REVIEW: ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 Episode 5 — “Tel’aran’rhiod”

Despite the density of the text they’re working with, The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5 is the first of this season that feels oddly sparse. A lot happens, but more than anything, any movement involves repositioning characters and speedrunning character development to push the narrative forward. Every character gets their standout moment but feels less marvel because none are given the time or attention needed to immerse ourselves in their story fully. It’s entertaining and looks and sounds fantastic, but the depth of Episodes 1–4 is missing.

The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5 returns to a multiple-story format after dedicating all of Episode 4 to Rand’s (Josha Stradowski) and Moraine’s (Rosamund Pike) journey. And unsurprisingly, not every storyline works as well as the rest. The one that suffers the most, however, is Egwene (Madeleine Madden). Her training to become a Dream Walker is rushed, with poor pacing and unrealistic advancements of the craft. Between the beginning and end of the episode, she’s gone from learning what being a Dream Walker entails to helping Moraine traverse her path.

However, the biggest reveal will help move her — and Rand’s — storyline forward. In the admittedly silly montage of her peaking into her friend’s dreams (a peculiar type of invasive), she finds Rand making out with Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe). Lanfear, who has been stalking and tormenting her in her dreams. Rand and Egwene, both in the books and the series, are never the most vital romantic pairing. In all honesty, most of the romantic pairings in the adaptation lack chemistry. But Rand and Egwene offer two points of perspective in this world, both having been together since the very start of their adventure.

This image of his dream helps shake up their foundation. Their coming together after their split journeys feels compulsory—it’s what they knew before, and they never officially broke things off. But now, their relationship is stalled out. It’s telling that it’s in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5, where Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) asks Rand if his people have multiple lovers, which is customary for Aiel.

Not every storyline thrives in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5. 

The two other significant storylines work better. Most notably, the journey to Tanchico with Mat, Nynaeve (Zoë Robins), Elayne, and Elayne (Ceara Coveney) and Min. The voyage further expands the world as Elayne and Nynaeve learn of the Windfinders. The Windfinders are channelers who aren’t associated with the White Tower and are believed not to have enough power to become Aes Sedai. The truth is much more interesting and enriching, elevating the story and the rules many of these characters follow.

The Windfinders, like the Wise Ones in the Aiel Waste, have learned to channel in a way that befits them, outside of the White Towers’ expectations. Their control of the weave is more organic and based on the natural flow. They understand why Nynaeve struggles so thoroughly with her own power. Nynaeve sees the true power as something she must learn to control. The Windfinders understand that there’s no chance to do so.

More than anything, though, the trip to Tanchico allows for this fun new grouping to develop their personalities and striking dynamics. While Mat and Elayne clearly can’t stand one another, Mat and Min, meanwhile, reconcile. So much so that Min’s sketch of the deadly premonition she had of Mat can’t deter them. Kae Alexander and Dónal Finn are delightful as these characters and share a strong chemistry that makes them endlessly watchable. They tend to excel with the platonic in a show that doesn’t always nail the romantic chemistry.

That platonic energy is evident, too, with Moraine and Lan (Daniel Henney.) I’ve mentioned the many reasons why TV Lan doesn’t work for me. Yes, part of it is due to the lasting fondness for book Lan, whose stoicism is slowly, agonizingly, chipped away at compared to TV Lan, who weeps at any misstep, stealing us from the cathartic moments of emotional release. But where he excels is in his friendship with Moraine. Moraine, who is another character the adaptation doesn’t always nail due to their incessant need for her to be a protagonist due to Pike’s status.

Certain deviations from the books work wonders. Others don’t. 

It makes their shared scenes in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5 more effective. Because their dynamic has a platonic ease that makes them interesting scene partners. While the adaptation is actively rerouting pieces of the book to condense certain storylines, it makes sense within the show’s context. Things such as Moraine now possessing a sa’angreal (rare objects that help channelers use more of the One Power safely), known as the ‘sakarnen.’ It’s a pointed deviation from the book that opens the world up.

Another significant change comes with Mat’s mom, who Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) is determined to rescue. In the books, she lives. Her fate is crueler and seemingly needless in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5. Perrin’s storyline, which involves an angry and bereaved Alanna (Priyanka Bose), continues to make for an interesting way to approach the world. But killing Mat’s mother feels excessive, especially if all it does is further motivate Perrin and his anger against the White Cloaks.

It’s funny that, despite being in the Two Rivers, the more emotional storyline of the episode is through Alanna and her Warder, Maksim (Taylor Napier). Both continue to grieve the loss of Alanna’s other Warder and their lover, Ihvon. It reaches a boiling point before they infiltrate the White Cloaks camp. Maksim can’t reconcile her distance and their grief, while Alanna is driven by a need to protect. In a wonderfully delivered moment, she tells Maksim that the fight with the Black Ajah reinforced one thing — they’re prepared while the White Tower is not.

That gray unease and the need to find who can be trusted infect the Tower, too, where Siuan checks to see whether Elaida (Shohreh Aghdashloo) is a member of the Black Ajah. Seemingly, it’s a no, but Elaida remains a superb, morally inconsistent character.

But no matter how many interesting developments occur, there’s too much going on in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5. Certain actors shine, and there’s forward momentum, but it all feels like place settings for what’s to come.

The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5 is on now on Prime Video.

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