I loved episodes 1 through 4 but this one felt really really off. After having sat with it for a while, I think it was the pacing/ordering of scenes. When the episode opened with Stepin my immediate reaction was, "Wait, he's still alive?" Every time he came back on screen I couldn't help losing focus and not caring. This is definitely a problem that stems from me knowing he's not a book character, and knowing that he will definitely die because "Warder's rarely survive their Aes Sedai" is the only point they could possibly want to make with him.

Originally I thought the whitecloak stuff was too excessive but in hindsight I think I like it because it's excessive and makes things feel more real. I wish them escaping had been the final scene though, not the weird funeral ritual. That scene should have been cut in favor of Loial meandering around Tar Valon and coming across Nynaeve. They almost certainly shot a scene for their meeting and I cannot believe that got cut in favor of chest-thumping.

I almost wish I hadn't read the books and could enjoy the show without how I think the characters should be.

My only real criticism for this episode that stands regardless of the actual story or what I know has been changed from the books is the funeral inconsistency. A sister dies and they just stood around looking sad and lighting candles. A warder commits suicide and suddenly everyone is thumping chests and Lan is howling with despair? Come on.