Sometimes, when a show has as many characters as The Wheel of Time, the plot has to pause to focus on one storyline over another. The writers did this to excellent effect for the fourth episode of this season. Now, it’s time for Perrin and the plotline in the Two Rivers to have their time in the spotlight in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 7 ‘Goldeneyes‘. And this is another one of my favorite episodes of this show.
During the first season of The Wheel of Time, Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) endured a lot. He accidentally killed his wife during a trolloc attack, left his home behind, gained his wolfbrother abilities, and was tortured at the hands of the White Cloaks. More travel and battles followed in season two. I wasn’t surprised when he wanted to return to the Two Rivers at the beginning of this season. However, peace was not waiting for him there. At least, not yet. Not only has Perrin had to hide from the White Cloaks, but an army of trollocs, led by Dark Friends, is about to descend upon the Two Rivers again.
That’s right, The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 7 ‘Goldeneyes‘ is a battle episode. This show excels at action moments like this. But the episode also provides wonderful emotional beats for the characters. And the writers make the audience feel every bit of the triumph and the loss.
MORE: Remind yourself what happened last week with our review of The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 6!
“You and I, we’re making something new.”
Early in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 7 ‘Goldeneyes,’ the audience gets a bit of a surprise. As Perrin and the other townsfolk are training and preparing their defenses, the Two Rivers gets a visit from the Tinkers who helped Perrin during the first season. Ila (Maria Doyle Kennedy) and Aram (Daryl McCormack) are pleased to see Perrin again. There is a problem, though, because the Tinkers also need protection from the trollocs, but they follow the Way of the Leaf. They are a pacifist people. They avoid violence and won’t take part in the coming battle. Perrin, being the good guy he is, assures them they are welcome, and he even asks them to escape with the town’s children if the fight goes badly.
The Two Rivers shouldn’t be pessimistic, though. Alanna (Priyanka Bose) has enough hope for herself and her Warder, Maksim (Taylor Napier). Her outlook is even more positive after Mat’s (Donal Finn) sisters healed her. Nearly losing each other has smoothed out Alanna and Maksim’s rough patch, and Alanna is also training Mat’s sisters in channeling magic. I would say that having an Aes Sedai on your side against trollocs is a good reason to be optimistic.
Besides that, Loial (Hammed Animashaun), Perrin’s ogier friend, and Bain (Ragga Ragnars) and Chiad (Maja Simonsen), two Aiel Maidens of the Spear, are working to close the nearby Waygate before more trolloc reinforcements come through it. That’s also a point in their favor. Perrin takes a risk and asks the White Cloaks for help, too, and even though they refuse, I still wouldn’t bet against the Two Rivers.
MORE: If you need to remember The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5, then we have you covered with our review of ‘Tel’aran’rhiod‘!
“Your name shall sing in the world’s ears.”
Now, about that battle. It’s a thrilling sequence, exciting and well-choreographed. The Two Rivers doesn’t really have soldiers. These are mostly farmers and tradespeople simply defending their home. Perrin knows and cares about all of them. Instead of a grand speech, he sings a song they all know to rouse them to action. It’s such a strong emotional moment. It grounds all the chaotic action that follows. When the time for a pep talk does come, Maksim is the one to give it, which is a nice evolution for his character.
There’s another example of a secondary character getting a compelling arc in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 7 ‘Goldeneyes,’ too. Aram tries to hide with one of the children but a trolloc finds them and he’s forced to betray the beliefs of his people. McCormack effortlessly conveys how difficult the aftermath of this choice is for Aram. When a show can devote this kind of care to a character we only see for a few episodes, that is something special. And it’s an indication of the quality of the writing this season.
The writers give the viewer even more satisfaction after the White Cloaks do show up to help. Eamon Valda (Abdul Sali), the White Cloak who tortured Perrin and Egwene in season one, is the most misogynistic, sadistic one of them all. So his death, at the hands of Mat’s sisters, has been a long time coming. Alanna is all of us when she can’t hold back her delighted reaction. Lorne Balfe’s fantastic music enhances moments like this and others I can’t talk about. For that and so many other reasons, The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 7 ‘Goldeneyes‘ is one of my favorite episodes of the season and of the whole series.
MORE: We cover why The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 4 was brilliant with our review for ‘The Road to the Spear’.
The Wheel of Time is streaming on Prime Video.
