Wheel of Time S3

[OB1]

It is an adaptation of one of the best sequences in fantasy literature...hearing they stuck thst landing might be enough to reel me back in.

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I've been enjoying S3 overall, but yeah, this episode is just next level, and worth a watch on it's own even if you're not going to watch the whole series. Honestly, I remember how I felt when I read it, and was pretty blown away, but I'd say what I just watched hit me even harder.

My brain wants to compare it to The Red Wedding sequence for some reason (which I had also read first and watched second, and was strongly impacted by both) but whereas the Red Wedding was powerfully shocking, it also eventually led me to understand the depravity of Martin's work (even if it took me several episodes into HoD to finally accept that and stop consuming his work), this episode I think resonates with Jordan's humanity and the incredible themes I've seen woven into the first 8 books and makes me want to finish the book series as soon as humanly possible.

 

[Parmandur]

I've been enjoying S3 overall, but yeah, this episode is just next level, and worth a watch on it's own even if you're not going to watch the whole series. Honestly, I remember how I felt when I read it, and was pretty blown away, but I'd say what I just watched hit me even harder.

My brain wants to compare it to The Red Wedding sequence for some reason (which I had also read first and watched second, and was strongly impacted by both) but whereas the Red Wedding was powerfully shocking, it also eventually led me to understand the depravity of Martin's work (even if it took me several episodes into HoD to finally accept that and stop consuming his work), this episode I think resonates with Jordan's humanity and the incredible themes I've seen woven into the first 8 books and makes me want to finish the book series as soon as humanly possible.

Yeah, as great a writer as Martin is, Game of Thrones just ends up being a vapid exercise in cynicism spinning it's wheels out in the mud.

The astonishing thing about the Wheel of Time is that in the end it all matters, everyone and everything has a meaning and purpose, even the parts that were slower and frustrating at first blush. The overall thesis of the series really ends up being thst everything and everyone matters, and choices have meaning and value even if they seem pointless in the short run.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Yeah, as great a writer as Martin is, Game of Thrones just ends up being a vapid exercise in cynicism spinning it's wheels out in the mud.

The astonishing thing about the Wheel of Time is that in the end it all matters, everyone and everything has a meaning and purpose, even the parts that were slower and frustrating at first blush. The overall thesis of the series really ends up being thst everything and everyone matters, and choices have meaning and value even if they seem pointless in the short run.

The themes you mentioned (everyone and everything has a meaning and purpose) are explored in a great conversation between Moiraine and Rand just before he enters the glass columns and she enters the rings.

But seriously, it's no lie that S3E4 is an amazing visual storytelling of an amazing sequence from the book. Season 3 has been really good so far, but this is by far the best episode yet released.

 

[Mallus]

I haven’t read the books, but S03E04 is pretty much all I want out of epic fantasy onscreen.

(outside of an evil wine mom in a chainmail dress blowing up a church)

 

[TheSword]

Some clever bits I liked…

- Gaebril convincing those around him that he and Morgase have been in love for a decade using compulsion even though he has only been released a few months before. There’s a little pause with Leanne Shariff when he compels her before she answers. Very subtle, very clever, and deeply sinister. A bit like the Rick and Morty - Total Rickall.

- Setting Elaida up as an adversary of Siuan (apart from being a red) by suggesting she failed the election to Amyrlin Seat and chose to leave the tower to go to Andor.

- Making Siuan likeable with exchanges likes the one with Matt. When she talks about her uncle huan rescuing children from the burning building.

- Everything with Lanfear… just everything.

- Matt - he is really coming into his own in Season 3. Finally both funny and likeable.

- Makes totally sense to go to the waste rather than go Tear - Waste - Tear.

 

[Parmandur]

I haven’t read the books, but S03E04 is pretty much all I want out of epic fantasy onscreen.

(outside of an evil wine mom in a chainmail dress blowing up a church)

No judgement, but that is oddly specific.

 

[LordBP]

Yeah, as great a writer as Martin is, Game of Thrones just ends up being a vapid exercise in cynicism spinning it's wheels out in the mud.

The astonishing thing about the Wheel of Time is that in the end it all matters, everyone and everything has a meaning and purpose, even the parts that were slower and frustrating at first blush. The overall thesis of the series really ends up being thst everything and everyone matters, and choices have meaning and value even if they seem pointless in the short run.

Martin based a lot of stuff in GOT on real life events.

The real-life events that inspired Game of Thrones' Red Wedding

https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Historical_Influences/

 

[Mallus]

No judgement, but that is oddly specific.

It’s a reference to Cersei destroying the Grand Sept in GoT. I think of that scene often.

GoT, even with its disappointing end is the better show, but boy did the latest episode of WoT capture the essence of mall bookstore epic fantasy that enthralled me in my youth. And the acting quality was pretty close.

 

[Parmandur]

Martin based a lot of stuff in GOT on real life events.

The real-life events that inspired Game of Thrones' Red Wedding

https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Historical_Influences/

He put a thousand years of atrocities into like a 2 year window. That's cynical and twisted.

 

[OB1]

Martin based a lot of stuff in GOT on real life events.

The real-life events that inspired Game of Thrones' Red Wedding

https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Historical_Influences/

Yes, but I've come to realize that the historical inspiration is just cover for Martin's preference of the fantasy of extreme violence towards women and homosexuals. Yes, Martin, we know that's how our world was (is) but Westeros is your Fantasy world and you are choosing to add those elements to it.