S2E5 "Damane" -- w/ Book Spoilers

[Leira Galene]

Oh, also, Verin's outfit is everything I ever wanted for a Brown and I want it IRL desperately. It's perfect.

 

[Dorian Har'Locke]

The scene with Lanfear and Ishamael in TAR was just perfect, I love that they're capturing the petty bitchiness of the Forsaken towards each other

Something I never expected is that the show would make me be so much more interested in the villains. Liandrin, Lanfear, and Ishy are like... yeah they're interesting but I mean they're evil. In the show I'm really fascinated by them, all their actors are just killing it. I never in a million years would have expected to feel pity for Liandrin after she betrays the girls!

It really helps having actors who can bring the characters to life. It's the RDJ effect on Tony Stark, where comic writers actually found it a lot easier once they'd seen someone actually depict him being a lovable asshole, rather than their attempts to write one.

 

[rebornoldtimer]

I loved the weave-assembling collar. That was a surprise but the kind of thing I really flip out over. Hate everything else about suldam/damane, but if this is precedent for transforming te'rangreal and sa'angreal then I'm here for it in a big way. I swear, if Callandor is a lightsaber, I might lose my mind.

Indeed! I felt the collar was portrayed very well.

I hope that Callandor doesn't just appear to be silly when it eventually appears.

 

[Leira Galene]

Yeah, I quite liked the collar as well.

It really helps having actors who can bring the characters to life. It's the RDJ effect on Tony Stark, where comic writers actually found it a lot easier once they'd seen someone actually depict him being a lovable asshole, rather than their attempts to write one.

Definitely. Maybe I'm biased, because I like the show, but I feel like no matter what you think about the story changes you have to agree the casting is excellent, haha.

 

[Etrise al'Wiskanen]

I liked how the show-writers have decided to incorporate Verin's sabotaging of the Black Ajah early by having her lead the other Brown Aes Sedai to the realisation that there was a Black Ajah and that they had something to do with the wonder girls' disappearance without technically giving anything away.

 

[Dorian Har'Locke]

Yeah, I quite liked the collar as well.

Definitely. Maybe I'm biased, because I like the show, but I feel like no matter what you think about the story changes you have to agree the casting is excellent, haha.

I tend to agree. And it's very difficult for me to imagine these actors playing out a beat-for-beat adaptation, which I think is the point.

 

[Thaddius al'Guy]

Point of interest -

Most of the people posting on here have been here a long time, so you are all obviously massive fans of the books and possibly the series.

How many times do you watch the episodes?

For Season 1, I've probably seen the whole season a dozen times now.
For Season 2, I've watched each episode probably 3 times now.

 

[Aduiavas Ida]

Ok, finally watched this. After seeing the episode title, I knew I had to brace myself. I was right Still hate the Seanchan. Love the costumes, the actors, the setting, hate the concept. And if the preview for next episode is anything to go by, we're going to hate them more! That final scene when Egwene was collared was amazing, though I would have preferred if they did that straight away. How do the damane know how to shield someone, and how can they shield Egwene one their own, if she is so strong?

But the rest episode was great! Really looking forward to the next one!
First, Avihendha! Her introduction was perfect, fighting Whitecloaks and once again showing how good the Aiel are. I am sad that that means we probably won't get Gaul though This also combines so many things Perrin does in the first three books, and removes Faile so far. The Aiel in a cage, fighting Whitecloaks... And saving Dain's life, he's going to HATE that.

Ishamael and Lanfear scene is great. It confirms who of the Forsaken we will definitely meet. "the boys" are vague though...

I don't even want to touch whatever it is Moiraine and Rand is doing, we'll just have to wait and see with that one. As for the final scene, which one of the writers are into bondage? :P

 

[rebornoldtimer]

Ok, finally watched this. After seeing the episode title, I knew I had to brace myself. I was right Still hate the Seanchan. Love the costumes, the actors, the setting, hate the concept. And if the preview for next episode is anything to go by, we're going to hate them more! That final scene when Egwene was collared was amazing, though I would have preferred if they did that straight away. How do the damane know how to shield someone, and how can they shield Egwene one their own, if she is so strong?

But the rest episode was great! Really looking forward to the next one!
First, Avihendha! Her introduction was perfect, fighting Whitecloaks and once again showing how good the Aiel are. I am sad that that means we probably won't get Gaul though This also combines so many things Perrin does in the first three books, and removes Faile so far. The Aiel in a cage, fighting Whitecloaks... And saving Dain's life, he's going to HATE that.

Ishamael and Lanfear scene is great. It confirms who of the Forsaken we will definitely meet. "the boys" are vague though...

I don't even want to touch whatever it is Moiraine and Rand is doing, we'll just have to wait and see with that one. As for the final scene, which one of the writers are into bondage? :P

I never liked the Seanchan story-line in the books that much. I felt it was an unnecessary complication of the story-line, and I also feel it was never really completed in the books (though there are good reasons for this).

Aviendha is probably my favourite character in the series, so i was concerned about how she would be represented, but so far, its great!

The forsaken were always fascinating, and I wish Jordan had spent more time with them, but if he had they would probably have lost some of their mystique.

I guess 'the boys' are Asmoden and Sammael. I think Rahvin will be incorporated into Sammael, and its too early for Demandred to make an appearance.

As for Agninor, Balthamel, and Be'Lal, I don't think they will make an appearance at all, but I hope I'm wrong!

 

[Aduiavas Ida]

Another detail I didn't consider; Liandrin really isn't good with subtlety. When Verin meets her and mentions her being away, she immediately shows the white asparagus, as if she knew she would need an alibi. No one asked you to prove anything Liandrin!

 

[Teavin Calayna]

This was my favorite episode by far and I don't have a problem with the changes they've made. It would be impossible to do a truly faithful adaptation but it would also be boring. I don't want a 1 for 1 retelling but want to see a different turning of the same story. I'd like to see more of Mat too but it's true he doesn't do very much until book 4 and neither does Perrin for the most part. They have to change and condense things even if it's not liked entirely but Wheel of Time is a massive story to adapt for TV and doesn't have the luxury of the books in having parts that can plod along for pages and pages

 

[Megana Vallentin]

Another detail I didn't consider; Liandrin really isn't good with subtlety. When Verin meets her and mentions her being away, she immediately shows the white asparagus, as if she knew she would need an alibi. No one asked you to prove anything Liandrin!

I loved this tbh. It was actually a legit cover but Liandrin was *so bad* at it and Verin is smart enough to not give her the benefit of a doubt either!

 

[Merena Orithana]

So do you think Verin knows about Liandrin now?

And maybe Sheriam too?

 

[Nadezhda al'Lanahrin]

I think that Verin thinks that Sheriam was Compelled. But I was totally thinking they were gonna out Sheriam early.

 

[Gregorin da’Caar]

I really enjoyed this episode.

I’m not super worried about the lack of Mat. I have a feeling they’re trying to course correct him somehow from season 1, and not making it a huge obvious thing.

Loved the Ishy/Lanfear stuff.

Loved Avihenda’s introduction. Thought the fight was great.

I’ve got a friend unfamiliar with the books who is loving this season (“holy shit! Black ajah??” - direct quote lol) so the writers are doing something right.

On the whole I’ve enjoyed season 2 way more than season 1, and I hope the upward trend continues.

 

[Nadezhda al'Lanahrin]

I like the new Mat much better, to be honest.

 

[Megana Vallentin]

I think that Verin thinks that Sheriam was Compelled. But I was totally thinking they were gonna out Sheriam early.

Same! If we're witnessing Verin's investigations rather than Verin-already-knows-all-the-things, that's really fascinating to me. It will be cool if we get to see her watching Sheriam now since she knows *something* is up even if she's not totally sure what yet.

 

[Anika Forsyn]

Ok the producers made a mistake in casting/writing Verin and Liandrin CUZ ITS THEIR SHOW NOW!!!

 

[Jocasta Braithe]

I yelped out loud the first time "Tel'aran'rhiod" and "Black Ajah" were mentioned.

Best episode so far.