S1E2 "Shadow's Waiting" -- w/ Book Spoilers

Aleita Taviah

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For any and all thoughts about Episode 2, Shadow's Waiting!

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 S1E2 - No Spoiler Thread.

:dance
 

Karassa Souladrin

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I thought Mashadar would have been more misty/cloudy, rather than spider-webby and creeping. I was pissed that it took out that horse.
 

Alyria Ess

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Yeah the horse math confused me when I was watching it, let me see if I can remember....

One horse was Mashadar'd, three ran off, and then there were two leftover? That is 6 horses for...oh. Six people. Okay that works out :laugh:
 
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I liked how Mashadar was creepy and clinging, if i recall in the books its described that way, especially on how it makes you feel. so they had to bring that to the visual angle.
 

Elania al'Manir

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I loved watching Moiraine work the First Oath when talking to the Whitecloaks. You can see her testing what will come out of her mouth.
Quoting this over here because I want to reply with a book thing.

At first I thought she was able to lie by proxy by telling the group to say she was a lady from a fallen house. I originally considered this not true, as House Damodred is still alive and kicking even after it loses the throne, but I suppose going from royal family to noble family is still falling. Or they could be making the fall even further in the show, removing the house completely, that remains to be seen.
 

Aduiavas Ida

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Yeah, Mashadar was great! Did it react to Mat taking the dagger (idiot!!) or just to their presence in general though?

I also liked that we did get the story of Manetheren, but it didn't have quite the same feel when delivered by a weak Moiraine on horseback rather than one strong woman holding back a mob, but it was still cool :)
 
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Juliya Karisu

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I loved the song. Just loved it. And Moiraine's speech about Manetheren - that was a long one! But captivating.
 

Juliya Karisu

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Okay sorry for Double Post, but there is one thing that annoyed me.

Are they portraying channeling as something that has to be done with the hands? Which is why the Whitecloaks cut that Aes Sedai's hands off? And all Moiraine's gestures?

They learn in the White Tower that you should not use hand motions because then you'll forever have to use the motion to channel that weave. It's a weakness. For example, if you were tied up, or buried underground, or whatever and couldn't move your hands, then you would still be able to channel. From the books, people are not able to tell a woman is channeling, and the other Aes Sedai can only tell with the glow.

So are they changing all of this in the show??
 

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I had a comparable reaction to the mention of the "blind Aes Sedai". While the visually impaired could certainly channel, it seems unlikely the White Tower would have the patience to teach someone the dexterity needed to pass the Accepted test. That's not to say it's impossible, but it's something that really kicked me out of the world for the moment.
 

Aintza Bisera

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If she had the foretelling I think they very much would go to the trouble.

But I see it from both sides.

I think they are leaning into the hand motions to make it easier for non-WoTers to understand.
 

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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Moiraine’s speech was just incredible, I think it was important to help establish the world and demonstrate the depth of what Jordan created.

And I think using the hand motions is a theatrical decision. It doesn’t bother me too much.
 

Siusane al'Cuyler

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I thought Mashadar would have been more misty/cloudy, rather than spider-webby and creeping. I was pissed that it took out that horse.

ooh i saw that coming when they left the horses outside instead of bringing them in, which i believe they did in the books? i felt so bad for the horse but i eventually decided it was a good way to show how dangerous the shadow was.

i also expected more mist but what they did seemed like a more literal shadow to go with Shadow’s Waiting.
 

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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I thought it was creepier how they portrayed it. Though I can definitely see the floor is lava memes coming.
 
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After my first watch, I was a little dissappointed that Mordeth wasn't in Shadar Logoth to trick Mat, but I just rewatched and there is a shadow that catches Mat's eye and leads him to it. I suppose this is the show's way of handling it without another character.

I was also a huge fan of the Manetheren story (the queen's fate foreshadwing Egwene) and the wolf coming up to Perrin (goldeneyes). We all know the RJ was a fan of foreshadowing and its sweet to see Rafe leaving these easter egs for us to find!

Lastly, MASHIARA. What a song to end on as Nyn finds Lan! You love to see it.
 

Morrighan Daghdera

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Yeah, Mashadar was great! Did it react to Mat taking the dagger (idiot!!) or just to their presence in general though?

I also liked that we did get the story of Manetheren, but it didn't have quite the same feel when delivered by a weak Moiraine on horseback rather than one strong woman holding back a mob, but it was still cool :)
I thought Mashadar reacted more to night falling? Maybe that’s just me though. :p
 

Jocasta Braithe

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Okay sorry for Double Post, but there is one thing that annoyed me.

Are they portraying channeling as something that has to be done with the hands? Which is why the Whitecloaks cut that Aes Sedai's hands off? And all Moiraine's gestures?

They learn in the White Tower that you should not use hand motions because then you'll forever have to use the motion to channel that weave. It's a weakness. For example, if you were tied up, or buried underground, or whatever and couldn't move your hands, then you would still be able to channel. From the books, people are not able to tell a woman is channeling, and the other Aes Sedai can only tell with the glow.

So are they changing all of this in the show??

I saw an interview where Rosamund Pike said that Rafe very much let her choose her own style, and that she needed to feel it in her body in order to adequately portray it. She likened it to a dance, where saidar was flowing through her and she was surrendered to its motions. It's not the same as the book but I liked her explanation.
 

Yenie Antagar

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Really early on in New Spring Moiraine thinks about how odd it is that the weaves for the Aes Sedai test that not a single one of them requires hand gestures because a lot of other weaves do.
Also is something about how the other channeling groups mock Aes Sedai a bit for their hand gestures in the series.
 
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I personally love every single thing about how they adapted Shadar Logoth. Just re-read that bit mining it for quotes for tumblr and yup this is a massive improvement. The semi-sentience is such a perfect way to compress "evil that grew at the heart of the city" and something that can kinda-sorta be a person, or possess a person, and also be a "mindless" fog.

Also, since no one's mentioned the whistle sound cue ... in S1E1, there's a J-cut from the Fade entering on Winternight and Padan arriving the next day with his whistle as the audio lead. The same whistle shows up again in Shadar Logoth when Mat is being lured out.

I also am just bursting with theories about this sequence. Mat gives Perrin a dagger, then finds one? That's ... coincidental. Also only Mat wakes up? Only the one guy who might maybe have some self-preservation instincts warring with his impulses toward nobility? Only the one who can be tempted by treasure, and some traits a city killed by its own self-interest could capitalize on? Like... mashadar and Ordeith want out. Being this deliberate and crafty about it? oooooooooo chills.
 

Azlan Marenellin

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Of the three episodes, I found this one to be the most immersive.

I'm curious about the seeming friendliness of the regular Whitecloaks with Questioners, but also the fact that they're referred to as Questioners. I would have preferred the book insignias, because they make the different positions and ranks in the Children a lot more obvious.
I cried during Moiraine's Manetheren speech. I couldn't help it. She told the story perfectly, even if it was displaced.

I was a little bothered by the bats. I think that was the point. I did like how they subtly showed Moiraine's warding.

Shadar Logoth was perfect. Mashadar was different than I imagined, but not different enough to break immersion. I never noticed the whistling by Fain in the first episode, so I didn't associate it with him in this one, but it was a great little carrot for Mat.

Overall, I can't find anything meaningful to take issue with.

Excellent episode, especially for a first season.
 
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I had mashadar as more of a misty fog in my head. But this will work


No Mordeth though. Not sure what to make of that. Maybe we’ll get a Padan Fain flashback at some point.
 
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