Alex Grid

I read the books (and re-read) and OK, they changed quite a bit. I tried watching it as someone who never read the books, and still ended up disappointed. For those who did not read the books, roughly: There is female and male side of the power. Male side got tainted and any man that uses it eventually goes mad. Aes Sedai, women who use female side of the power, find these men and kill them or cut them off from the power (which is equal to killing them, because they do not want to live anymore after anyway). Power gives Aes Sedai long life (centuries), among other things. Everybody else is a child to them – including kings, queens, generals. Imagine a matriarch who rules the family with silk gloved iron fist. That is how Aes Sedai rule the known world. They do not have to be strong in power, to have power over other “lesser humans”. What they think is best is the only thing that matters, because they are never questioned. With me so far? Last battle is against evil, that has to be fought by a MALE chaneler – last dragon. Who will be used, abused, betrayed, tricked, who has to use a power that will eventually make him mad, knowing that he will not survive in the end. He cannot win alone. He has to learn to accept female side of power and learn how to use male side of the power. Aes Sedai want and know they need to help him but need to learn humility and re-learn to accept male side of power. Ying Yang, one cannot win without the other, etc. The grand finale – final battle, female and male with and without power on both sides. Before the finale add power play among Aes Sedai themselves, kingdoms with their political pettiness, evil spreading its fingers from beyond its prison, enemies and allies from strange lands, monsters, magic... There is intrigue and power plays inside power plays... And most of that is not visible and felt in this adaptation. There is no tension, there is no depth. You do not feel power in these women (Egwene snivelling over Rand in the last episode, I can’t even...). The show relies too much on pretty dresses, scenery and effects. Watching this is like watching fireworks, nice but you forget about it next day. You will not go to work next day and talk about it, or anticipate next episode to see what happens. Shame.