So, they took about half of one of the books (the second one?) and distilled it down to just one episode. Nice. (Note, that's not really a complaint.)
I have to admit, I recognized the women right away. Couldn't remember what they were called, but that was pretty much exactly the way I imagined them from reading the book. Didn't have to hear a word of dialog or even see the stick-things. I just knew the instant I saw her.
Not very surprised that they took away the collars. Not only was that a little too dominatrix but the collars made them a real obvious ripoff of the Wheel of Time's sul'dam (though the sul'dam weren't dominatrix-like in the slightest).
You know, I'm beginning to realize the benefits of watching a TV show based on a book series I only moderately liked. I get to critique the show and compare it to the book without getting really defensive of the ideas and plot of the book. I like to note the differences mentally as I watch and wonder why the writers decided to change it like that, instead of griping about how they mangled it.