Wheel of Time: Adapting Far Dareis Mai

How will Amazon Prime portray The Maidens of the Spear for their Wheel of Time adaptation? Join me and my Special Guests @TigraineMantear and @RealDealAiel from #Twitteroftime as we discuss how Far Dareis Mai will be adapted! How will they look? How will they portray Handtalk (will it be ASL or something different?) Will they adopt first sisters and give up their children? Never Wed? Will they be comic book strong? Or will their talents lie in real life martial arts and strength training? We dive into all of this and so much more!
"Very Well, I am not Jenn anymore." She hefted the shortened spear. "This is my husband now."
Intro animation Courtesy of @UnravelingWoT
Graphic Design, Intro and Outro music "Story" courtesy of Eliks - Visit her music channel: bit.ly/2VqYV70 and follow her pm twitter @Eliks_
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[@Darth_Zamiel]

I think two very important things are being overlooked here. 1) all Aiel warriors are elite marathoners (maybe even ultra-marathoners). 2) food and water are more scarce in the three fold land. "Jacked" physiques require lots of water and are calorically expensive. imo Aiel warriors would be lean and wiry. males should look like Iggy Pop and Far Dareis Mai sould look like (T2 era) Linda Hamilton.

[@Ashencrowe]

Fully agree. any individual's trending to plumpness through through laziness and/or eating more than their share would be shamed hard by that person's entire group. Wise Ones or Warleaders would task them to break them of their habits. In my best physique in my Navy years, I was firm and wiry at best. I always said, "Body by Jacques Cousteau."

[@haplozetetic9519]

Arya Stark's technique is a good example for some of the Maidens' fighting style. Edited to add: Most Maiden's physiques would probably be slim with a well defined musculature like a gymnast, and less bulky like a bodybuilder.

[@raiderfankeef]

We better get Mat playing Maiden's Kiss

[@WoTUp]

One can hope!!!

[@anthonymedici9876]

The Great Hunt had the first Aiel encounter during a Perrin point of view prior to reuniting with Rand.

[@testickles8834]

where he saved Gaul from the cage, not the girl.

[@cedricwestmoreland]

I want the quiet moments where they treat him as either their son or brother sometimes younger sometimes older

[@ovellabonaparte6249]

The first mention of the Aiel is in The Eye of the World during Tam's fever. A flashback to the Aiel War would be a great way to give us a glimpse of the Maidens.

[@TheWheelTurns]

The books actually state that the Maidens' method of hand-to-hand fighting is different than the men's. So if they are going to be that detailed in the show it should follow suit. But there really were not many times we see much weapon-free fighting at all, so for it to be obvious on the show they would need to carry that into armed/spear fighting as well.

[@abbys6260]

I think ASL as maiden hand talk would be awesome. The animated show Dragon Prince has a deaf/mute character who uses actual ASL and it is a cool touch.

[@anydaynow01]

Considering this is a age after our age a derivative of ASL would be pretty awesome!

[@jimmyheb]

Or any other sign language. ASL is NOT universal; it's just one of the various sign languages in existence.

[@gokbay3057]

@@jimmyheb I agree just having an actual sign language would be super cool, but does not have to be ASL.

[@s7e6p19]

The point in the books was it was a silent way to communicate. Most societies had their version, the maidens simply had a larger pool of symbols. I think it would be much more accurate to create something new for the show. This handtalk wasn't meant for others to know. Be true to the base concept of the books please.

[@cazgreene3055]

This was FANTASTIC - I agree with everything you said, and awesome to see Tigraine and Real Deal Aiel from Twitter of Time - I thought they may have been sisters themselves they look so alike!

[@WoTUp]

I had a lot of fun!

[@rickd7373]

My view on being made first-sisters is that thru the One Power, the women are bound together like identical twins. During the ceremony they share a womb together. Twins typically have a closer bond than most brothers and sisters.

[@johntaylor1382]

Thanks for another really good show. I am now going to get on twitter, as I have been reading the series for many years, and need to keep in touch with everything. As a 63 year old who has read many book series, I find I am looking forward to seeing this series more than any other.

[@danalou_who7765]

I really enjoyed you having knowledgeable guests from the community in this video.

[@WoTUp]

I did too!! It was so fun!

[@lifesabeach2597]

If all of the Aiel, including the women, are not really fit and cut they won't be believable, and I really want to see the Sisters of the Spears sense of community and compitition with the men

[@josepholsenbutler]

I hope they stick with the book on Rand and his ladies... I think it’s cool how they are like sisters to each other and love him so much

[@bainchiad4689]

Our spear-sisters speak much truth in this video. We cannot wait to see our likenesses on the screen - realistically strong, complex, multifaceted women kicking some major butt! Thanks for having this great discussion 🧡

[@funkymonkey41784]

In the Great Hunt an Aiel does show up to talk to Ingtar and the Boarderlanders searching for the Horn, but the Dragon Reborn is where we actually meet the Aiel

[@kght222]

the spear breaking scene. and when they punish rand

[@beggon12]

I understand the reasoning but I'm not a fan of inputting modern ideology into entertainment for connection purposes. I enjoy fantasy for the aspect of escapism rather than finding real world connections.

[@beggon12]

Great video btw! I'm very excited for the show!

[@WoTUp]

Thanks! So am I!!

[@Merecir]

The Aiel should have super heavy farmer tans. =D

[@MichaelMaxwell747]

Wonderful guests!

[@WoTUp]

They were!

[@nikolayargirov1573]

I think someone mentioned it already, but in terms of physique you can't realistically have big muscles amongst the Aiel. They should rather be a "mean lean death machine", and that goes for the Maidens as well. I fully agree on showing off what they can do physically on par and most of the time better than most men. Battlestar Galactica (the 2000s remake) comes to mind in terms of portraiting women in "menly" professions/settings and I think they did it very well there and should be a benchmark to expand on in WoT tv series.

[@henryfinney5768]

There are two points I would like to make first is hand talk in the books it's depicted as meant to be seen and other times more subtle so using asl may not be the best option Second is if the first meeting with Perrin and the group is left in the production a maiden could be first contact that will change the perception of the maidens

[@charlieteneyck6797]

Great video!

[@SeiShinCasios]

Awesome discussion, I would really like a ju-jutsu based fighting style for close combat or weaponless fighting, but otherwise I would prefer some spartan-esque spear formations but for smaller groups. I think the maidens (and other aiel) would be working very well together, covering weak spots and have flexible formations. And I absolutely agree that they should have a muscular body (but lean and wiry, not bodybuilder type -they run for ages!) and be shown in a natural, unsexualised way in their everyday life and workout. If the maidens are wearing armored bikinis I'm gonna go insane..

[@WoTUp]

No Red Sonjas or Vamperellas!

[@MattGarZero]

Is "weaponless fighting" a wetlander joke? I'll never understand wetlander humor.

[@SeiShinCasios]

@@MattGarZero Gaul would like to have a word with you. :D

[@Ashencrowe]

There is a youtube video for the Assengi spear by the Cold Steel Knife Company, that shows just what a long Aiel spearhead can do - long or short-hafted. the slicing and dicing close-quarter bits will make you shudder like a Cairhienen. Coupled with coordinated MMA fighting styles... I'd bring the brown pants to battle, and let everyone else elbow past me in the battle line.

[@yves2016]

They see an Aiel in the great hunt when Rand leaves them to go through the mirror world. They ask Perrin and Co about he who comes with the dawn

[@stevek7699]

Enjoyed this greatly. Here's hoping Rafe et al. get the power dynamics right. I feel that if they do that correctly the details matter less.

[@Uhlbelk]

Most of the fighting with the Aiel is done with spears and the techniques are going to be the same between men and women. I think maybe the fight with Sulin over leadership of the sept could be were the physical fighting is showcased as different, but I don't know where else we would see a whole lot of Aiel fighting unarmed to showcase a difference in techniques.

[@hedski9542]

I can't wait to see the Aiel! Wouldn't it be fun (for shits and giggles) if most Aiel warriors, barring the very young and inexperienced, had a heron mark on their buckler/shield thingy (as they don't use swords), just to show how bad arse they are? Cheers Jon (and Tigraine and RealDeal) 👍

[@whispererindarkness]

so what i'm hearing is that they should cast keanu reeves

[@WoTUp]

Hey if hes cast as anything at all id be happy! But Moridin is my dream cast for him.

[@jimmyburt372]

@@WoTUp how about Rhuarc???

[@bobok5566]

@@WoTUp Can't afford him! Maybe a "cameo" type role. Slade.

[@BobWill731]

The Maidens should be in good shape, but not look like cross fit competitors. None of them are going to the gym to work on how their bodies look. They aren't work out warriors, they are actual warriors. Just my $0.02.

[@VideoRecon]

You guys really need to watch the Mandelorean. I think they do a great job of showing what women can do

[@WoTUp]

I was super impressed with how they handled the female team up in the finale (a la avengers!) They made it so much better than marvel did :D

[@anydaynow01]

@@WoTUp Yeah they did the whole woman power thing without it making it seem like a thing. It was just really natural and you didn't have a 50 kg person knocking out a 100 kg person.

[@chadhill6831]

Love this show

[@WoTUp]

Thanks!

[@Mr13Osiris]

There is zero reason to remove the polygamy from the Aiel culture other than it offends peoples modern sensibilities.

[@bobok5566]

Gonna have Rand and his harem anyway.

[@josepholsenbutler]

I agree, leave it how it is in the books

[@chrisken8902]

" Oh, Mother's milk in a cup !"

[@robertedens5157]

Must admit adding two beautiful intelligent women to your panel makes your show even better. : )

[@robertborgman]

I think they meet aiel in a stedding in TGH.

[@goatbrother8718]

I hope the Mai den look like the icelandish Crossfit girls, like Sara Sigmundsdottir, Annie Thorisdottir, Katrin Davidsdottir and Eik Gylfadottir. For fighting style I would love if Michelle C Smith would train them for spear fighting. And she is a ginger as well

[@eccehobo]

I would love to Silje Torp from Norseman as a Maiden of the Spear. She's incredibly physical, tall as hell and very talented. Throw some red hair on her and she's what a Maiden should be.

[@chrtravels]

One of the things I loved about the series was the strong women characters. That said I really don't want to see this become just another venue for Hollywood to push political correctness. Please, please don't ruin the series in that way.

[@gut.6925]

I think they will ruin the series because of this. They are thinking too much with not offending anyone

[@bobok5566]

I loved the character flaws in the WoT. People are not perfect. One of the reasons Matrim is my favorite characters of all time is his unapologetic misogyny, and how it is the main reason he gets himself into so much trouble. Nynaeve's androgyny is about at the same level. As are most Aes Sedai. I truly hope they find a way to keep the characters intact without invoking the wrath of the me too movement.

[@anydaynow01]

Yeah I'm a 178 cm 85 kg athletic guy, and I'm sure if a 55 kg warrior woman gets me into an arm bar I'm done! Even if they have the Maidens practice something like Aikido to put someone larger on the ground to finish them with spears it would be awesome! As far as the sexual and relationship aspect, due to their warrior culture and the risk of your partner being killed a polyamory thought process would be more acceptable culturally wise as it will a much better support system when they face so many hardships.

[@margusgrenzmann3977]

The problem with ASL is that it's american sign language and while that might be fun for deaf people over on that side of the pond but the rest of the world won't make much of it.

[@fardareismaigrandma6825]

My one problem with the “son of a maiden” plot device was always the question of how they kept people from knowing that an orphaned boy child was the son of a maiden. I figured that they would send these children to different clans, but are there truly so many orphaned male babies that the sons of maidens can be easily disguised?

[@WoTUp]

Considering how dangerous the waste is and how often the clans war I'd imagine its more commonplace than you think :D

[@JoeJarvis-q3n]

A 5ft 9 ju jitsu expert brilliant 😂

[@andrewberenson5717]

I think Maiden handtalk will be portrayed the way sign language on good shows. I think they will use subtitles like they do with some movies and TV shows (e.g. GoT and LotR's Peter Jackson's movies). I have confidence the show will portray Aiel Maidens as fierce warriors; the same way Vikings portrayed shieldmaidens as fierce warriors. I am not sure how much usage of martial arts with the Maidens and other Aiel. Many of the fights are not one on one. Some of the Aiel sparing sessions involve one on one. I could see them using the martial arts fighting when Perrin rescues Gaul because Gaul does not have a weapon their. But when fighting, the Aiel use spears. Using spears against swords I do not think it lends to a martial arts style fight. At least that is my opinion as someone who does not practice martial arts. I agree with Real Aiel. The various Maiden relationships with Rand are fascinating. Some Maidens treat Rand as a son; others as a brother (for some, an older brother and for some a younger brother); a cousin, etc. I think that either Lian (sister-wife to Amys and other wife to Rhuarc) or Dorindha (eventual sister-wife to Melaine and husband to Bael). Of the two, I think it likely that Dorindha will be a man (so you have to men, one woman). The three would be introduced as a unit after we learn Rhuarc is married to both Amys and Lian. The scene where they meet Lian provides better opportunity to explain the Aiel culture of sister-wife (and the male equivalent). Then we can see both the male version of Dorindha and Bael jointly courting Melaine. #BeckyLynchforAviedha

[@robdonut66]

I don't remember, is this a thing amongst the Aiel - ie mutiple men 1 woman?

[@bobok5566]

@@robdonut66 NO!

[@thegamingbumpkin]

I wonder how they will do the Sea Folk when they are out on the ocean, where the women go bare-chested like the men ... ??

[@rd6416]

Re Female-Female relationships, Jordan is unique in that in his world there is no such thing as a "gay woman" because there was no need for the term to exist. Jordan's women are strong and they shape their relationships as they see fit. Sexuality is unimportant and a matter so every day that it hardly warrants comment. The First-Sister Bond, the marriage of two women and one man, close Female friends are all fluid and happily open to interpretation. I love this. I would have liked to see Wise Ones with two husbands as well but perhaps Greens married to multiple warders serves the same purpose anyway.

[@danhenley9495]

Michael Kramer pronounces Rroid--ee-on

[@feralart]

Though in the books there are different styles of hand talk, varied by society, tribe, etc, so a single, universal sign language wouldn't be as accurate. I picture a lot of things like military hand signs that quickly convey an order or complex idea.

[@toportime]

As a vetern of the USMC I know some military hand signs, but I do not think they cover enough to fill in completely for hand talk, i.e. the Maidens make jokes with hand talk, there is no real way to make jokes in military hand sign, I think it is sorta a mix of sign language and military hand signs.

[@feralart]

@@toportime the Maidens have created their own full system of sign language, they are the only society that has.

[@beggon12]

A good example of a badass "jacked" female warrior is from the parody show Norsemen.

[@toportime]

"They might try to claim they copied Game of Thrones!" < Umm no.. The Game of Thrones books came out in 1996, The Wheel of Time books started in 1990. If anything, GoT copied WoT in relation to the "game of houses" :D hahahaha.

[@rainbowsprinklez]

Roo-id-ee-on

[@Nobnoxious]

They should use female mma fighters to play the maidens.