In S1E6 of
The Wheel of Time, "The Flame of Tar Valon", the group fully reunites in Tar Valon, the capital of the Aes Sedai and the home of the Amyrlin Seat. We learn something of the court intrigue of the Aes Sedai, the most powerful women in the world, before the group embarks on the next leg of their journey.
By this point I thought the story would be well enough underway that I'd no longer have Five (new) Things to say about each episode. But this one surprised me with its richness. So, once again, it's a dilemma of how to select
only these Five Things:
1) Siuan Sanche as a girl
The episode begins with a cold open showing Siuan Sanche, now the Amyrlin Seat (head of the Aes Sedai), as a young teen girl who's developing her first abilities channeling the One Power. As in the books she comes from a humble background as a fishmonger's daughter. This vignette is surprisingly well done and really makes vivid this aspect of Siuan Sanche— her humble roots, hard work, and need for resolute decisions from a young age.
2) In the Hall of the Tower
"False" Dragon Logain was captured in S1E4. Here's he's brought before the Amyrlin Seat for judgment... as are the Aes Sedai who captured him in a situation that....
went badly off plan. I'll leave out the spoiler-y things that are done or said in this scene and simply say that I love the set design and costuming here. The Hall of the Tower really looks like the place a queen of queens would sit. The filigree stonework really evokes the Jordan's written descriptions of impossibly detailed craft. And the costumes befit the women's position of power while looking different enough from one another to reflect their different backgrounds, tastes, and cultural traditions.
3) Court intrigue
The audience in the Hall and a few later scenes with various Aes Sedai gathering to speak privately illustrate the division within the Tower. The books introduce us to this slowly, like we're kids gradually figuring out our parents/teachers/elders/leaders aren't united in their wisdom and cooperation but are petty fools with their own personal agendas they consider more important than the common good. I think it's more effective storytelling, especially in the shorter form demanded by a streaming series (remember: the novels were 14 volumes!), to show this earlier. It certainly puts more narrative tension on Moiraine doing what she must do. She not only has to do it before the forces of the Shadow close in, but before the warring factions of Aes Sedai rip themselves apart!
4) Lan gets a night off...
"You've shrouded the bond!" Lan barks at Moiraine in her chambers.
"It's been 2 years," she purrs. "You need a night off...." .
Whoa, I thought,
is she telling Lan to get himself laid? And then...
( Oh, my! )In 1991
The Wheel of Time was praised just for having women main characters in the story. It was groundbreaking in that respect, sadly. In 2021 it takes more than merely acknowledging women exist to win the same kudos for representation. Already we've seen strong representation of people with different skin tones and ethnicity. I like the way, now, that this screen adaptation portrays non-hetero relationships so... normally.
5) Five Four go forth
In writing about the previous episode
I predicted that the group would head to the borderlands next. That would put them on pace to hit the climax of Book 1 by the end of Season 1— pretty much a necessity, pacing-wise, if they expect to wrap this up any faster than Jordan's/Sanderson's whopping
14 volumes. In the last scene of the episode the group meet outside Tar Valon at what looks like a broken stone doorway.
( Episode spoiler )Okay, this is a departure from the books. I'm curious where the script writers are going with this!
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