REVIEW: ‘The Wheel Of Time’ Season 2 Episode 5 — “Damane”

As evidenced by The Wheel of Time Season 2 Episode 5, the series is playing fast and loose with the source material to achieve the same results. For those who read the novels the series is based on, there might be hesitancy in accepting the changes made in delivering this story — such as Moiraine being “stilled”, meaning having her connection to the One Power severed — but these differences speak to the television language. There simply isn’t time to allow for the patient pacing of the novels when there are only eight episodes to deliver a tightly packaged story and “Damane” is proof that these cut corners are necessary. The final moments, tension, and instances of profound horror aren’t lessened in any way, simply reconfigured. 

Broken mainly into three stories, “Damane” somehow still works in two halves of how the story is paced. While Moiraine and Rand are in a race against time to outrun Selene/Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe), and Perrin faces an action-packed sequence with the Aiel warrior Aviendha (Ayoola Smart), other sequences are methodical. It’s the contrast between the type of characters prone to motion and action versus those, like Brown Ajah Aes Sedai Verin (Meera Syal), who moves amongst the shadows. Due to this balance, The Wheel of Time Season 2 Episode 5 is its strongest yet for the second season, deepening the threat these characters face and the severity of the power of those facing them. 

Because while the Dark Lord and his Forsaken might be the world’s greatest imminent threat in terms of sheer power, there are plenty of others both who work for him and outside of his grasp who are just as driven by greed, and cruelty. Lanfear may be the strongest monster we’ve seen in the series thus far, as we watch her end lives with little more than a shrug, but it’s Lady Suroh (Karima McAdams) who may be the wickedest in her practices as a member of the Seanchan. We saw glimpses of it in past episodes, but their method of “collaring” women who weave is suitably horrific and treated as the traumatic and invasive action that it is. 

With Suroh, we’re given more time with Ishmael, and he and Lanfear are two of the most interesting characters of the series, along with Liandrin. There’s no surprise that they’re all antagonists, given greater, dynamic material to work with. With Lanfear and Ishmael, we begin to get more context of this ever-evolving world. Ishmael was the right-hand man to the Dark One, while Lanfear defected to his side to gain back the love of her former suitor — the previous incarnation of the Dragon Reborn. So much of The Wheel of Time is about the cyclical nature of the world, of the “Ta’veren,” those of whose the Wheel of Time weaves the Pattern of life with all who surround them. There’s a reason why even though Rand is technically the greatest potential threat to the dark and the light, Mat, Perrin, Egwene, and Nynaeve still are considered. All five of them bring with them deep-rooted connections to the past and pull on the tides of life that their fates are tethered to the outcome. 

That cyclical nature and how past lives embolden and or burden those living in the present day are part of why The Wheel of Time is such a superb fantasy series. The adaptation hasn’t quite captured the same, sheer magnitude of storytelling, but even with its deviations it respects the source material and is trying to build something fresh off of it. 

With the number of characters on the roster, the series gets pulled often in too many directions, busying itself with as many characters as it can cram into a single episode. “Damane” works because it doesn’t force itself to include everyone, instead focusing on certain key characters. Rand works better with someone like Moiraine, and her meddling forces his story forward as he’s finally able to receive some answers — critical ones such as finally knowing that he never actually killed the Dark Lord in season one, merely setting his Forsaken free. While he fits the archetype of a bland hero, Rand is measurably more interesting when he must deal with his shortcomings and the threat of madness that chases him along with any other male user. 

Directed by Maja Vrvilo, the episode moves quickly, though is stifled by unfortunately expected night sequences too dark to make out certain details. The stand-off between Aviendha, Perrin, and the White Cloaks is a major standout, the direction capturing the kinetic fluidity of the warrior’s movements as she incapacitates the entire party who looks to kill her. The series doesn’t always resort to this style of combat sequence, and this instance suggests they should. 

The Wheel of Time Season 2 Episode 5 presents the growing darkness eating away at the world. As Rand and Moiraine race from Lanfear’s clutches, the story grows more intriguing as we watch as it’s not just them facing down their battle of wills with evil forces. Where there is light, in this world, there is darkness, as our heroes must contend with the fact that not every monster they’ll meet will be a creature of fable with hooves and fangs, but ones like Suroh, whose hunger for power is insatiable, and who wields that power with devastating, inhumane, cruelty. 

The Wheel of Time Season 2 is available to stream on Prime Video.