I think we got our "Moiraine Sent Me" moment from Verin...
huge spoiler
When Verin told Liandrin that Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne were in Caemlyn, settling Liandrin's concerns. Verin had already found proof that wasn't true, but didn't open with something like "I heard that".
So I’m reading through book 2 in parallel (Rand has just gotten to Caiheirin, please don’t spoil anything past that and that’s not in the show so far). And I have to say, so far, I'm preferring the way the show is doing a number of things.
spoilers for book 2
I preferred the more subtle Selene in the show. In the book it’s very obvious that she’s dodgy and seducing Rand for her own ends while Rand is almost embarrassingly smitten, which I suppose is the point with him being young etc. But I liked the way the show introduced their relationship while also keeping the dynamic clear. I haven’t gotten to the point where she gets properly dodgy yet so maybe my mind will change.
Cutting the whole thing with Rand joining the hunt and then taking a magical dream land shortcut to Caiheirin really felt janky in the book. Even the whole thing with Fain leaving the dagger out in the open seemed totally contrived. Like, I feel like Jordan is the one adapting a longer story into a shorter format by coming up with contrivances to move Rand to where he needs to be. Twice now he’s come up with a magical device to move people quickly (the ways and dream land), and it’s wearing a bit thin. I presume the dreamland will come to mean something more significant later but still, just having Rand in Caiheirin worked well.
—- Otherwise, a lot happened in this episode, it’s almost too much. Like in one episode the three women have gone from the tower to prisoners in a far away land under the thumb of Ishamael. Kinda awesome.
Without delving into book spoilers, is it supposed to feel weird and unnerving that Ishamael is playing around with an empire as though he’s a normal human when he clearly has the power to kill everyone whenever he wants?
I really agree about Selene. Jordan was simultaneously incredible and terrible at at keeping secrets from readers in the early books. I guarantee there will be a few twists that surprise you, and I'm grateful that Rafe is doing a good job keeping those twists close-to-the-vest in the show as well.
One of my complaints for S1 was on behalf of parallel readers like yourself. Eye of the World spoiled the show really fast by letting you know the "main character" and the show spoiled Eye really fast by saying "the main character is the Dragon Reborn".
As for fast-travel... The existence of several fast-travel mechanisms are in the design of the world, and use of it is more than plot-armor after Eye. Though the one he takes in book 2 is sorta an odd choice that has led to a lot of fan arguments. Avoiding spoilers... a lot of readers wonder why he didn't just write the Ways for Rand's travels and just have him wake up there. I think there's reasons for us to see the Portal Stones (controversially), but can't get into it and might be wrong anyway :)
I DO think you're confusing what happened in book 2 a bit, as well. Tel'aran'rhiod was not involved in Rand's fast-travel to Cairhien. As you might be guessing, though, the world of dreams is going to show up in every book for the rest of the series.
Otherwise, a lot happened in this episode, it’s almost too much. Like in one episode the three women have gone from the tower to prisoners in a far away land under the thumb of Ishamael. Kinda awesome.
Yeah, I agree. I really liked the shift from individual focus to multi-focus while still keeping up the story-building.
Without delving into book spoilers, is it supposed to feel weird and unnerving that Ishamael is playing around with an empire as though he’s a normal human when he clearly has the power to kill everyone whenever he wants?
This is a very difficult question to answer without spoilers (and I had to check a lot of "when things were said"). In the book, as you know, we have a somewhat different Ishamael... Well, they're the same philosophical mastermind underneath. And you're obviously right that Ishy could have leveled Tomon Head if he wished to. HOWEVER, you seem to be far enough into the Great Hunt that the below isn't a spoiler.
I will refer you to a quote you've already read in Eye of the World... And I'm putting it behind spoiler tags because it's a bigger spoiler but you were already dealt all the cards you need to figure it out:
Relevant quote from Eye of the World (not spoiler, but you might not have put it together)
I whispered again, and the High King sent his armies across the Aryth Ocean, across the World Sea, and sealed two dooms. The doom of his dream of one land and one people, and a doom yet to come.
You could have put 2 and 2 together about that line by now. If so, and what you've read, you can conclude:
Rest of the answer (minor spoiler)
This particular arc of Ishamael's story didn't happen in the The Great Hunt and is unique to the show...
Ishy did what we're seeing on screen 2000 years ago in the books, not today. So what he does in Ep6-8 is everybody's guess. Not saying he doesn't have a hand in today's stuff, but for that Read and Find Out.
Thanks so much for the detailed response!!
I had forgotten about the line from the dark one, and it makes sense. I guess in the show Ishy hasn’t been free the whole time unlike in the book.
I DO think you’re confusing what happened in book 2 a bit, as well. Tel’aran’rhiod was not involved in Rand’s fast-travel to Cairhien.
Well in the book at this point it isn’t entirely clear what that world is. If described it as some kind of dream world just because Selene seems to magically turn up there, and it seemed similar to what the test arches do. Obviously not the same as dreams, but obviously mysterious at this point.
