As the first episode of The Wheel of Time begins, Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike) talks about the world being in trouble because powerful men once believed they could cage darkness itself. When they failed, cities were burned and women of the Aes Sedai were left to pick up the pieces. The women remember the man who brought the breaking of the world who they called Dragon. The Dragon was reborn and is coming of age although they don’t know whether it was born a boy or girl. Then, we see two men running from Liandrin Guirale (Kate Fleetwood) and her group. Magic is used to stop the men from escaping until one man learns he is alone. His friend tells him to fight them and use it, but he is no match for Liandrin. She tells him the power is meant for women and women alone. He makes it filthy when he touches it so she kills him. Moiraine and Lan Mondragoran (Daniel Henney) watch everything from a cliff’s edge above and realize he isn’t the man they’re looking for.

With that out of the way, Moiraine believes they should head to The Two Rivers. She explains there are rumors of four there and all of them are the right age. Next, Egwene (Madeline Madden) goes to the river with her mother Marin (Lolita Chakrabarti), Mynaeve (Zoe Robins), and the other women. Her hair is braided, so she’ll know she is a part of them and they’re a part of her. She is officially added as a member of the Women’s Circle before being told to go with the flow of water and being pushed in. She struggles in the water at first, but eventually relaxes and floats down to the water’s edge. Meanwhile, Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski) walks with his father Tam (Michael McElhatton). They talk about old times and the fact something is pushing the wolves down from the mountains. Tam mentions that Rand used to pick berries when he was little and always made sure there were some for Egwene. They make it to the town nearby where everyone is drinking in the pub.

Mat Cauthon (Barney Harris) approaches Rand and the others in hopes of taking their money during a gambling match, but he loses more money. He wants to play more, but Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) and Rand want to chat. Once he sits down, Perrin tells them about the folks who went down to Taren Ferry with wool last week and found the town full of soldiers and mercenaries heading south. There is supposedly a war in Ghealdan. Mat doesn’t believe anything that Callie has to say though and quickly changes the conversation to another game. When they refuse to play with him, Mat turns his attention to Danya (Naana Agyei Ampadu) and her fancy bracelet. Egwene gets a round of applause when she enters and Rand is definitely happy to see her. Soon, everyone begins drinking to Egwene and her entry to the Women’s Circle. Later, Perrin asks Rand about the ceremony, but he doesn’t know since he hasn’t talked to Egwene yet.

Lan enters and introduces himself and Moiraine. Marin notices her ring and agrees to give her a stable and beds for the night. Perrin tells Rand that she looks normal. Rand tells her to be quiet since she might be able to hear them. He goes on to say the rumors claim one Aes Sedai can turn a battle on her own. Nynaeve interrupts and says they’ll be better and safer when Moiraine has gone whenever she is headed. Then, she reminds Perrin that Laila (Helena Westerman) is likely still working at the forge. He takes the hint and joins her at the forge moments later. Mat checks on his mother Natti (Juliet Howland) and finds his father Abell (Christopher Sciueref) with another woman. He asks about the girls although his mom is only interested in going after her husband. Mat takes her home to the girls before she tells him he is going to be just like his father. Meanwhile, Marin complains about the war and foolish people killing one another for foolish reasons.

Tam reminds her that the Aes Sedai don’t fight wars and instead pull the strings of the world from their White Tower. Rand and Egwene are told to clean up the dishes together. He notices a cut on her arm before she tells him that the day went well. She admits she is thinking about something Nyn said so Rand grabs and kisses her. He tells her about the baskets and tries to give her a berry, but she doesn’t want it because it has been in his pocket all day. Lan joins Moiraine in the water and tells her it could be warmer so she heats it with her magic. He asks her what is up and whether she thinks it could be one of the four. He asks which one, but we don’t get the answer. Rand joins Egwene again and learns that Nyn asks her to become her apprentice to study to become a Wisdom someday.

Although she didn’t give her an answer, Nyn believes she’ll be able to listen to the wind if she continues working with her. He tells her it’ll be a lonely life since she won’t have a husband or kids before jetting off to bed. She hears something in the distance that seems to disturb her. We see a mysterious figure ride into town on horseback. In the morning, Padan Fain (Johann Myers) rides in and sets up his shop. Egwene delivers breakfast to Tam who reveals his son left before he woke up. Mat goes to Padan in hopes of selling the bracelet he took from Danya the night before. At first, Padan pretends it is not real gold before saying he won’t be able to sell it here in town. As a result, he gives Mat three lanterns for the jewelry. Moiraine tells Lan that he didn’t sleep last night so he must be worried that one of the Eyeless has already arrived. She suspects that means they both have work to do today. Egwene finds Rand and joins him. He tells her he comes up there to think about his life in the Two Rivers, the house he’ll build, and the wife he’ll have.

He already knows she is going to become a Wisdom and he accepts it. Moiraine goes to the sacred pool and finds Nynaeve cleaning it. She knows Nyn was brought there by the old Wisdom when her parents passed although nobody can remember when that happened. Nyn explains the old Wisdom realized she could listen to the wind when she was 13 and she went to the White Tower. She walked from there for months only to be turned away by Moiraine’s sisters. Moiraine says Nyn is strong enough to be the Wisdom although others do not agree. She knows that Nynaeve would be 25 or 26 years old. Meanwhile, Rand returns to his friends who want to know what happened with Egwene. Seconds later, Nyn meets with Egwene and they listen to the wind together. They agree it sounds wrong, but Nyn doesn’t know what it means because she has never heard anything like it. While out on a walk, Lan finds a bunch of slaughtered animals in a circle. Perrin and Rand give Mat money since he lost so much the night before.

Moiraine watches as Rand heads up to the mountain once again. Rand tells his father they should be at Bel Tine to light a candle for her. Tam doesn’t believe it matters where they are when they do it though. Rand asks his father how long it’ll take for the Wheel of Time to put a spirit back in the world again, but his father doesn’t know. He says they have to keep trying and always do a little better than last time. The others place lanterns in the water as well. Lan tells Moiraine that the Fade has Trollocs with it so they should leave in a hurry. She still doesn’t know which one is the one. While dancing with Egwene, Tom is shot through the back with an arrow and killed. Then, chaos ensues as the Trollocs begin attacking everyone in sight. Nynaeve helps Egwene hide while Laila and Perrin run to the forge. Padan watches everything from a distance. Mat returns to his home and asks his mother where the girls have gone, but they’re missing.

He goes back out in hopes of finding them. Egwene and Nynaeve try to help an old man who was injured during the attack. Tam and Rand are attacked by a trolloc as well. Rand uses his bow to fight back while his father goes for the sword under the bed. While Tam is injured on the shoulder, Rand manages to kill the trolloc. Rand believes he needs to get his father to Nynaeve who can help him. Moiraine uses her magic to save Nyn and Egwene as they fight one of the trollocs. Lan and Moiraine fight together to kill multiple trollocs while the others watch. The townsfolk team up to kill a trolloc while one breaks into the forge and attacks Laila and Perrin. Mat finds the two little girls hiding and reminds them where they used to play hide and seek in the woods by the big oak.

During the chaos, Nynaeve is drug away by one of the trollocs as Egwene watches. Perrin manages to kill one of the trollocs, but he goes overboard and kills Laila as well. Moiraine is stabbed with a flying knife so Lan grabs her and says there are too many of them. Moiraine asks for strength from the light before launching another magic attack and kills the trolloc troops although it destroys a building behind her as well. Rand makes it back into town with his father only to find that Nynaeve has gone missing. Mat returns with the two girls as the others find out about Laila. Moiraine arrives and takes care of the trolloc poison on Tam’s shoulder with her magic. Rand questions why those things showed up right after Moiraine did, but she says they’re there for the same reason she is. She explains they were there for the four of them. 20 years ago, there was a woman in the White Tower with eyes so white she couldn’t see, but she could.

There will be one who can stand against the darkness that is awakening. The Dragon has been born again and it is one of the four in question. When they see about 400 more Trollocs in the distance, Moiraine says they have to come with her. She believes their only chance is to reach the White Tower and the other sisters of the Aes Sedai. Moments later, Moiraine talks about the Wheel of Time while they prepare to leave on horseback.

 

The Wheel of Time Review

Although the first episode of The Wheel of Time didn’t lock me in, it was interesting enough to convince me to watch a few more episodes. I suspect the show would’ve never been produced unless it was going to get better from here on out. It has a few interesting storylines including which of the four will be the Dragon in the end.

I wouldn’t call myself a big fan of shows like this, but I can watch anything that is tolerably good. The first episode never really exerted itself or showcased the likeability of the characters. Still, the action scenes were okay and things should pick up from here on out with the group leaving Two Rivers. The first episode was okay, but likely more spectacular to those who’ve already fallen in love with the books. It scores a 6.5 out of 10. Recaps of The Wheel of Time will be available on Reel Mockery here.