The story that unfolded in The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 6 was easily the most book-accurate plotline the series has done to this point.
Warning: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 6
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Summary
- “Eyes Without Pity” is the most book-accurate episode of The Wheel of Time so far, closely following Egwene’s storyline from The Great Hunt.
- The episode also includes other key moments from the book, like Nynaeve and Elayne’s involvement in rescuing Egwene and the introduction of the Yellow Sister as a damane.
- The biggest changes in this episode actually set up more book-accurate stories, including Rand’s Tel’aran’rhiod experience and Basan’s death, which both lead to important events in The Great Hunt’s finale.
The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 6, titled “Eyes Without Pity,” just gave the series its most book-accurate storyline just yet. Throughout its run, Wheel of Time has managed to honor several moments from the novels. But admittedly, these are usually book-ended by all-new stories and other changes to the source material, thus allowing Amazon’s show to avoid becoming a straight retelling of Jordan’s Wheel of Time books.
As for season 2 in particular, it’s essentially an adaptation of The Great Hunt, the second book in The Wheel of Time series. Many of the season’s biggest plotlines, such as the search for the Horn of Valere, the clash with the Seanchan, and Rand meeting Selene are all connected to The Great Hunt. However, much of what transpired in season 2 isn’t in the book at all. Several of season 2’s stories, such as Min’s arrangement with Ishamael, Moiraine’s return to House Damodred, and Logain teaching Rand how to channel are inventions of the show. But as the many liberties taken in season 1 had already proven, combining the old with the new is par for the course for the series.
Egwene’s Damane Story Was Pulled Straight Out Of The Wheel Of Time Books
The vast number of changes made to nearly every plotline in The Wheel of Time is what makes “Eyes Without Pity” such an atypical entry for the series. As opposed to the goings-on in most Wheel of Time episodes, a substantial portion of the story was pulled directly from Jordan’s books. In fact, the main narrative in “Eyes Without Pity,” Egwene’s captivity and her conflict with Renna, matches up closely with her arc in the latter half of The Great Hunt. Renna’s designs on Egwene and the torture she endured were integral to both the episode and her stories in Chapter 40 and Chapter 42.
Several moments in the episode have their roots in Egwene’s interactions with Renna in the book, namely the latter’s explanations regarding the futility of striking a sul’dam and the origins of the a’dam in Wheel of Time. Egwene’s isolation and misery, Renna expressing her confidence in Egwene’s potential as a damane, and Egwene not being able to pick up the pitcher until she stopped thinking about hurting Renna were all taken from The Great Hunt. The scene of Renna forcing Egwene to use the One Power on the tree is also in the book, though the show diverges slightly from Jordan’s story by having Egwene actually obey Renna’s command.
The Wheel Of Time Season 2, Episode 6 Includes Other Key Book Stories
In addition to the accuracy with which it told Egwene’s story, the episode managed to honor The Great Hunt in other ways as well. Nynaeve and Elayne didn’t get help from Ryma in the novel, but the Yellow Sister becoming a damane lines up well with the source material, considering that her book counterpart was introduced as a damane in The Great Hunt. It falling on Nynaeve and Elayne, characters not accustomed to working together, to rescue Egwene is also a development from the book, coupled with the two getting their hands on an a’dam.
The Wheel Of Time Season 2, Episode 6’s Biggest Changes Set Up A Book-Accurate Ending
What’s more, even the biggest changes in “Eyes Without Pity” are proving arbitrary, as it seems their purposes – for the most part – are to set up even more book-accurate stories. Case in point is Rand’s Tel’aran’rhiod experience with Egwene. Admittedly, Rand didn’t confront Lanfear in the World of Dreams or witness Egwene’s torment in the book, but having this happen in the show gives Rand a reason to go to Falme. In doing so, The Wheel of Time has laid the groundwork for Rand’s highly anticipated showdowns with High Lord Turak and Ishamael. These fights were a big part of The Great Hunt’s finale. This continues much of the setup season 2 has already built, as it already put Ingtar, Loial, Masema, Elayne, Egwene, and Nynaeve in Falme, and is in the process of landing Perrin there as well.
Something similar can be said for Basan’s death. It wasn’t in The Great Hunt, but it does set the stage for Nynaeve and Elayne’s plan to rescue Egwene from the book. Also worth mentioning is the scene where Ryma brought up a ship captain who can help Elayne and Nynaeve escape the city. Clearly, this is setup for the two characters meeting up with the previously introduced Bayle Domon, who was supposed to get them out of Falme at the end of The Great Hunt. Thanks in part to these scenes, The Wheel of Time has the tools it needs to recreate the epic fight at Falme, all the way down to its most intricate details.
The Wheel of Time releases new episodes on Fridays on Amazon Prime Video.
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