Coming back to this project after a long hiatus was tough. I could see the process I had when I started divvying up TSR, but by time I returned I had to piece some of it together and then didn't agree with what I had outlined earlier. I guess that's the best part about a thought experiment is that you get to play around with it since it's all established stuff. I think that this is also the season where we may begin to see material added to the story that isn't in the books to flesh out some of our prime characters and give action sequences some room to breathe and be epic. This is the first season that I couldn't keep to 8 episodes, it is 9 and I think moving forward 9-10 may be the more likely outline for my proposed run time. After this there is going to be adjustments, trimming, and future seasons simply will need to cover more plot ground than these first few do. I did struggle a little bit with the order of episodes 3-4 of the season (27 & 28) because I think they could go in either order but Perrin deserves the time he gets in the story so I decided to put his solo episode first and leave the Rhuidean piece for the mid point of the season.
I think this season also presents some really interesting set and SFX work. Rhuidean, the Aiel History, and the return to our story's start are going to ramp up the spectacle for this show a lot. I would probably like to see a little more added to whats happening at the tower, its very brief which makes its impact in the books very big, but I think a more calculated build might be better thrown into the story as it progresses. I struggled a bit with what to do with some of our side characters, but that's sort of the trap in WoT, there are small side plot folks who end up being valuable later so you don't want to cut them. I don't think we will spend as much time with the Seanchan as we could, but that's okay by me. I prefer they stay a bunch of mysterious jerks, knowing their bigoted views isn't a thing I think that needs a bunch of time and exposition spent on. We just have to establish that they are rolling back into Randland and it's going to be trouble. There is a lot going on in each episode, I just want some folks to bear in mind while there may be a lot of pages covered, what we need from them often is quickly established visually vs the pages of effort Jordan had to take (I think this will be especially true in the end game of the story). Funny side note, this is the only book without a prologue, so chapter 1 is where we get to start! This book finally sets the stage for the rest of the series as we will have had largely every important player added to the table by the end (Seanchan's full involvement yet to come though I suppose, but we're going to know they're around).
This was not nearly as fresh in my mind as the last few were since I had been actively reading them when I started and now I'm in Winter's Heart which is obviously much further along. I'm sure there are some threads or details that need to be included I'm not remembering, but again this is more an outline of the organization of events than anything else since I don't think the publishing order is the way to tackle it.
Once again, you will see [1/2] or [2/2] next to a chapter in my listing, that means I have broken apart the narrative of the chapter for how I would want to present the material inside each episode. It does not mean a neat 50/50 split of the material. Chapters connected with a , are concurrent. Chapters connected with a / are POV or narrative shifts.
Episode 25 - Miasma
Chapters - 1[1/2] / 2,3 / 4 / 5,6,7,8 / 1[2/2]
The winds will blow us at the start of the season right to Min's group arriving at the White Tower and the subsequent visions and discussion with Siuan about how to keep her safe in the Tower. That is really the opening sequence, a growing sense of danger and trouble in a place we've been told should be exceptionally safe. Min is going to be stuck in this unsafe place as Elmindreda which is where we will transition back to Tear.
The big sequence to open this season will be the bubbles of evil inside the stone and the difficulty it poses for our 3 Ta'veeren. This episode needs to setup our drive for this season, so while Rand won't settle on that until the next episode, everyone else should leave this episode with a good idea of what they need to be doing as we move forward. So our wonder ladies will get the info that they can from the Black Sister in captivity, and we will introduce the stone door in the great holding that will be a HUGE part of Mat's story. There is some slice of life stuff with Egwene and Elayne having their heart to heart with Rand, and Mat of course is often doing gambling slice of life stuff. There could be some added material if there were time for it, but I don't think we want or need it necessarily.
Mat needs to catch Egwene to ask about the door to setup our primary piece of the next episode, and then we can return to the tower where we can find Eladia seeing the end of the meeting in the Amyrilin's suite and the gears beginning to turn making us think she isn't really on the same side as our protagonists, as you might expect.The close out of the Whitecloaks arrival in the Two Rivers should be our close, ominous and we know it will be a draw for Perrin...
I don't usually want to include after credits/extra sequences (fun though they are), but I think this season warrants it on the opening episode. So after our credits it's time to jump to Suroth's arrival & signaling the return of the Seanchan and some exposition from her about what that means for our prime continent.
Episode 26 - Into the Doorway
Chapters - 9,10 / 11,12 / 13 / 14 / 16 / 17[1/2] / 18 / 19,20 / 21
Hey before all the fun stuff happens we have to have some exposition and a little bit of the relationship/slice of life development that's going to matter more for Perrin, but also matters for Rand too. This episode is going to give just about everyone a plot thread to pull on for the rest of the season if not longer. It should cover a decent chunk of perceived time too.
I think we should montage Mat & Perrin rumor hunting in the city, Egwene and Avi getting closer, as well as Rand and Elayne's start to their romance (yeah romance in this series is weird, almost anime like in the speed at which things happen with feelings). There can be a bit about the meetings Rand has, but it only needs to establish a few faces and places of interest (Rhuidien, the Waste, travel stones on maps). We get to know Lanfear is still around and she's here just in time to be around him before the attack by the Grey Men and the Trollocs in the Stone. That sequence doesn't have to be overly long, but it does need to include Rand's use of Callandor to try and revive the girl...not exactly stable behavior right, but its an important land mark for Rand emotionally and we need to hit it.
Egwene gets found by the Aiel Wise Women (Amys casting will be important) in T'A'R which also drives the group to decide how to split up to tackle their different tasks and Moraine offering the power of the White Tower to get them there. Mat and Perrin after the attack discuss what they need to do and while Perrin is sure he needs to return home, Mat has no idea what to do fighting the draw of ta'veren with Rand. As they split, Mat heads for the basement and finds the stone door and goes through, going quickly back to Perrin we can see him fight with Faile over Berelian and Faile chasing after her once they've split.
We should have a significant sequence for Mat inside the door. This is ultimately an important location for the endgame of the story, and we're going to be visiting doors twice so the unsettling setting has to be nailed so you remember it. Mat fumbles his way through and then finds Rand as he exits prompting their discussion and Rand's sudden sense of direction. As we find everyone next all are preparing to leave, Faile & Perrin head off with their party to the Waygate (no entrance to it necessary we've seen it before), Elayne & Nynaeve find Thom and Juilin on their boat to their mild dismay, and we close the episode with Rand resealing Callandor and announcing they are heading to the waste for Rhuidean.
Episode 27 - Homecoming
Chapters - 27,28,29,30,31,32,33
This is a completely Perrin centric episode which will be a first I think really for the series as I've constructed it, mostly because this is the first time that our protagonists stories truly diverge. Before now there were related end goals or places to reconnect, from here on out everyone has their own story to follow and while they cross paths it won't be until the end of the story that they'll really be pulled together coherently again from a direction stand point.
We would open on the Dark Ways, our crew a soft globe of light in a sea of darkness, followed by their realization that while they are almost there, Trollocs are nearly upon them. Once out we need to show the sequence with the birds killed by Ravens as a note for the observant as well as Perrin being unable to find the wolves. This episode is mostly exposition as they rediscover what has been happening, meeting the Aes Sedai who are in the area (Verin & Alanna). We should see how torn up it is, a ride by Tam's farm would be enough we don't really need the inspection the book provides. There can be a cut to the Whitecloaks at some point when they sort of book end a conversation, so we can see that Fain is hanging out with them as a notice that things are worse than expected (it probably behooves us to put in here although I think it's from a later chapter, the sequence where he talks about how he tortured the Aybara clan and has a captive Fade). We would close out the episode with the break out of the captives from the Whitecloak camp and Perrin's declaration to those that have rallied to him "It's time to hunt Trollocs". This sets up everything we need from the 2 Rivers so that we can have more focus over the next couple episodes before we return to Perrin.
Episode 28 - Rhuidean
Chapters - 22,23,24,25,26,34[1/2]
This is I think one of the center set pieces of this season, maybe even more so than the sequences at the end which will be climatic and exciting, this is really the most important piece of exposition we will have gotten. History that you can rely on is very hard to come by in the Third Age, so this glimpse is important narratively as well as visually there is a lot of opportunity to do some cool things with these sequences. We open with them at the portal stone ready to travel, and then we should jump right into it as the book does with their meeting on the hill above the cloud domed city. We will get to see Couladin here for the first time and he's an important antagonist for this season and next. As Rand and Mat head for the city we can shift to Egwene and her mission in coming to the waste, this will allow for some more exposition as well as Moraine and Avi's departure for the city. At that point while we leave Egwene to being to learn, we can return to Rand and Mat in the city. While this is mostly about the history of the Aiel, Mat has to have his window of time too. I would set it up so that when they reach the square with the artifacts, Rand heads off and we do Mat's adventure in the other door world and leave it with him grasping at his neck...this will allow us to spend the remainder of the episode with Rand as he experiences the lives of his ancestors and discovers the true burden of the Aiel. When he exits he sees Mat and is able to revive him, but they are immediately set upon by another bubble of evil as they escape the city. Breaking through the fog, he sees that dawn is nearly upon them. We then close with the sun rising with Rand's arrival as he displays to all that are witness the Dragons on his arms & the declaration that he is the Car'a'Carn (we will pick up the fall out that is in ch 34 later).
Assuming you've read the books, this is a major sequence that really deserves to have it's own episode dedicated to it. I really hope they don't gloss over this in the show. I haven't included a ton of spoilers because the content doesn't really need organizing, it's fine how it is presented in the books and I hope it's closely stuck to.
Episode 29 - Hidden Faces
Chapters - 34[2/2] / 35 / 36[1/2] / 17[2/2] / 36[2/2] / 39 / 37 / 38
We can and should open with the wrap up in Rhuidean so as not to leave things hanging too long, as the Aiel filter out their next steps are laid out as Avi & Moraine return.
We can jump to Egwene and her meeting followed by her dressing down and the exposition in the sweat tent. As Rand and the Aiel set off for Cold Rocks Hold, Rand thinks of Min, which sends us back a number of chapters!
We will get to see Min in the tower (now dressed Elmindreda) and then we won't leave her sequence until Siuan asks to gather the Hall to announce the Stone of Tear has fallen having finally received her information from Moraine.
When we return to Rand they are meeting the peddlers (The gleeman is an important casting since he's asmodean and will be with us for this season and into next) and then arriving at Imre Stand to be attacked which is quickly resolved. That is where we will leave Rand & Co for now as we jump to E/N's arrival in Tanicho. The big bit we need to create is the exposition between Elayne and Thom to give them some life because until now they've been mostly in the background. Nyn visits T'A'R with the NEED but doesn't get far nearly being hurt by Slayer when she wanders back to the 2 Rivers. We should see Egeanin in the background of the meeting between Carridin & Liandrin because it will establish her later knowledge (does not need to be called out but it should be noticeable to those paying attention on a rewatch perhaps?). When they all exit the tavern, we will do Egeanin's sequence with the suldam before we close the episode with Liandrin's threats and info delivery to the other black sisters.
Episode 30 - Unfamiliar Home
Chapters - 40,41,42,43,44,45
This episode I don't think I need to setup too much, but it is very much an opportunity for us to slow down and interact with our spaces and characters for a moment before shit hits the fan. So I think this episode opens with the somber reality of Perrin at his family's graves. I think he deserves that moment, and it will help humanize his and Faile's relationship for what comes later. It is also a good episode to fit in a few action sequences as there are a few Trolloc fights shown and discussed. We need to highlight Aram, we haven't seen this band of Tinkers since season 1 I guess, but I'd be hopeful audiences recognize the guy who tried to woo Egwene. We especially need to highlight their living ethos as it will cost them, and push Aram to join the fight.
I think we need to have some visual time spent on showing off what has happened to Emonds Field since Perrin went on his raids to deal with the Trollocs, Tam and Abel have managed to transform it, and I want us to see that happening throughout their time in the town once they get back. This will also allow our sequence with the arrival of the tattered Tinkers that will then spur a few plots points.
First it's going to force Loial and Gaul to decide they will have to go and close the waygate permanently. It opens the door for Aram's picking up of the sword and that break. It also provides the impetus for the uneasy alliance with the Whitecloaks that I would end the episode with. This is a Perrin centric episode and I would want to use it to breath a little life into some of these sequences that are descriptive to develop some relationships before we get to all the action.
Episode 31 - In the Shadow's Grip
Chapters - 46 / 48,49,50 / 51,52
Time to return to the other competing plots in Tanicho and in the Waste. We need to open with E/N and their run in with Egeanin, because this eventually leads to their questioning under compulsion by Mogheiden. We are going to ignore the follow up from that sequence, the seeker & egeanin's desire to do better just aren't critical. Egeanin in particular we can include a line about what she decides to do and does next time we see her. After Mogh leaves E/N we will shift over to Rand and the Aiel's trek to Cold Rocks, I think this is a good chance to inform us about Aiel culture a bit more, and get to know Aviendha while she travels with Rand.
That will help us when we get to Cold Rocks Hold and immediately are beset upon the first night there by the shadowspawn. I think this is also where Rand being adopted by the Maidens can be worked in. I would probably expand on the combat a bit more just to flesh out the episode. There is enough action in the story to warrant us doing so even though the book does not. Give Mat, Moraine, Lan and the others a chance to be seen in this sequence.
We will then return to Tanicho where we will join Bayle and Egeanin along with our crew which eventually outs Egeanin as a Seanchan etc as they rope her into their plans. The episode would wrap up with Nynaeve's T'A'R NEED search that produces the results they are looking for, so we would finish with her awakening to declare she knows what they need to find now.
Episode 32 - Goldeneyes
Chapters - 53 / 54,55 / 56
This episode could also be the season finale if you wanted to flip it, but given this story is end game about Rand and the Dragon/The Dark One, I think it works to give him the last bite of the season while our other plot threads will be wrapped up in this one. This episode is a massive action set piece, at least 50% of the run time will be devoted to the battle at emonds field, with maybe another 1/3rd+ being in Tanicho. There is room to expand the palace invasion if there was value, but I also want to add a little to the front end too.
In the books Loial and Gaul simply return from having closed the waygate, I want to open this episode with an additional scene of them closing it and having to escape form shadowspawn, we don't need to see their flight, but I think they can be given the chance to show their bravery etc on the screen. After they flee, we can jump back to Emonds Field where the wounded courier delivers a cryptic message, that leads Perrin to try and find answers in the Wolf Dream. I would only show 2 of the 3 dreams since Mat's has already happened and I think we can focus on the prophecy part more than the exposition for Perrin bit (so only Rand & Egwene's visions). Perrin chases Slayer to the point of injury, when he awakens we can see through a window or report that Luc has ridden out justifying Perrins distrust for him (although we still don't know who he really is). This forces Perrin's hand and Faile's for the marriage which will be the break point to finish the Tanicho story.
The break in at the palace gets to be its own long chunk, but it will focus on Nynaeve as she gets the biggest thing to do. When she finds the materials we get her big fight with Mogheiden (which I think may be a challenge to show given its all invisible weave fighting) which should be appropriately tense. How you do that I am kinda at a loss for, but it needs to have gravitas. The balefire flute and the destruction of the palace will lead to their escape. I don't want to break and come back to them again, so their piece will finish back at the Inn as Bayle agrees to dispose of the sad bracelets in the deepest part of the ocean he knows (too bad that doesn't end up being the case).
The remainder of the episode is saved for the battle of emonds field, followed by the rejection of the Whitecloaks from the Two Rivers for their failure to act. I'd say more but the outline and flow of the battle can easily encompass half the run time or more of this episode. The end can be Perrin riding with Faile to chants of "goldeneyes".
Post Credits I want a look at Fain as he watches this plan fall apart and turn to leave with his captive entourage of worse than darkfriends and their captive Fade.
Episode 33 - Car'a'Carn | He Who Comes with the Dawn
Chapters - 47[1/2] / 57 / 47[2/2] / 58
It's a climatic finale although the most shocking part probably isn't Rand's contribution. We need to open with Min (Elmindreda) arriving back to the Tower grounds and being told that Siuan has been deposed, fighting is all over across the tower and then we will jump to Siuan's removal. As she is dragged off we will return to the waste.
Rand & Co arrive at Alcair Dal with the many clans assembled. When there is question about which is the real Car'a'Carn after Couladin reveals his false dragons, Rand will break the Aiel with the knowledge and support of the chiefs that know the true history of the Aiel we saw earlier. As Rand leaves to chase after the now outed Asmodean (the gleeman from the peddlers wagons) we will return to the White Tower to finish out our story there. Min will help Siuan and Leane escape and with Gawyn's help (plus the escaped Logain) they will leave Tar Valon.
This leaves us with the battle for the Choen'dal control statues in the center of Rhuidean, which causes the crack in the earth to allow the underground sea to begin to create the lake. That is where I would close out with a look at the lake as it begins to fill (we can leave his discussions with the Aiel back at Alcair Dal for next season). I think TV needs to have more cinematic or dramatic close outs and the look at the lake is more epic than a conversation about the fracturing of the Aiel. That fall out can wait. Lanfear puts the shield on Asmodean and Rand decides to make him teach him being the last bits of dialogue before we see him make the gateway back to Alcair Dal, pan to the view of the lake forming and the dome of cloud lifting to reveal the entire city, proof that Rand will change everything about the Aiel.
