It’s so interesting to see the fan base grow now, I’ve met very few people in my day to day who knew about this series before bringing it up to them, it’d be cool to see it explode and become gigantic like LotR and Song of Ice and Fire have due to the video adaptation. On the other hand, I always felt like I was part of something special, and I’m kinda afraid for that to go away and become mainstream.
My advice? You know he's going to have to get through like 10 more books and will have a review for each one (asuming the slog doesn't make him give up). start writing your comments for each video now. You'll have had months to pen the most witty and hilarious quips the comment section has ever seen and will be celebrated as both a gentleman and a scholar, for all time. Actually... don't do that. I'm doing it now. It was my idea. No one steal it! 😁
The portal stone scene is one of my favorite chapters of any book. The amount of character development thrown into this one sequence, of seeing all these possible outcomes for Rand and the other characters, really solidifies the paths that they must walk as the books go on. In my mind, it's what finally convinces Rand that he must accept he is The Dragon Reborn, and that he has to take control over this path as he moves forward. Can't wait to see how they pull this off in the show.
@@varsityathlete9927i was soooo confused at that scene. Like i was vaguely aware what was happening but at the same time didn’t understand what it meant to the characters or their storie
Jordan's use of clothing is a great thing to pick up on, because it only intensifies as the books progress and it becomes a vessel for the political conflicts - especially in terms of allegiances. The Great Hunt is definitely a low point for Mat and we don't really get to see "His" true character until book 3, but oh boy is there stuff to look forward to. The series will keep increasing the world size and the cast size but it all comes down to the personalities and the changes in our main three Ta'veren. Good luck with the next books!
@@SMClonk Mat's character is not for everyone. I found his mistrust of the One Power particularly annoying. But his parts of the story are interesting, unlike Perrin who basically becomes a broken recorder in the latter half of the series.
The Accepted trial and the portal stone were easily my favorite scenes in the book. I love seeing the potential futures for these characters and how seeing that changes them in the here and now.
I really liked Bornhald in this book, which is kinda strange considering he only had like 2 chapters to himself. I just liked how he was sort of beginning to question the leadership of the children of the light and I feel like he had such great potential for a sort of redemption arc.
Mat's "See ya" moment worked really well for me, because it's so utterly shitty, but also so utterly believably human in the context of the setting. Rand's a male channeler. There isn't any way of standing by that and helping him through it, everyone in the room knows he IS going to go insane. But then like you say, after the flicker scene Mat is distraught and repeatedly promising he wouldn't ever betray Rand - clearly he DID betray him in one of those other worlds, and whatever happened shook him to his core to learn he was capable of that. Good writing.
@@winxclubflora8446 thank you, that brightened my day! 😀 But yeah the flicker is a turning point in the way Mat acts - towards the others. Though granted the Aes Sedai heal the stupid out of him shortly after 🤣
@@Wirrn actually mat has been my favourite character(along with rand ofc) since the first chapter of the first book! I know his reaction to finding out about rand being dragon was awful but mat still remained my most favourite character throughout the two books i read! So i cant wait to see how he becomes even better in book 3 cuz like he is already my favourite and you guys say he becomes even better?! Cant wait to start book 3!! (I am currently on chapter 1 and damn pedron nial opening chapter was something else i mean the questioner is a darkfriend!! Whitecloaks were supposed to be good!!)
@@winxclubflora8446 Whoops, glad I didn't say more! Most people find Mat one of the best from Book 3 onwards, but also most people seem to not like early Mat, so hopefully you'll find he improves rather than changing the bits you like :D Honestly its mostly that you actually get inside his head in POVs and see he's not as dim as he sometimes appeared :D And who told you Whitecloaks are good? Was it a whitecloak? :P
I also got strained about Selene since the first plot and was all along expecting to see when she would reveal herself a bad villain, and I got quite annoyed why Rand was so naive about her all the time, and then suddenly she vanished with no continuation.
"UNEXPECTED" was the word I would use in my review for TGH, it's such a serious book, and when the characters just have a small break, the trio bantering at the side as if their back at Emond's Field, I genuinely had a brief, and refreshing smile. It's non-stop just here and there flicker, flicker, flicker, flicker, flicker, flicker.
and the way his behavior, which externally looks obviously like man channeling style madness, makes perfect sense from inside his head. The shift from normal teen to insane ruler of half the planet was SO well done, unlike some other series I might mention...
About the fireworks part: DON'T FORGET IT. Rand being ta'avern nothing he does is unnecessary. We will hear more about the aftermath of it in book 3. I'm pretty sure you would love where that arc is headed.
@@winxclubflora8446 Random scenes are always important if it involves a ta'avern. The fireworks scene leads to one of our main cast developing one of my most favorite attribute in their character. Stay on the lookout.
I cannot wait for you to get to Mat’s POVs in book 3 and immediately flip in your opinion on him lol. My favorite thing about Mat (which you see a bit in book 2) is that he will constantly say he doesn’t want anything to do with his dangerous friends and the shit they get up to and he’ll be a dick about it and the next thing you know he’s crossed a continent to help them because in the end he’s the most loyal one of them all.
@@petecoleman3443 I’m on book 5 too and after book 3 I love him. He’s still my favorite character despite having a reduced role in books 4-5. Book 3 he literally traveled all over the continent to help Egwene and Nynaeve because he’d do anything for his friends 🥺
@@johntencate4781 You have no idea. I never actually re-listened to a chapter until the end of Book 6. Make you sure you listen to the end in one straight hit.
I first read it in a haze, as I was falling asleep on both the physical book and the audiobook. It felt like I was dreaming, like I dreamt it all, and I had to go back the next day. After re-reading, maybe the haze was the very best way to experience it.
The Rhuidean chapter in book 4 (the Crystal Columns) is my absolute favourite chapter of the series. Seeing the past through the eyes of your ancestors is such a cool concept
I was impressed by the way Jordan uses this book to establish how certain actions and their consequences will continue to ripple throughout the whole series. The dagger, Rand growing as a channeler, the arrival of the Seanchan, the wound he suffers in the fight at the end. All of these things continue to affect the rest of the story. I'd love to know how much Jordan had planned from the outset, because the lengths of some plot and character arcs across the series are just astounding.
@@ManCarryingThing Yes, and then again, very much no. Jordan plotted the beginning and end with all kinds of cleverness. Did a lot less work figuring out how to get there.
Whenever I go back through for a reread, I’m always a little surprised with how little I like Mat for the first two books because he gets so much better.
When mat says he won't betray rand, after the portal stone. I always interpreted that as him just seeing himself betray him over and over again and now the "real" mat was realizing that he doesn't want to be that person. Trying to reassure himself that he will do different.
I am remembering all of the difficulties I had trying to pronounce cities and names with my first read. I have listened to the audio books so many times that I just forgot how different I pronounced these in my head verses the narrator. I now listen to the whole series once a year. I am still surprised at some of the very early foreshadowing that takes place as well. Love this series!
Pretty much every character in the series other than Moraine will frustrate you to no end. But the fact that they can frustrate you and make you so angry just shows how much you care about all of them.
It’s really cool watching you go through your wheel of time journey. I feel like whoever finishes the wheel of time series has their fantasy palate forever changed up a bit and it’s awesome
The Great Hunt is still my personal favorite WoT book, and I am currently on book 14. To me it just has a great balance of almost everything I want from a fantasy story: great characters, adventure, humor, magic, heist elements, world building, exotic people groups, politics, mystery, and it leaves you eager for more. My favorite aspects of the book are seeing Rand growing into his leadership role, as well as the entire climax. I love that the climax not only has a great magical/legendary feel with the sounding of the Horn, but we also get a good old fashioned sword fight between Rand and Turak before that. Something about that sword fight gives me a good sense of payoff going back to the moment Rand first decided to take his father’s sword in book 1.
Nynaeve is also one of my favourite characters so I'm glad you like her. My favourite part is portal stone, everything that happened to girls, Seanchen...
Just finished the Great Hunt yesterday. I felt so glad to find someone who shares my dislike with everything regarding Selene. I LOVED Rand’s development mind you. Him “growing into the Lord’s clothing” was incredible to read. And I get she was a big part of that, but I still hated her. I also immediately suspected her to be Lanfear, which made me even more pissed off at Rand for not suspecting her at all lol. Still a great read tho, jumping into the third book soon.
Great Hunt is my favorite of the first 3 books and a top 6 book for me. I just love Rands growth so much. He goes from running from his destiny to facing it so organically. Jordan and Sanderson's character work is so good in this series.
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Nynaeve. She's one of my favorite characters in any story and I love the way she uses her anger. It's clearly harmful to her, but at the same time it helps her get through things that she might not be able to otherwise. I think you'll enjoy where she goes in the later books. She's one of the strongest characters in the story.
The algorithm blessed me with this review 1 year later. Books 2 absolutely SLAPS so hard. Jordan really brings his own voice to the story after the Fellowship homage that was Book 1. I will never forget the scene with a certain character defending an alleyway. So masterfully written and amazing to think about in hindsight.
Right now i am through two hundred pages of Dragon Reborn. And it is so good. Perrin is my favorite character by now. I love Egwene and Nyneave too, but Perrin is just... Perrin.
SPOILER WARNING I have only read Until the dragon reborn, so I have no idea if what I'm saying is trash (probably lmao), but I love how that twist establishes the multi faceted aspect of the dark friends. We see ingtar as this noble man, and the reality is that he is. But that honourable quality to him is the reason that made him turn to the darkfriends and that kind of nuance is just beautiful to me. I expect more people like him in the next books but I dunno
@@joanacasaca6922 bro to avoid spoilers and confirm your theory :absolutely! Some of the reaaaally important characters from books1-2 are darkfriends and will remain as positive characters for a while, but i won't spoil who it is. Also there are characters"in the light" who are 10x worse than some derkfriends
@@joanacasaca6922 I always appreciate how in a series that's ostensibly the forces of good against an eldritch personification of evil, probably at LEAST half the conflict is with other humans not on the Dark One's side, it's explicit from the start that the forces of light have utterly corrupt arseholes (hello Whitecloak Questioners) and there are dark friends who were either not evil or even actively noble when they joined (though granted, not MANY of them)
Excellent review. I can't wait to see your opinion of Mat's character for each book now, because you really reflected my initial feelings for him as well.
wow Nynaeve's your favourite character already? Oh boy she only gets better and better also if you haven't made the connection yet, all I'll say is that your Selene take has some merit to it
@@SMClonk I agree, she still kind of sucks half way through the series. It feels like the characters who started out as actual children all matured faster than a woman who held absolute power in their early lives. I can feel empathy for her, but she’s still annoying AF.
Congrats on finishing the second meal, I see you enjoyed it quite much. Advice: don't google any characters, it's danger zone - even the search bar cannot be trusted!
Selene is definitely my least favorite part as well, so much so that this is actually my second least favorite wheel of time book. The last 25% of the book is what really save it for me.
Dear, this book improves the saga by all and believe me when I tell you that you do not expect the big surprises that come in the rest of the books. I'm finishing the last one and I'm a big fan
I love when you said “I was watching it.” For all the WoT’s faults, Jordan is such a good writer that he can bring you into his world. My favorite series! Glad you’re enjoying it. :)
Damn I am on Fires Of Heaven too xD Gotta say The Great Hunt is my least favorite of the 5 books (I still love it) because of the Selene plot and Fires of Heaven is my favorite even tho it is the slowest of them just because I love Nynaeve
@@equdarkmatter-2621 yeah I’m like 350 pages in and I agree it is slow but it’s so good and making you realize how many different conflicts there are. There’s Couladin, Caemlyn, Cairhien, The White Tower, Mazrim Taim, etc… I have no idea where it’s gonna go and I love it
I'm glad you've been team Nynaeve from day 1, because she has the greatest character progression and the greatest scene in the entire series. And she has so many good scenes that I hope you go "Oh this is the great scene dude mentioned" a few times.. but believe me, when it finally happens, you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt it is THE ONE. Just hearing the words tears me up. Also, Mat will surprise you. TGH had the best twist in the whole series IMO, "Five will ride forth". Best sacrifice ever.
@@gebs123 Five ride forth,[25][26] and four return.[27][28] Above the Watchers Over the Waves shall he proclaim himself, bannered 'cross the sky in fire.[29][30]
About Rand taking back the chest. From the Fain POV we can figure out that he can not sense Rand when Rand is in the 'flame and void' state. So it is not until Rand returns to normal that Fain realize that Rand was there.
TGH spoilers: My personal favorite Wheel of Time book, and a common top fiver for the fandom at large! I’m glad you enjoyed TGH! This book really feels like Jordan was channeling not only heroic fantasy but the old pulp Swashbucklers. I love his ability to both fully embrace and subversive tropes. He was the master. “Uh oh Egwene and Min are captured, it’s up to Rand to save them! Oh nevermimd they escaped on thanks to Nynaeve and caused a bunch of noise and damage” The ending of the this book from “Five Will Ride Forth” is my favorite section. I regularly reread the ending. I find it one of the most cinematic endings put to page.
Just finished the complete series, man you've got a long way to go, and i mean...a loooong way. But MAN, what a ride it is! I will follow these video's just to reflect on it some more.
Late to the party but hey, nice review! I've always loved Nynaeve the best, ever since book 1. The heroes always leave their sleepy village; it's not often the sleepy village chases them down and tries to drag 'em back home!
Good review. Wwwaaaaayyyyyy too short though! I would watch 5 more spoiler videos at least 30 min each where you got into a lot more detail. All I can really say is it wasn't enough. More, more, more!
What's your take on the level of horror? I think Goblin discussed it a bit ago on how WoT is much darker than you might realise just reading it.. see the slavery aspects of the damane, the fade nailed to the wall, the prisonroom, feeding dark friends to trollocs etc. Looking forward to see how dark the visual series get
My favourite chapter is Blademaster... Rand fights with Seanchan Blademaster and How Ingtar redeems himself. Seanchan were way more terrifying than all the Fain and Darkfriends combined... Ha ha! Fain nailing that Fade on the wall was horror of another level. I don't remember but do we see an Aiel for the first time in this Book... I loved the pacing of this Book.... What a ride! For many many books now ... You will miss this Pacing 😉 I request you to not give up during Books 8, 9, and 10. By the end of Book 11 you will feel rewarded and grateful for your patience with the series. All the best! I am on Book 11 right now and it is awesome! 🌼💖
Please don’t contribute to the “slog” fear, if people go into those books expecting a slog they are more likely to find one. The slog didn’t exist for me, don’t give someone low expectations for a book before they read it
@@michael305m3 Sure .. am sorry I did enjoy those books and was going to mention why people saw it as slog when in fact they are deeply engrossing. The thing that worked for me was that I was not rushing through those books. I took my time with that. Allowing myself to think on Egwene story line involving so many subtle threads of psychology and politics mixing. I just loved Books 8 to 10. But am just wanting the new reader be prepared to take it slow to really enjoy the journey of reading. Am really sorry about coming across like that. I am sorry.
Sure .. am sorry I did enjoy those books and was going to mention why people saw it as slog when in fact they are deeply engrossing. The thing that worked for me was that I was not rushing through those books. I took my time with that. Allowing myself to think on Egwene story line involving so many subtle threads of psychology and politics mixing. I just loved Books 8 to 10. But am just wanting the new reader be prepared to take it slow to really enjoy the journey of reading. Am really sorry about coming across like that. I am sorry.
Nynaeve is a character that change d a lot for me from the first time to the reread. 1st read was late teens/early 20s and I hated her a lot. 15 years, 2 kids, and all that living made me appreciate her so much more. 🤣
Listening to you I realized you are right. Clothing does have an important part in the way characters are portrayed, viewed and developed. After pausing for 3 years, I have now restarted the series where I left it, volume 7. Waiting for your review on the ones I read already :)
I literally share exactly the same opinions on everything you just said. Your channel is really starting to grow on me and I cannot wait to discover the rest of WOT alongside everyone here
AlsoI havent seen anyone talk about Egwenes experience being a 'mage-dog' and her snapping once shes freed. It was one of my favorite part of the book seeing what a toll it had on her and then having Nynaeve be the one to help her process her anger in a more just way and therafter being merciful herself, what a fantastic moment man I loved it so much...
My favourite book in the series. Nothing beat me jamming to music at 2am as Rand and the Heroes of the Horn storm Falme. It was also the first time i read over 200 pages in one sitting (from Cairhien to Falme). Fuckin fantastic book, even if some of the elements aren’t touched upon again.
Man, I really love your analyses so much. You really manage to make some amazing points and bring out things I was only half aware of, and in only ten minutes. I'm quite a bit ahead of you (just finished book 9) and I can't wait for the rest of your reviews, particularly of some of the middle books where things get so complex. Maybe more than ten minutes for those haha
Currently on book 10 and I must say that The Great Hunt for now is the second best Wheel of Time book I've read. I think its greatest acomplishment is that it solidifies the tone of the story for the rest of the series. It feels less whimsical and a bit darker than The Eye of the World and the rest of the series kind of goes that path.
I've just finished The Great Hunt as well. Moiraine has been my favourite character by far, but indeed, in the second book, she is no longer that high above, and she is even not so present, while Rand and Egwene fake the center and mature progressively. I've been a bit frustrated with Mat, as I expected him to be more important and play a stronger role. I hope he and Perry will take more attention in the next sequels.
Interesting thoughts about Selene, the Illuminators, and _flicker flicker flicker_ Do you think Selene is a Darkfriend or something else?🤔 What about Bors or I guess it would be "the man who calls himself Bors"? any thoughts about them?🤔 Also, Ingtar? 🤔🤔🤔
@@ibrahimabbasi4715 I know right, that moment in Falme in the alley with Rand is so damned good. I'm really excited to see what Amer Chadha-Patel who is thought to be playing Ingtar Shinowa in the show does in the role.
I'm reading book 9 now and The Great Hunt is still my favourite. I love the chase, the betrayal and redemption of Ingtar, the heist, the hopelessness of Egwene's leashing, the flicker, and the final battle. After watching all these Great Hunt videos, I'm convinced I'm the only person who likes the Trolloc puppets hahaha.
I am currently on book 11 after starting the Eye of the World over 5 years ago. Hearing you talk about TGH, I realise how much I've forgotten about what happened. Seems like I'm going to have to start the series again as soon as I finish...
I've just subscribed to your channel! I'm eager to see your take on the coming books :) I've been reading (and listening because I love the audio books) WoT since 1991, when I picked up Eye of the World in a grocery store when I was on a lunch break from my part-time job. Welcome to this world. It's pretty great.
Hey man its been a year, im reading the series along with your reviews and it's rsally fun sort of like discussin the book with a friend after finishing it, I hope you continue to make more
Love this series but hate, almost to the point of quiting, the Aisedai. There are a couple exceptions but as a whole I was constantly irritated by them throughout
I made it through and like I said there were a few exceptions but the smugness and sheer hubris from most of them just sent me into a rage I hated them more than the antagonists
I want to thank you for bringing the Wheel of time to my attention, I began listening to the audiobooks last week and have just finished The Great Hunt. Absolutely fantastic series thus far, and I can't wait to follow your progress in the books to come.
If The Eye Of the World is the Tolkien love letter, The Great Hunt is where Jordan shows this is a very different story, and he has his own things to say. Like any second book in a series this long, it gives you more questions to seek the answers for.
TGH is so far easily my favourite book of the series. I really liked where the stories went especially Rand, along with a lot of great things with others, even with people who don't get a lot of screen time like Fain (who's like my 4th or 5th favourite character in the series so far, on book 5). Really, the only complaint I had with it is that it rose my standards for the series that so far it hasn't been able to reach again. 9/10
This book... I was really pretty low on Eye of the World, but when Jordan opened things up with The Great Hunt, flexed his metaphysical time bending skills, employed a crazy expansion of his story, the characters... you got it right, Man. This one leaves you wanting more (as does basically every other book in the series). In spite of their flaws, the journey is always a lot of fun.
Oh by the way: that fireworks scene you said was unnecessary. Don't forget about it. Jordan had a thing for putting seemingly little unimportant scenes in his earlier books and then bringing elements from them back later. I would constantly look back into earlier books. I would read a scene and be like.......... wait?!? Isn't that so and so or didn't we see that in book so and so?!?! And I would go back and search through the books and read where the current scene was foreshadowed and would just sit there amazed.
The fireworks come into play later. The unnecessary scene will make sense in later books. While I agree that Rand's horn theft was way too easy, Jordan built in a plot device that will be explained in more detail which makes the theft believable.
I honestly feel like an idiot everybody's seem to suspect selene but in Book 2 I didnt suspect her a bit. I was like what a fine intellingent and beautifull lady Rand as find hope they get together later hehe.
Best book in the series, greatly expands the world building in WOT. Later books add to the world, but lose focus on the main story dragging it out. This the book I most want to see on the screen way more epic than the first book.
I’m just here so I don’t get fined.
It’s so interesting to see the fan base grow now, I’ve met very few people in my day to day who knew about this series before bringing it up to them, it’d be cool to see it explode and become gigantic like LotR and Song of Ice and Fire have due to the video adaptation. On the other hand, I always felt like I was part of something special, and I’m kinda afraid for that to go away and become mainstream.
Oh, I understand that joke/reference/whatever it’s called.
But... you are fiiine.
Good call. The IRS skims my comments all the time.
My advice? You know he's going to have to get through like 10 more books and will have a review for each one (asuming the slog doesn't make him give up). start writing your comments for each video now. You'll have had months to pen the most witty and hilarious quips the comment section has ever seen and will be celebrated as both a gentleman and a scholar, for all time. Actually... don't do that. I'm doing it now. It was my idea. No one steal it! 😁
* flicker flicker flicker *
And Nynaeve's test are my favourite parts in this book
My favorite is the "blink" scene in the one village.
@@magisterofsteam7880 bro mine two there great
That scene is one of my favorites in the entire series and what solidified for me that I was going to finish the series.
The portal stone scene is one of my favorite chapters of any book. The amount of character development thrown into this one sequence, of seeing all these possible outcomes for Rand and the other characters, really solidifies the paths that they must walk as the books go on. In my mind, it's what finally convinces Rand that he must accept he is The Dragon Reborn, and that he has to take control over this path as he moves forward. Can't wait to see how they pull this off in the show.
I am excited to read that section again after finishing the series
that is definitely one of the top parts I really want to see on screen. thought that when first reading it years ago.
@@varsityathlete9927i was soooo confused at that scene. Like i was vaguely aware what was happening but at the same time didn’t understand what it meant to the characters or their storie
Jordan's use of clothing is a great thing to pick up on, because it only intensifies as the books progress and it becomes a vessel for the political conflicts - especially in terms of allegiances. The Great Hunt is definitely a low point for Mat and we don't really get to see "His" true character until book 3, but oh boy is there stuff to look forward to. The series will keep increasing the world size and the cast size but it all comes down to the personalities and the changes in our main three Ta'veren. Good luck with the next books!
Thanks! I'll keep an eye on that. Very eager to see Mat in book 3
@@ManCarryingThing Mat is usually everyone's favorite character.
@@Brian_L_A i still dont get it. and i am now in book 8
@@SMClonk for me he shines towards the ending, but he has an irony and somewhat of a mocking character so it might not work for some people
@@SMClonk Mat's character is not for everyone. I found his mistrust of the One Power particularly annoying. But his parts of the story are interesting, unlike Perrin who basically becomes a broken recorder in the latter half of the series.
Oddly enough, my favorite part of the book is Hurin. That moment when Hawkwing calls out to him to join the Heroes of the Horn is just something else!
Dude yes that was sick. Still sad I havent seen him again on book 9 :( no spoils plz
@@someweeb4110I actually just read the great hunt and i was suspecting hurin to be a darkfriend all along😂 he was just too good!
The Accepted trial and the portal stone were easily my favorite scenes in the book. I love seeing the potential futures for these characters and how seeing that changes them in the here and now.
I agree I really love the trial's!!!
Oh man that scene where mat says he won't betray Rand breaks my heart
same
I hope yt guy realizes it's because Mat lived multiple lives where he did betray Rand
@@this.is.a.username lol
@@this.is.a.username ...obviously
I really liked Bornhald in this book, which is kinda strange considering he only had like 2 chapters to himself. I just liked how he was sort of beginning to question the leadership of the children of the light and I feel like he had such great potential for a sort of redemption arc.
Mat's "See ya" moment worked really well for me, because it's so utterly shitty, but also so utterly believably human in the context of the setting.
Rand's a male channeler. There isn't any way of standing by that and helping him through it, everyone in the room knows he IS going to go insane.
But then like you say, after the flicker scene Mat is distraught and repeatedly promising he wouldn't ever betray Rand - clearly he DID betray him in one of those other worlds, and whatever happened shook him to his core to learn he was capable of that.
Good writing.
Ohhh i never considered that part in the flicker scene!! You really gave me a new perspective! Nice analysis
@@winxclubflora8446 thank you, that brightened my day! 😀
But yeah the flicker is a turning point in the way Mat acts - towards the others. Though granted the Aes Sedai heal the stupid out of him shortly after 🤣
@@Wirrn actually mat has been my favourite character(along with rand ofc) since the first chapter of the first book! I know his reaction to finding out about rand being dragon was awful but mat still remained my most favourite character throughout the two books i read! So i cant wait to see how he becomes even better in book 3 cuz like he is already my favourite and you guys say he becomes even better?! Cant wait to start book 3!! (I am currently on chapter 1 and damn pedron nial opening chapter was something else i mean the questioner is a darkfriend!! Whitecloaks were supposed to be good!!)
@@winxclubflora8446 Whoops, glad I didn't say more!
Most people find Mat one of the best from Book 3 onwards, but also most people seem to not like early Mat, so hopefully you'll find he improves rather than changing the bits you like :D Honestly its mostly that you actually get inside his head in POVs and see he's not as dim as he sometimes appeared :D
And who told you Whitecloaks are good? Was it a whitecloak? :P
I also got strained about Selene since the first plot and was all along expecting to see when she would reveal herself a bad villain, and I got quite annoyed why Rand was so naive about her all the time, and then suddenly she vanished with no continuation.
"UNEXPECTED" was the word I would use in my review for TGH, it's such a serious book, and when the characters just have a small break, the trio bantering at the side as if their back at Emond's Field, I genuinely had a brief, and refreshing smile. It's non-stop just here and there flicker, flicker, flicker, flicker, flicker, flicker.
The character development of rand is insane throughout the series
and the way his behavior, which externally looks obviously like man channeling style madness, makes perfect sense from inside his head.
The shift from normal teen to insane ruler of half the planet was SO well done, unlike some other series I might mention...
I am blasting through the books ahead of the shows.. I find rand a bit rushed at times. Especially after Tier. The jump to hanging went very fast
@@bemusedalligator You mean normal teen to Jesus.
About the fireworks part: DON'T FORGET IT. Rand being ta'avern nothing he does is unnecessary. We will hear more about the aftermath of it in book 3. I'm pretty sure you would love where that arc is headed.
I just finished the great hunt,and oh my gosh i thought the fireworks was just a random action scene! It means more?!!
@@winxclubflora8446 Random scenes are always important if it involves a ta'avern. The fireworks scene leads to one of our main cast developing one of my most favorite attribute in their character. Stay on the lookout.
I cannot wait for you to get to Mat’s POVs in book 3 and immediately flip in your opinion on him lol. My favorite thing about Mat (which you see a bit in book 2) is that he will constantly say he doesn’t want anything to do with his dangerous friends and the shit they get up to and he’ll be a dick about it and the next thing you know he’s crossed a continent to help them because in the end he’s the most loyal one of them all.
I'm on book 5 and I still dont really like Mat
I'm super excited for some Mat POV's. I feel like having a lack of them has contributed to my feelings about him
@@petecoleman3443 I’m on book 5 too and after book 3 I love him. He’s still my favorite character despite having a reduced role in books 4-5. Book 3 he literally traveled all over the continent to help Egwene and Nynaeve because he’d do anything for his friends 🥺
@@UdyKumra Dude(tte?). No spoilers.
@@petecoleman3443 if you don’t love Matt after book 5 you’re a demon
on book 6 rn, and the 'flicker flicker flicker' scene is still the best part yet.
That’s just because you haven’t gotten to the end of book 6 yet ;)
@@convective7103 *increases audiobook speed to 2.0*
@@johntencate4781 You have no idea. I never actually re-listened to a chapter until the end of Book 6. Make you sure you listen to the end in one straight hit.
I first read it in a haze, as I was falling asleep on both the physical book and the audiobook.
It felt like I was dreaming, like I dreamt it all, and I had to go back the next day.
After re-reading, maybe the haze was the very best way to experience it.
The Rhuidean chapter in book 4 (the Crystal Columns) is my absolute favourite chapter of the series. Seeing the past through the eyes of your ancestors is such a cool concept
I’m also just two books in and Nynaeve is my fav as well!!
Nynaeve develops some of the best dynamics with the other characters, and they only get more nuanced and interesting with every book.
Edit: typo.
Local man carrying things mispronounces Cairhien,throws Fandom into chaos
embrace chaos
@Anne Day shhhhhh
I was impressed by the way Jordan uses this book to establish how certain actions and their consequences will continue to ripple throughout the whole series. The dagger, Rand growing as a channeler, the arrival of the Seanchan, the wound he suffers in the fight at the end. All of these things continue to affect the rest of the story. I'd love to know how much Jordan had planned from the outset, because the lengths of some plot and character arcs across the series are just astounding.
I get the sense that this series is insanely well-plotted
@@ManCarryingThing Yes, and then again, very much no. Jordan plotted the beginning and end with all kinds of cleverness. Did a lot less work figuring out how to get there.
Congrats on being noticed by Brando Sando :D
wait how did he get noticed?
@@piotrbrys8008 Brandon retweeted his Stephen King crashes Sanderson video on Twitter!
Thank you my friend. It has been an honour of a lifetime. Retiring soon.
Whenever I go back through for a reread, I’m always a little surprised with how little I like Mat for the first two books because he gets so much better.
When mat says he won't betray rand, after the portal stone. I always interpreted that as him just seeing himself betray him over and over again and now the "real" mat was realizing that he doesn't want to be that person. Trying to reassure himself that he will do different.
I am remembering all of the difficulties I had trying to pronounce cities and names with my first read. I have listened to the audio books so many times that I just forgot how different I pronounced these in my head verses the narrator. I now listen to the whole series once a year. I am still surprised at some of the very early foreshadowing that takes place as well. Love this series!
Pretty much every character in the series other than Moraine will frustrate you to no end. But the fact that they can frustrate you and make you so angry just shows how much you care about all of them.
It’s really cool watching you go through your wheel of time journey. I feel like whoever finishes the wheel of time series has their fantasy palate forever changed up a bit and it’s awesome
The clothing as representations of the character’s arcs and feelings only increases throughout the series. It’s a fun thing to pay attention to.
I don't need any bloody lace! well... a little bit. You gotta have a touch of lace, or it's just not proper clothing.
The Great Hunt is still my personal favorite WoT book, and I am currently on book 14. To me it just has a great balance of almost everything I want from a fantasy story: great characters, adventure, humor, magic, heist elements, world building, exotic people groups, politics, mystery, and it leaves you eager for more.
My favorite aspects of the book are seeing Rand growing into his leadership role, as well as the entire climax. I love that the climax not only has a great magical/legendary feel with the sounding of the Horn, but we also get a good old fashioned sword fight between Rand and Turak before that. Something about that sword fight gives me a good sense of payoff going back to the moment Rand first decided to take his father’s sword in book 1.
Yup, great book. I honestly can't distinguish anymore what exactly happened in which book, but I definitely have a positive feeling about it
Already I'm starting to mix up certain scenes between books 1 and 2. I think that's a good thing, as they flow together so well
Nynaeve is also one of my favourite characters so I'm glad you like her. My favourite part is portal stone, everything that happened to girls, Seanchen...
Nynaeve going into the archways was so GOOD! That was my favorite scene as well. So metaphorical and magical at the same time
Just finished the Great Hunt yesterday. I felt so glad to find someone who shares my dislike with everything regarding Selene. I LOVED Rand’s development mind you. Him “growing into the Lord’s clothing” was incredible to read. And I get she was a big part of that, but I still hated her. I also immediately suspected her to be Lanfear, which made me even more pissed off at Rand for not suspecting her at all lol.
Still a great read tho, jumping into the third book soon.
Great Hunt is my favorite of the first 3 books and a top 6 book for me. I just love Rands growth so much. He goes from running from his destiny to facing it so organically. Jordan and Sanderson's character work is so good in this series.
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Nynaeve. She's one of my favorite characters in any story and I love the way she uses her anger. It's clearly harmful to her, but at the same time it helps her get through things that she might not be able to otherwise. I think you'll enjoy where she goes in the later books. She's one of the strongest characters in the story.
The algorithm blessed me with this review 1 year later. Books 2 absolutely SLAPS so hard. Jordan really brings his own voice to the story after the Fellowship homage that was Book 1. I will never forget the scene with a certain character defending an alleyway. So masterfully written and amazing to think about in hindsight.
Right now i am through two hundred pages of Dragon Reborn. And it is so good. Perrin is my favorite character by now. I love Egwene and Nyneave too, but Perrin is just... Perrin.
You didn’t even mention the twist with ingtar at the end. That was such a good twist when I first read it. Sad but so good!
YES! Poor ingtar
SPOILER WARNING
I have only read Until the dragon reborn, so I have no idea if what I'm saying is trash (probably lmao), but I love how that twist establishes the multi faceted aspect of the dark friends. We see ingtar as this noble man, and the reality is that he is. But that honourable quality to him is the reason that made him turn to the darkfriends and that kind of nuance is just beautiful to me. I expect more people like him in the next books but I dunno
@@joanacasaca6922 Yeah, it ends up Bella the mare is a dark friend too.
Kidding, of course!
@@joanacasaca6922 bro to avoid spoilers and confirm your theory :absolutely! Some of the reaaaally important characters from books1-2 are darkfriends and will remain as positive characters for a while, but i won't spoil who it is. Also there are characters"in the light" who are 10x worse than some derkfriends
@@joanacasaca6922 I always appreciate how in a series that's ostensibly the forces of good against an eldritch personification of evil, probably at LEAST half the conflict is with other humans not on the Dark One's side, it's explicit from the start that the forces of light have utterly corrupt arseholes (hello Whitecloak Questioners) and there are dark friends who were either not evil or even actively noble when they joined (though granted, not MANY of them)
Excellent review. I can't wait to see your opinion of Mat's character for each book now, because you really reflected my initial feelings for him as well.
wow Nynaeve's your favourite character already? Oh boy she only gets better and better
also if you haven't made the connection yet, all I'll say is that your Selene take has some merit to it
ooh interesting
I think she gets much worse in the next books. maybe she will get better later on. there are signs in book 8, that she might, but i am not sure yet
@@SMClonk I agree, she still kind of sucks half way through the series. It feels like the characters who started out as actual children all matured faster than a woman who held absolute power in their early lives. I can feel empathy for her, but she’s still annoying AF.
@@SMClonk from Bk 11 onwards she's just perfection in character form
@@quattroCrazy I found her brashness and self-righteousness endearing 😂
Congrats on finishing the second meal, I see you enjoyed it quite much. Advice: don't google any characters, it's danger zone - even the search bar cannot be trusted!
I have learned my lesson the hard way -- completely agree!
Yeah..... big, big time. The WOT wiki is merciless. I'm dumb.
Tasty advice for tasty books, just like halva;)
I read this book more than 10 years ago but I'll never forget that "flicker flicker flicker"...
Selene is definitely my least favorite part as well, so much so that this is actually my second least favorite wheel of time book. The last 25% of the book is what really save it for me.
Selene does not really make sense until you realize who she is and what her underlying motivations are.
@@Merecir Also, Rand trusting her so easily makes more sense in retrospect. I can't really explain why without spoiling anything though.
@@LagMasterSam this person speaks sense
Dear, this book improves the saga by all and believe me when I tell you that you do not expect the big surprises that come in the rest of the books. I'm finishing the last one and I'm a big fan
I love when you said “I was watching it.” For all the WoT’s faults, Jordan is such a good writer that he can bring you into his world. My favorite series! Glad you’re enjoying it. :)
I think The Great Hunt and The Eye of the World are definitely of similar quality, but the next two books steadily get better from there
Favorite of the first 4 for me. I’m on Fires of Heaven
Damn I am on Fires Of Heaven too xD
Gotta say The Great Hunt is my least favorite of the 5 books (I still love it) because of the Selene plot and Fires of Heaven is my favorite even tho it is the slowest of them just because I love Nynaeve
@@equdarkmatter-2621 yeah I’m like 350 pages in and I agree it is slow but it’s so good and making you realize how many different conflicts there are. There’s Couladin, Caemlyn, Cairhien, The White Tower, Mazrim Taim, etc… I have no idea where it’s gonna go and I love it
I just started Fires of Heaven myself!
Fires of Heaven is fairly slow but I think it has she best third act of any of the books up to that point. Keep up and don’t sweat the circus!
I'm glad you've been team Nynaeve from day 1, because she has the greatest character progression and the greatest scene in the entire series. And she has so many good scenes that I hope you go "Oh this is the great scene dude mentioned" a few times.. but believe me, when it finally happens, you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt it is THE ONE.
Just hearing the words tears me up.
Also, Mat will surprise you.
TGH had the best twist in the whole series IMO, "Five will ride forth". Best sacrifice ever.
Well, Rand has the greatest Character Progression, but Nynaeve is a very close second.
Spoilers for the end of the final book:
The "Five will ride forth..." line can apply to the EF5 at the final battle.
@@gebs123 Five ride forth,[25][26] and four return.[27][28]
Above the Watchers Over the Waves shall he proclaim himself,
bannered 'cross the sky in fire.[29][30]
What the hell bruv, nooooooo!!! Now I have to catch upto TWO Wheel Of Time Books.
the pressure is ON
@@ManCarryingThing I am a violent reader when my animal instincts take over
@@ManCarryingThing 4 months pass by. And I caught up.
God I missed your reviews!!
I have not yet, but, i am excited to start this series... 🙂
it's been very rewarding!
Ingtar sacrificing himself in a moment of regret and the Whitecloakes charging the Seanchan are my favorite moments of The Great Hunt!
It keeps getting better and better. Love hearing your thoughts!
The Wheel turns. . .
Oh Nononono! How could you do that, without me finishing the second book?:(
motivation!
About Rand taking back the chest.
From the Fain POV we can figure out that he can not sense Rand when Rand is in the 'flame and void' state.
So it is not until Rand returns to normal that Fain realize that Rand was there.
What a chad move to hype up reading a series and then stop on book 2 out of 14
TGH spoilers:
My personal favorite Wheel of Time book, and a common top fiver for the fandom at large! I’m glad you enjoyed TGH! This book really feels like Jordan was channeling not only heroic fantasy but the old pulp Swashbucklers. I love his ability to both fully embrace and subversive tropes. He was the master.
“Uh oh Egwene and Min are captured, it’s up to Rand to save them! Oh nevermimd they escaped on thanks to Nynaeve and caused a bunch of noise and damage”
The ending of the this book from “Five Will Ride Forth” is my favorite section. I regularly reread the ending. I find it one of the most cinematic endings put to page.
I am still in the middle of book 4,but the great Hunt is still my favorite so far.
Just finished the complete series, man you've got a long way to go, and i mean...a loooong way. But MAN, what a ride it is! I will follow these video's just to reflect on it some more.
Late to the party but hey, nice review! I've always loved Nynaeve the best, ever since book 1. The heroes always leave their sleepy village; it's not often the sleepy village chases them down and tries to drag 'em back home!
Good review. Wwwaaaaayyyyyy too short though! I would watch 5 more spoiler videos at least 30 min each where you got into a lot more detail. All I can really say is it wasn't enough. More, more, more!
I was waiting for it for so long.... It is a very special Book in the series.
What's your take on the level of horror? I think Goblin discussed it a bit ago on how WoT is much darker than you might realise just reading it.. see the slavery aspects of the damane, the fade nailed to the wall, the prisonroom, feeding dark friends to trollocs etc. Looking forward to see how dark the visual series get
My favourite chapter is Blademaster... Rand fights with Seanchan Blademaster and How Ingtar redeems himself. Seanchan were way more terrifying than all the Fain and Darkfriends combined... Ha ha! Fain nailing that Fade on the wall was horror of another level. I don't remember but do we see an Aiel for the first time in this Book...
I loved the pacing of this Book.... What a ride!
For many many books now ... You will miss this Pacing 😉
I request you to not give up during Books 8, 9, and 10. By the end of Book 11 you will feel rewarded and grateful for your patience with the series.
All the best!
I am on Book 11 right now and it is awesome! 🌼💖
Please don’t contribute to the “slog” fear, if people go into those books expecting a slog they are more likely to find one. The slog didn’t exist for me, don’t give someone low expectations for a book before they read it
@@michael305m3 Sure .. am sorry
I did enjoy those books and was going to mention why people saw it as slog when in fact they are deeply engrossing.
The thing that worked for me was that I was not rushing through those books. I took my time with that. Allowing myself to think on Egwene story line involving so many subtle threads of psychology and politics mixing. I just loved Books 8 to 10. But am just wanting the new reader be prepared to take it slow to really enjoy the journey of reading.
Am really sorry about coming across like that. I am sorry.
Sure .. am sorry
I did enjoy those books and was going to mention why people saw it as slog when in fact they are deeply engrossing.
The thing that worked for me was that I was not rushing through those books. I took my time with that. Allowing myself to think on Egwene story line involving so many subtle threads of psychology and politics mixing. I just loved Books 8 to 10. But am just wanting the new reader be prepared to take it slow to really enjoy the journey of reading.
Am really sorry about coming across like that. I am sorry.
@@jaysheth1541 no need to apologize lol, I agree with u on how they should be enjoyed slowly and how it allows u to enjoy them more
love your reviews, man!
Ayyyy thanks Gorb!
Glad you enjoyed the politics- will be interesting to see if that stance changes as we go deeper and deeper.
But it is a good book
I hear it becomes less adventure-fantasy and more political-fantasy as it goes along
@@ManCarryingThing
It ebbs and flows between the two (and other sub-genres) as you go between different sections and POVs
Nynaeve is a character that change d a lot for me from the first time to the reread. 1st read was late teens/early 20s and I hated her a lot. 15 years, 2 kids, and all that living made me appreciate her so much more. 🤣
Listening to you I realized you are right. Clothing does have an important part in the way characters are portrayed, viewed and developed. After pausing for 3 years, I have now restarted the series where I left it, volume 7. Waiting for your review on the ones I read already :)
Cairhien is hard for a lot of people pronunciation wise. you're close. the proper way of saying it is in the glossary
damn, so close
I literally share exactly the same opinions on everything you just said. Your channel is really starting to grow on me and I cannot wait to discover the rest of WOT alongside everyone here
AlsoI havent seen anyone talk about Egwenes experience being a 'mage-dog' and her snapping once shes freed. It was one of my favorite part of the book seeing what a toll it had on her and then having Nynaeve be the one to help her process her anger in a more just way and therafter being merciful herself, what a fantastic moment man I loved it so much...
Aaaa
I didn’t remember the scene with mat saying I will not betray you
It’s time for a reread
I love your short sitcom type clips, like Ba'alzamon, every 5 seconds. They are extremely hilarious! Keep them coming 🤣
Ingtar's end is what hooked me on this series, a couple decades ago. Took me completely by surprise, and made me trust RJ's vision.
I really enjoyed the great hunt 👍🤠🙂😃
My favourite book in the series. Nothing beat me jamming to music at 2am as Rand and the Heroes of the Horn storm Falme. It was also the first time i read over 200 pages in one sitting (from Cairhien to Falme). Fuckin fantastic book, even if some of the elements aren’t touched upon again.
Man, I really love your analyses so much. You really manage to make some amazing points and bring out things I was only half aware of, and in only ten minutes. I'm quite a bit ahead of you (just finished book 9) and I can't wait for the rest of your reviews, particularly of some of the middle books where things get so complex. Maybe more than ten minutes for those haha
This was a very good review. Advice for book 3: Be prepared to have a heart attack.
oh i am nervous now
Currently on book 10 and I must say that The Great Hunt for now is the second best Wheel of Time book I've read. I think its greatest acomplishment is that it solidifies the tone of the story for the rest of the series. It feels less whimsical and a bit darker than The Eye of the World and the rest of the series kind of goes that path.
I've just finished The Great Hunt as well.
Moiraine has been my favourite character by far, but indeed, in the second book, she is no longer that high above, and she is even not so present, while Rand and Egwene fake the center and mature progressively.
I've been a bit frustrated with Mat, as I expected him to be more important and play a stronger role. I hope he and Perry will take more attention in the next sequels.
My head Canon is that Selene used just a little bit of compulsion on rand
Interesting thoughts about Selene, the Illuminators, and _flicker flicker flicker_
Do you think Selene is a Darkfriend or something else?🤔
What about Bors or I guess it would be "the man who calls himself Bors"? any thoughts about them?🤔
Also, Ingtar? 🤔🤔🤔
'No man has lived so long in the shadow that he may not return to the light' - A bloody hero
Pretty sure Selene is one of the forsaken? Bors, I'm clueless on. Ingtar is great, I really felt for him in the end
@@ibrahimabbasi4715 I know right, that moment in Falme in the alley with Rand is so damned good. I'm really excited to see what Amer Chadha-Patel who is thought to be playing Ingtar Shinowa in the show does in the role.
I'm reading book 9 now and The Great Hunt is still my favourite. I love the chase, the betrayal and redemption of Ingtar, the heist, the hopelessness of Egwene's leashing, the flicker, and the final battle.
After watching all these Great Hunt videos, I'm convinced I'm the only person who likes the Trolloc puppets hahaha.
I am currently on book 11 after starting the Eye of the World over 5 years ago. Hearing you talk about TGH, I realise how much I've forgotten about what happened. Seems like I'm going to have to start the series again as soon as I finish...
I've just subscribed to your channel! I'm eager to see your take on the coming books :) I've been reading (and listening because I love the audio books) WoT since 1991, when I picked up Eye of the World in a grocery store when I was on a lunch break from my part-time job. Welcome to this world. It's pretty great.
Hey man its been a year, im reading the series along with your reviews and it's rsally fun sort of like discussin the book with a friend after finishing it, I hope you continue to make more
Love this series but hate, almost to the point of quiting, the Aisedai. There are a couple exceptions but as a whole I was constantly irritated by them throughout
I tolerated them until Book 6, sweet mother of jesus , that book made me hate them with a passion
Did you finish the series? Some amazing stuff goes down with them ladies. . . .
I made it through and like I said there were a few exceptions but the smugness and sheer hubris from most of them just sent me into a rage I hated them more than the antagonists
@@christopherdyer2046 For sure, most of the antagonist are just useless clowns, Aes Sedai get legitimately infuriating at times
Trust me many feel the same way.
God your videos are gem!
I want to thank you for bringing the Wheel of time to my attention, I began listening to the audiobooks last week and have just finished The Great Hunt. Absolutely fantastic series thus far, and I can't wait to follow your progress in the books to come.
I loved this book!! Probably my favorite of the series. The characters are so well done and I enjoy the story.
Mat grows around book 4. You'll going to love his POV.
If The Eye Of the World is the Tolkien love letter, The Great Hunt is where Jordan shows this is a very different story, and he has his own things to say. Like any second book in a series this long, it gives you more questions to seek the answers for.
i really wish you'd continue this series😢
TGH is so far easily my favourite book of the series. I really liked where the stories went especially Rand, along with a lot of great things with others, even with people who don't get a lot of screen time like Fain (who's like my 4th or 5th favourite character in the series so far, on book 5). Really, the only complaint I had with it is that it rose my standards for the series that so far it hasn't been able to reach again.
9/10
Nynaeve is the protective mama bear over her friends.
"trying to avoid...people" - LOVE IT
This book... I was really pretty low on Eye of the World, but when Jordan opened things up with The Great Hunt, flexed his metaphysical time bending skills, employed a crazy expansion of his story, the characters... you got it right, Man. This one leaves you wanting more (as does basically every other book in the series). In spite of their flaws, the journey is always a lot of fun.
Oh by the way: that fireworks scene you said was unnecessary. Don't forget about it.
Jordan had a thing for putting seemingly little unimportant scenes in his earlier books and then bringing elements from them back later.
I would constantly look back into earlier books. I would read a scene and be like.......... wait?!? Isn't that so and so or didn't we see that in book so and so?!?! And I would go back and search through the books and read where the current scene was foreshadowed and would just sit there amazed.
It's so great to see people enjoying this series for the first time. Makes me want to do a re-listen of the audiobooks.
The fireworks come into play later. The unnecessary scene will make sense in later books. While I agree that Rand's horn theft was way too easy, Jordan built in a plot device that will be explained in more detail which makes the theft believable.
I honestly feel like an idiot everybody's seem to suspect selene but in Book 2 I didnt suspect her a bit.
I was like what a fine intellingent and beautifull lady Rand as find hope they get together later hehe.
can't wait to see the next review "The Dragon Reborn"
Best book in the series, greatly expands the world building in WOT. Later books add to the world, but lose focus on the main story dragging it out. This the book I most want to see on the screen way more epic than the first book.