In Review: The Wheel of Time (S3 – EP7) Goldeneyes

Synopsis: In Goldeneyes, Perrin begins to embrace his role as a leader among the people of the Two Rivers.

The Story

Perrin, Faile Bashere, and Loial prepare the villagers of Two Rivers to defend themselves against the looming threat of Padan Fain and his Trolloc army. In a difficult decision, Perrin strikes a reluctant deal with the Whitecloaks, agreeing to their help in the upcoming battle. Just before the fight begins, a Tuatha’an caravan arrives in Two Rivers, reporting that they’ve been attacked by Trollocs. Happy to see his old friend, Perrin asks her to ensure the town’s children are safely evacuated during the battle.

As the conflict rages, Loial makes the ultimate sacrifice, closing the Waygate to prevent any further Trolloc reinforcements. Once the battle ends, Perrin surrenders to the Whitecloaks, seeking to put an end to the violence once and for all.

The episode concludes with a poignant voice-over by Loial, reflecting on Perrin’s honor and heroism.

The Acting

Marcus Rutherford delivers a commanding performance as Perrin, who finally gets his moment to shine in this third season. The scenes where Perrin is guided and supported by Faile Bashere (Isabella Bucceri) offer one of the more compelling relationships on the show. We also see a standout performance from Hammed Animashaun as the strong and wise Loial, who makes the ultimate sacrifice to protect his friends.

Overall

A powerful episode that delves into the friendships between Perrin and his allies as they prepare for the fight of their lives. The tension early on does an excellent job setting the stage for the battle, which results in the loss of a key character. The battle itself is brilliantly executed, showcasing some of the most terrifying Trollocs the hair and makeup department could create.

The episode title, Goldeneyes, refers to Perrin, whose eyes turn gold when he transforms into a Wolfbrother. We catch a brief but significant glimpse of this when Perrin throws himself into the fray.

Overall, this episode is likely the most action-packed we’ve seen since the season’s premiere.