"Wheel of Time" S1 Finale Review
by Chelsea House, GGR Chief Media Correspondent
Spoilers Below
I’m going to do this a little differently. I’ve tried hard to not be a super book nerd in these reviews, but this particular episode needs it in some places. So, instead of going scene by scene, I’m going to go story arc by story arc with book jargon thrown at the end of each one. That way if you don’t want the book spoilers or just want to enjoy the episode for what it was, you have that option. This also means a longer review. Feel free to skip around. With that, let’s jump in.
Cold Opener:
There is yet another surprise cold opener this episode. It involves Lews Therin (Alexander Karim), The Dragon Reborn, and Latra (Katie Brayben). The Tamyrlin Seat. They are discussing whether Lews should try and cage The Dark One or not. Latra expresses her concern that if he tries to do this, The Dark One will touch the male side of the power, tainting it and sending male wielders to chaos, which could also set them back thousands of years. Lews seems unshaken by this statement, though, believing that caging him is the only way to go, and that if the females help, there won’t be a problem. There’s a baby that begins crying and Latra gets up to leave, reminding Lews that no decisions had been made yet, and she leaves. Therin gets up and comforts the baby and the camera pans to the window which shows a very futuristic world and a city that seems to be thriving.
Book Talk:
There are a few things that bothered me about this cold opener. It does its due diligence of introducing the world before The Dragon caused The Breaking to occur, as it is set 3,000 years ago in what is known as “The Age of Legends”, showing just how civilized and advanced the world had become, and just how far it did fall. It also lightly explains the plot of Lews Therin causing the taint in the male power. What it doesn’t explain, though, is that the Aes Sedai had already been battling the Dark One for a while and we’re losing. This was their last effort to rid the world of him. It also calls Lews Therin “The Dragon Reborn”, which isn’t correct, because he was The Dragon. It could possibly be the show’s nod to the wheel never having a beginning and end – but in this particular story – Lews Therin was a beginning. He caused The Breaking of the World as well as the taint to the male side of The Power, Saidin. The scene makes Therin look like there’s no desperation and he’s just making a rash decision. Which I feel would have added a little more to the importance of his choice, also allowing the audience to feel more empathy towards him, as well as placing more importance on the mission the Aes Sedai have in gentling male channelers because of how dangerous they can be. I will say that if you look at the Origin Stories “The Breaking of the World”, it does explain this a little better. I just don’t feel you should have to look at extra content to get something that could have been explained in a casual conversation.
Moiraine and Rand:
Rand and Moiraine work their way through The Blight. Moiraine tells Rand not to touch anything because The Blight is basically a rot, only to then tell him that they’re going to sleep for a minute. I guess it turns off for sleep. Rand has a dream in which Moiraine is stabbed by a fiery eyed man. Rand shoots him with an arrow only for him to... well it’s hard to explain. Basically, it doesn’t work and there’s a face under all that fire and coal. This is who Rand calls The Dark One (Fares Fares). The Dark One says a few things here –
1) He calls Rand Lews Therin
2) He talks of Rand’s real father briefly, and
3) He mocks Rand for not even knowing how to use The Power yet.
It’s all a nod to how helpless Rand really is to this man. In the dream, Rand decides to stab himself to wake up, which works. There’s a little déjà vu as Moiraine asks him what he dreamed and explains that dreams are important in The Blight. Rand refuses to tell her and demands to know what her plan is once they get to The Eye. She shows him a sa’angreal she’s been carrying. She tells him that when Rand channels through it, it will increase his power a hundred-fold. All he has to do is send The Dark One back to prison for another 3,000 years.
“Just that?” Rand says with some very justifiable snark.
When they stop to take yet another rest on these Blight trees they’re not supposed to touch, he asks Moiraine if she can teach him how to channel, which she annoyingly declines because it may make him go insane faster. Instead, she shares a story with him that is supposed to convince him that when it’s needed, the power will be there for him without even trying.
They get to the eye, which looks like a huge hole in the ground, and Rand begins to remember being there through the memories of Lews Therin. They walk down to the very center of what looks to be an ancient ruin with a large symbol in the middle. Moiraine admits that the Aes Sedai don’t know what this place is, the dark friends burned all evidence from the libraries. Rand begins remembering (and if you catch it – says the words “I fought”) that there was a battle there with The Dark One. He bends down to touch the symbol and is launched into a dreamlike state.
In the dream Rand is married to Egwene with a child (Perhaps the one from Min’s vision). They live in a cozy shack in the mountains and everything seems perfect. While he’s in a trance, Moiraine tries to wake him. The Dark One shows up, she foolishly tries to attack him, and without barely lifting a finger – he stills her. Or, possibly just shields her from using the power. Back inside the dream, Rand is confused and makes Egwene prove to him that it’s really her. She does by answering a question only both of them would know. The Dark One shows up and begins to tempt Rand by telling him that with the power he possesses, he can shape the world to what he wants. The Dark One teases Moiraine, questioning whether Rand will choose The Light or The Dark. Moiraine pulls out a dagger and states that she knows he can’t escape without Rand’s help, and should Rand choose The Dark – she will choose for him.
Rand asks The Dark One how he can make the dream real, and so The Dark One gives him a lesson on how to channel. Rand takes advantage and begins to channel into the sa’angreal. He remembers that this world may be what he wants, but it’s not what Egwene wants. What’s supposed to be the “Final boss scene” here feels a lot like the end of Fable. We get a really pretty flash of light that supposedly blows The Dark One away, although by his smirk, we know that’s not the case, and that’s basically it. But Rand thinks he did it – and I guess that’s good enough. He asks Moiraine one final request – that she say that he didn’t make it. He’s worried that he will go mad and kill everyone and wants to keep them safe. She nods and he walks off back into The Blight.
Book Talk:
In the books, The Blight is a direct connection to The Dark One’s touch, or how weak his prison is getting. It is a rot that kills everything living, except for dark monsters. It’s a pretty big deal in the book – as you could see in the show – it swallowed all of Malkier. We don’t really get the impression that it’s a dangerous place, though. Moiraine warns Rand not to touch anything – but then they sleep and rest at least twice while in it, which feels super contradictory. You also see a few bodies of dead explorers, but nothing else to add to the intensity or suspense. A simple growl of a monster, or the throwing in of a “stick” (limbs that tried to choke passerby's) here or there would have been really nice. Heck, even Lan could have fought off a trolloc or two while he was tracking Rand and Moiraine. This is the finale – every edge of your seat trick should be thrown in.
“The Dark One” is NOT in fact The Dark One. And this one annoys me more than anything. It’s only very slightly hinted at as to what he is. Remember episode 5 when Stepin is trying to ward off “The Forsaken?” Those little statues? We see eight. Well, my friends, that is what “The Dark One” presented here is. He’s a Forsaken and his name is Ishamael, also known as “The Father of Lies”. When Lews Therin trapped The Dark One, he also trapped his Forsaken with him. I’m just not sure why this wasn’t explained a little more? Why not let The Dark One be the Big Bad Boss with his Forsake goonies being the Minis? With Ishamael’s power being what it is, it only adds to the buildup of what will have to happen to win The Last Battle. The chicanery just feels unnecessary.
Lan and Nynaeve:
Nynaeve tries to comfort a distraught Lan. She lets him know Moiraine has a tell, and she will show him how if he brings Rand back. They have a touching conversation and then he goes off to find his Aes Sedai. I know a lot of people felt this scene was unearned, maybe even a little too soon, however, I disagree. Not just because I’m a romance sap, but because with the intensity of battle, the possibility of losing someone, the things they’ve seen together, and the night they just shared – it’s really the first super sweet thing he’s said to her that wasn’t just implied.
Egwene meets with her on a balcony and they try to listen to the wind. Nynaeve can’t hear anything, but Egwene hears something really bad coming. They, along with Perrin and Loial, go to gang up on poor Min, demanding to know what she told Moiraine about Rand. Min says people’s secrets remain just that. Egwene asks if she can at least tell them the outcome – to which Min just says that everything she’s ever seen comes to pass. She then begins to see visions of dead soldiers and Nynaeve catching on fire before a horn blows.
Lord Agelmar, his sister Amalisa, and their men go to the balcony to look and see what’s going on. There are hordes of trollocs and fades on their way. Agelmar says he ‘will take his men to The Gap, turns to Lord Yakota (Amar Chadha-Patel) and says “You know what to do”. Yakota and team nod and head off. Amalisa insists twice that “The Gap will not hold”. Agelmar, like the best of big brothers, completely ignores her.
Lan is now in The Blight (I guess he just ran past the trollocs? Is that just me who thought this? Maybe I didn’t see the map right, or my timing is off. I don’t know – it's hard to keep up with hordes of trollocs that just show up out of nowhere). He gives an emotional look at Malkier, and then continues to just... well... walk through The Blight.
Agelmar and Amalisa have a touching conversation about armor and their father. He states that he needs his armor, not their father’s. Amalisa states one more time that the gap cannot hold. Agelmar gives a super touching and encouraging speech about how the gap will fall and so will the city and then the Dark One is going to burn everything because The Last Battle is coming. Talk about a rally cry. He then says that they are sending messengers to hopefully buy the rest of the world enough time to win the war. Amalisa states that she won’t let the city down, and I find myself being disappointed that I don’t get at least one more “The Gap will not hold” from her.
And here we are, friends. The epic season finale battle scene. The one almost every reviewer has been hoping will happen, the one that they feel Amazon spent most of their budget on, the one that should leave us all talking about it for weeks to come. Lord Agelmar and crew valiantly ride to The Gap, the one that will not hold, to take their places in the wall.
Meanwhile back at the city, the women are preparing for the battle to come to them. Amalisa shows up in their father’s armor, which looks pretty sweet on her, and explains that they’re allowing everyone to flee except those born and raised in Fal Dar. She gives orders to everyone, and requests every woman who can channel to come meet her.
Back to Agelmar and his team. They’re armed with crossbows and await the first attack. There’s noise of battle in the air. The tension is rising. The camera pans to the trollocs and fades... and oh man, the CGI... oof. That’s all I can say. “May the last embrace of the Mother welcome you home” Agelmar whispers. And then it’s fight time. The fade screams, Agelmar screams “fire”, and then everyone screams. The trollocs begin climbing the gap, totally armed and ready with their trusty handy pickaxes. Amalisa is standing in a wide-open area between The Gap and the city. She is joined by two other women and Egwene and Nynaeve. Agelmar gets speared, and now the trollocs are headed towards the city.
Amalisa tells the other channelers that she needs their power. She combines their power using a circle and then lets loose a huge lightning bolt that wipes out the entirety of the trolloc army. Which begs the question – why didn’t she just go to The Gap? I digress. The power is too much for her to handle and she can’t shut it off. She eventually burns up the other two channelers and almost burns up Egwene and Nynaeve, but Nynaeve begins to heal Egwene. When Amalisa dies it looks like Nynaeve also does. Egwene pulls a Tangled move, cries on her, and heals her. They hug it out. And that’s it. That’s the long-awaited epic battle.
Lan finds Moiraine sitting helplessly on the stone ground. He asks where Rand is, to which she says he’s gone. He then asks her to unmask the bond and she tells him that she can’t touch the source and begins to sob. She shows him the piece of stone she’s holding and announces that it’s called cuendillar. Lan calls it heartstone and says he thought it couldn’t be broken, not even by the One Power. She confirms this and says that this was a sign that it was not The Last Battle, but the first.
Book Talk:
1) Moiraine never got stilled / shielded from The Power. In fact, it is her channeling that, just like in the series, gets our team through a lot of hurtles. Again, I’m trying to embrace the changes that have been made, so I’m suppressing a lot of judge. I do think it’s fair to ask what the heck they’re going to do with that storyline, though. Unless they’re planning on speeding up an inevitable thing that happens that book readers will know, but audiences will not (No spoilers). That's the only thing that would make sense to me here.
2) Whereas I love the girls getting to do their party trick, this should have been Rand’s shining hour. Egwene and Nynaeve have already gotten their time in the sun throughout the show. This was an opportunity to show how powerful Rand really is, which would really make up for the reveal in episode seven. Instead, we yet again see Nynaeve and Egwene doing their thing while Rand gets to shoot out a shiny light. In the books, he’s the one that wipes out a load of trollocs, and it’s impactful because he doesn’t have control of the power yet, so it’s like he did something awesome without even really trying. We get that cool line from Moiraine when she’s talking to Logain, that his power is a spark in comparison to what The Dragons will be. But here we sit with a disappointing shiny light. They could’ve easily tied this into his storyline and then had him run off after he was afraid of what he could do. I was so looking forward to this, the show was doing a good build up, and then I was just sorely let down.
Perrin:
You know, I’m not even going to go into Perrin a whole lot because well, he really doesn’t do anything. Literally. Does nothing. After he goes to the tavern with Min, he ends up with Lord Yakota, Loial, and team as they chisel up the Throne to get to something. Padan Fain, now accompanied by two fades, finds his way into the city and heads to the throne room. They’re digging up the Horn of Valere, the Horn to be blown during The Last Battle. It rallies The Patterns best warriors when blown, but it’s only to be blown by The Dragon. Perrin, who apparently wandered off at some point, hears swords clanging in the throne room and runs back to see Fain and the Fades slaughtering everyone. INCLUDING LOIAL. He also seems to have Mat’s dagger from Shadar Logath, and that’s the dagger that he STABBED LOIAL WITH. *Deep breath* The heck. And Perrin continues to do nothing.
Padan Fain gives a speech explaining that it wasn’t an accident that he and the trollocs came to the Two Rivers. He explains that all five of our team – Egwene, Nynaeve, Rand, Mat, and Perrin – are ta’veren: focal points of The Wheel. The Dark One wants them, and the world needs The Dark One for balance. It’s also interesting that while he says this, we see Mat walking towards what I think is Tar Valon. He picks up the horn, confirms that Rand going was a trap (just like the smirk on The Dark One’s face), and then walks off.
The end of the episode shows a fleet of ships looking pretty fierce. Channelers are on these vessels and cause a huge wave to go towards an otherwise peaceful beach and a little girl that was just playing in the friggin’ sand.
Final Thoughts:
I will watch the second season… I didn’t hate the first one. Even with all of my complaints I still found it a joy to watch. I’m just super disappointed that something that had such amazing and beautiful moments also possessed some really poor story telling. I mean this finale was just not good. The show went from not great to watchable, even lovable at times, and then right back to what-the-heck status. I don’t think it’s beyond repair though. The actors did seem to finally find their rhythm by the end of the show. The chemistry between the different leads began to shine through. The lack of time though, made some scenes feel cheaper than they should, or not earned. Again, this can be fixed with the simple addition of a few episodes. Robert Jordan’s world is so vast and rich with lore. The material is there. It just needs time to be hashed out a little more.
I absolutely hate what they did with Perrin and Mat. Both of them got done dirty in this season, arguably Perrin more than Mat, though. I’m sure a lot of Tom Merillin fans felt really disappointed. He was such a huge character in the first book and barely got any airtime at all. They just left him with the Fade. I did feel the show did a great job of portraying magic. They also had some of the most impactful scenes I’ve watched in a fantasy show. I don’t feel like this was a poor depiction of The Wheel of Time though, it just felt really clumsy in a lot of spots. That’s honestly the best way I have to describe it. Amazon has already renewed Wheel of Time for a second season, so I guess now it’s hurry-up-and-wait to see what they do with it. Until then!