Podcast: Play in new window | Download
So it took us long enough eh?
We actually recorded this almost 3 weeks ago, but almost at the end Marco had the power go out at his place, and we couldn’t get the last few mins done over the next 2 weeks. Finally decided lets cut it and post it(not like it isnt long enough as our first 60 min plus podcast) and we’ll cover whats left later.
So what do we cover? We decided to break the review into 2 parts. The first is going to give you our thoughts on various characters and how their story arcs progressed(Rand, Egwene) or didnt(Perrin, Mat), and in one notable case finally progressed but the progress didnt do anything to make the character less of an ass.
We discuss Rand, Egwene, Verin, The Rebel Aes Sedai, Siuan and Gareth Bryne, Mat and his group, Perrin and his group, Aviendha, Cadsuane, Nynaeve, Rands generals. We also discuss absent characters like Elayne, Lan, and Padan Fain.
It should be obvious but we spoil The Gathering Storm in every possible way we could think of, so please dont listen if you havent read.
Anyway drop us a comment, really love reading those.
All Posts
Guys, in regards what you were saying about cadsuane not teaching rand something, i think you might be mistaken. didn’t her actions (bringing tam to rand, her constant pushing and manipulating) directly set him on the path that led to his revelation and being able to laugh again? how shes going to teach the other ashaman i ain’t got a clue but just a theory. loved the book, thought it was top five for sure. but mat was quite off. i think Mr.Sanderson will hopefully get into his mindframe a bit better in the next book.
Thats very close to what my poorly articulated point was supposed to be. Cadsuane pushed Rand towards learning how to laugh. She didnt “teach” him that. I think we have seen Mins prophecy that Cadsuane has to teach the Ashaman and Rand something, and Cadsuanes own contention that she wants to teach the boy to laugh, and have put the two together, but we dont actually know if laughing is the thing Cadsuane is supposed to teach Rand and co.
It’s taking me a while to listen through this, but here are my thoughts so far:
As you guys mentioned, after having finished TGS, I thought it was the best in the series, but after I stepped back, I decided it is also in my top 5. None of the books beat book 4 for me… yet.
Also, I also had to put the book down after the scene where Rand used the True Power. I don’t think I’ve ever had to put a book down and take a breather like that before. That scene blew my socks off… The question that I have (and that has been asked a lot over at dragonmount.com and theoryland.com) is, was this an intentional move by the Dark One, or did Rand access the TP through his link with Moridin? Does the Dark One know that Rand used the TP? I would think that he does, but was it meant to happen?
I like your assessment of Cadsuane. I never thought to compare her stubborn pride and her desire to “never fail” with Rand’s desire to be “hard as cuendillar” but it really fits. In a sense, Cadsuane’s stubborn “hardness” and pride almost doomed the world just as much as Rand’s “hardness.” Luckily it did seem to work in the end.
I personally don’t think that Cadsuane is finished teaching laughter and tears, but I think this was a start.
Finally, as I’ve only listened to about the first half, I agree with your thoughts on the Rand/Tam reunion as well. It was everything I hoped it wouldn’t be. But, my thoughts after this event are that his next reunion with Tam will be everything we originally hoped, now that Rand seems to have been mentally “fixed” and he realizes that he can’t win by shutting everybody he loves out.
Good stuff so far! I wish more people knew about your wotcast. I think it is great! Frankly, I think your podcasts are more balanced than the 4th Age podcast, which often seems to be dominated by one person.
Thanks for the great comments guys. Much appreciated.
My personal thoughts on the TP use: I think that it was an unintentional usage. I don’t think anyone, including the DO, could have foreseen that it would happen. I get the impression that crossing balefire streams isn’t something that happens often if ever and so it would have had to be a pretty desperate plot out of far left field for the DO to arrange for it. Also, the whole scene in Shadar Logoth didn’t have the feeling of being “scripted” in the sense that Ishidin purposefully crossed his BF line with Rand’s.
What it means going forward? Well that’s an interesting discussion point and I personally am in the camp of the “three needed to wield it” theory RE calandor. Saidin, Saidar and the TP to seal the prison. I also think that Nyn will be the one with Rand again to link and use Calandor.
Thoughts?
My thoughts on the second half of the podcast:
Gawyn – I liked him more than ever, but yeah, still a tool. I’m hoping he’ll have an early reunion with Morgase and company early on in the next book and then he’ll be at least bearable when he’s Egwene’s warder. He is an amazing swordsman, which is cool. He’ll make a good Warder, methinks.
Sheriam – I think there’s more to it than what we know so far is my guess. Some have speculated that it is possible that when you are turned by 13 Aes Sedai and 13 Myrrdraal that you don’t remember it happening. This to me is a good indication of why Sheriam’s reasons for joining the BA seemed so flimsy, and why she needed to be beaten to keep in line. Not a lot of real “evil” motivation.
Sheriam and The purge – While they were both resolved quickly, I don’t think this was out of “character” for the WoT. RJ always handles stuff quickly. A lot of build up, with very quick resolution. I think RJ used things like this to draw our attention away from things that are more significant and subtle. Red herrings…
Verin – I think I was the one who commented on the “purple” Ajah. Actually, I really like how this worked out with Verin. She was just “really dark brown” as I’ve heard some people say. I hope that there will be more things that will leave us “flabbergasted” in the next two books like the Verin stuff did. I think Verin was always in character. We just didn’t know what her true “mission” or drive was. For me, that’s what made the reveal so good. Verin was always driven by her desire to uproot the dark, but she was always a brown who didn’t always think straight and she took her time doing her research. What horrible things did she do while a member of the BA for 70 years!!! Hopefully she was “forgiven” by the light.
Black Ajah and the Purge- The BA is not done. I mean, there are a bunch of them who fled, but as far as in the White Tower, I agree they are definitely done.
Mesaana – It’s still likely that Mesaana is in the tower, and that she did in fact swear on the Oath Rod and said “I am not Black Ajah, I am not a darkfriend,” she could very well believe that. Lanfear certainly didn’t want to associate herself with “darkfriends.” Mesaana sees herself (likely) as one of the Chosen, and nothing else. I think Brandon Sanderson specifically mentioned that Mesaana is still in the Tower.
Old People in Love – Speaking of the Siuan and Bryne storyline, does anybody else think that the Seanchan “Bloodknives” will (hopefully) play a bigger role in the next book or two then just that short scene where Siuan and Bryne fulfill the prophecy of having to be near each other to keep each other alive/safe.
Mat – I also didn’t have a problem with Mat. He wasn’t spot on for me, but since so little happened, I don’t think it is possible to judge Brandon Sanderson’s writing of his character yet. Also, BS specifically said that RJ’s notes said that Mat was supposed to be a bit different since he was recently married.
Perrin – I hate to say it, but I don’t care if Perrin is just a minor character from now on. It’s unfortunate, because he was cool in the first four books or so. But since he married Faile, I’ve not liked him as much.
Elaida – I agree with your assessment of Elaida being effected by Fain. But, she was mislead from the beginning. Fain just “enhanced” the “crazy.”
Good podcast but I think you guys missed a very important point about Verin. She was forced into the decision to join the Black. She said as much: “I found myself in a position where I could either take the oaths to the DO, or [...] I would have been executed.” Thats when she opted to study them.
I had a thought in this book. He cleansed Saidin in previous books by channelling it through a tube of saidar.
In the book it says the True Power IS the Dark One. So why not try cleansing that – channelling that through a tube of Saidar and Saidin mixes?
If you take out all the uhh’s and um’s this would only be a 30 minutes podcast. This is almost impossible to listen to.