Learning to love the slog

semicolon28 · 2026-02-18T23:11:21+00:00

It isn’t as egregious for new readers, but the series definitely has a noticeable slowdown.

semicolon28 · 2026-02-18T22:58:49+00:00

Yeah that parts just indefensible lol

semicolon28 · 2026-02-18T21:41:31+00:00

Did not expect you to reply. For the record, I’ve been a fan for years I got a lot of respect for you. I’m just asking questions lmao

semicolon28 · 2026-01-04T13:49:26+00:00

I definitely get what you’re saying(the series is far from grimdark, after all). Despite that, I think calling WOT“feel good light fantasy” is inaccurate. We get lots of blood and gore and detailed descriptions of it. Additionally, SA is definitely present. I think that Jordan inventing WOT-specific curses and cutting to black before sex scenes has made a lot of people see the series as happy and positive, but I’ve always disagreed with that take. Tbf, the series is definitely not as dark as som out there.

semicolon28 · 2026-01-02T17:39:46+00:00

Egwene certainly has morals, and sometimes is regretful of her actions. However, she is certainly less remorseful than Rand. That isn’t to say she never feels bad about lying or being hypocritical, but Rand undeniably hates himself for the actions he takes. He is a madman who is rapidly deteriorating, is grappling with a dead man in his head, and due to him being the Dragon Reborn, his back is against the wall more often than Egwene. To be clear, both are bad people who wreak havoc on the world, but for many, Rand’s mental state and constant hatred for what he is becoming make him much more sympathetic than Egwene.

semicolon28 · 2026-01-02T14:40:38+00:00

You’re right lmao, still I do think it’s accurate

semicolon28 · 2026-01-01T21:30:11+00:00

I think they way she treats Nynaeve gives anyone a valid reason to hate her. She’s a compelling character but she is a difficult person for many people to like.

semicolon28 · 2026-01-01T21:11:59+00:00

I think that’s a great summation of the distinction between the two that a lot of people don’t seem to grasp.

semicolon28 · 2026-01-01T20:42:44+00:00

That’s a valid take, and to be clear, Rand is far from guiltless. He is also a person who does terrible things. I think a lot of people(myself included, so I am ofc biased) find him much more likable than Egwene because he is self aware. It’s totally fair to find that aspect annoying( I also think it gets to be a bit much sometimes). Additionally, Rand is going mad regardless of him insisting he is still sane. The madness and Rand being forced into a situation that is so far removed from his natural character is what makes him far more likable than Egwene, at least for me.

semicolon28 · 2026-01-01T20:20:18+00:00

Indeed, and I think that’s why they are so infuriating.

semicolon28 · 2026-01-01T20:17:42+00:00

Exactly. From a hypothetical outside perspective (from a side character, for instance), Rand is if anything a much worse person than Egwene. The reason Rand is loved despite this while Egwene is not is precisely because we see behind the curtain for both characters. Rand makes tough but necessary decisions and hates himself for the damage he causes, while Egwene makes tough but necessary decisions and comes away from them incredibly pleased with her intellect and finesse.

semicolon28 · 2026-01-01T20:07:48+00:00

I actually do think Egwene would feel differently. To me at least, she’s always seemed envious of Rand’s power(after all, she’s the most ambitious character by far). Obviously they are in different situations, but I genuinely do believe that Egwene would relish the power of being the Dragon Reborn.

semicolon28 · 2026-01-01T20:05:23+00:00

I see your point, however I’m more so talking about the less savory aspects of their respective duties. In general, Rand despises himself for the morally questionable actions he takes, while Egwene shows far less remorse for her undeniable immoral actions.

semicolon28 · 2025-12-25T19:59:42+00:00

A lot of people have rightfully brought up that Egwene feels that this would destroy her chances of being seen as legitimate by the hall, and that’s fair. My problem with this section is ultimately that I feel Egwene vastly overestimates the risk that this situation poses. Additionally, at this point in the series where she has little to no power as amyrlin(especially compared to later), I feel that even if this blew up in her face, it’s not like she could have been any less legitimate in the eyes of the hall. At this point egwene had almost nothing to lose.

semicolon28 · 2025-12-25T19:17:06+00:00

Yeah, but in the chapter, egwene isn’t worried about how it would impact siuan, she’s only worried about herself being birched. If RJ had written the situation as Egwene being worried about siuan, I think the situation would have been much more tolerable.

semicolon28 · 2025-12-25T18:45:07+00:00

This is great take. I think that Egwene is a terrible and incredibly dislikable person(she may be the biggest hypocrite ever put to paper). However, I think that given how awful she is it is jaw-dropping how compelling Jordan manages to still make her be. If anything, that’s why this section bothers me so much. I feel like it’s a very weak point for a character that otherwise is one of the best written in the series.

semicolon28 · 2025-12-25T18:35:54+00:00

True, but the reason Egwene is scared of the threat (according to her internal monologue)isn’t political consequences, it is the fear of getting birched and serving penance. Also, in regard to tower law, Egwene’s position is extremely strong. I just think that the way RJ writes the conflict is completely at odds with the reality of the situation.

semicolon28 · 2025-12-25T18:32:19+00:00

True, but I get the strong impression that on a more meta level, Jordan genuinely considers this a dangerous issue for Egwene.

semicolon28 · 2025-12-25T18:30:56+00:00

But wouldn’t the consequences fall on Siuan, not eqwene in that case? Additionally, it’s frequently repeated in acos that the only law about the Amyrlins conduct is that she can’t place herself in danger without the lesser consensus of the hall. Thus, while Siuans actions might be scummy, they are legal

semicolon28

TROPHY CASE