u/Hawk-winged

There was this moment before the reveal that lan still lived that it almost felt like Mat, and possibly everyone on that field heard what Rand and the Dark one was discussing. Did that really happen, that part was sort of confusing.

All i remember is that Rand said Lan still lived and mat looked there to see him holding up Demandred’s head aloft

So was it Tarveren telepathy or what?

If I had a dollar for every time Tigraine’s kids lose a limb, I’d have two, but it’s funny it happened twice lol.

Did anyone also wished that Rand and his brother actually met each other later on, after his discovery. Galaad never much thought about the dragon reborn so I genuinely wanted to see how that dynamic would pan out.

From the little we know of his relationship with his family , we know he’s a good big brother and a dutiful son too. I know Rand sorta has brothers (Perrin and mat) but I just thought it’d be fun to see them have just one conversation.

Or maybe she refuses to grow lol

Alright, I understand that I have to start off by noting that this is not a hate post, I do not hate the character Egwene(I don’t fancy her as a person though lol), she’s in my top 10. I know how this cs could get especially with someone as polarizing as eggy.

That said. This is something I’ve always bothered about and why I don’t like her half as much as I would’ve. She either refuses to grow, or is a completely plot driven character(best explanation)

People mention her station and white tower arc, but those aren’t particularly internal growth. Egwene was in the end as she was at the beginning. Stubborn, arrogant, believes she’s better than everyone, entitled, but also resilient, confident and strong. Whatever station or role she played we’re always secondary.

For context, i could tell you when Nyneave changed from the stuck up, always angry wisdom to an actual useful aes Sedai. Heck, she went from someone who couldn’t stand Moiraine to someone willing to humble herself to Cadsuane(the original bitch) to help another(Rand). Heck, growth is her admitting that she needed Moiraine when Rand was loosing it.

I could tell you the Perrin that would drop the world for his wife and one that wouldn’t do that, I could tell you the Perrin that very reluctant to take charge and one who wouldn’t. I could tell you a Perrin who wouldn’t sacrifice bunch of women to slavers(wrong) for whatever reason and one who would. That is growth.

For mat it was abit trickier not because he didn’t grow, but because his growth wasn’t completed. But you could see it in subtle things. For one, he was more responsible, not just as a commander in battle(as he was earlier on) but now as a leader(when he protected them from Elayne’s politics). He even stopped thinking about other women when he got married(or thought he did). He faced the gholam, traded away his medallion(two very dangerous things that could’ve gotten him killed)which earlier mat would never have done. Heck he even started thinking about the last battle he wanted nothing of, relied more on his luck(Tarveren, even if he wouldn’t say it)

And it’s not just positive growth , Elayne particularly lost braincells as the series progresses because of Min’s visions. Neither was it just our young casts. Moiraine literally changed from one who has to call the shots to one who has to follow (like a queen to dowager) or wait on Rand, lan understood that he didn’t have to die alone and that it wasn’t just his fight, Cadsuane as bitchy as she was sorta saw reason to working with others, and even stopped directly opposing/bullying rand to actually being a team player. I mean, she admitted to herself begrudgingly that he was really gooD, didn’t need her again and was proud of him(that’s not a Cadsuane thing)

Pevara and Aes Sedai with her and those with Rand changed in their view of the Ashaman. Aviendha actually became calmer and wiser. And the list goes on.

And then there’s Egwene, who practically changes identity like a chameleon (I don’t think she has an identity) as she changes and latches to the next authority that can give her what she wants. First Nyneave, then she loosened her braids and latched on to Moiraine, then it was being an accepted, then it was the wiseones, and when she didn’t need them again with dream walking, she conveniently told the truth(no stakes as her teachings were already at an end), then it was being Amyrlin and white tower supremacy.

Now I get the Mary sue allegations, although ironically she did work hard, she was a tryhard, but that’s who she always was. I kept hoping on my first read through that someone would call her out or she became self aware. But she wasn’t. Pick Egwene at any point in the books and you would see that her clothes may be different but she’s still very much the same thing for better or worse, she’s willing to learn and help, but she’d use people, hurt or violate her friends, think she’s the best or smartest, get offended that people don’t respect her or see her growth(she’s 17), and then never sees growth in others(who were trust in leadership positions way earlier than she was and were imo better leaders(except maybe Perrin)

I always found it odd that(very early on)she had to pick a fight to show Nyneave she’s her equal(accepted) and she was on the wrong side of each fight, I mean you know you are insufferable if Elayne has to smack you. And then you constant that with how Nyneave sync with Rand when she reunited with him without any clash, I mean, it was so good a sync that Egwene had to believe it was tarveren because godforbid someone else leads with presence.

Then fast forward to the end, she tried to use this same bully tactic to force Rand to cave(didn’t work). If she had grown abit she should’ve seen that he played her but she never did. Even her white tower arc was her just refusing to think Elaida is better than her(a skill she always had) with the endurance she learnt from the Aiel. Those chapters were good to read because I thought she’d become a better person after, perhaps more humble and practical and less arrogant, but I was too hopeful.

She still went out of her way to hurt Nynaeve again(this lady was not meant to be part of the testing) and probably convinced herself that she was helping. Even the way she dealt with gawyn(now that’s one I hate) is testament to this. She’s just bad with healthy relationships. I means she never actually apologizes for her wrongs nor show remorse. This is where she differs from the rest. Rand shows remorse or apologizes when he could, same with mat, Perrin and Nynaeve. Heck even Elayne when she’s not being an idiot

But hey she’s would be excellent in the corporate world. She’d climb that ladder to ceo fast.

Perhaps she grew and I didn’t spot it, which is why I’m asking for y’all to point it out.

So, Rand is undoubtedly the most insulted person in the books, heck he’s practically trademarked “Woolhead”. But I notice a certain difference between him and LTT, while those name calling didn’t much disturb rand(he could barely it), LTT could not. On coming back from dragonstone, he was quick to correct Nynaeve…

“An idiot.. a woolhead?…Perhaps you should fine new insults”

He corrected Cadsuane’s condescending “Boy!” Too, I think he went as far as dressing her down(a second time)

He also clapped back at Egwene at merrilor, calling her a brat(which she is). Now all of these things have been occurring way before “veins of gold”, Rand never cared, lews Therin did.

Also, the way he bullied Tuon, was the only time I think we got to seeing Lews Therin on our screen, asides the prologue.

Why do I get the feelin that Sanderson sliced off that braid to avoid mentioning it down right into the pit of doom😭.

That said, this was the line that cringes me the most. A close second was crossed her arm under her… my word Jordan was something

“Rand is not the main character” was something I never thought I’d have to argue with someone who read the complete 14 book series. But I did, and here I am seeking y’all’s opinions.

The way I see it is simple. While Jordan was a genius with the way he fleshed other characters and gave us multiple characters arcs and developments, multiple plots, subplots, side plots all within the main story. I still think it’s pretty direct.

Rand isn’t just the central character (the person the whole story is hinged upon) he literally was THE MAIN character, if it makes any sense. For one, 80% of book one was told from his POV, about 65% of the book was either from his pov or of other characters (min, Perrin, Cadsuane, Moiraine, Aviendha etc) giving us an account of his actions, and then another 5% being about people literally talking about him, his actions, his past life, his destiny.

I’d like to say it was an ensemble, but it really wasn’t. Rand has never shared the page with someone that ends up not about being abouthim even if it’s that persons POV. We see this with Egwene and Perrin mostly (the other main characters) One of the most monumental chapter for Egwene “the amyrlins anger” was told completely from other characters pov and still Rand dominated the enter chapter. His actions and inactions are always the focus anytime he’s in proximity

If he’s remotely close to the character POV, it becomes about him. If that isn’t THE main character, the I don’t know what is. 11 out of 14 literally ended with him(even for books he’s mostly absent in)

People referenced this “it’s not about me” monologue he gave to shaitan, as a backing but I think that’s is largely misunderstood. Honestly I think the show misunderstood this too by trying to make it an ensemble and unknowingly sidelined Rand.

The story has 3 in book main characters and another 3 who became main characters (wonder girls) but Rand was always THE MAIN CHARACTER.

That said, I’m curious to see what you people think

Edit: I just remembered that there was a book, he was practically absent in, and it was still about him, heck was named after him.

Also. I have my answer BELA is definitely the main character

Here is your flaw, Shaitan, Lord of the Dark, Lord of Envy, Lord of Nothing, here is why you fail. It was not about me. It’s never been about me.”
It was about a woman, torn and beaten down, cast from her throne and made a puppet. A woman who had crawled when she had to. That woman still fought.
It was about a man that love repeatedly forsook. A man who found relevance in a world that others would have let pass them by. A man who remembered stories and who took fool boys under his wing when the smarter move would have been to keep on walking. That man still fought.
It was about a woman with a secret, a hope for the future. A woman who had hunted the truth before others could. A woman who had given her live, then had it returned. That woman still fought.
It was about a man whose family was taken from him, but who stood tall in his sorrow and protected those he could.
It was about a woman who refused to believe that she could not help, could not heal those who had been harmed.
It was about a hero who insisted with every breath that he was anything but a hero.
It was about a woman who would not bend her back while she was beaten, and who shown with a light for all who watched, including Rand.
It was about them all.

*Edit: “*Will he ride alone” was my favorite anyways, but I think this might be the best monologue not just bcos of the weight of the moment but also because anytime I re-listen, I imagine it’s happening with the last battle montage of those characters and how true that statement was. Also, it just shows how far Rand has come and how humble he still was.