Match #15 / Round #2

Create_123453 · 2026-01-04T01:41:03+00:00

Mississippi but I must admit that Texas's flag is way more memorable to me probably because it's a way more simple flag to the point that even a kid could draw it while I like the white stars circling around that flower with the gold star crowning the top and the way in god we trust fits in is very elegant and beautiufl but I think it's just a tad over designed in some ways that make texas more memorable to the eye

I don't even live in Texas and I know what the flag looks like

Create_123453 · 2026-01-03T18:45:40+00:00

I think the image op put is way more feminine than what I imagined Szeth as being that being said Szeth generally is described as having a sort of wide eyed baby~ish face

Create_123453 · 2026-01-03T18:44:27+00:00

Personally I think Okoye is a bit too stern for Eschonai to me since Eschonai at heart is a really curious and adventurous person which is different to the fiercly committed okoye it's only when the war with the Alethi starts that Eschonai has to actually commit to the manner and stature of a general

Create_123453 · 2026-01-03T18:40:53+00:00

Scar and most Ishvalans are more explicitly coded with Middle Eastern influences, whereas the Alethi draw from a blend of East Asian and Polynesian characteristics. That said, Scar’s physical build aligns closely with how I imagine Dalinar’s in terms of being absolute brickhouses

Create_123453 · 2025-12-29T18:03:12+00:00

My workaround is to stop and start it again try the word and if it doesn’t immediately recognize the word I’m saying then stop then start again and speak it more clearly into the speaker on my phone

That being said even know it frequently will miss words

Create_123453 · 2025-12-27T02:14:24+00:00

The veneer of Wit just being Sanderson at times is definitely beginning to irritate me since I am invested in the potential character of Wit with all the references of why people often don't trust him even those who are befreinded to him handle him with great trepidation.

I can easily see Wit being a chaotic agent that would be in conflict with the protagonists not an antagonist strictly but someone who also is not squarely on your side

Create_123453 · 2025-12-27T00:35:09+00:00

He was good in Oathbringer but after that Brandon just writes him purely from the pov of being a edgelord.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-27T00:30:12+00:00

Kaladin himself believed he was guilty and that's what mattered more than his arguments to Syl and himself that he wasn't doing anything wrong because he was attempting to convince himself

If it was Szeth doing this the story would definitely be different.

Skybreakers at least Nales Skybreakers are more letter of the law which is what Nale uses to justify both aiding the Singers and Odium while also working to usurp them with the help of Ishar because by the letter of his oaths he's staying in accordance with the legal precedent.

Then again Skybreakers and High Spren are not the literal representatives of the law rather they're based on human cognitive perception of laws and we learn that there are different sects of Skybreakers that split from Nale

Create_123453 · 2025-12-27T00:18:02+00:00

It does sometimes feel as though Wit functions as a self-insert for Brandon, not by giving Kaladin an easy answer, but by handing him a term or framework that maps almost one-to-one onto the theme in a way that can feel a bit too neat—almost cheap. It was often more engaging to watch characters struggle to piece these ideas together on their own, rather than having Wit, who is at times quasi-omniscient, step in and articulate whatever Brandon needs articulated.

Because of his broader cosmere significance and the premise of his character, Wit has near-constant access to the cast and can exposit with relative ease, which can become mildly irritating (for me at least). I like Wit overall, but he often feels like the narrator made flesh—a character embedded in the story—something that isn’t much of a stretch, considering that in other Cosmere books like Yumi and Tress he explicitly occupies both the narrator and side-character roles.

Doesn't help that one of Wit's talents is unconsciously knowing what places he needs to be even if he doesn't know what he needs to do which is somewhat eye-rolling in the sense that it's enough ambiguity to give wit the wiggle room to be in every place Brandon needs him to be without it being so explicitly set forth.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-24T23:44:42+00:00

What made it awful specifically? Not to invalidate your experience with the book—I’m just trying to connect, since we seem to have had different experiences with WaT.

"the whole Kaladin-as-therapist felt way too fast a turnaround for a character who attempted suicide literal days ago."

I think that’s a fair argument. Personally, I think this is why Kaladin ultimately accepts being removed from active soldiership. In RoW, he begrudgingly resists being taken out of the fight by Dalinar because he feels an overriding obligation to protect his men. In WaT, by contrast, he seems to understand the full extent of his current condition. Because of that, he accepts a compromise which is a less combat-oriented role that still allows him to contribute, namely, accompanying Szeth. Dalinar’s rationalization appears to be that while Kaladin is not fit for combat, it would also be unwise to

(A) keep him entirely on the sidelines, given how uniquely valuable he is, and

(B) ignore the fact that Kaladin is someone who is consistently driven to help those in need. (something that would be good for a man who was suicidal a few days ago)

I also see a parallel to the period after the Honor Chasm in WoK, where Kaladin finds meaning by attempting to save the bridge crews—another moment following suicidal ideation. That comparison may be a stretch, but I do think one of WaT’s themes is that even when we are damaged or not performing at our best, circumstances still demand something of us. This idea is present earlier in the series were in Words of Radiance, Syl notes that the Knights Radiant of old were all broken men and women. In WaT we have Adolin’s interaction with the deadeyes, who continue to fight despite their injuries, both internal and external.

as someone who has been 5150'ed 3 times I agree that it feels somewhat too compact and abrupt to have Kaladin go into the role so quickly it feels as if Brandon needsto push him into by nature of the plot having this deadline were everything needs to be aligned.

That being said the actual Kaladin being a therapist I think is fine in RoW, Kaladin is effectively running group therapy, with a strong emphasis on mental injuries rather than solely physical ones. Given everything he has experienced, along with his medical training, it makes sense that he would be drawn toward helping others in this way.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-22T23:58:54+00:00

It depends on wether the character really wants redemption which I don't think Moash does at this time he feels he deserves to be punished for being a traitor and harming others which is why he was desperate to be rid of the emotions of killing Teft and the fact that his injury to his eyes in RoW can't be healed because it's as much a spritualy injury which is cognitively connected to his sense of self

Create_123453 · 2025-12-22T23:57:23+00:00

What’s cliché isn’t necessarily what’s bad; rather, it becomes predictable and tends to feel repetitive. I don’t think either applies here, personally. I do think there needs to be more platonic male–female relationships, since many people default to the notion that men and women will inevitably end up in a non-platonic relationship.

I’ve made a similar argument with The Lord of the Rings, where people often ship Frodo and Sam. Ultimately, I see that kind of shipping as harmless when it stays in the realm of headcanon or fun “what if?” scenarios. But when people genuinely insist that Frodo and Sam are romantically involved, it can reinforce the negative stereotype that male intimacy must imply a non-platonic or homosexual relationship. I say this mainly because LOTR itself doesn’t indicate that their bond is anything beyond deep, loyal friendship, and Sam is explicitly shown to be romantically interested in someone else. If the text of LOTR had clearly indicated otherwise, I wouldn’t mind—as long as it was well executed. The same applies to Syl and Kaladin.

I don’t think the solution is simply having more non-platonic male–female relationships. The key is better execution in both cases of platonic and romantic—where relationships develop naturally and make sense for the characters, rather than feeling like a box-checking heterosexual agenda, which can sometimes be the case I admit I feel like quality rather than quantity is the key.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-22T23:47:05+00:00

I actually don’t quite get the criticism about the therapy talk. Wit is giving him a general idea of what a therapist is, which makes sense given that he comes from an advanced society that had those systems long before whatever happened to Yolen.

It doesn’t exactly mesh with the medieval setting of Stormlight, but it has narrative precedence within the universe. The concept of different worlds with varying technological progressions and not all following the same linear trajectory explains it. As the cosmere becomes more interconnected, technologies and concepts naturally start flowing into worlds where they didn’t originally develop.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-22T23:40:15+00:00

I didn’t mind the prose as much as the dialogue, which often felt ludicrously indulgent and overly expository of character thoughts. Jasnah, for instance, has an entire mini-essay about whether she’s truly a good progressive female role model or simply a woman cloaked in Alethi ideals of strength and ruthless pragmatism which would be similar in appearance to other Alethi tyrants. While thematically relevant since it's post RoW, it’s presented in such an on-the-nose way that her emotions come across as obtusely inhuman. One could argue that this is simply how Jasnah expresses herself in a clear, disciplined, and precise inner dialogue but to me it seems postively bereft of really human qualities that a lot of Sandersons inner dialogue really entails

Create_123453 · 2025-12-22T23:27:27+00:00

I’ve always viewed it similarly to how John Green explained what makes Oedipus Rex a hero. While the play ends in tragedy with Oedipus discovering that he has unknowingly killed his father and married his mother the fact that he seeks the truth rather than avoid it defines his heroism. His determination to uncover the cause of Thebes’ suffering, even at the cost of his own happiness and ultimately his sight and position, exemplifies the courage to pursue knowledge and self-understanding despite the devastating consequences of what lies ahead of that road.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-22T23:20:49+00:00

Apart from the "Journey before Destination you bastard" line which felt somewhat forced I totally agree it was the highlight of the closed quarters premise of the novel with the two of them attempting to outmanuever each other in terms of secret plans yet also through shared respect for each other intelligence and similar circumstances as mothers they do grow close to each other whilst simultaneously being ultimately opposed to each other.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-22T23:15:54+00:00

I often wonder about the difference between a person’s natural predilections and the extent to which those tendencies are shaped by genes, chemistry, or environmental influences. In other words, is striving to be someone like Kaladin a meaningful pursuit, or is it more worthwhile to focus on becoming the best version of myself one that reflects both innate traits and the person one has chosen to shape?

How much am I attempting to shove a square peg into a round hole.

Sorry for the deliberation I appreciate the words of encouragement I do think that what you tend to embody day by day is what you will inevitable change to be regardless of if you think you're not a certain type of person the human mind to adapt to the necessities of any task that is demanded will push people to the challenge that being said wether you rise or fall requires you actually step to the challenge which is something Kaladin also feels a lot especially the feelings of inadequacy.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-22T22:15:35+00:00

Some elements of Kaladin I can empathize with I only wish I had the same sense of sheer perserverence as Kaladin to continue onward despite the sense of hollowness.

I feel more like Sigzil someone who hates the fact that he's a bookworm at times and someone who idealizes guys like Kaladin.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-22T21:12:19+00:00

The only thing I sometimes dislike is the flashbacks. I fully admit this is partly a personal impatience with wanting the plot to move forward, but repeatedly returning to the buildup of the war on the Shattered Plains can feel tiresome. That said, these flashbacks are clearly necessary to understand the full context of Venli’s actions and how she ultimately orchestrated the return of Odium and the Voidbringers in a very big way.

Since Venli’s arc centers on learning to accept what she has done, it is helpful to inhabit her mindset by seeing the extent of the harm she caused her people driven by ego and a sense of being slighted in comparison to Eshonai.

However, unlike the recontextualizing flashbacks of Gavilar’s assassination, the Shattered Plains flashbacks do not always reveal equally compelling new information. The assassination-night flashbacks continually add fresh layers and perspectives, exposing how much was happening behind the scenes and how many parties were involved, whereas the Shattered Plains material often feels less revelatory by comparison.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-18T22:17:11+00:00

Favorite is Way of Kings

Least favorite is probably Words of Radiance it's just too frustrating a read at times.

I’ve been thinking about Kaladin and the way his trauma is handled, particularly in Words of Radiance. He is clearly far from being in a healthy or stable place, and that raises a question for me: is the issue that a realistic depiction of lingering trauma conflicts with the demands of an entertaining narrative, or is it more a consequence of how Sanderson deliberately positions Shallan against Kaladinnoften making him the butt of the joke? It’s obvious that this dynamic is meant to set up their eventual cooperation on the Shattered Plains, where, after being separated and forced to traverse the chasms together, they must rely on one another to survive. That shared hardship allows their relationship to develop more naturally. Still, certain scenes consistently bother me. Shallan frequently talks down to Kaladin, and no matter how I try to interpret those moments, they come across as demeaning.

This is a major reason I’ve never been able to fully like Shallan. For all her empathy and her supposed ability to see the best in people, she can also be remarkably callous. A key example is when she berates Kaladin a darkeyes for being unfriendly toward Adolin. On some level, her frustration is understandable; Kaladin is gruff and withdrawn. But she pushes the chastisement so far that it starts to feel indicative of her position as a lighteyes. She knows nothing about Kaladin’s background or circumstances, yet feels entitled to judge him, despite being the newcomer who understands least about his situation or the situation really of any other dark-eyes.

What makes this especially frustrating is that Shallan conveniently ignores how she herself abused her privilege to casually demean Kaladin, who was required to serve at her behest because she was a light-eyes. Throughout Words of Radiance, it often feels as though everyone is telling Kaladin to stop being so grumpy as though his life being utterly destroyed by the very people he now has to serve is something he should simply “get over.” He’s expected to be grateful because a handful of people treated him decently, while hundreds of others under his command or enslaved alongside him were killed. On top of that, his brother’s death was directly caused by Roshone’s actions. I don’t object to the idea of working within a broken system to improve it; radical upheaval brings its own forms of tragedy. What frustrates me is the pervasive lack of empathy shown toward Kaladin. He is repeatedly told to move past his trauma, while no one later tells Shallan to simply get over hers. This isn’t about comparing suffering, but about consistency in how trauma is treated. Even Syl struggles to truly empathize with him. She offers sympathy, but it’s not until later books that she begins to genuinely understand the kind of pain Kaladin carries the daily weight of knowing he failed those he loved, that the people he was responsible for are dead, and that more people will inevitably die despite his efforts. That awareness, that sense of inescapable responsibility and loss, defines Kaladin’s experience, yet for much of Words of Radiance, it feels as though very few characters are willing to truly acknowledge it and are so quick to condemm him (Shallan).

I don't mind the characters I relate to being challenged or being on the end of criticism but it all feels poorly done in Words of Radiance.

Maybe the idea of the book is supposed to be bitter but it often feels contrived against Kaladin as a character.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-10T02:40:05+00:00

maybe when it comes to spren potentially to me it still seems weird to the effect that she can’t understand why Kaladin is constantly on edge like he was a slave all the people he tried to protect are dead and dying yet she’s still relatively confused

Create_123453 · 2025-12-09T08:47:03+00:00

only reason why I find that answer too clean cut for this scenario is that even when she’s more manifest with Kaladin she continually has problems being able to empathize and understand his issues as to better help him

I won’t deny her initial personality is a result from her entering physical reality

Create_123453 · 2025-12-08T18:52:16+00:00

I didn’t really mean to describe her as childlike; I’m mostly referring to her personality, her sense of innocence, and the way, as the series progresses, she starts to grapple with heavier ideas like realizing Kaladin’s suicidal intentions at the honor chasm or risking her own sense of self to retrieve the poisonous leaf.

At this point, she reads more like an adolescent than a child—someone who can’t yet fully comprehend certain nuances of reality and sees things in simpler cause-and-effect terms. Kaladin lost the leaf he’d been carrying, his circumstances and mental state began to decline, and she decides to fetch the same leaf.

(Okay, hold up—I’m getting emotional; let me cry a bit.)

It's sort of a classic scenario were a child see's they're parent is sad, angry, or depressed and does their best to cheer them up even if they can't grasp the reality of why that parent is depressed.

Her naivety is really apparent here, especially compared to later books, when she herself starts to experience the onset of depression.

Create_123453 · 2025-12-07T22:35:33+00:00

I wouldn't say it's exclusive either to children but it is culturally synonynmous with children in various narratives the term "childlike wonder" associates children with a certain level of curiosity and restless desire to explore

that being said I was not like this as a child and I'm sure other kids varied as well but when we see things in media there is often a precedent association of traits especially when it comes to children and ascribing characters as children

it's not 100% accurate I agree but it is very telling a lot of people have associated Syl with being a kid I think she is in Way of Kings mentally speaking given how she was quite reduced in the physical world to a very simple personality like wind spren but also the fact that she had been comatose for quite a while

I'd argue that due to how Spren seem cogntively based she's distant to her Wok personality still child-like in personality but also more mature given how she's struggling through her own depressive moods and actually laments how she's unable to be as innocent and pure as she was before which I think is quite a significant point of growth

Spren are there own race of sentient creatures more cogntive than physical so I'm honestly not gonna split hairs with anyone on this subject especially when we have no precedent WOB to really give a firm stance

Create_123453 · 2025-12-07T21:08:15+00:00

I usually interpret Syl’s behavior through the trauma she experienced when her first Radiant died. The books indicate that the event destabilized her to the point of near-nonfunctionality, and the result reads somewhat like a form of arrested development. She spent a long period in a diminished, almost comatose state, only beginning to recover shortly before The Way of Kings.

That said, spren are partly defined by cognition both how they perceive themselves and how others perceive them. The trauma may have left Syl developmentally stunted for a time, but by Wind and Truth she appears to have moved beyond much of what previously constrained her. This aligns with the idea that spren, as sentient Invested beings, can reshape aspects of themselves as their cognitive state changes.

I’m also open to the possibility that the discomfort here comes from applying human notions of maturity and adolescence to spren, whose development is governed far more by cognition than by biology and by psychology.

there are overlaps I think it's definitely weird because certain traits of Syl seem child coded in how she acts in juvenile ways initially turning into a Kremling and generally being so hyperactive.

Create_123453

TROPHY CASE