REVIEW: ‘The Wheel Of Time’ Season 2 Episode 7 — “Daes Dae’mar”

In its penultimate episode, The Wheel of Time Season 2 Episode 7 finally takes great strides in reuniting our main characters. With Mat, Egwene, Nynaeve, Loial, and Elayne all in Falme, and Perrin, Aviendha, Rand, Moiraine, and Lan all on the way from different parts of the world, the series is building toward an explosive finale. Season two has taken its time on the journey to this point, and “Daes Dae’mar” (known as The Great Game in the novels) must race to certain plot points due to that meandering, but the result is strong, with a muscular episode that promises a greater payoff.

The big emotional throughline of the episode is between Moiraine, and her lover, Siuan Sanche, who is also the Amyrlin Seat—the Aes Sedai ranked most powerful who leads the rest. We’re reintroduced to their romance via flashback, jovial in celebration over the end of the war against the Aiel, before that mood is dampened by the realization that the Dragon has been reborn. Their goal was to divide and conquer. Moiraine would go off and find the Dragon and Siuan would gain control of the White Tower, readying the inhabitants to accept a male wield. Both have fallen short of their goals, as Siuan realizes Moiraine has been stilled—or so we thought—while Moiraine and Rand realize that the latter would be little more than a puppet to the Aes Sedai, their weapon, rather than their leader.

The scenes between the two are electrically charged, and both Rosamund Pike and Sophie Okonedo bring with them an air of unflappable regality that works within the confines of their settings. They’re both unmovable forces, trying their best to bend the other to their wills. It ends, ultimately, in heartache, with the Aes Sedai further divided as many still take the side of the Amyrlin Seat while others, such as Alana and Verrin, are rebelling by aiding Rand, Lan, and Moiraine to escape through the Waygate that will lead them to Falme — even if they require Lanfear’s help to do it.

There’s a clear, robust tone in The Wheel of Time Season 2 Episode 7 that indicates the closing of the current chapter. What’s interesting is that while Rand is moving towards a declarative goal (to pronounce himself the Dragon Reborn in Falme, something that’s been prophesied), the others of his group are seeking their own stability and footing. While Egwene is still being held captive, at the very least we’re seeing her biting back at her captor, while Nynaeve and Elayne have taken a drastic step to save her.

But in one of the most interesting sequences of the episode, Mat is transported to Falme and forced to converse with Ishmael, though he doesn’t know his true self. Ishmael talks about his constant sleeplessness and from there offers Mat tea, promising him that if he drinks it he will see all of his past selves before, finally, his true self. Ishmael promises that by seeing his true self it will too allow Mat an undisturbed night of sleep. Considering his dance with the dagger in season one, which left him abandoning his friends due to its cursed influence, and most recently his refusal to leave the city with Rand after Min confessed she had a vision of him killing his friend, his sense of self has seen better days. While the sequence of him hallucinating from the tea could’ve been done with greater finesse, there are a few Easter egg shots that fans will note as casual foreboding, and the end discussion between Mat and Rand makes it worthwhile.

Ishmael continues to be one of the most intriguing parts of season two. This is highlighted in his discussion with Mat (another highlight) as explains that by realizing our true selves and the fact that no matter how many lives we lead we are destined for suffering, we should welcome the end. Ishmael isn’t looking to end the world for the sake of power, but because he sees the cyclical nature of humanity and believes that for total peace we need complete obliteration as well.

The Wheel of Time Season 2 Episode 7 accelerates the plot as we gain insight into what’s really been binding Moiraine’s power this season, as well as reuniting certain characters who’ve been at odds. The season is coming to a close and Episode 7 relents for no one. The series continues to seek answers for its characters while bringing them closer to the big moment we’ve been waiting for as they all gather in what’s going to be a stirring and epic finale.

The Wheel of Time Season 2 is streaming now, exclusively on Prime Video.