As the episode begins, we are introduced to a young Siuan Sanche (Keira Chansa) and her father Berden (Peter De Jersey). When he wakes her up, she asks if the fish are stirring. Before long, they get on their boat in hopes of catching many fish. Berden struggles with the net because he only has one hand. Siuan helps him by using her power although Berden believes they should keep it hidden from others. He realizes she is getting better since she couldn’t unravel the knots a few weeks ago. Once they return to the dock, they find that someone has burned down their house. Later, Berden prepares to send Siuan off on her own. She encourages her father to come with her, but he doesn’t think that would be possible. She insists she doesn’t belong at the White Tower and should be there with her father. He gives her advice and tells her what to do if anyone tries to shame her before she leaves on the boat.

After the intro, Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), Alanna (Priyanka Bose), and Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood) wait for Siuan the Amyrlin Seat to arrive. Siuan (Sophie Okonedo) enters and sits on the throne in front of Moiraine and the others. The women bow before her. Then, the false dragon Logain Ablar (Alvaro Morte) is brought into the room. At Siuan’s request, the chains are removed since he has been gentled and should no longer be a threat. Siuan asks whether he knows why he is there. He begins telling them that people say the Aes Sedai get weaker as they get further from the White Tower. He claims they’re weaker than ever before since no one would follow a man threatening to overthrow the Amyrlin Seat many years ago. When Logain announced his plan, he had an army behind him. He goes on to say people will remember that one man fought against nine Aes Sedia and he still killed Kerene. Siuan tells him he won’t get death here.

Instead, he is going to serve as an example to all false dragons by living out his days being watched and studies until he loses himself to the madness. He is taken away promptly. Once he is escorted out of the room, Alanna, Liandrin, and Moiraine are asked to step forward. She believes Logain deserved a fair trial before her but they gentled him before he could get one. They defend themselves by saying Logain was incredibly strong and had to be stopped so they had no choice. Alanna begs for clemency while explaining Kerene died to protect them because she knew the false dragon was too strong. Moiraine says all of the sisters would’ve been killed if they didn’t gentle him. Siuan says Liandrin took over when Kerene died so the fault lies with her. Liandrin changes the subject by telling everyone about Moiraine traveling with a channeler who is more powerful than Siuan. They knew nothing of her skills until Nynaeve healed their wounds.

Moiraine claims he suspected but did not know that Nynaeve could channel. When asked if this has a purpose, Liandrin tells them about Moiraine coming and going as well as her responsibility to identify dangers before they strike. She wonders why Moiraine never warned them about the Trollocs of Logain’s army. Maigan (Sandy McDade) believes it is blue Aes Sedai business and should be kept between them although Liandrin suggests otherwise. Liandrin asks if Mother doesn’t want to question Moiraine because she was once blue herself. When questioned Moiraine tells them where she has traveled but she won’t tell them why she traveled. Siuan forces Moiraine to get on her knees before she is asked about the purpose of her travels again. Moiraine refuses to say. Siuan wonders if it is her noble blood that convinces her she can challenge the Amyrlin Seat.

Moiraine pleads for mercy. Siuan agrees to think about it and render judgment tomorrow. When Moiraine approaches Liandrin later, Liandrin believes she spoke out for her for her own benefit. She tells Moiraine to accomplish whatever she wants quickly because her reckoning comes tomorrow. Later, Lan (Daniel Henney) tells her about Mat’s current problem. They encounter Rand (Josha Stradowski) who immediately asks about Egwene and Perrin. Rand admits Mat (Barney Harris) has been like this for a month or so although he believes it is only a fever. When they try to approach Mat, Rand grabs a blade in hopes of defending him. Lan quickly disarms him though.

Moiraine walks over to Mat who pulls out the knife he stole earlier. Once she gains control of the blade, she calls him a stupid boy for taking it from Shadar Logoth. Rand and Lan hold Mat to the bed while Moiraine extracts the demon or spirit from his body. Once she completes the ritual, the knife drops to the ground and Mat seems to return to normal. She goes outside and Rand follows her to thank her for helping Mat. He saw the darkness moving over her and knows she took on the darkness for Mat. She insists she would’ve done it for any of them. Rand wonders if he is the dragon since he can’t channel. Moiraine isn’t sure since Mat is stronger than he should be. Otherwise, the dagger would’ve consumed him much sooner. She warns him to be careful and look after Mat because the dagger was feeding off the darkness in Mat.

He could be lost forever if he touches the dagger again. Nynaeve (Zoe Robins) enters with Loial (Hammed Animashaun). Moiraine asks why Nyn didn’t come to her as soon as she saw the darkness in Mat. Later, Maigan sits with Moiraine and tells her that Siuan is quickly losing her grip. She says ships are disappearing off the West Coast and Aiel have been spotted on this side of the Spine. Maigan knows about Moiraine and her friends sinking the ferry too. When asks about the Trollocs, Moiraine says she doesn’t know how they made it to the Two Rivers without being detected. She tells Moiraine they own Siuan protection and loyalty because she used to be a blue. Maigan wants to talk to Siuan and convince her to let Moiraine stay. She explains she wants to go west to check out the ships and Moiraine should stay at the tower permanently.

Moiraine drops something that Maigan believes could mean she has more secrets. After that, Moiraine learns about Egwene (Madeleine Madden) and Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) being in town and visits them immediately. Egwene quickly asks about Rand and Mat. Moiraine doesn’t say where they are and only says she knows they’re alive. Moiraine asks her about the white cloaks. Egwene gives her the rings Valda had taken and promises he won’t hurt any more of her sisters. Moiraine checks on Perrin and says the Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah are the best healers so it’ll be like the wounds never happened. However, Egwene worries about the mental damage. She tells Moiraine about Perrin’s eyes turning golden like a wolf while he was being tortured. When she says it seems like the wolves listen to him, Moiraine encourages her to tell nobody about this because many would do him harm if they knew. She doesn’t know if Perrin is the dragon because there is a lot they don’t know about the dragon.

Before Moiraine leaves, she tells Egwene she’ll call for her tomorrow and not to tell anyone where she is going. Next, Lan approaches Moiraine in her room and says she masked their bond. He warns her that she isn’t safe around the White Tower anymore and he can’t protect her if he can’t feel her. Lan is instructed to focus on protecting their friends from the Two Rivers. Once he leaves, Moiraine uses the picture on the wall to teleport herself to Siuan’s room. Siuan can’t understand what Moiraine was doing since it made everything much harder. She hates when she calls her Mother and confesses it is going to be hard to look neutral now. Moiraine tells her they rarely follow the rules before they kiss and have sex. After they’ve finished, Moiraine tells her about finding the dragon although it could be any of the five people she found. Although Nynaeve is too old, it is difficult to ignore her power. Moiraine isn’t sure if their prophecy is accurate since there are many theories in different towns.

She wonders if they should bring the other sisters in, but Siuan does not because they would be stilled. Siuan explains the prophecy says the Dragon will either defeat the Dark One or join him. Moiraine insists she’ll kill them herself before she lets the Dark One have them. Siuan reveals she has been having dreams of the Dark One at The Eye of the World for several months now. Although he is weak and barely clinging to his power, he is getting stronger each day. She wonders if they should take the five and confront the Dark One now, but Moiraine doesn’t want to sentence the other four to death. Siuan is asked to exile Moiraine tomorrow since Maigan wants her to remain in the tower. They discuss whether they’ll have more time together in this life or the next. In the morning, Moiraine talks to Lan about Mat before Liandrin interrupts. When Liandrin threatens to tell Mother about it, Moiraine tells her to never mention it again or she’ll tell the Red sisters where Liandrin’s male friend lives.

She is warned that the Reds will harm him. Then, they step outside to confront Loial who is told they’re going to need his help. Egwene meets with Moiraine and gets a tour of Siuan’s throne room. Before Egwene can meet with Siuan, Nynaeve wants to see her. They want to keep Siuan waiting, but Moiraine knows that isn’t going to happen. They meet her immediately and she introduces herself as the Amyrlin Seat. When Nyn is told she is the strongest channeler they’ve seen in thousands of years, she says they must have low standards. Siuan laughs before turning her attention to Egwene whose bravery and spark brought home her sisters’ rings. Nynaeve tries to quickly get to the point. Siuan knows how they feel but explains they’ve been called to greatness. They’re told the fate of all of them rests on them now. Nynaeve says they want no part of this and tries to leave. Siuan stops them before explaining the wheel doesn’t care what they want or whether they’re afraid.

The last battle is coming and the only thing that matters is what they do. Egwene asks what they should do as Siuan turns to Moiraine. We jump forward as Lan approaches Moiraine to tell her it is time. He offers to stand with her in the hall, but she says she’ll be okay and tells him to make sure they’re there. Next, Moiraine goes in front of Siuan, bows down, and kisses her ring. Siuan grants her wish and exiles her. She is asked to swear an oath on the sacred oath rod. Moiraine repeats after Siuan and promises to never return until she is called home. After she finishes, she is told to face her sisters and leave the tower. Her sisters turn their backs to her. Before long, she rides away from town on a white horse. She stops and meets with Loial who has brought Egwene and Perrin with him. Rand, Nynaeve, and the others join them moments later. The horses are sent away because Loial says they would not survive the Ways. Nynaeve confirms she told them what Siuan said, but they’re not going to follow her blindly.

Rand says they don’t know what the ways are. Loial responds they’re ancient pathways out of time and space. Moiraine quickly says it is the fastest way to the Eye of the World which is the Dark One’s prison and where he was trapped by the last Dragon. One of them will finish the job they started in their previous life. They’ll have to stop the Dark One now while he is weak or the world will be covered in Trollocs and darkness. When Egwene asks what happens to those who aren’t the dragon, Moiraine argues they won’t know until that moment comes. She climbs the steps and opens the gate to the Ways for them. She insists there is no turning back and whatever happens now is beyond their control. They walk through and enter the darkness before Moiraine instructs them to light the torches. Mat stays behind as they encourage him to enter before the gate closes. The episode ends without an answer as to whether he entered or not.

 

The Wheel Of Time Review

The Wheel of Time has gotten noticeably better in recent episodes although the show is neither great nor terrible. At points, there are glimmers of hope that the show will break free of its mediocrity but it never manages to achieve this. It doesn’t help that we’re being forced to learn so much and familiarize ourselves with too many characters. It feels like we’re being overloaded at times.

The pacing has been too slow and the dialogue is not strong enough to carry it. Thankfully, it looks like things are going to start picking up now. There is still time to transform the series into a worthwhile adventure, but it has to start pushing the story forward at a more exciting pace. The episode was too close in the beginning although it got better in the end. It scores a 7 out of 10. Recaps of The Wheel of Time are available on Reel Mockery here.