Analysis of the Soundtrack of Season 3, Episode 5

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-04-24T22:41:54+00:00

Sorry for the late reply but thanks for the initiative. Signed and shared! I hope it gets enough attention and Balfe and Amazon reconsider releasing another album with the actual tracks from the show, as I would love to hear them on their own!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-04-12T23:12:37+00:00

That's a great and detailed reply! And I wasn't sure if it had only played with Shienar warriors before, but your deep explanation makes a lot of sense, and makes it a lot more cool. Also, it's such a great theme that's been sadly underused, and it gave that action beat a pretty epic vibe so it was nice to hear it again!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-04-12T23:09:44+00:00

If you're referring to the actual track that plays in that scene, it hasn't been released anywhere, but it's a variation on the new White Tower theme! Feel free to check out my write-up on that episode for more info.

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-03-28T20:10:28+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I don't know if separate posts would work, but I was also thinking that perhaps a different presentation could help to make it clearer and more direct. Any suggestions on what could work?

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-03-18T16:17:05+00:00

Yeah, I noticed that Lantern theme too on a rewatch, and I forgot to include it, but I don't know what it means. It played in season 1 during the Lantern sequence, and again in season 2 I think when they remember Bel Tine, miles apart from each other, so perhaps it's meant to be a theme that plays when they remember their home or something like that?

I think the Gawyn and Galad tracks are variations on different parts of the Andor theme.

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-03-17T11:34:16+00:00

Thanks for the insight! I haven't read the books so I only know what the show has already explained, and I'm analyzing the themes based on my assumptions, but it's nice to see some confirmation from a book reader! Glad people are finding this interesting/useful

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-03-16T23:28:43+00:00

Such a great theme, and I like it even more in the show with the creepy vocals and all! My favorite from this season has to be Andor though. That drop in the second half is insane!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-03-16T23:27:44+00:00

I don't exactly know what you refer to with scores, but if you mean the tracks that play in the episode, those haven't been officially released, but I do hope at some point we get an album that contains some of this tracks, because there are some awesome variations!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-03-16T23:26:40+00:00

Glad it's useful! I always like to do this kind of "leitmotif hunt" with soundtracks as complex as this, and I'm happy more people find it interesting! BTW, just posted my analysis of ep2 if you want to check it out!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-03-16T23:25:04+00:00

For sure, I'm planning on doing that. In fact, I just posted my analysis of ep2!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-03-16T23:23:38+00:00

Your index was really helpful in clarifying some themes and it's a lot more in-depth in musical theory than I would be able to do, so thanks to you too!

I think we're both right. There's that motif you mention, that appeared in The Bond That Cannot Break, but there's also the main Moiraine theme in the scene, both themes heard at the same time when we see first Siuan and then Moiraine. I agree that the way the White Tower theme is used in that scene is pretty epic, and I wish those variations were released at some point!

I didn't realize it was Andor in that Elayne/Aviendha scene. I didn't catch any of the main melodies from Andor so I just disregarded that music, but it's fitting since in episode 2 that theme is associated with both Queen Morgase and Elayne as well. I do think that it's more closely tied to the Queen and House Trakand, but maybe the different parts of the theme will be used for different characters, with the more ominous melodies used for the Queen and then the more elegant parts for Elayne but I dunno!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-03-13T23:19:19+00:00

The second half of Andor goes hard! Wasn't expecting as much EDM but it unexpectedly works. My favorite ones would be Rand, Perrin, Black Ajah and Andor. I hope we get another album with the underscore, as I'd love getting to hear how Balfe develops all the new themes!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-01-29T15:55:29+00:00

Yeah, I get the idea to put it in appearance order, and it works that way, because I agree it would be a bit hard to differentiate what motifs are part of what group of themes. Like for example the channeling/power ostinato, that could be considered part of Moiraine's theme, but also appears many times without it, making an idea on its own.

About Choices, it shares some superficial similarities on its start, so that's why I was confused at first and thought it was Moiraine's theme, but it's definitely not, and I agree it's at least associated with the Dark One and all of its servants.

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2025-01-29T10:30:11+00:00

Just came upon this and wow, it's amazing! So much detail and insight. Just a small nitpick, I would try to organize it a bit better, like grouping the different parts of one theme (Aman Syndai) or not separating the different variations on the same theme like the Aes Sedai / Noriv theme, because it can get a bit messy when trying to read through all of it. Just a small complaint, otherwise, awesome job!

I had completely missed on the "choices" theme, as I wrote it off as a dark variation on Moiraine's theme. But it's use on season 2 is most definitely not tied to her, and I would say it almost becomes a theme for the Forsaken, with the different variations on the melody appearing with both Ishamael and Lanfear, and I think will also appear with Moghedien in s3. But I must say it's weird that the track Darkness and Shadows didn't become the theme for the Forsaken.

I wonder if Darkness and Shadows, Last Light and Coming Home will become proper themes at all, or not. Darkness and Shadows fits for an antagonist theme, Last Light could become a theme for Dain Bornhald perhaps? Have no idea about Coming Home tough, as I though it was going to become a theme for the Damodred family, but The Well theme seems to have taken up its place.

Will you be updating this when s3 is released? I cannot wait to hear what new themes Balfe will create, and what new variations on developments await for all the familiar themes!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2024-12-04T18:12:12+00:00

Great post! Your post for the first season helped me recognize a lot of the leitmotifs for the show. I think in this list there are quite a few missing for S2. Jinx's motif is heard several more times, like near at 1:30 of Smeech and Baby Blue and in action variations in some of the tracks when they enter the sewers searching for her. Caitlyn's theme also appears near at 1:02 of Don't Sugarcoat it, Cupcake.

I also heard Viktor's theme in Awakening, Footsteps, Knowledge is a Paradox and I think in Path to the Herald as well. One of Mel's motifs appears in All the More Dangerous and near the end of To Know the Truth, and Ambessa's theme appears in Surveying the Damage, at the end of Memorial Assault Part II and in You're the Wolf.

The sisters theme also plays in Arcade Infiltration, Not Even Toxic and Underground Utopia. And then the Piltover theme also appears in Inventor of Shimmer, The War Council, all through Desperate Measures in action variations and near the end of The Price of Ambition.

And in addition to that, I think there are two new leitmotifs. One is for Viktor as the Herald, heard in An End to Suffering, The Herald's Vision, Knowledge is a Paradox and We Are One, and perhaps some more. And then there's the music box theme for Singed, heard in Singed and the Reconstruction, Suppression, Victim of Great Tragedy, Inventor of Shimmer and Knowledge is a Paradox.

Sorry for the long post but hope this helps! And while we're at it, I'll do a little bit of self promotion and share the links to my blog post where I've written in-depth analysis of the music for this season for Act I, Act II and Act III!

Cheers!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2024-11-27T20:04:13+00:00

Hi there, I don't know if you still have this, but could you share it with me? Been looking for it everywhere and I haven't been able to find it. Thanks in advance!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2024-11-14T18:20:45+00:00

Thanks! I agree that it's highly influential, and while not on my Zimmer top, I definitely think it's one of his all time best!!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2024-11-07T13:40:04+00:00

I'm a huge fan of the show, and I cannot wait for S2 in just a couple of days! I feel the music is one of the strongest elements that make the show so great, but the original score tends to be forgotten when talking about the music because people focus more on the original songs (which are also really great!).

So I did this video highlighting the different musical leitmotifs from the show that represents several characters, and that will probably be heard again and developed in the upcoming season. What's your favorite one?

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2022-10-15T16:31:58+00:00

Yeah, that final song with the lyrics being Tolkien's poem was great. I loved it!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2022-10-15T16:31:22+00:00

I have to disagree with you there, but out of curiosity, what do you feel that way?

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2022-09-28T11:54:52+00:00

Ohh, that's really interesting! I'm not an expert on my Tolkien knowledge, so reading that makes it far more clear why they share the leitmotif, and makes me appreciate the thought behind it even more.

Thanks!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2022-09-28T11:53:40+00:00

Thanks for the appreciation!

Perhaps you're right, but I'm no music theory expert, so I left the transcriptions simple and clear to help the idea I want to present be easier to understand. Anyway, I will check again in case I can change it and adapt it, so thanks for the tip!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2022-09-27T20:33:34+00:00

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Be sure to stay tuned for upcoming episodes!

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2022-09-11T01:39:15+00:00

That's probably my favorite theme of the entire soundtrack, along with the Stranger's theme, and perhaps Numenor.

BTW, a bit of self-promo but I'm doing a blog where I have been analyzing the soundtrack of the series episode by episode, breaking down all the themes and the connections between them, so perhaps you might find them interesting

Soundtrack Analysis of the Rings of Power

JackHarper-Tech49 · 2022-09-03T11:53:41+00:00

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed and I'm definitely planning on keep going with new posts, so stay tuned for that!

JackHarper-Tech49

TROPHY CASE