“A Place of Safety” takes its title ironically. Scattered and vulnerable, Rand and Mat, Perrin and Egwene, and Nynaeve each face new dangers on their separate paths. Friendships are tested, uneasy alliances form, and the threat of the Dark One’s reach becomes incredibly real. Explore every detail in our review and recap of this excellent episode.
Spoilers ahead for The Wheel of Time Season 1 Episode 3!
Content Note: This review discusses fantasy violence, character deaths, and dark themes.
A Quick Recap of The Wheel of Time Season 1 Episode 3
We start with a flashback: a barely conscious Nynaeve is dragged through the woods by a Trolloc. While the beast pauses to feed on a fallen comrade, she seizes her chance to flee. Hiding in the sacred pool, she lures the Trolloc into the water and kills it with its own weapon. Swinging her braid, Nynaeve leaves, still holding the blade.
Rand and Mat wander into Breen’s Spring, where they find a caged Aiel corpse on the town’s edge. At the Four Kings Inn, they meet Thom Merrilin, a gleeman who performs a mournful ballad. Later, Mat steals from the dead Aiel before joining Thom in giving the warrior a proper burial.
The innkeeper, Dana (Izuka Hoyle), appears welcoming at first, offering the boys lodging in exchange for work. Tensions rise when Mat’s frustration bubbles over toward Rand, and Dana’s true nature emerges: she is a Darkfriend determined to deliver Rand and Mat to the Dark One. Rand’s surprising strength breaks down a locked door, thwarting her ambush. Thom intervenes at the last second, killing Dana with a deftly thrown dagger. The three men flee east, knowing a Fade is on its way.
Across the Caralain Grass, Egwene and Perrin are beset by wolves, though the creatures seem to herd rather than hunt them. Perrin is still plagued by nightmares of the flame-eyed man and his lost wife, Laila. Their luck changes when they meet the Tuatha’an, or Traveling People, who offer shelter and a reprieve from the wilderness.
Lan tends to a gravely injured Moiraine. His uneasy truce with Nynaeve deepens after she tries—and fails—to kill him, but ultimately agrees to use her herbal knowledge to treat the tainted wound. It ends with them joining a group of Aes Sedai who hold captive a self-proclaimed Dragon Reborn, Logain Ablar (Álvaro Morte). He looks anything but cowed.
Episode Highlights: Darkness and Determination
“A Place of Safety” focuses on the group’s separation and challenges. The slower pace allows for meaningful character development and dramatic twists. Highlights include:
- Nynaeve’s Resilience: Nynaeve is confirmed as a force to be reckoned with, and we learn to love—not scorn—her fiery temperament. Her escape from the Trolloc is both brutal and empowering. Rising from the water with her braid swinging defiantly, she delivers one of the season’s most spectacular moments.
- Dana the Darkfriend: The twist revealing Dana, a seemingly ordinary innkeeper, as a Darkfriend is brilliantly executed. Her speech about the Dark One’s inevitable victory is terrifying and strangely relatable, rooted in her warped worldview. It’s a twist few saw coming—and it lands with undeniable impact.
- The Gleeman’s Song: Thom Merrilin’s introduction is punctuated by his ballad, “The Man Who Can’t Forget,” a solemn ode to the Breaking of the World. This original addition to the adaptation amplifies the significance of the apocalypse and the harsh certainty of the Dragon’s rebirth.
Character Moments: Rapport and Resolve
In this episode, our characters face challenges that reveal their inner strengths and deepen their connections. From survival instincts to fragile friendships, we follow their separate adventures and explore the complexities that make each of them compelling.
Nynaeve al’Meara: A Survivor’s Instinct
Zoë Robins shines as Nynaeve, bringing grit and determination to her portrayal of the Wisdom. The cold open is as gnarly as it is empowering, proof of Nynaeve’s resourcefulness and unyielding resolve. Robins beautifully captures Nynaeve’s fierce independence, leaving no doubt about her strength and ingenuity.
Lan Mandragoran: The Silent Shield
Daniel Henney continues to convey Lan’s stoicism and unwavering sense of duty with quiet precision. His concern for Moiraine reveals a softer side, as do his interactions with Nynaeve, which indicate the beginnings of a complicated relationship. The Warder’s calm discipline remains central to his character, even when challenged by Nynaeve’s fiery nature.
Rand and Mat: A Fragile Friendship
Josha Stradowski and Barney Harris complement each other as Rand and Mat. Stradowski is consistent with his character, playing Rand as an emotionally driven soul who is, nonetheless, more level-headed than his friend. In contrast, Harris shows signs of Mat’s growing cynicism and desperation. His roguish flirtation with Dana is one thing, but looting a corpse is cause for concern. Mat’s darker side begins to manifest, and his snarkiness toward Rand doesn’t bode well for their friendship.
Thom Merrilin: A Gleeman with Depth
Alexandre Willaume adds gravitas to the role of Thom Merrilin. “The Man Who Can’t Forget” raises goosebumps, and the gleeman becomes instantly compelling through a blend of streetwise humor and sharp intellect. Willaume hints at worldly wisdom beneath Thom’s rugged exterior, potentially setting him up as a crucial mentor for both boys, particularly Mat.
Egwene and Perrin: Strength in Unity
Madeleine Madden and Marcus Rutherford deliver fine performances as Egwene and Perrin, who are forced to rely on each other during their harrowing journey. The bitter cold and howling wolves amplify their vulnerability, yet Egwene’s quiet determination and Perrin’s enduring guilt add depth to their bond.
Perrin struggles to come to terms with Laila’s death, his grief compounded by the secret he keeps from Egwene. Madden’s empathetic reassurance and Rutherford’s haunted silence speak volumes about their friendship. Her use of the One Power to light a fire as Perrin struggles with stone and flint proves who copes best under pressure.
The apparent guidance from a pack of wolves suggests a connection with Perrin that is yet to be understood, and finding the Tuatha’an is a turning point. Egwene and Perrin immediately pull knives, fearing for their safety, but the Tinkers offer warmth, peace, and companionship, a sharp contrast to the chaos they’ve endured.
A Place of Safety: Themes and World-Building
The Wheel of Time‘s third episode shifts gears, focusing on themes of survival, trust, and the strength needed to endure hardship. It continues to expand the rich world while going deeper into the series’ philosophical core.
Themes
- Survival: Nynaeve’s Trolloc ambush and eventual determination to heal Moiraine are just one example of resilience shown by the Two Rivers villagers. Her bravery and resourcefulness reflect her will to endure despite the odds.
- Trust and Betrayal: Dana’s reveal shakes the viewer’s sense of trust, mirroring the characters’ struggles to discern friend from foe. This theme is woven throughout the interactions between Lan and Nynaeve and the dynamics among the separated villagers.
- Finding Sanctuary: The search for safety and solace is felt throughout. Egwene and Perrin’s interactions before they get to the Tuatha’an caravan reflect a human need for connection and refuge. The Tinkers are a welcome reminder of kindness in a dangerous world.
World-Building
Despite taking even greater liberties with the source material, this episode feels more like the book series than its predecessors. Breen’s Spring, with its earthy tones and gritty tavern setting, captures the lived-in feel of Robert Jordan’s world, while the introduction of the Tinkers and their colorful wagons emphasizes their contrasting philosophy of nonviolence in a harsh and chaotic world.
The appearance of the Green and Red Ajahs with their captive Logain offers a glimpse of the political intrigue and cultural complexities of the White Tower. These rich visuals, paired with the grounded and detailed storytelling, create an atmosphere unmistakably The Wheel of Time, blending the expansive world-building of the books with the show’s unique vision.
A Place of Safety: Insights and Observations
The Eye of the World, the first book in the series, is about young characters finding their way in a strange and perilous world. “A Place of Safety” encapsulates this for viewers as the innocent villagers take different paths to refuge, with drastically different outcomes.
The cold open is a fascinating mix of horror and intrigue. You briefly wonder if the Trolloc is tending to a wounded comrade—an elegant possibility quickly dispelled as it begins feasting on its fallen ally. This grim display enables Nynaeve’s dramatic escape. The Trolloc’s blood swirling into the shape of a Dragon’s Fang (an upturned teardrop) is a brilliant touch—subtle, symbolic, and a highlight of the season’s visual storytelling.
Lan and Nynaeve’s herb-gathering and terse banter reveal undeniable chemistry. Their budding connection is understated but unmistakable, with the herbs serving as a clever metaphor. Daniel Henney and Zoë Robins are incredible, but the episode suffers from Moiraine’s limited presence. Rosamund Pike’s energy often carries the show, and her incapacity/absence is keenly felt until the very end.
Perrin’s nightmare, in which a wolf devours his recently deceased wife, feels excessive. The show leans heavily on Perrin’s guilt, missing the opportunity to explore a more nuanced layer—his possible belief that his destructive potential marks him as the Dragon Reborn.
The Traveling People’s introduction feels awkwardly placed, too. The line Aram (Daryl McCormack) teaches Egwene and Perrin—“Your welcome warms our spirit as your fire warms the flesh, but we do not know the song”—lacks the poignancy it deserves. Heavy editing may have muted the depth of this scene, leaving the Tinkers’ potential unrealized until later episodes.
Breen’s Spring, however, is a triumph. While the books depict Rand and Mat passing through multiple towns and encountering Darkfriends along the way, the series condenses these into a single, dynamic location. The result is a richly atmospheric depiction of tension and danger, complete with an unbreakable door—a nod to Rand and Mat’s narrow escape in the books.
Performance Spotlight: Izuka Hoyle as Dana
Izuka Hoyle delivers a captivating turn as Dana, seamlessly transforming from a lively, grounded innkeeper to a fervent servant of the Dark One. From the outset, she portrays Dana with a charming and relatable bawdiness, running the Four Kings Inn with a confident, “don’t mess with me” attitude. As the episode progresses, Hoyle reveals Dana’s darker intentions, building suspense and delivering a twist that catches viewers off guard.
While it’s a shame we won’t see more of her, Hoyle leaves a lasting impression with her performance. Her ability to make Dana both engaging and unsettling adds complexity, elevating her character beyond a simple villain. Her flirtation with Rand and manipulation of his emotions feel natural and believable, making the revelation of her sinister allegiance all the more shocking.
A Place of Safety: Final Thoughts and Rating
“A Place of Safety” establishes the show’s momentum, and its strengths far outweigh the weaknesses. From Nynaeve’s epic return to Dana’s shocking betrayal, the episode captures the essence of The Wheel of Time and does the groundwork for more significant conflicts still to come.
Rating: 8/10
An engaging blend of suspense and heart, “A Place of Safety” keeps us invested in the story.
Behind-the-Scenes: The Wheel of Time Season 1 Episode 3
Prime Video’s YouTube channel offers an inside look at “A Place of Safety,” revealing how the filmmakers crafted key character moments and the atmosphere of Breen’s Spring.
Watch “A Place of Safety” Today
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