I mean, at that point in EotW, he really was still kinda Bland Al’Thor.  While understandably Moiraine has so far been the center of the show, it does mean that it cuts the amount of time the show spends on him.  

The relationship being in New Spring is probably why barely anyone seems to know about it. Of the WoT readers i’ve talked to, prequel readers were like 1 in 6.

“Speaking of, did Moraine’s oath to the Amyrlin feel a little too specific? It’s possible I missed something, but while I understand that it’s important to try and come up with a promise you can work with, there were some personal comments in there about Siuan that sounded like they might give the game away.”

Two…

Siuan and Moiraine being lovers is canon, that’s what RJ meant when referring them as “pillow friends.” They weren’t just gal pals.

Book spoilers below...

Blue - Spies and diplomats. Think of them as the court councilors to different kingdoms sent as ambassadors for the White Tower.

Dress colors (and rings - which I believe are distinct to the show) represent the Ajah each Aes Sedai is a part of. The tapestry from the opening credits ends with the 7 represented.

The tower is divided up into 7 Ajahs, which are basically just factions or groups. There are internecine conflicts between them and each has its own leaders. It can basically be summed up as:

“Texas Chainsaw  The Republican Party is a muddled franchise, continually re-writing its own backstory and reconfiguring the makeup of its core family of cannibalistic redneck freaks. Even the tone is inconsistent, ricocheting from gritty verisimilitude to over-the-top satire and back again.”

Counterpoint: A celebrity can make a good figurehead/spokesperson if they surround themselves with people that know what they’re doing.

He did write a fucking book and it’s great.

Rand being dull? He’s a sheepherder. He’s supposed to be country dull. At least at this point.

Maybe it’s the reason that your opinion of Mat is different but I get the feeling that Mat was more playful in the books. Here he seems a little too dour. Long term I think this can be a problem because Mat carries later books with his flair and levity.

So far both the book and show don’t have much for Rand to do except be a mopey, scared sheepherder and Rand’s journey in the show hasn’t deviated from that. The show has basically three spots this season to make some positive changes to Rand’s character. Thankfully, they’re all coming up, so I have some hope that they…

That’s a good point, about how the Dragon’s role doesn’t carry the same weight if it’s a woman this time around. Because the person wouldn’t be corrupted by the taint of Saidan (which the Dragon inadvertently and indirectly caused). So not only does it take away the inherent terror of “we have to rely on a man…

I can only speak for myself but being from the camp of I sadly don’t have time to read all these door-stoppers I don’t understand the long ramblings about “But will this appeal to people who don’t know the books?!?” I’ve seen this worry in many places and I find it a bit baffling. Sure, GoT was a big hit and…

I don’t think the Tinkers as a whole come off sanctimonious in the books. But pacifism certainly is fertile soil for contempt for others who choose violence, and so several individuals might look that way sometimes. In the books, Aram acts like a real dick about his beliefs, to which Perrin returns the attitude in…

I’m somewhat like Zack in that I’m enjoying the hell out of it, but don’t know if it’s because I’m simply just so excited getting to see all of this depicted on-screen.

Not starting with the prologue was my biggest question too. Maybe it was a concern about budget? Or off-putting new viewers? But I completely agree - it would’ve done a fantastic job at setting up the world in a way the current episode (with its voiceover exposition) just can’t even compare to.

Blood and bloody ashes, Faile spends like three books in that damn Shaido camp before Perrin rescues her. I predict the show will dispense with that plotline in two or three episodes at most, if they even include it at all.