Check out my The Wheel of Time Episode 6 review. So far I have covered all episodes of The Wheel of Time Season 1 on Amazon Prime. We are now up to Episode 6 with only two more episodes from Season 1 to go. I’ll start by saying my hype levels were up this week already. Brandon Sanderson, the author who finished The Wheel of Time after creator Robert Jordan’s untimely passing, had already said Episode 6 was his favorite script of the opening Season. But would that translate to screen in the finished version?
The short answer is? Yes.
Spoiler policy time! As a book reader I will be discussing some changes for the better or worse. However I will not be spoiling any story details not yet explored within the TV series. There will though, be full spoilers up to an including Episode 6 of The Wheel of Time Season 1.
Episode 6 – Moiraine’s Episode
Episode 6 is truly Moiraine’s episode as a character. The story this week is full centered on Moiraine and the cuts and edits are all designed towards showing the scenes from Moiraine’s point of view. Since Season 1 has already put so much focus on Moiraine over the Emond’s Field Two Rivers Five, it’s nice to get a glimpse behind the facade Moiraine presents to the world. Don’t expect to see too much dialogue from the others this week. Though there was some nice work from Josha as Rand in a few scenes with Moriane here and Loial was as cool as ever. Actually I have to give praise to Madeleine and Zoe also. The way they both react to a few scenes involving Moiraine and this week’s other stand out performer Sophie Okonedo as Suian Sanche were excellent is brief. One slight annoyance is that it looks rom the images released like there was a deleted scene between Moiriane, Lan and Loial that was cut from the show. Damn, I want to see that, ha.
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Suian is the Amerlyn Seat, the leader of the all Aes Sedai and the ruler of the White Tower. This is not a monarchic leadership, Suian was at one point the strongest candidate that got the most backing for the post. Most Amerlyn will last in the role until their death. Unless they mess up and get bumped out by new factions of course. There is a great cold open this week which explores Suian’s early years and why she ended up heading for the White Tower and away from her father who could no longer protect her in their home of Tear. The young Keira Chasa was excellent as a child Suian. That departure from her dad was so emotional.
I think that tells us right away that Suian is going to be more than a simple figure head of the Aes Sedai we see occasionally. However, the opening scenes put Liandrin, Moiraine, and Alanna in front of their ‘Mother’ and in a bit of trouble. Thanks to Liandrin’s machinations the spotlight falls upon Moiraine and the Amerlyn is not too happy. Thus we get a few scenes as hinted at in that previous episode.
Twisting Relationships
However, the real twist in the tail here for show only fans is that Moiraine and Suian are not really enemies. Even though they allow themselves to be seen as such. They are allies, and far more than allies, they are lovers. What I find hilarious is that some book readers are confused as to why Moiraine and Suian are together here. Either these readers have skipped the prequel A New Spring or they really didn’t pay attention to the subtext. Moiraine and Suian were always lovers at one point in the books also. However even their basic friendship is a weakness that must be hidden from the other Aes Sedai 0nce Suian is raised to Amerlyn. And for those complaining the books never show them actually being sexually active, so what? Neither really does the show, it cuts away before breaching PG-13 territory and the suggestion is all we need.
I’m not going to talk about where both these character end up. However, the fact remains, that in the books the pair were secretly working together, secretly former lovers, and secretly great friends. You can explain all this in someone’s thoughts in a book, you cannot do that in a show. As such, once again, I have to say this is well adapted so far. The thing is, a lot of this subtext doesn’t exists front and center in that first book. Once you keep reading this context is all there to be discovered by readers. However getting this kind of Aes Sedai political intrigue, at this point of the story, is a definite plus for this book fan.
Aes Sedai Tower Politics And Book Changes
If you are not a fan of this week’s episode, then ouch. As this story goes forward you will be seeing a lot more of Tower politics, though I won’t give any hints as to where the drama will arise. It is in my opinion smart to bring this narrative into the story earlier than the books did. After all, fans need to understand what kind of show they are getting. This political aspect is a major part of the narrative going forward into future seasons. In the books Suian does not show up until the beginning of book 2. Bringing this part of the story forward just makes more sense to a story told visually.
I do wonder once more whether the character of Elaida has been abandoned in this adaptation and merged with Liandrin? However Elaida could theoretically still show up in Season 2, so we shall see.
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Matt and the dagger is a plot from the books which has been sped up considerably. In the books Matt doesn’t get healed and separated from the dagger until the beginning of book 3. That means ‘Moody Mordeth’ Matt has effectively been dealt within within a few episodes as opposed to an entire season. This has to be a plus point, because Matt, as you show viewers can see, was a bit distant, boring and ill. The version of Matt which comes out the other end of that incident however? Matt becomes probably the most popular single character in the whole series. Though, that’s always going to be opinion based. To get to that version of Matt by Season 2, instead of Season 3 is smart.
One major change so far though is that in the books Matt goes with the rest into The Ways. As such it is likely that this is actually the last we will see of Barney Harris as Matt. The role was recast for Season 2 with Donal Flynn. When we do see Matt again, it is likely Donal will be in the role within Season 2. I just cannot see Matt’s current story getting much attention in these final two episodes.
The Wheel of Time Episode 6 Review
Episode 6 was a powerhouse for the performances and the focus on Moiraine and therefore Suian was excellent. As a book reader fan, I appreciate the level of detail that went into this. Even confusing book fans by Moiraine and Suian using a Ter’Angreal to meet with one another in secret. Not a moment from the books, but at the same time totally in line with what Ter’Angreal are capable of doing from the books. I had major issues with book 1 of this series. One of those was the way the narrative shifts suddenly at this point of the story.
We spend so much time with the cast running from the forces of the Dark, and then suddenly they are all off running towards it for reasons that are not always clear in the books due to the PoV’s being from the younger characters. In the how, so far, this shift has made a lot more sense to me by introducing Moiriane’s PoV as the way to move the story forward.
This week there are also some major hints that point towards the identity of The Dragon, although as always so far, these are subtle and hidden behind several more obvious red herrings. Next week, I’ll guess we spend the majority of the Episode going through The Ways and arriving in the Borderlands. That means the final episode, called ‘The Eye of the World’, will see the showdown at the Eye and the reveal to show viewers of exactly who the Dragon Reborn actually is. Have you worked it out yet? I’m also really please the Ajah’s haven’t been reduced as we get to see Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Grey, White, and Brown all present in the Hall.
GRADE: A
Leave any thoughts below about my The Wheel of Time Episode 6 review? Or let us know what you thought yourself about this week’s episode? Give us your The Wheel of Time Episode 6 review? The Dragon Reviewed Episode 4 should be up on Monday as always, and there you will get to hear what Kyle and Christine think as non-book readers. You can catch the previous episode of The Dragon Reviewed in the top related link above.
