S2E6 "Eyes Without Pity" -- w/ Book Spoilers

[Ilverin Matriam]

For any and all thoughts about Season 2 Episode 6, Eyes Without Pity!

This is the thread with SPOILERS from the books! If you don't want anything spoiled and you haven't read the books please take advantage of the NO spoilers thread!

 

[Ilverin Matriam]

I am really scared to watch this episode, will try to watch it tonight...

 

[Kranerian Vrammar]

Yeah to anyone who hasn't watched yet but is in this thread for some reason, here's your warning. You know the Egwene damane arc is here. It is at least as dark and brutal as you expect. Do what you need to to prepare.

 

[Syera Faelron]

It was such a great episode, the Sul dam was great. I knew M had to of got herself collared.
Looking forward to them all meeting in Falme eventually

 

[Thaddius al'Guy]

I want to know if they hired a contortionist for the Suldam the Yellow sister absolutely broke near the end of the episode.

Edit: Fenya did the legwork for me and confirmed that yes, they did.

 

[Fenya al'Caem]

I want to know if they hired a contortionist for the Suldam the Yellow sister absolutely broke near the end of the episode.

Edit: Fenya did the legwork for me and confirmed that yes, they did.

If by legwork you mean I happened to see this tweet from WoT Series after seeing you post your question Happy coincidence!

 

[Megana Vallentin]

Oh wow that's incredible, I assumed it was just some crazy CGI!

Copying some comments from discord...

I really liked the way they showed Moiraine getting a lot of flack for her past.I feel like we didn't really experience that in the books, what it must have been like for her to secretly search for Rand for so many years without being able to explain what she was doing that trumped everything else that would have normally mattered to her.

You know what really got me was not Egwene but Ryma. I was mentally prepared for everything that happened to Egwene, but Ryma hit me out of nowhere. She felt like the epitome of what I want an Aes Sedai to be. In spite of the girls being runaways (as far as she knows) and in spite of them not showing her proper respect and in spite of Nynaeve being a Wilder, she called them sisters and trusted them and even helped teach Nynaeve a bit. And even after studying what happens to damane, she did not hesitate a second to sacrifice herself to protect the girls the moment she realized they'd been found out. And it was obviously Nynaeve that revealed them but there wasn't even a disappointed glare from Ryma over that. I think the only way I'll be okay is if they somehow rescue her when they get Egwene. It could happen, right???

Other than being COMPLETELY BROKEN by that, I loved so many things in this episode, but especially:
- Loial's singing
- Lanfear calling Ishamael ISHY
- Mat being such Mat

 

[Fenya al'Caem]

Ryma was incredible and what happens to her and her warder is absolutely one of the reasons I was NOT OKAY after watching that episode.

 

[Aduiavas Ida]

Yes, Ryma was SO GOOD and totally unexpected. The end there was so much better than I expected. And it gave the viewers more reason to respect Elayne. Nynaeve would have stormed out there and just got herself captured as well or more likely killed. Elayne knows how to work for the greater good.
But yes, this episode shows us everything we only hear from Egwene explaining it in the books. It works so well in the visual medium. The sul'dam talking like she had no emotions, Egwene slowly breaking down... Amazing! I'm still shaking.

In the other things that happen, Rand meets a friendly face again! And of course Mat lets him down again
And I'm not sure I like that Lan broke under peer pressure. I suppose it is necessary for plot though...
It seems we will have the meeting between Rand and Siuan next episode. Then he will run away to Falme and they will rescue Egwene! At least I hope so. I hope they won't drag out her time being damane until next season

 

[rebornoldtimer]

To be honest the show has lost me in these last two episodes.

I don’t think the story points work well when the plots have been rushed so much.

There are moments when it grabs my interest, but not enough.

It’s odd because book 2 is probably my favourite of the series and is such a massive improvement over book 1.

I’m really not sure WOT can be translated to the small screen and done well based on what I’ve seen recently.

I think as well if you haven’t read the books you must be so confused!

 

[Leira Galene]

Damn, what an episode. That was hard to watch, in a good way. Egwene and Ryma were just... brutal. Of course the damane bits in TGH are rough, but actually seeing Egwene go through that really hammered it home for me. What fantastic acting, too.

 

[Iamara Tysana]

I loved the encounters between Lanfear and Rand during the episode. O'Keeffe captured well the taunting and manipulative attitude of Lanfear towards Rand/Lews Therin. Her interplay with Ishamael and use of Egwene to gain leverage on Rand really underscored that she is the expert on Lews Therin and his incarnations. I seem to recall a rough quote from the books that fit well for me with this performance: "not all evil is as obvious as the Forsaken."

Ryma wowed me. Between her leadership and efforts to protect Nynaeve and Elayne and the Tower, I wish I could meet Ryma Sedai in person even for a few minutes. Shoutout to her as well for the healing weave used on her Warder in the middle of combat: just a cool maneuver for sure.

The damane training scenes with Egwene were absolutely heart-wrenching. It was one thing to read it, but the actresses did an amazing job bringing that part of the book to life. The kicker of Maigan at the end of the episode was such a blow, even with the foreshadowing from Ryma earlier on. That, combined with Ryma's capture, contributed well to the sense of dread and horror that no channeler is safe when it comes to the Seanchan.

 

[Megana Vallentin]

I discovered I had a very specific idea of what Lanfear's hair should look like, of all things. In all of the TAR scenes with her short slicked-back hair I was just like "but why?" And then when we see her with Liandrin with her hair long and loose I was like "oh there she is!" Of all the places to draw the line.

 

[rebornoldtimer]

Quick update to my above comment,

I’ve rewatched episode 5. Much much better second time around,

Maybe I was just in the wrong mood on first watch!

 

[rebornoldtimer]

I’ve rewatched episode 6. Again, much better time second around.

Rand is becoming more focused as a character,

I guess I still have a concern over things being rushed.

However, I try to view the series as someone who hasn’t read the books over and over and as such is aware of the plot points that are missing.

I wonder if the show is a better viewing experience for non book readers?

Though I also think they must be quite confused at times!

 

[Megana Vallentin]

I've been really surprised by how much non-book readers are picking up on and following!

 

[rebornoldtimer]

I've been really surprised by how much non-book readers are picking up on and following!

That’s good to hear! Promising for the continued success of the series into future seasons.

 

[rebornoldtimer]

I’ve watched this episode 3 times now,

In relation to the treatment of Egwene, how did everyone react?

I felt it was quite well done, in the sense that the audience has to understand how dire her situation is, without going over the top into gratuitous violence.

It’s a fine line but I think they managed it quite well.