Wheel of Time Memorial/Birthday Video

This is a custom video I made for a patron who wanted to give it as a birthday present to a Wheel of Prime Criticism fan. It's not my usual, but it turned out really fun. With the birthday girl's permission, I am uploading it for your entertainment.

[@tryp8578]

This is chef's kiss. I don't say that lightly. I enjoy your sense of humor so much. *laughs* You rock, and thank you so very much!💜

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

You are so very welcome! 🥰 I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

[@jeremyvanneman8112]

Happy birthday!

[@Warlocke000]

This video was golden. Not THAT kind of golden!

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Hahahaha!

[@bookcloaks]

It’s all gonna be OK. Lan might be ruined, but Dain Bornhald joins in the next episode.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

I liked his character in the show... and his dad. Probably on par with Elayne.

[@YogiDanananda]

Happy Birthday Tryp! What a gift for us all!

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

She seems like a fun gal. It was a blast making this.

[@Perry_Wolf]

This was awesome....R.I.P. Lan.... Happy Birthday Tryp!

[@paulrace4339]

Noticed you changed your hair. Looks great. Happy Birthday Tryp. Lan, poor guy. Was broken before Morraine met him

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Who changed their hair? Me?

[@Nyet-Zdyes]

Elayne isn't ruined... YET. Aviendha isn't ruined... YET. I wonder if Vegas is giving odds on how many episodes it will take to "correct" that oversight?

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

I'm not partial to Aviendha. But this is a subjective thing. I'm just not into the "Too cool and enlightened and badass for you commoners" trope.

[@Nyet-Zdyes]

@@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS I don't know about show-Aviendha yet... but I like book-Aviendha. Her "wetlander" stuff in the books is kind of fun, to me.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

@@Nyet-Zdyes It's totally a personal preference. For instance... I am not a fan of Geralt (the witcher) type, either. Maybe I would be if I read the books all the way through some more of his character moments, but I just sorta.... "meh. You are boring." ALthough.... Henry C is a demigod, so I am always willing to watch him be on screen.

[@Nyet-Zdyes]

@@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS Yeah, I get it. Also... it's been so long... I can't remember what *my* opinion of her was, back then. The opinion that I have now, is informed by the *whole* series. For example, I didn't like Nynaeve at first, but she definitely grew on me. Same thing goes for Mat. So, maybe you'll change your mind. Maybe you won't. It's okay, either way. It's not like you have to like her just because I do.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

I will say this... no characters in the book annoy me half as much as the show characters do.

[@saviourself687]

It says something (unflattering) about the people running the show when they think that any audience is going to think a pervy Aes Sedai spying on someone taking a slash is sexy... Mebbe ask them questions about how valuable they think consent is...

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Haha! I suspect that might have been the point... I'm just not sure what message they are trying to deliver.

[@Nyet-Zdyes]

You just have to know a... wee... bit about the show-runner. He's part of the rainbow mafia. He was probably grinning even wider than Alannah.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

@@Nyet-Zdyes Are "water sports" popular in the gay community? I didn't know. I thought it was only a kink thing.

[@Nyet-Zdyes]

@@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS Hey! I have *zero* idea what that community is into! Well, except for the obvious. I just couldn't resist the opportunity for a pun.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

@@Nyet-Zdyes 😆

[@TheNightrider88]

I just realized that sudden change in Lan's wardrode looks like Alanna literally forced him to wear what he doesn't want, because Warders must suffer.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Bahahah!

[@JasonBrown-mh3ix]

I think they just have the wrong show runner. His fingerprints are on everything and he just wants the story to be something it’s not. Maybe Amazon thought it was edgy or whatever or maybe he gave them a sense he had more vision than others but it’s the wrong vision.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

I don't really follow the showrunner, but I'm told in my comments that he talks with pride about changing things he knows the books fans won't like. This makes no business sense to me at all. You want to anger your pre-existing fans?

[@LukeH131]

If you wanted to do your reviws/criticisms in this format going forward, I am all for it! Amazing

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Bahah! I would love to. I have a quite a few viewers, though, who aren't watching the show, so I am sorta locked into summarizing each scene so they can follow what the show does.

[@jeffturner2975]

I think Amber might have to do it this way or I don't think she'll make it (like Michael Corvin in the back of the car in Underworld)

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

@@jeffturner2975 🤣

[@Stevandoren1003]

I think Alana wanted to be that tree. Just a weird scene.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

I need to go vomit, now.

[@gadflyfiction]

if only the writers of the show had enough material to make Lan look bad ass or enough small incidents of his stoic mask cracking for emotional scenes . . . . . . . . . . . . . oh right, books 1 through 14 exist.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Haha! I've heard about a "mask cracking" in the books (don't think I've reached it yet) that sure would have been something to look forward to... if the show had portrayed Lan as even a shred of what he is in the books.

[@gadflyfiction]

@@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS there are a number of moments of the mask cracking, fine little spiderweb cracks, starting within book 1. in books you haven't gotten too yet there are a couple incidents of reinforcing the mask and a couple instances of the mask shattering.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

@@gadflyfiction I am sure I came across one, already. I wasn't sure if it was "the one", because it wasn't especially monumental. But I look forward to some Sh^t hitting the fan.

[@jasonbrown9142]

Gotta say this Lan is nothing like book Lan. I don’t hate him but he’s just not the same guy.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

@@jasonbrown9142 Yeah. They definitely went a weird direction with him.

[@yogurl6004]

Amazing!!!!

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jeffturner2975]

Happy Birthday Tryp - this is precious to us all I think Amber🤩

[@allisonekgasit9291]

Again, thank you so much for doing this, appreciate it.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Any time! It was fun.

[@Nyet-Zdyes]

@@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS So... about that NEXT episode review...?

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

@@Nyet-Zdyes Already recorded. Already started editing. They will be coming out slower than before, but they will be continuing.

[@Nyet-Zdyes]

@@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS I'm here for it!

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

@@Nyet-Zdyes Thanks for hanging out 😅

[@Manofthewhiteknife]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

🥰

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

Only just noticed this, but Lan doesn't even shake after he's finished peeing. Just stuffs it back in and fastens up whatever the hell that garment is.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

You somehow made this scene even more disgusting.

[@bookcloaks]

He doesn’t wash his hands either

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

@@bookcloaks 🤮

[@РадостинаШивикова]

This clip is so good! But It should have been Nynaeve and not Alanna watching him pee and grinning like a idiot . They should have put this scene in S1 and use it to replace the scene when Nynaeve finds Lan and Moiraine in the woods . Nynaeve should have surprised him while he was relieving himself , not while he was taking care of Mo . It would have be more logical and generally makes more sense to me than what the director chose to do . They should replace Alanna with Nynaeve and it would have been more fun to watch !

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Haha! Being caught with his pants down is more palletable than just making conversation, for sure. But neither situation is good, tbh.

[@danielherrin]

Weirdness

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Lol... thank you????

[@RobAryeeArc]

1:09 LMAO

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

It's true, though.

[@Dalehenrickson]

Lol!

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Thanks 😋

[@dematar]

That has to be the only time anyone has praised the Whitecloaks, and it was hilarious. The Tuatha'an are ridiculous in the books, but I don't want to say much about them, not knowing where you're at in the books. Back to Lan now, Daniel Henney wasn't the worst casting choice for the character that they could have made. And considering he is pretty much a background character, the showrunner's decision to not make him stoic has to stem from the decision to make Moiraine the main character. That said, we have an entire other series called the Witcher, where Henry Cavill plays a very stoic character, and he's the main character in the show. I've seriously stopped trying to understand the story we're being presented in the Wheel of Time, it's much more enjoyable (or frustrating) to highlight the idiotic plotholes the writers created multiple times an episode. Looking forward to your episode 5 breakdown, hopefully you touch on the lunacy of Moiraine's escape plan after attacking Lanfear (seriously, even for fans of the show, I don't know how they can rationalize the stupidity of her "plan").

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

The only part of it that made no sense was.... she thought they would have 2 days?

[@dematar]

@@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS oh I was referring to all of Moiraine's plan. Step 1 - Assume any woman Rand is with is actually Lanfear since no one alive knows what she actually looks like Step 2 - Hope that her former eyes and ears were ordered to keep Rand under constant watch, including following him to an obscure cabin in the hills, miles outside of Cairhein, as opposed to just noting he left the city Step 3 - Walk to an obscure cabin in the woods, in a dress Step 4 - Go full ninja stealth, enter the cabin, draw Rand's sword, and attack the woman he is with Step 5 - Hope that Rand is willing to accept her explanation that the woman was Lanfear based on her interpretation of a poem, even though he knows Moiraine has been manipulating him since they left the Two Rivers Step 6 - Grab Rand, and run in a seemingly random direction away from the obscure cabin, because bringing horses for them to ride away on is too much of a hassle, even though she knew she couldn't kill Lanfear, who would give chase the moment she recovered Step 7 - Stumble across a conveniently located stable in the random direction (a lot more of her plan would have made sense to me if she knew there was a stable located near the cabin and she had stashed horses and supplies there, than snuck up to the cabin), hope they have sufficient horses for them to ride out on Step 8 - Personally kill any extra horses, rather than have Rand do it, as opposed to bringing them as a potential remount Step 9 - Bring the stablemaster along, they may make a useful meat shield later on Step 10 - Use the meat shield Step 11 - Return to Cairhein on foot, hoping that after Lanfear dispenses with the meat shield (who has all the horses mind you), she assumes they continued on to the White Tower, even though Cairhein would be far closer Step 12 - Continue to piss off her sister by not explaining a damn thing Step 13 - The final step, never sleep again I mean her plan seems to resemble Shaun's from Shaun of the Dead - "grab Mum, go to Liz's, pick her up, bring her back here, have a cup of tea and wait for this whole thing to blow over"

[@bookcloaks]

It was a nightmare on elm street plan. If forethought was an ability she possessed she would not have initiated this plan. But the writers had Step 14 in mind: Re-evaluate the whole plan to create the cathartic climax of the episode.

[@brindledragon2398]

❤

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

🥰

[@jasonbrown9142]

Always interesting to hear women talk themselves into and out of a crush. In the face of that the Dude simply abides. We are, what we are, not what you would have us be.

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Haha! I think it's the same with men, to be fair. Sometimes, you just have to see the other side of the coin.

[@jasonbrown9142]

Have you ever considered providing tips to would be authors on how to publish?

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

@@jasonbrown9142 I have very mixed feelings about the publishing world, right now. If it was me, I would query big publishers (has to be done with an agent 99% of the time), and once I get handed a contract, I would reject them and self-publish with a big sticker that said "The Book that Penguin Random House Couldn't Have". Or something like that.

[@jeremyvanneman8112]

😂 this is absolutely gold!

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Hahaha! Thank you 😋

[@teamdinosaurs999]

Magnifique

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Gracias 🥰

[@JasonBrown-mh3ix]

Wow, that bad huh?

[@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS]

Pretty bad.... although my review for S2 E5 is sort of dry in the criticism. It wasn't that bad. On it's own. It still doesn't follow the books, and I'm certain it screws up some major things coming up. I dunno. I'm only on book 4, and so far all the Moiraine stuff seems to be made up.

[@JasonBrown-mh3ix]

@@TheSwordAndThePenREFLECTIONS Moraines defining (and singular?) flaw in the books is thinking she can control everything. I won’t spoil where it takes her but show Moraine has a lot more flaws. Lan’s flaw is fatalism. Show LAN again is more more flawed, he seems to lack self respect, I don’t think book Lan ever shows that. Maybe it is difficult to adapt such strong characters. I recall Viggo Mortenson saying he couldn’t relate to Aragorn until he discovered his self doubt. But Aragorn is not deeply anxious in the books.