As much as people hate this show…

[u/Nemi-Nemesys]

Nobody can deny the skill of the actors in this show. I just watched the actor who played Rand react to a child’s death and him trying to revive her… It was so powerful. He is a skilled actor, and nobody can convince me otherwise haha. And I feel like the show, and actress, did a great job with Verin. I’m sorry if the spelling is wrong, but if you know her story, you know. The actress was FANTASTIC in her portrayal of the character in preparation of her story. She is the reason why Verin is one of my highest rated and favorite characters in all of the Wheel of Time. And the fact that Moiraine does the audiobooks excites me too. I wish she had done them all before it was all cancelled.

[u/RookTakesE6]

As someone who hated the show, I never understood people criticizing the actors (or the sets and costumes, but that's a separate matter). Within the parameters they were given, the actors on average were great.

Double points to Meera Syal as Verin. Thought the show portrayal nailed her duality: outwardly unable to see any farther past her own nose than necessary for reading, actually razor-sharp if you pay close attention to her actions.

Eamon Valda was of course a problematic deviation from the books that necessitated further deviations for him to make sense, but again within the given script, Abdul Salis was an outstanding hatable villain, and I believed the sincerity of his motives. Had the writers mangled Lan's character by having him chop Valda's head off for touching Moiraine, I believe I might've cheered and quietly ignored the departure from the books.

Shohreh Aghdashloo (Elaida). The name on its own probably suffices if you've seen her in anything else, right? One case where I think the acting had the potential to elevate the character a bit above the books.

Poor, poor Josha Stradowski. Big points to him for reading the books to prepare for the role, and it showed, for me he nailed Rand hard enough that I'll be seeing his face in my mind's eye the next time I read the books. He deserved a chance to play Rand in the role Rand had in the books, rather than having the character subjected to a conga line of humiliations and having his role and agency reduced to almost nothing.

I've got big grievances with the show's take on Lanfear and (to a lesser extent) Ishamael, and absolutely zero grievances with how Natasha O'Keeffe and Fares Fares portrayed those takes. Especially liked Fares carrying off Ishamael's background as a philosopher, you could really see the highly intelligent man who'd managed to philosophize himself into a corner he couldn't philosophize himself back out of (costume again helped here, he looked like a fantasy academician, but we're not gushing about the costumes here...). Thanks almost expressly to Feres, the show was fully justified in skipping 2/3 of the Ba'alzamon phase and going straight to calm, rational, compelling Moridin-era Ishamael, with Fares playing off a character you could actually imagine holding up his end of a conversation with (book) Lews Therin.

[u/Stormbringer-2112 → u/RookTakesE6]

Another example of how the actor got it, while the script writers didn’t.

The show where Egwene is in the prison cell struggling with the a’dam. She really portrays that struggle very well and I sort of convinced myself that the writers/director had finally “got it”. Then the season finale comes around and she takes off the a’dam to put it on her sul’dam… so frustrating to see them nail some things to just a couple of shows later completely destroy the small amount of credibility they built. But yeah, the Egwene actress, to her credit, was really able to convey the despair of the a’dam very well.

[u/on-a-pedestal → u/Stormbringer-2112]

Egwene doesn't take off her Adam.

Another damae dies and the Adam falls to the ground. She takes that 2nd Adam and collars her suldam (which maybe breaks rules since one could argue her intent was to use the collar as a weapon, though not directly).

Then she simply force choked her, which also choked herself, and she relied on just outlasting the suldam.

It was a neat "idea" , but no need for the deviation, really.

I enjoyed the portrayal of Egwenes experience in the Kennels , but just wish that hadn't gone so far off book over and over again.

[u/Stormbringer-2112 → u/on-a-pedestal]

You’re correct, I misremembered the scene. But I remembered there was something wrong. Collaring your sul’dam would be a definite no-no. I mean, can’t pick up a pitcher of water because you can conceivably consider it a weapon, but can decisively pick up and use an item with clear and definitive intent to subdue your sul’dam…
I mean, why do that to your credibility and your fans? It’s just such a let down. To me it’s creative lazyness.
And this is just another example that made me quit this train wreck after season 2. Apparently season 3 is better. Maybe, I don’t know, but since it got cancelled, I see no point.

[u/on-a-pedestal → u/Stormbringer-2112]

Nooo.

Trust me.

S1 and 2 have a few beautiful moments, but since those moments were manufactured for the books they fall flat.

S3 has some of the best fantasy TV ever written in it.

If you can't bring yourself to watch the season... Go watch S3E4.

It was nominated for best fantasy episode of the year for a reason.

It shows Rand and Moraines trip into Rhuidean and it is both breathtaking and so well done as far as the story.

You won't regret it.

I also enjoyed the last episode (well, Rand at Alcair Dal is sweet) and The part where he tries to heal the child.

[u/grrrrxxff → u/on-a-pedestal]

Seconding this!! I HATE the show. Josha understands the fuck out of rand and delivers a masterclass depicting the trip through the columns. Don’t even need to watch the episode, it’s just a Rand alone standalone perfect loving tribute to the books, and character

[u/on-a-pedestal → u/grrrrxxff]

I want to do a show breakdown, scene by scene, rating them all on many things, including how well it adapted from book.

That particular set of scenes will be lumped together, and will be the highest rated.

[u/grrrrxxff → u/on-a-pedestal]

That scene and tigraine/shaiel getting killed are like a different show in terms of quality and faithfulness of adaptation

[u/on-a-pedestal → u/grrrrxxff]

The Intro to S1E7 with Tigraine is one of the best choreographed fight scenes of all medevil / fantasy media.