In Review: The Wheel of Time (S3 – EP5) Tel’aran’rhiod

Synopsis: In Tel’aran’rhiod, Egwene trains to master Tel’aran’rhiod while Mat’s group pursues Liandrin’s Black Ajah. Perrin strategizes against White Cloak threats to Two Rivers. Lanfear expresses her true feelings to Rand.

The Story

In Tar Valon, Siuan Sanche, leader of the Aes Sedai, recognizes Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan as a potential threat—one who may even be in league with the enemy. To counter this, she devises a loose plan with her allies to keep a close watch on her.

In the Aiel Waste, Moiraine works to understand the immense power of the Sakarnen, a sa’angreal she has acquired. As she learns to channel it, she experiences both its allure and its dangers. Meanwhile, Rand continues to cement his role among the Aiel, marked as the Car’a’carn, the chief of chiefs.

Determined to uncover the truth behind her dreams and the identity of her attacker, Egwene trains to become a Dreamwalker, stepping into the perilous world of Tel’aran’rhiod. In this realm, she encounters visions of her friends and manifestations of her deepest desires. But her journey takes a dangerous turn when she realizes she is being hunted by Lanfear, who has grown more emboldened.

Elsewhere, Mat and his group uncover secrets among the Sea Folk, while Perrin leads a daring mission to rescue Mat’s sisters and their mother from the Whitecloaks.

The Acting

Rosamund Pike continues to lead the cast and delivers some great moments. But for me, the most intriguing subplot—and the standout performances—came from the scenes set in the White Tower. Sophie Okonedo and Shohreh Aghdashloo share a fantastic moment as Siuan Sanche receives an unwelcome visit from Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan, who challenges her leadership and standing among the Aes Sedai. It’s a brilliantly executed scene that sets the stage for some truly compelling drama.

Overall

A solid episode that advances all the main story threads and keeps things moving at a good pace. But, as always, some plot elements feel stronger and more developed than others.

Visually, one of the standout moments for me was the sequence near the start, where we see Moiraine experimenting with the powers she can weave using the Sakarnen. I loved how it was executed.