Amazon has released a 12 minute snippet of episode 1 on Prime, go to extras and look for "Sneak Peek"..

 

Don't want to spoil but leane is my favorite for this scene.

Edited February 20Feb 20 by A Memory Of Why

I can see why........ on the other hand Jeanine......

I would also suggest pausing at 8:38 timestamp.

 

It's in YouTube now

This goes hard. I'm super pumped for the season now.

Wow. CGI looked good. 
Really nice cold open! 
Hate that this is pretty much a confirmation that we do indeed time-jump and everybody is in Tar Valon, but … that was entertaining TV 

Saw somebody compare this to how magic battles should have looked like in The Witcher and some other shows, it's definitely a great opener to the season that's gonna grab attention from people who might not have cared otherwise. Excellent marketing to lead with this long clip.

1 hour ago, Elder_Haman said:

This goes hard. I'm super pumped for the season now.

 

I think this is what was shown at that exclusive event a couple months ago, and they said the action lasts another 15mins.

 

Anyone else feel it was weirdly cut in places? Maybe we didn't see the whole scene?

 

P.s. omg, redstone doorway!!

36 minutes ago, A Memory Of Why said:

 

I think this is what was shown at that exclusive event a couple months ago, and they said the action lasts another 15mins.

 

Anyone else feel it was weirdly cut in places? Maybe we didn't see the whole scene?

 

P.s. omg, redstone doorway!!

Yes, we need some analysis 🧐 . 
Honestly, what I’m most interested in is what items were in the “13th depository”?! Lol

 

I for sure saw the male Adam. The Foxes and Snakes doorway. The female access key/statue. The oath rod. The dice. But there may have been Callandor as well? Anybody else see something? 

Edited February 20Feb 20 by DreadLord31

1 hour ago, Kaleb said:

Saw somebody compare this to how magic battles should have looked like in The Witcher and some other shows, it's definitely a great opener to the season that's gonna grab attention from people who might not have cared otherwise. Excellent marketing to lead with this long clip.

indeed, my main worry was that the battle would suck, but no, it's good.

loved every minute. loved the feeling of "wtf how many black sisters are there???" though in the books we don't get there until a lot later.

 

i don't understand what alanna thinks she can do alone against a dozen black sisters though. not unless she has a saangreal

Edited February 20Feb 20 by king of nowhere

9 minutes ago, king of nowhere said:

i don't understand what alanna thinks she can do alone against a dozen black sisters though. not unless she has a saangreal

Well in the teaser - she’s gonna rip up the street and throw stones at them. Which we established in S2 is unstoppable (a bunch of damane never saw it coming)! 😉 

 

I kid. It’s was really good. And I don’t even care about the plot holes even in that sweet battle. Like (“Wait, how did everybody die outside the hall except for Alanna’s two Warders? That’s convenient for an epic western style showdown. Draw!” lol 

 

Honestly. I’m pumped. I was most worried that the CGI would be cheesy. But this is as good of a magic battle as anything I’ve seen. 

Come on there are 21 Aes Sedai in that room with only 5 Black and Liandrin is already shielded so it is basically 4 to 1 and yet the black wins.

 

The acting from Alannas warders is terrible knocking on the door instead of at least putting their shoulders into it was just embarrassing. Not even attempting to try and find another entrance if that door is securely locked.

 

Big change to the warder bond that just because you are Black Ajah now you enjoy the feeling of their deaths.

 

Why would you use the staff to beat a woman to death when you have the power to literally cut her in half with the power as seen in this spoiler.

 

The slow motion was poor. The act of leaving the Red Ajah excluded when the charge was being a dark friend smacks of an amateur political move designed to sow discontent within the tower.

 

She has proof that Siuan met with a man that can channel she can ask her a direct question.

 

I think they are going big on S3 to try and get excitement up. There are holes in the scene without a doubt and some of the cuts / acting / dialogue doesn't work for me at all. 

 

But! It's a significant step above a lot of what we've seen so far in terms of action and the use of the Power. And they are clearly not afraid of a bit of gore and brutality, which makes me wonder how Dumai's Wells might look if we ever get that far...

I think that the CGI used for the magic battle was very good.

 

What I can't understand is the end of the battle.  Whether the Black should have won the battle given the numbers is debatable.  But they are the Black.  They had defeated the most powerful women in the Tower and they were all laying on the ground defeated and helpless.  Finish them off quickly with a quick slice of the power?  Nah, let's retreat to the docks so we can fight them again another day.

 

Retreat was prudent after the battle but at least clean up the low hanging fruit that will only take a millisecond to destroy.

15 minutes ago, DojoToad said:

I think that the CGI used for the magic battle was very good.

 

What I can't understand is the end of the battle.  Whether the Black should have won the battle given the numbers is debatable.  But they are the Black.  They had defeated the most powerful women in the Tower and they were all laying on the ground defeated and helpless.  Finish them off quickly with a quick slice of the power?  Nah, let's retreat to the docks so we can fight them again another day.

 

Retreat was prudent after the battle but at least clean up the low hanging fruit that will only take a millisecond to destroy.

It's book accurate that good guys don't die

11 hours ago, Mailman said:

Come on there are 21 Aes Sedai in that room with only 5 Black and Liandrin is already shielded so it is basically 4 to 1 and yet the black wins.

 

The acting from Alannas warders is terrible knocking on the door instead of at least putting their shoulders into it was just embarrassing. Not even attempting to try and find another entrance if that door is securely locked.t

Big change to the warder bond that just because you are Black Ajah now you enjoy the feeling of their deaths.

 

Why would you use the staff to beat a woman to death when you have the power to literally cut her in half with the power as seen in this spoiler.

 

The slow motion was poor. The act of leaving the Red Ajah excluded when the charge was being a dark friend smacks of an amateur political move designed to sow discontent within the tower.

 

She has proof that Siuan met with a man that can channel she can ask her a direct question.

 

Honestly, maybe you should just give up on the show- doesn't seem like it's for you given some of your posts.

 

As for the acting in that moment- it's fine- it does it's job- we are seeing two seconds of them trying to get in- while also trying to block the red sisters in the hall- who they still currently think are working with Liandrin. They can't just go off and leave them unguarded looking for another entrance. And I think realistically a shoulder hit wouldn't do much to a thick 3 story large wooden door that's locked with the one power.

 

Are they supposed to look a little pathetic- yes- that's the intent- because they are helpless and hopeless during a battle between channelers. 

 

I think it's just that character that enjoys feeling warder death- not all of them- that character was unhinged in the books as well. 

Edited February 21Feb 21 by forte12

Ihvon might die in the battle between Alanna and Black Ajah 🤔

1 hour ago, DaddyFinn said:

It's book accurate that good guys don't die

LOL.  Since when do they care about that?

 

And plenty of good guys and gals died in the books - though most of them made it to the Last Battle.

There are definitely nits to pick. I think @Mailman hit on most of them. They're mostly things that are common to every action/adventure type show though. It also seems that some juicy bits may have been removed - hard to tell.

 

The things that my grumpy teenaged son called out were (1) the warders at the door and the (2) discrepancy in the use of the power ("why don't they just cut the black ajah sisters in half like that?") I pretty much agree with the first point - they should have reshot that. The urgency in their voices does not match what they are doing - you're either pounding on the door, asking to be let in because you aren't sure what's happening or you are fully trying to knock the thing down because you realize there's an attack going on. This somehow tried to split the difference. Not good.

 

As for the second point, I pointed out that the Aes Sedai are forbidden to use the Power as a weapon. This means that the vast majority of them have not practiced using the Power as a weapon. They don't know those weaves, which is why they fight more defensively. Four of your sisters started killing their friends and colleagues? Most of them would be in total shock. (This also explains Leanne's vicious, physical reaction I think.)

 

My biggest question is about the weave used on Verin. Is this a sign Verin knew her protege was Black all along? If she did, it's curious why she would choose her to be in the vault at that moment...

Edited February 21Feb 21 by Elder_Haman

4 minutes ago, Elder_Haman said:

There are definitely nits to pick. I think @Mailman hit on most of them. They're mostly things that are common to every action/adventure type show though. It also seems that some juicy bits may have been removed - hard to tell.

 

The things that my grumpy teenaged son called out were (1) the warders at the door and the (2) discrepancy in the use of the power ("why don't they just cut the black ajah sisters in half like that?") I pretty much agree with the first point - they should have reshot that. The urgency in their voices does not match what they are doing - you're either pounding on the door, asking to be let in because you aren't sure what's happening or you are fully trying to knock the thing down because you realize there's an attack going on. This somehow tried to split the difference. Not good.

 

As for the second point, I pointed out that the Aes Sedai are forbidden to use the Power as a weapon. This means that the vast majority of them have not practiced using the Power as a weapon. They don't know those weaves, which is why they fight more defensively. Four of your sisters started killing their friends and colleagues? Most of them would be in total shock. (This also explains Leanne's vicious, physical reaction I think.)

 

My biggest question is about the weave used on Verin. Is this a sign Verin knew her protege was Black all along? If she did, it's curious why she would choose her to be in the vault at that moment...

 

Again, I just disagree on the warder thing. I think it's totally fine for 2 seconds of screen time, especially given the fact they don't want to break down the door and let the red sisters they are guarding- whom they believe to be working with the bad guys- into the hall. 

39 minutes ago, forte12 said:

we are seeing two seconds of them trying to get in- while also trying to block the red sisters in the hall- who they still currently think are working with Liandrin.

 

It's the part before the other Red sisters arrive that is the bothersome part. They are banging on the door. But they are screaming in near panic. Once the Reds get there, all bets are off. You have potential enemies on either side.

 

Look, it doesn't ruin the whole thing or make the scene bad or anything like that (at least no more than it ruins any show that has an occasional clunky bit of acting or chunk of bad dialogue) but it certainly wasn't good.

 

And again, there's certainly some reason to think that certain bits were cut out. The whole issue could be a result of poor audio editing. I have no idea. Whatever the case, it was a lowlight of the clip. There were plenty of highlights.

9 minutes ago, Elder_Haman said:

 

It's the part before the other Red sisters arrive that is the bothersome part. They are banging on the door. But they are screaming in near panic. Once the Reds get there, all bets are off. You have potential enemies on either side.

 

Look, it doesn't ruin the whole thing or make the scene bad or anything like that (at least no more than it ruins any show that has an occasional clunky bit of acting or chunk of bad dialogue) but it certainly wasn't good.

 

And again, there's certainly some reason to think that certain bits were cut out. The whole issue could be a result of poor audio editing. I have no idea. Whatever the case, it was a lowlight of the clip. There were plenty of highlights.

Agree to disagree. Door is sealed or locked with the one power- there's no way to get in- they are helpless- that's why they are banging on the door and are screaming to be let in. That's the intent in the moment- I actually think it's decently good acting for 2 seconds of footage.  

 

I think maybe the awkwardness comes from there's no way anyone in the hall can hear it, given what's happening- but that's a conceptual/writing problem and not a performance one. 

 

 

Edited February 21Feb 21 by forte12

I agree with a good bit of what mailman posted.  But must consider that many things we see in fantastical movies and shows can be enjoyed at the moment and with some suspension of disbelief and they wither quickly when seriously considered.

 

This was a spectacle that will catch attention of viewers.  I would think the Black Ajah would take down some AS by surprise, which we see when the one is sliced in half.  There is already another down as the camera pans away from above.  However, with the slow saunter from their seats to the center of the hall, I would think the AS would react much quicker than they did.

 

Also, they took the time to heal Liandrin.  So, it was 3 against how many for that time?  But, keep in mind the sitters are from different ajahs.  Not all would have much training or experience in fighting with the OP.  White, brown, yellow, and maybe grey would probably be week in this regard.

 

The warders reactions were disappointing.  Were Alanna's warders the only ones who could sense what their AS were feeling?  Did the warders for the dying AS not feel that and react appropriately?  Wouldn't they be going berserk trying to get through those doors?

 

The reds had to sense the massive amounts of OP being used and didn't seem to have any real urgency to get by the warders.  I would think they wouldn't hesitate to force their way past.

 

The Black/Green enjoying her warders die doesn't bother me.  She may be truly twisted or they may have had a modified bond due to her swearing for the dark.  

 

Killing with a staff does seem out of place.  The blood effects were poor, in my opinion.

 

Editing was a little sloppy.  Liandrin has a burnt or bloody face while floating in the bubble and 30 seconds later her face is clean.  I feel like this was not the complete first 11 minutes but a curated portion.  That may be just what they ended up with or they cut some portions out to streamline the impact.

 

Some is nitpicking after a rewatch.  A few were noticed initially.  I liked it more with the first watch, which is better than what I could say about the previous seasons.  As a book fan, I needed to watch those a second time to enjoy them after being mad during the first watch.

Another note I wonder about is Liandrin's accusation against Suian.  Yeah, she had met with Rand, but she did shield him and hold him captive.  It is not like she just let him walk away.  Lanfear attacked the city and took him with her.  Suian tried to stop her and was put down.

 

This is quite a different scenario from the books in which she actually let him walk away.

19 minutes ago, Wassup said:

Liandrin's accusation

Fomenting chaos and strengthening her position, I imagine. She'll force out the truth - that the man who proclaimed himself Dragon left willingly with one of the Forsaken. 

 

Siuan will explain what she did, of course. But that will only prompt questions: why were you there? why didn't you notify the Hall? how did you let him escape? Siuan is weakened, the Reds rise. Liandrin has control of the Reds.

 

My question is why Liandrin caves so quickly. She doesn't even try to challenge Nynaeve. I guess she figured they would just swear her on the oath rod?