Queen Morgase’s Shocking Decision: The Wheel of Time S3 Ep2 Recap

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Summary

  • The stakes are higher in Season 3, with dark internal conflicts among Aes Sedai.
  • Morgase urges Elayne to leave the White Tower, setting off a chain of events.
  • Siuan believes a battle is imminent, prompting her to gather information to prepare.

In the opening of Season 3 for “The Wheel of Time,” it’s evident that the risks are significantly elevated this time. The power struggle among Aes Sedai has intensified, with Liandrin and her followers engaging in sinister schemes against their fellow sisters. They employ prohibited spells and merciless maneuvers to flee the White Tower with some of the most potent artifacts worldwide. Meanwhile, Moiraine and her companions were initially bound for Tear to help Rand’al acquire Callandor. However, Rand’al had other intentions and informed Moiraine that they would instead journey to Aiel Waste to assemble an army to combat the Shadow. Simultaneously, Perrin is heading back to the Two Rivers due to an urgent matter he must attend to.

In simple terms, the opening episode of the Amazon Prime Video series sets a solid base, while the second one seamlessly continues the narrative. Notably, it allows viewers to journey back in time and witness Morgase Trakand’s rise as Queen of Andor following Queen Mordrellen’s demise. However, what stands out is the arrival of a mysterious figure at the White Tower, an event that promises to dramatically alter everything.

Queen Morgase wants her daughter Elayne to leave the White Tower

In the second installment, titled “A Question of Crimson“, we open with a flashback depicting Morgase ascending to the throne as Queen of Andor. Once crowned, she addressed her adversaries, proposing they move past their differences and work towards the country’s prosperity. All rivals pledged loyalty to her, feeling reassured that their previous transgressions were pardoned. However, Morgase couldn’t afford any risks and immediately had them eliminated. Fast-forward twenty years, Elayne Trakand, once a queen and now a trainee Aes Sedai in the White Tower, is the focus of this tale. Longing for her daughter, Morgase set off towards the White Tower, accompanied by her two other children: Prince Consort Lord Gabriel, and Elaida, an Aes Sedai from the Red Ajah, who serves as Morgase’s counselor.

Shortly thereafter, Morgase heads towards the grand hall where she requests Siuan to escort her to her daughter. Eventually, Morgase encounters Elayne and informs her that she will receive the Great Serpent ring in honorary capacity tomorrow. Simultaneously, they plan to depart from the White Tower and revisit Andor. Elayne shares with her mother that she has hardly had time there and hasn’t yet completed her training. In response, Morgase reminds Elayne of her primary duty towards Andor, emphasizing that while the politics of the White Tower are important, they take a backseat to the sacred obligation she carries as the Daughter-Heir to safeguard and govern her people.

However, it isn’t just one factor that leads Morgase to the White Tower. In fact, her advisor, Elaida (portrayed by Shohreh Aghdashloo), is diligently working to sway other members of the Red Ajah and collect details about events at the White Tower.

Lanfear continues to haunt Rand’al as Egwene navigates nightmares

During their journey towards the Aiel Waste, Rand’al, Moiraine, and their companions pause momentarily. While Rand’al spars with al’Lan, Moiraine engages in conversation with Egwene. Noticing Rand’s deep contemplation, al’Lan inquires if he wishes to share his thoughts, but Rand prefers to remain silent and continues his training. Meanwhile, Egwene assures Moiraine that she is not here to govern Rand, but to safeguard him. Moiraine agrees, acknowledging the need for both their vigilance. Later, Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) enters the discussion, expressing her view that the prophecy of the Dragon Reborn shaping the world’s fate is overly simplistic and may bring about significant repercussions for all involved.

In the course of his travels, Rand’al encounters Lanfear in a dream, who attempts to become intimate with him. But Rand’al halts her advances because he is devoted to Egwene. However, Lanfear warns Rand’al that there will come a time when she perceives his true self and the turmoil lurking beneath his smile. Simultaneously, Egwene dreams of being slain by the Daughter of Darkness and subsequently finding herself in a desert, where an elderly woman informs her that this place is not meant for her.

Perrin has now moved nearer to the Two Rivers and eventually returns home. But, upon arriving, he notices that White Cloaks have taken up residence in his town, which disturbs him greatly. One local resident, recognizing Perrin, warns him and his companions – Loial (Hammed Animashaun), Bain (Ragga Ragnars), and Chiad (Maja Simonsen) – that it’s unsafe for them to remain in the town. She guides them to a hidden attic where they can spend the night before departing in the morning. However, upon arriving at the attic, they find Alanna (Priyanka Bose) and Maksim (Taylor Napier) already there.

Siuan believes something worse is coming

At the White Tower, Siuan receives knowledge about an impending battle, causing her concern and leading her to summon Elayne and Nynaeve to her chambers. She assigns them the task of collecting intel on Liandrin and her associates’ upcoming actions. However, Elayne and Nynaeve are skeptical about Siuan’s intentions, suspecting she may be withholding information. During their conversation, Elayne confides in Nynaeve that there is an additional motive for Siuan assigning this task – she will depart for Andor the following day as her obligations lie with the Lion Throne, which leaves Nynaeve feeling irritated.

As a result, Siuan summons Mat to her room for an urgent talk where she informs him that he must relinquish the Horn because it poses great risk to him. She compares Mat to one of his uncles who sacrificed his life while rescuing others from a fierce fire, implying that he is a hero. However, Mat disagrees, stating that he’s not a hero and just does what he’s supposed to do. To this, Siuan replies that heroes often perform their duties before sending him away.

The scene concludes with Rand’al and Moiraine discussing their potential future actions. Rand expresses his intense thirst, despite seeing what appears to be refreshing water before him, which is lethal. He conveys this sentiment while exhibiting some of his abilities, as his right arm glows with fire and dark energy. In the course of their dialogue, Rand shares that he recognizes how bitter that water is, yet yearns to savor it. He seeks Moiraine’s empathy regarding his predicament. Moiraine admits she doesn’t share those emotions, but advises Rand on discerning between sweet and bitter tastes so he can make informed choices.

Towards the finale of the episode, it becomes apparent that certain individuals are trailing Rand’al and his companions. Eventually, they encircle the group. Notably, an elderly woman, previously glimpsed in Egwene’s dream, steps forward and announces a prophecy: The Dragon Reborn is destined to lead them back to their homeland, but ultimately, they will meet their demise at his hands.

As a movie critic, I must say that The Wheel of Time Season 3 continues to weave an engrossing tapestry of the world masterfully crafted by Robert Jordan. In this particular episode, the struggles faced by each member of the group become the focus, with some grappling with self-doubt and others treading perilously close to danger. This installment adds another layer of depth to this magical epic, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next chapter.

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2025-03-13 16:18