So much happens in episode six of The Wheel of Time’s third season. Mat reunites with an old friend, the Tanchico crew hunt for clues and learn to party, and Egwene tries to learn how to defend herself in Tel’aran’rhiod. Rand confronts his power, Moghedien spins a web, and we learn more about Liandrin’s plans.
Recap
“The Shadow in the Night” opens with a flashback to Liandrin, the child bride, having recently given birth to her son. Liandrin kills her husband with the One Power and escapes into the streets. Ishamael appears and offers her help.
Lanfear visits Liandrin in the Dream version of the White Tower. She charges Liandrin with finding out which of the Black Ajah is working for Rahvin. In the waking world, Liandrin tells her followers about a statue called the collared man, which depicts a male channeler wearing a collar and two Aes Sedai wearing bracelets that allow them to control them. The collar and the other bracelet are somewhere in Tanchico, and they must find them immediately.
Aviendha shows Rand the Aiel gardens, where Rhuarc’s granddaughter, Alsera (Julie Van Leeuwen) is tending squashes. After making cultural faux-pas towards the girl, Rand handles it as an Aiel should, pleasing Aviendha.
The injured Perrin is brought back to the Two Rivers inn, but Alanna is too injured and weak herself to Heal him. Faile advises Perrin on how to be a leader.
Mat and Elayne talk to people in the night market, flirting as they ask about the bracelet and collar. Mat is delighted to see discover that Thom survived the fight with the Myrddraal and is in Tanchico, though Thom is less pleased to see Mat.
In a tavern, Min tries to get Nynaeve to loosen up, and tells her about her visions. She finds a man who is going to be killed by one of Liandrin’s cohort, and learns where they are staying.
Egwene seeks Bair and Melaine’s help with learning how to fight Lanfear in the Dream. Lanfear appears and is able to bind Egwene and dress her as a damane. She taunts Egwene, telling her that Rand knows everything about who Lanfear is, and what she is doing to Egwene.
Rand and Moiraine discuss their experiences in Rhuidean without giving many specifics. Rand has recognized the Sakarnen, and advises Moiraine not to surrender to its power as she is accustomed to doing as a female channeler.
Faile tells Perrin her story, how she left to join the Hunt for the Horn after her mother told Faile that she was a Darkfriend, and that she wanted Faile to become one as well. Faile’s brother was killed by their mother, and Faile blames herself. Perrin tells Faile the truth about Laila’s death.
Padan Fain (Johann Myers) and some men arrive at the Whitecloak camp, disguised as reinforcements from the Children of the Light, offering to help with their Two Rivers problem.
Thom recognizes Elayne as the Daughter Heir of Andor. Some of the bar patrons have come to suspect her identity as well, but Thom intercedes, claiming that she is his assistant. To prove it, Elayne performs the song “Hills of Tanchico” while Thom accompanies.
Nyomi has discovered that the collar is hidden somewhere in the Panarch’s palace. Liandrin plans to become one of the Chosen. She kills Nyomi. The aftermath of the murder is witnessed by Ispan (Olumide Olorunfemi).
As Alanna nears death, Mat’s sisters Bode (Litiana Biutanaseva) and Eldrin (Lilibet Biutanaseva) arrive to thank her for helping in their rescue. Alanna realizes that the girls can channel, and instructs them in how to Heal her.
Perrin tells Faile about being a wolfbrother, and confesses that the Horn has already been found, and blown by his friend Mat. She is annoyed, but distracted when he kisses her. They are interrupted by Alanna, who offers Perrin Healing.
Nynaeve and Min meet up with the others and are introduced to Thom. As they are leaving to go back to their rooms, Mat is approached by a man who found the bracelet Mat was looking for.
In Tel’aran’rhiod, Moghedien interrogates Ispan, who is waiting for Rahvin. Ispan confesses that Liandrin killed Nyomi and wants to become a Forsaken, and that some of the five that the Dark One is hunting are in Tanchico. Moghedien brutally kills her.
Moghedien goes to Elayne and Nynaeve’s room, where she casts a weave on them that makes them eager to please her. The two tell Moghedien everything about their hunt for Liandrin and the bracelet and collar. Moghedien demands that they hand it over and Nynaeve resists before giving in. They promise to obey her, and Moghedien cuts Nynaeve’s cheek with her ring. When she is gone the girls struggle to remember what happened, and are horrified to discover that the bracelet is missing.
Egwene confronts Rand about Lanfear, and Rand admits that he knows who she is. Rand points out that Egwene has always wanted more than him, has always chosen something else for herself. He is hurt, but respects her too. Egwene asks if Rand knew what Lanfear has been doing to her, and Rand is horrified to hear about the torture in Tel’aran’rhiod.
They are attacked suddenly by Sammael and Shaido Aiel. Rand is knocked down but Egwene fights back, joined by Aviendha wielding flaming spears. Sammael overwhelms them. Suddenly, Rand begins to channel, wielding lightning and tearing the building down onto Sammael.
Aviendha realizes that Alsera was on the upper floor of the building. Rand finds her body and desperately tries to bring her back to life with the One Power. He struggles, calling on increasing amounts of the Power, until Moiraine is able to break through to him.
In the Two Rivers, Faile, Bain, and Chiad witness an army of Trollocs emerge from the Waygate.
Commentary
Okay, I’ll just say it. “The Hills of Tanchico” slaps. I am mildly obsessed.
I’m also so impressed by the portrayal of Elayne’s character in season three. I complained in my reviews of season two and in the first few episodes of season three because Elayne had been introduced but hadn’t actually been used at all, or given any kind of development. This was, perhaps, unfair of me. There’s nothing wrong with waiting for a while to flesh out a new character; it is a perfectly normal thing for a story to do, especially one with so many characters and plot lines to deal with. But I have always thought that Elayne was a fascinating character, and have been very eager to see what the show would make of her.
Elayne’s portrayal, in text or on screen, could easily slip into being a tired trope: the sheltered princess who wants to get out and see the world, who longs for a challenge in her life, and even a little danger, but has no idea what she’s getting herself into. It’s a trope that Jordan mostly avoids with Elayne—perhaps leaning into it a little in the earlier books, but quickly moving on to establish her as more interesting and complex—and the show has avoided the trope as well. Yes, Elayne was overconfident in her ability to pass herself off as a Tanchican; she believed that extensive study of books and memorization of local customs and place names would give her the same understanding as a native, and held to that, despite the fact that she was pegged as an outsider almost immediately. But on the other hand, she rose to the challenge of portraying Tom’s “assistant” in a way that didn’t just surprise him, but impressed him.
It’s clear by now that this isn’t the last time the Daughter-Heir of Andor is going to surprise and impress us, and now that we know both her and Aviendha better, I feel like I can see why the two women fell for each other. I loved their relationship from the beginning, especially as a book fan, but I have been waiting for this understanding since that relationship developed off-screen and between seasons. Aviendha and Elayne seem to share a similar spirit— a mix of mischievousness and responsibility, a brazenness that they can usually (but not always) back up. I’m a little sorry that the former Maiden of the Spear wasn’t there in Tanchico to see her lover’s performance.
Speaking of spears, Aviendha’s flame spear was so cool. So cool.
All-in-all, I thought Ceara Coveney’s acting really shone in every scene in this episode, but particularly when Elayne and Nynaeve were being interviewed by Moghedien. Zoë Robins and Laia Costa had more to do (and they did it fabulously) as Nynaeve tried to resist Moghedien’s control and became particularly interesting to Moghedien as a result. Most of Coveney’s acting was reactionary, but she held her own in the scene and it was probably my favorite of the entire episode.
It’s hard to say that, though, because this entire episode was incredible. From Elayne’s performance, to Perrin and Faile falling for each other, to Egwene and Rand’s painful breakup, every scene gave the actors the ability to shine, both in comedy and serious moments.
Speaking of comedy, it is nice to see Thom again. I admit, I have a tendency to forget about him when he’s not on screen, and he’s not the most interesting character in the show by any means. However, Mat’s excitement and pleasure in seeing him helped me key back into the character, and “The Hills of Tanchico” is by far the most fun of any song he’s played so far on the show. So, hello to Thom and welcome back. It’s pretty cool you didn’t die.
Also Thom makes mention of having once been at the Andoran court, which is a new little bit of intrigue for the viewer.
We’ve learned more this week about the politics of the Forsaken, including that they’ve been recruiting members of Liandrin’s cabal for their own ends. Liandrin’s story has also added yet another interesting new twist, which is the fact that she was recruited by Ishamael when she was very young, and in a very vulnerable position. Ishamael appears to be the original recruiter of all the Black Ajah members, though some have since begun to work for other members of the Forsaken—or the Chosen, as they call themselves. Liandrin’s revelation that she intends to become one of the Chosen is interesting as well, particularly because it is treated as shocking by her fellows.
However, it doesn’t really seem that surprising to me—why else would one become a Darkfriend if not in hopes of being the leader of them one day? Granted, my knowledge of the books—in which there are many Darkfriends running around with various degrees of competency, and a lot of time is spent exploring what it means to be ambitious within their ranks—may be coloring my reaction slightly. But I do think that the show needs to get into the motivation of the Black Ajah members (and other Darkfriends) a little bit more, so that we can better understand what the stakes are for them.
This is probably exactly where things are headed, if the opening scene with Liandrin is any indication. I am very eager to learn more about Ishamael’s recruitment of Liandrin and what it means for her character, but also for the mechanics of becoming a Darkfriend. In this episode, Nynaeve wonders if Tanchico is the reason Liandrin became the way she is, and the audience has seen a lot of evidence that this is indeed the case. Can we blame that young mother for being seduced by Ishamael after the horror that she went through and the way that everyone in the city treated her requests for help?
It will also be interesting to see if there is an interplay between Lanfear’s claim to want to escape her oaths and the revelation that Liandrin was a victim long before she became a villain. Is it possible to regret one’s oaths to the Dark, and return to the Light? Is Lanfear sincere in her desire to repent? Does Liandrin deserve our empathy when she continues to choose power and kill anyone who gets in her way?
I don’t think Lanfear is going to be getting any more empathy from Rand, in any case. Rafe Judkins promised going into this season that the show was going to spend more time on Rand and Egwene’s breakup than the book did, and it’s been a really beautiful arc. I felt for both characters in their scene together; neither was blameless in the ending of their relationship, but neither was really at fault, either. Madden and Stradowski absolutely crushed the scene, and I felt so deeply for both Egwene and Rand.
The set up for their confrontation was the equally impressive scene in which Egwene was imprisoned by Lanfear in Tel’aran’rhiod. Egwene showed her intelligence and her ruthless side as she fought back against Liandrin, despite her fear and her disadvantage. First she tried insisting that Rand didn’t know the truth about who Lanfear was. When that didn’t work, Egwene calmly searched her mind and Lanfear’s face for something that would—the accusation that Rand would be angry if he learned that Lanfear had laid hands on Egwene. This clearly struck a nerve, showing Lanfear’s doubt and vulnerability. And Egwene was right to anticipate Rand’s reaction—he didn’t know, and although Sammael’s attack interrupted whatever rage Rand was about to express, it seems clear that his opinion about Lanfear, and his belief in her trustworthiness, are going to be irrevocably altered. Lanfear may have anticipated this, as she attempted to frighten Egwene out of expressing the idea even as she insisted that Rand already knew everything.
One has to ask if Sammael is really dead. Yes, he was struck by lightning, but we saw Lanfear come back to life after having her throat cut, and so far only a blade forged by the One Power has proven to be able to slay them. Though the lightning was made of the One Power, so it is certainly possible that it was enough to do the job. Only time will tell, I suppose, but Sammael didn’t turn to dust like Ishamael did.
Alsera’s death was profoundly moving, and again I have to applaud the show for making an adjustment to events from the books. In the books there was an attack that resulted in a little girl’s death, and Rand does attempt to bring her back to life with the One Power. However, she was not someone Rand knew personally, nor was he present when she was killed. She died in a large attack and Rand feels responsible for her death, and that of other innocents, because he was not able to kill the Shadowspawn quickly enough. The scene is incredibly moving, but I really liked how the show chose to make its moment smaller and more personal, giving not only Rand but also the viewer a specific emotional attachment to Alsera. Also, Rand is more specifically responsible for Alsera’s death than he was for that of the little girl in the books; it was he, not Sammael, who brought down the building, and so Alsera was not killed by Shadowspawn Rand failed to stop in time but by Rand himself, however indirectly and accidentally.
Rand’s attack on Sammael is beautifully filmed. He isn’t even facing Sammael when he kills him; rather, Rand is focused on the One Power. With his back to Sammael, he gazes in rapture as saidin, and the accompanying taint, slides through his fingers, and after he has killed Sammael he wears an expression of peace, but an unsettling peace, like that experienced by a brainwashed cult member or someone on dangerous drugs. This is fitting not only because the experience of wielding the One Power is said to be highly addictive and to make reality feel more real, not unlike the effects of some drugs, but also because Rand isn’t just any channeler. He is the world’s most powerful channeler, one who is drawn to Power and to the Darkness, as the taint continues to infect him.
Earlier in the episode, he tells Moiraine that it is always calling to him, and that surrendering to it for an instant will mean his destruction. Rand appears to be speaking literally, saying that the power of saidin can physically destroy him, but we see also that there is a metaphorical destruction possible here: Being seduced by power and distracted by it led to Rand making a mistake. Even if he didn’t know that Alsera was upstairs, it’s clear that he wasn’t thinking about collateral damage, or even about the fact that he was killing someone. And his pain over Alsera’s death is both because he cared about her but also because he is guilty of that neglect.
It is an important lesson for anyone with power to learn, and I am very interested to see where Rand takes this lesson, and in what ways it is similar to, and different than, the books.
I could go on about how cute and perfect Faile and Perrin are, about how charming Mat continues to be, and about the fascinating way the show presents the culture of Tanchico, but a review has to end somewhere. I can’t wait to see the last two episodes, and the culmination of the arc this show has been building towards. Next week will clearly center around Perrin, since it is titled “Goldeneyes,” and we can assume that, with the title “He Who Comes with the Dawn,” the finale will focus on Rand being presented to the Aiel as their Car’a’carn.
Favorite quote:
In my experience, the happiest people are those that know the least.
Runner Up:
You don’t find it strange?
I do. But I don’t mind strange.
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