Road to Tar Valon : The Wheel of Time Podcast

What type of musical istrument should Asmodean play in the Wheel of Time TV show? How does his backstoy align with the mythos of American Delta Blue player Robert Johnson? What about Faust? Today we talk about the origins of the artist formally known as Joar Addam Nessosin, theorize on his strained relationship with his mother, and ask how to inject some good ol Americana into the television serie...

Is it time to retire the crazy ex-girlfriend trope? Today we talk about Lanfear, one of the most over the top female villains in fantasy. We chat about her very important origin story, theorize on the confusing bits, question her big Brandon Sanderson 10 year anniversary reveal, how Prime Video could approach her character, and if she will get one of those cool cold opens we all love. Who wants to...

Ishamael is on of the most destructive forces within The Wheel of Time, but how does one betray hope? How does he manage to influence the world all while being tucked away inside the seal on the Bore? What is his goal? What is his punishment? We talk about theories on the lack of advancement within the WoT, how the show got it right, and much much more and we breakdown the man formally known as El...

The final episode of the Shadow Rising is here!! Rand, with a large army of Aiel coalescing around him, arrives at Alcair Dal where thousands more Aiel await an important proclamation.  Competing car’a’carns reveal themselves, but who will the Aiel follow?  Rand has short time to think of this as he also has a couple low down forsaken to take care of. Thank you to all of our Patron members for joi...

We imagined this would be our final episode on TSR, however, excitement is difficult to contain when there’s so much happening in these chapters. Only covering chapters 55 and 56 this week in order to get into all the nitty gritty details and fun theories. In these chapters; Nyneave, Elayne, and Egeanin got into the Panarch’s palace, but now it’s time for the trio plus one to find their way out. A...

Elayne and Nyneave are entertaining their new gal pal, Egeanin, when Domon Bayle arrives and reveals that she is Seanchan. Things have not been going well in Emond’s Field.  More trolloc attacks have pinned the little village down and supplies are running short. Dire news pushes Perrin back to the Wolf dream and leaves him with a new bride. We have opened our weekly recordings to live text wi...

There is fighting in the Tower and safety depends on which side you choose. Rand is still traveling through the Waste to Cold Rocks Hold with a less than pleasant Aviendha still trailing him. The first view of Cold Rocks Hold is a pleasant surprise, covered in greenness and shade. And in an attempt to mollify Aviendha, Rand decides to find her a gift. We have opened our weekly recordings to live t...

Shit’s about to get real! Perrin awakes seriously weakened from his healing but determined to take care of his responsibilities.  Plans change when the village is alerted to the presence of Trolllocs approaching and defenses need to be pulled into full force immediately. Egeanin is trailing tricky Floran Gelb as he seems about to kidnap another woman that she doesn’t want to have to kill or s...

In these chapters, Elayne and Nyneave arrive in Tanchico, with a slightly sullen Thom and Juilin in tow. Perrin with his growing band of Two River’s lads has been good to his word and hunting has been good.  But all good things must come to an end.  An attack coming from an unexpected angle sees the first deaths of the young men and leaves Perrin grievously injured. Very exciting episode...

Loaded topic today folks, so bear with us as we consider the many angles of this conversation, which I might add is deeply contested. Topics may include: is Lanfear a feminist icon? Gender essentialism. The First Sister bond, which Wheel of Time book is the most feminist, and why Daniel Henney should be narrating New Spring with the incredibly talented Rosamund Pike and more.   *** As always make...

Egwene and Elayne meet in The World of Dreams on their way to Tanchico. Mat gets several of his staple items from a caravan of peddlers who join the Aiel. Rand tells Mat that they ride with evil now. Trollocs and myrddraal ruin a brief respite as cries can be heard out of the dark and big baddies descending on the camp of the Aiel. And we end on a chapter that gives us perspectives in Tanchico, a...

Welcome to the Bedazzled Boyz Biker Club. Requirements are as follows: Bedazzled Tattoos, Bedazzled Jeans, and a Badazz Attitude. Newest member of the club is Rand Al’Thor, with his crazy shiny tattoos. Meanwhile, Perrin is leading in the Two Rivers, gathering every able body to get ready for a big rescue! White Cloaks are being spooky and scary ( as per usual ) and Dain Bornhald is drinking away...

There’s great alliteration ahead, although an awful atrocity reaches one of our closest members in the group. Perrin returns to the Two Rivers after strange dreams including a new stranger. Upon his return home, he gets some of the worst possible news one could imagine. Grief hits him hard, but Faile comforts him as he makes a plan for what his next move needs to be. We have opened our weekly reco...

This week Traci goes on sabbatical and I'm joined with Laura. We focus on the TV show, I bob and weave avoiding spoilers while she makes some shockingly on point observations, we chat about dragons, fantasy, question the Dark One's propaganda tactics, question teenage sex scenes, and why that ferryman had it coming. As per usual, if you'd like to take part in our live recordings, check out our Pat...

We are back and we are uncharted once again. This week we are talking all about how some of the bigger WoT moments will translate to the screen. We speculate on what type of changes will can expect. Dumai's Wells, the Attack on Tar Valon, and many more. Full spoilers ahead! Thanks to our hilarious patrons for joining us in chat, and if you'd like to take part, check out our patreon landing page he...

Today we are going backward, or forward… or… where the heck are we going? This is an open chat special episode with lots of funny and silly moments all throughout. All though… you weary travelers who journey down the Road to Tar Valon can’t have too much fun... So have yourself a drink… maybe a frothy Frosty from Wendy’s? We have opened our weekly recordings to live text with our Patrons when we r...

Rand, Moiraine, Lan, Egwene, and the Aiel are all on their way to Rhuidean using the Portal Stone. Despite its success, the welcome they receive is less than warm. Mat is feeling unsure he made the right decision to join Rand, but he’s determined not to die and this IS what those Snake people told him to do. We have opened our weekly recordings to live text with our Patrons when we record. This is...

An introspective deep dive on this determined young ruler who will do anything to keep her small nation of Mayene sovereign. Lots of discussion today on the male gaze, sexuality, and if during our read of the series we judged "The First of Mayene" too harshly. As per usual, our Westland 101 episodes are split into two halves, the first being spoiler free. Special thanks to our Patrons for choosing...

Perrin is packed and ready to leave, but is still having issues with Faile before the Stone suddenly starts ringing. Elayne and Nyneave are heading to the harbor in search of a fast ship to take them to Tanchico. And Moiraine is walking into the Heart of the Stone to join the group of nobles Rand has assembled. We have opened our weekly recordings to live text with our Patrons when we record. This...

This episode has unexpected heroes and unexpected quarrels. Perrin is in his room preparing for his departure to the Two Rivers before he’s visited by two women, each wanting something different from him. Faile is off to give Berelain a piece of her mind and perhaps a knuckle sandwich… Mat has decided that he needs to go through the Red stone doorway in the Great Holding. While Elayne’s preparing...

Rand returns to his room only to discover several uninvited “guests”. Egwene enters Tel’aran’rhiod for the first time without the aid of the stone ring in the hunt of the Black Ajah. And Mat is taking a little time for himself at an inn in the Maule but our lucky boy overhears something that catches his interest. We have opened our weekly recordings to live text with our Patrons when we record. Th...

Harmony, peace, singing, and slaughtering. We look at the duality of Seanchan's Ogier versus the Ogier in the Westands and question which group is more in line with what they were before they left their home world? You know the drill, history and background in the first half, and then later book spoilers in the second. Check out our Patreon page for extra goodies, Discord to join in on our convers...

Our gals chat about love and Moiraine gives them all the realest response. Elayne and Egwene go to Rand with a reason but things do not go as expected. Rand is love struck but the high lords keep trying to get one over on him. Then Rand gets a visit and darkness waits on the other side of his door… We have opened our weekly recordings to live text with our Patrons when we record. This is for all o...

We are back to Tear, where everything from the last book wrapped up.  Perrin, Mat, and Rand all come under a most unexpected attack.  Nyeave and Egwene are attempting to get answers from their Black Ajah prisoners, but little is revealed that offers a definitive direction for our sleuths. We have opened our weekly recordings to live text with our Patrons when we record. This is for all o...

Semhirage, one of the thirteen Forsaken, is indeed the Lady of Pain. Her rampages of cruelty during the War of Power were so legendary that many prisoners would attempt to take their own lives rather than being left to her horrific treatment. A healer turned torturer, we cover her story from the Age of Legends, all the way into the Third Age, when she emerges at the will of the Dark One. Beginning...