Yet, much like the characters in the show, I chose to ignore this unease, charmed as I was by his friendly demeanor.

It’s revealed that Gaebril is actually Rahvin, one of the wicked Forsaken who have recently been released from their long imprisonment. By using magic, he has manipulated the memories of most people worldwide, creating the illusion that they have known him as Morgaise’s partner for a decade when in reality he has only been free for a few months. Furthermore, he is already causing discord among his fellow Forsaken, secretly collaborating with both creepy Moghadien and alluring Lanfear, as well as gruff, battle-hardened Sammael (Cameron Jack), to undermine Moghedien. He also claims to be in touch with Semirhage and Graendal, two other Forsaken who have been freed without Lanfear’s knowledge. Hopefully, they will prove to be as refined, seductive, exotic, and mysterious as the rest of the Forsaken.

Amidst the dense narrative of The Wheel of Time’s third season, emphasizing small, impactful moments significantly enhances the viewing experience. For example, the narrative arc for Perrin involves his hometown, the Two Rivers, standing firm against the harsh Whitecloaks, despite the potential heavy cost. Despite their resistance, Perrin insists that the townsfolk do not scatter and risk being hunted farm by farm by either the Whitecloaks or their Trolloc pursuers. Instead, he urges them to unite in one place – a stand that becomes crucial – even as he plans an assault on the Whitecloak camp to rescue his friend Mat’s family who have been captured as bait to lure Perrin out.

Instead of his grandiose speech, what stands out to me is the breathtaking sight of the valley he hails from, visible from the orchard where his wife lies buried. The antics of Chiad and Bain, his spear-maidens, will also stay with me – their flirtatious behavior towards any moving male figure, be it Loial the Ogier or Maksim, the mourning Warder for Alanna Sedai. What truly lingers is the contrast between Maksim and Alanna’s grief: while she, adorned with the ashes of her fallen lover, seems ready to move on, he remains mired in sorrow, and this divide is causing a rift between them.

Over in the vast expanse known as the Aiel Waste, I find myself entangled in a remarkably familiar predicament. In terms of narrative development, it appears that Egwene is an extraordinarily potent “dreamwalker,” much like the Aiel’s revered figures, the Wise One Bair. Unintentionally, she has ventured into her dreams, just as I sometimes find myself wandering in my own.

There exists a warring Aiel tribe known as the Shaido, who are engaged in a bitter conflict with the Taardad. This group shares a connection with our protagonists, and it’s not unheard of that they might resort to extreme measures against the peaceful wanderers, the Tuatha’an, who separated from the rest of the Aiel eons ago.

Essentially, it’s crucial to understand that by utilizing the correct magical artifacts, known as ‘magical MacGuffins’, Rand could potentially vanquish the Dark One. This act would free his enslaved lover, Lanfear, from her eternal bondage to him. However, what remains poignant is the profound emotional connection between these two characters who, given their circumstances, should be each other’s sworn enemies. Yet, they are bound by a love so intense it’s challenging to distinguish from an all-consuming passion.

The scene that truly resonates is where Moiraine and Lan appear radiant and shimmering, semi-clothed within a sauna, underscoring once more the deep platonic bond shared by the Aes Sedai and her Warder. As a striking woman with distinctive blonde hair (Aiel typically have red hair that turns white over time) named Melindhra casts them a flirtatious glance, they engage in good-natured banter about who has caught her interest, and discuss how Moiraine, in particular, might benefit from romantic attention.

In essence, Melindhra’s pursuit isn’t what you might think. It’s Lan she seeks, not for any suspicions you have in mind. A crane tattoo on her back hints at their shared past – they are among the few who survived the fall of Malkier to the Blight. She desires Lan to wield his father’s sword, not just as a weapon, but for its intended purpose: reclaiming his kingdom. And let’s face it, this epic fantasy dialogue flows more smoothly when the characters are strikingly attractive and partially unclothed – no shame in admitting that!

This episode showcases a conspicuous blend of high-glamour allure, from the suave Forsaken and the sensual Aiel’s sweat tent, to Faile (Isabella Bucceri) debuting as the seductive goth warrior Perrin meets in the Two Rivers. Additionally, we see Liandrin and her lethal Black Ajah assassination team back in Tanchico, their entrance adorned in resplendent red lace. Despite being a place where she was once victimized as a child, leading to her raising a son until Lanfear took his life, she saunters into the ancestral home and massacres everyone present for the marriage of her rapist’s heir to another young bride. It’s an astonishingly vicious act.

However, true to her nature, Leandrin goes overboard, and instead of enjoying herself, she pushes things too far. To shield the young girl from her traumatic memories, she orders her companion Nyomi (Rachel Denning) to perform a drastic procedure – a complete lobotomy on the child. Later, after performing a ritual dedicated to her son at the locations of his birth and death, Leandrin joins her sisters in their efforts to accomplish their main objective in the town. They’ve obtained an ancient bracelet from the White Tower that functions similarly to the Seanchan’s anti-magic manacles, but this artifact is older and more potent. Once they locate a matching collar, they aim to subdue the Dragon himself. Moghedien, always plotting something, secretly watches over all of this while disguised as a servant.

Elaida, the cunning Red Sister from Andor, aims for the Legitimate Red Ajah to carry out this task independently. By skillfully navigating political complexities and relying on fortune, she seems ready to claim a role in the Aes Sedai’s administration. From there, her ambition is to orchestrate a coup from within, transferring power to the Red Ajah and shifting the focus of the Aes Sedai towards confining the Dragon Reborn. Simultaneously, she strategically positions her adversaries to deal with a False Dragon causing chaos in another region of the realm.

As a fellow foresight-holder, I find myself forming a connection with Min. Unlike her, my visions are less frequent and not as ominous as the ones she’s been having lately, which in this very episode revealed Mat hanging from a noose. However, given his newfound ability to tap into his warrior spirit, it seems that Mat’s fate may not be as sealed as it appears. After all, he’s now proven himself capable of standing up against Elayne’s haughty brothers and giving them a good fight when they try to bully him. (And yes, t)

Mat and Minh end up trailing Nynaeve and Elayne during the next phase of their mission to completely eliminate the Black Ajah. Although they question two captives belonging to the secret society of the Shadow, they obtain no useful intelligence, only a muddle of contradictory lies. Nynaeve discerns that Liandrin holds the crucial piece, and she along with Elayne discover the symbol identifying her as an expatriate from Tanchico. They are aware that she is planning a move for the collar and what she intends to do if she manages to secure it.

Regardless of what she’s up to, I hope she does it swiftly. I find myself eagerly anticipating each episode of The Wheel of Time, yet at the same time, I often feel like saying, “Alright, how much time do we have?” The series is jam-packed with numerous characters, events, and storylines unfolding in multiple locations. It’s a complex tapestry of quests for various artifacts due to several prophecies. While I generally find it enjoyable, I can see why some might prefer “less.” The show truly shines in its standalone sequences, moments of intense emotion and sensuality – these are the blows that left us stunned during season two. I’m eagerly waiting for another such moment.

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2025-03-13 22:54