“Daes Dae’mar” (Old Tongue for “the Great Game”) takes viewers on a treacherous road, where every word carries hidden meaning and alliances shift like sand. With Lanfear unleashed and Mat spiraling into darkness, the episode delivers spectacle alongside betrayal. Join us as we unravel every shocking revelation in our review and recap of this game-changing episode!
Spoilers ahead for The Wheel of Time Season 2 Episode 7!
Content Note: This review discusses fantasy violence, psychological manipulation, political betrayal, character deaths, and dark themes, including loss of agency and prophetic torment.
The Wheel of Time Season 2 Episode 7 Recap
Set twenty years ago, Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) and Siuan (Sophie Okonedo) have a tender conversation atop the White Tower, dreaming of a future together. Their aspirations turn to dust when Moiraine delivers news of the Aiel War’s end to Gitara Moroso (Hayley Mills), a blind Aes Sedai with the gift of prophecy. Gitara, overwhelmed by a vision, collapses, foretelling the Dragon Reborn’s birth with her dying breath.
The prophecy takes us to the battlefield, where Tigraine Mantear (Magdalena Sittova) gives birth to Rand al’Thor before succumbing to her wounds (as seen in Season 1, Episode 7). Tam al’Thor (Michael McElhatton) finds the infant and claims him as his own.
Gitara gasps to the girls before she dies, “Tell no one, my sisters. You must find the Dragon Reborn and prepare the world to follow…” Moiraine and Siuan exchange a knowing look—this revelation has changed everything.
In the present, Leane Sharif (Jennifer Cheon Garcia) leads Moiraine into the Sun Palace, where Siuan waits. Siuan, having learned of Moiraine’s stilling, is furious at being kept in the dark. Control is slipping from Moiraine’s grasp, and Siuan insists it’s time to relieve her of this burden. She will meet Rand herself.
Rand (Josha Stradowski) waits anxiously for his audience with the Amyrlin Seat. Lan (Daniel Henney) instructs him to stand tall and carry himself with confidence—“Whatever comes, face it on your feet.” He teaches Rand to walk with “Cat Crosses the Courtyard,” an arrogant swagger certain to make an impression. Rand refuses to give up his sword, demonstrating a move called “Heron Dips the Wing.” Lan nods approvingly but reminds him, “If the Amyrlin Seat’s afraid of you, it won’t be for a sword.”
When Rand enters the throne room, he offers a respectful greeting, but Siuan is more amused by Lan’s coaching than impressed. She demands total honesty as she questions him.
Mat (Dónal Finn), regretful over abandoning Rand, is ambushed and awakens in Ishamael’s quarters in Falme. Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe) greets him instead. The Seanchan ships outside prove Mat is not dreaming; he’s where Rand is going.
Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) and Elayne (Ceara Coveney) try to stay unnoticed on the streets of Falme. The locals’ acceptance of Seanchan rule shocks Nynaeve, and Elayne urges caution, emphasizing the need for a plan. Their priority is rescuing Egwene and locating Loial.
On Falme’s beach, Renna (Xelia Mendes-Jones) stands behind Egwene (Madeleine Madden), who maintains quiet defiance. An instructor lectures on the sacred bond between sul’dam and damane. The upcoming demonstration will prove each sul’dam’s worth. Renna, determined not to fail, eyes Egwene with pride and expectation.
Verin (Meera Syal) receives an Ogier city map from Yassica (Katie Leung) while being observed by Joiya Byir (Joelle). Alanna (Priyanka Bose) and her Warders, Maksim (Taylor Napier) and Ihvon (Emmanuel Imani), sense growing tensions. Ihvon, suspicious of Verin’s Warder Tomas (Heikko Deutschmann), follows him.
Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood) arrives at the Damodred manor, greeted by a wary Barthanes (Will Tudor) and a cautious Anvaere (Lindsay Duncan).
Lan and Moiraine’s reunion is uncomfortable. Despite Lan’s attempts to rebuild trust, Moiraine stays distant. Lan reveals that only two women in history have survived stilling without taking their own lives, probing Moiraine’s mental state. She erupts, asserting her mission to protect the Dragon is more important than her life. Lan points out that Moiraine has no allies left. If she cannot trust him, she should at least trust Siuan. Moiraine has no response.
Siuan questions Rand’s ability to control the One Power. He desires to escape his destiny, but Siuan reminds him of his crucial role in the Pattern. Frustrated, she shields him effortlessly, exposing his inexperience and lamenting that the Dragon was not reborn as a woman.
On Falme’s beach, Renna orders Egwene to weave a demonstration of her power, resulting in a massive blast of Air that knocks onlookers off their feet. Renna beams with pride, but Egwene’s expression is pure defiance.
Loial (Hammed Animashaun), on an errand, senses the disturbance. Children mock him, but Nynaeve and Elayne find him before he can react. Loial shares that Perrin has escaped but confirms Egwene’s captivity. Only sul’dam can enter the kennels, prompting Nynaeve and Elayne to devise a plan using the a’dam. Later, Nynaeve ambushes a sul’dam in an alley, clasping the a’dam collar around her neck. Its activation confirms their suspicions: if the a’dam works on them, sul’dam must be able to channel themselves.
Ishamael (Fares Fares) presents Mat with a tea that will reveal his past lives. Mat, desperate for answers, succumbs to temptation. Visions of past betrayals and atrocities play before him, culminating in a nightmarish sequence where his reflection morphs into his mother’s twisted accusations. He collapses, horrified.
Renna tries to convince Egwene of the Seanchan’s righteous role in the Last Battle. Egwene, eyes locked with her captor’s, says, “Renna, I will kill you.”
Perrin (Marcus Rutherford)’s sharp vision detects Bain (Ragga Ragnars) and Chiad (Maja Simonsen), and the two Maidens of the Spear join him and Aviendha (Ayoola Smart). Aviendha atones for a fallen comrade’s death through a brutal ji’e’toh ritual. Perrin, affected, remembers his own losses.
Moiraine demands Rand’s release, but Siuan refuses. She intends to control Rand for the Last Battle, keeping him caged until needed. Furious, Moiraine reminds her of their pact—Moiraine finds the Dragon while Siuan prepares the Tower. Siuan, hardened by duty, does not waver.
In the Damodred manor, Anvaere overhears a secret conversation between Barthanes and Liandrin. Her son is a Darkfriend, ordered to kill Moiraine.
Lan visits Logain (Álvaro Morte), offering an escape key for information about the weaves surrounding Moiraine. Logain reveals countless threads of saidin inexplicably tied around her.
Ishamael comforts Mat after his ordeal with the tea, offering a nihilistic philosophy. Mat, overwhelmed by despair, asks how to escape the Wheel.
In Tel’aran’rhiod, Rand feigns desperation, begging Lanfear for help. Pleased, she agrees. Lanfear tears through the Foregate in the waking world, igniting massive fires. The chaos forces Siuan to focus on damage control.
Barthanes, sword in hand, descends to Moiraine’s cell, believing she’s sedated. As he enters, Anvaere slams the door shut behind him. She confronts her son, demanding to know why he sold his soul to the Dark One. Barthanes blubbers about restoring their family’s glory, how Moiraine doesn’t care for them, and his impending kingship. Anvaere remains unwavering, rejecting his pleas and remarking on what Moiraine understands better than anyone: the fundamental difference between right and wrong.
Verin orchestrates Rand’s release by misleading Leane, telling her that the Amyrlin needs her elsewhere—a near-lie showing Verin’s clever manipulation. With Verin’s help, Moiraine, Lan, and Rand head for a Waygate marked on the Ogier map. Verin recites the prophecy: “Above Toman Head shall he proclaim himself, bannered ’cross the sky in fire.” She and Tomas remain behind to ensure no one follows.
Lan urges Rand to examine Moiraine with the One Power—he discovers a tied-off shield, not stilling. Lan explains that the Forsaken could “tie off” their weaves, a lost Aes Sedai ability he researched. With Moiraine’s permission, Rand summons a blade of fire and cuts through it, restoring her ability to channel.
Siuan arrives, furious, and shields Rand again. Moiraine’s vow to the Oath Rod (Season 1, Episode 6) compels her to close the Waygate at Siuan’s instruction and against her wishes. Lanfear appears, effortlessly knocking Siuan down and reopening it. She spares Siuan’s life, relishing her downfall rather than killing her.
Moiraine hesitates, torn between duty and love. With a last glance at Siuan, she steps into the Ways with Lan and Rand, leaving her past behind.
Watch a Memorable Scene from “Daes Dae’mar”
Watch Rand confront the Amyrlin Seat for the first time in this mesmerizing clip from the episode:
Episode Highlights: Power and Betrayal
“Daes Dae’mar” delivers everything a fan could want as Season 2 rockets toward its conclusion. The Great Game unfolds at every level, with devastating consequences that will leave you breathless. Highlights include:
- Lanfear Unleashed: Light! Lanfear’s rampage through the Foregate is pure spectacle—she obliterates an entire district with casual flicks of her wrist. The scene shows how the Forsaken are terrifying in ways that armies of Trollocs could never be. When she appears at the Waygate, casually swatting aside the Amyrlin Seat like she’s nothing, you realize how out of their depth our heroes are. The resulting unholy alliance between Moiraine, Lan, Rand, and Lanfear is a great cliffhanger.
- The Truth Behind Moiraine’s “Stilling”: The revelation that a tied-off weave shielded, rather than stilled, Moiraine is well-executed. Watching Rand cut through the shield with a blade of fire, restoring Moiraine to her full power, brings fist-pumping delight from viewers. As the One Power floods back into her, the look on Rosamund Pike’s face is worth a thousand words—pure, undiluted relief and joy mixed with steely determination.
- The Amyrlin’s Iron Will: Siuan isn’t playing around! When she tells Rand, “You are not a spoke, boy. You are the water that turns the Wheel itself or dashes it to pieces,” you can feel twenty years of preparation reverberating in her voice. As she shields him without breaking a sweat, we’re reminded that for all his raw power, Rand is still a novice compared to the Aes Sedai. The Dragon may be reborn, but the Amyrlin isn’t impressed.
Character Moments: Authority and Defiance
From shattered loyalties to fiery vengeance, “Daes Dae’mar” ensures that no character leaves unscathed. With the Great Game taking characters in unexpected directions, one thing is certain—no one is in control anymore.
Lanfear: The Storm Unleashed
Natasha O’Keeffe again proves why she is the season’s most captivating presence. Lanfear exudes effortless menace, making even the most straightforward conversation feel like a game of cat and mouse. When she finally cuts loose, setting the Foregate ablaze in a spectacular display of power, O’Keeffe revels in Lanfear’s unchecked destruction. This is Lanfear in her element, and O’Keeffe ensures that every second is unforgettable.
Siuan Sanche: The Mother in Peril
Sophie Okonedo captures the authority of the Amyrlin Seat and the grief of a woman watching everything she built unravel. The layers of her character unfold beautifully—her pragmatism, her desperation, and ultimately, her heartbreak when she realizes Moiraine has outmaneuvered her. When Lanfear shields her and leaves her broken in the dirt, the once-unshakable Amyrlin feels suddenly adrift.
Moiraine Damodred: Power Restored
Rosamund Pike commands the screen again, delivering an understated yet powerful performance. Moiraine’s reunion with Siuan is fraught with tension, love, and betrayal, and Pike plays each beat with exquisite control. Having her power restored is one of the most cathartic moments of the season, with Pike conveying so much with so little, making Moiraine’s return to power a triumph worth waiting for.
Verin Mathwin: The Clever Manipulator
Meera Syal brings a deceptive lightness to Verin that masks the character’s true depths. Her manipulation of Leane—telling a “near-lie”—is delivered with such casual confidence that we almost miss the significance. Syal plays Verin with an absent-mindedness that never quite rings true, a mask for the wise and clever mind beneath.
Egwene al’Vere: A Warrior in Chains
Madeleine Madden’s performance as Egwene is utterly compelling. Despite her suffering, Egwene never truly breaks—her spirit remains unyielding. Even after Renna parades her like a prized possession, Egwene defiantly refuses to submit. When she utters her single line of the episode, “Renna, I will kill you,” it’s not a plea nor an empty threat—it’s a promise. Her eyes burn with fury, proving that the collar around her neck has done nothing to dim the fire within.
Renna: The True Believer
Xelia Mendes-Jones delivers a fascinating study in indoctrination as Renna. Her pride in “her” damane during the beach demonstration reveals a twisted maternal instinct, while her attempts to explain Seanchan ideology to Egwene show genuine belief in her society’s perverted values. Mendes-Jones never plays Renna as a cartoon villain—instead, she presents a woman who sincerely believes she’s doing what’s right, making her all the more unsettling.
Anvaere Damodred: The Unexpected Player
Lindsay Duncan may have fewer scenes than the main cast, but she makes every one of them count. Anvaere demonstrates her moral strength (at least for now) by locking her son in a cell after discovering Barthanes’ allegiance to the Shadow. Duncan clarifies that while Anvaere may play the political game in Cairhien, she still knows the difference between what’s right and what’s wrong. Anvaere’s firm justice is one of the episode’s most delightful moments.
Barthanes Damodred: The Failed Son
Will Tudor captures the pathetic desperation of a man willing to sell his soul for power. Barthanes’ scene with Liandrin reveals everything we need to know about his character—the nervous posturing, the quivering voice when asking what their “master” wants, and the way he pales at the suggestion of murder. Tudor doesn’t play him as an evil mastermind but as something far more realistic and disturbing: a weak man consumed by entitlement.
Daes Dae’mar: Themes and World-Building
“Daes Dae’mar” (which means “The Great Game” in the Old Tongue) is all about political scheming and secret plans. Like a high-stakes chess match, characters make calculated moves and form risky alliances to outmaneuver each other.
Themes
- Nobody Is Really in Control: This episode shows how even powerful characters can’t control everything. Siuan, as the Amyrlin Seat, thinks she can keep Rand locked up, but Lanfear easily defeats her. Moiraine, who’s been planning for twenty years, gets trapped by her own oath. Even Lanfear, with all her power, is just part of Ishamael’s bigger plan. True agency is hard to find in a world ruled by prophecy and ancient patterns.
- Organizations vs. Individuals: Siuan follows Tower Law by caging Rand rather than taking a risk that might help save the world. On the other hand, Anvaere immediately chooses what’s right over family loyalty when she discovers her son has sworn his oaths to the Dark. This contrast asks an important question: When do big institutions like the White Tower become part of the problem instead of the solution?
- Using Truth as a Weapon: Aes Sedai can’t speak a word that isn’t true, but “Daes Dae’mar” shows how they find clever workarounds. Verin tells a “near-lie” to trick Leane, and Moiraine carefully chooses what information to share. Ishamael shows Mat visions that are technically true but missing context, while Rand uses his desperation to trigger a response from Lanfear. In these ways, the episode shows that truth, when carefully manipulated, can be more dangerous than a lie.
World-Building
“Daes Dae’mar” brings the Great Game to life through the Aes Sedai’s political maneuvering. While we don’t see extensive Cairhienin court intrigue, the Sun Palace, with its golden sunburst decorations, provides the perfect backdrop for the power struggles between Siuan, Moiraine, and the other Sisters.
The episode shows how the Aes Sedai work around their Three Oaths in fascinating ways. Verin tricks Leane without technically lying, and Siuan uses Moiraine’s oath on the Oath Rod to force her to close the Waygate. These moments reveal how Aes Sedai have developed a system of careful word choices and loopholes within their magical restrictions.
We also get our first proper look at Aiel culture through Aviendha’s ji’e’toh ritual, where she willingly accepts a beating to restore her honor. This is in sharp contrast to Egwene’s forced suffering under the Seanchan—both women endure pain, but one chooses it freely while the other has no choice. The episode also reveals a shocking truth about the Seanchan: when the a’dam works on a captured sul’dam, it proves that the very people controlling the damane can channel themselves, exposing the lie at the heart of their entire society.
Daes Dae’mar: Insights and Observations
With the season finale in sight, “Daes Dae’mar” delivers a high-stakes episode of manipulation and shifting allegiances. The episode’s choreography of betrayal and counter-betrayal feels remarkably true to Jordan’s vision, even as it continues to chart its own path through the source material.
We must admit, witnessing Gitara’s Foretelling—that iconic scene from New Spring—left us somewhat underwhelmed. While the inclusion itself is commendable, the emotional impact doesn’t quite land with the force we’d hoped for. Still, it effectively establishes the history between Moiraine and Siuan, making their current conflict even more tragic. The de-aging effects are well-executed, and the scene provides crucial context for new viewers while giving book readers a taste of the prequel novel.
The episode brilliantly reframes characters we thought we understood. Siuan, who defied the Tower in Season 1 to protect Rand, now attempts to cage him for the Last Battle. Sophie Okonedo delivers her lines with perfect authority, but we also glimpse the Amyrlin’s growing desperation. Once defined by control and secrecy, Moiraine finds herself backed into a corner and relying on Lanfear of all people. This inversion powerfully reinforces a core Wheel of Time theme: no one controls the Pattern, no matter how much they believe otherwise.
While book fans will miss The Great Hunt’s iconic “flicker, flicker” sequence, the adaptation finds an alternative through Mat’s nightmarish reflections in Ishamael’s potion. The sequence is genuinely unsettling, with Dónal Finn capturing Mat’s horror at seeing himself reflected in acts of violence and betrayal. Whether these visions are entirely true or partly Ishamael’s manipulations remains open to interpretation, but the scene is memorable.
The episode’s last image, Moiraine following Lan and Rand into the Ways with Lanfear, captures our characters’ impossible choices. Seeing these four unlikely allies forced together feels both surprising and inevitable. “Daes Dae’mar” might take liberties with the source material, but it understands the heart of what makes The Wheel of Time compelling—a world where duty, prophecy, and personal choice collide with devastating consequences.
Performance Spotlight: Natasha O’Keeffe as Lanfear
Natasha O’Keeffe steals every scene as Lanfear, reveling in her ability to play the long game while others scramble to keep up. Her Foregate attack is visually spectacular, but her psychological manipulation is just as impressive. She toys with Rand in Tel’aran’rhiod, humiliates the Amyrlin Seat casually, and somehow still feels like she’s holding back. The show has crafted a version of Lanfear that captures her book counterpart’s terrifying combination of beauty, power, and narcissism.
Whether reveling in the Foregate’s comic-book carnage or trading sly barbs with Rand and Ishamael, O’Keeffe navigates Lanfear’s layers flawlessly: seductive manipulator, powerful temptress, and gleeful destroyer. This Lanfear is a force of nature, lethal even in your dreams, and it’s an exhilarating thrill to love the villain this much.
Daes Dae’mar: Final Thoughts and Rating
Power plays and betrayals define “Daes Dae’mar,” an episode that weaves political intrigue, shifting allegiances, and shocking character developments together. The Amyrlin Seat’s antagonistic turn is stunning if bewildering, Egwene’s defiance remains a highlight, and Lanfear’s destructive rampage solidifies her status as the show’s most magnetic villain.
Rating: 8/10
With its balance of emotional impact and high-stakes maneuvering, “Daes Dae’mar” is a gripping penultimate episode that sets the stage for an explosive finale.
Watch “Daes Dae’mar” Today
The Great Game is in motion, and the Wheel weaves as it wills. “Daes Dae’mar” delivers shifting loyalties, devastating betrayals, and high-stakes political intrigue. Watch it now on Prime Video using the banner below:
What did you think of “Daes Dae’mar”? Did the power struggle between Moiraine and Siuan surprise you? What was your favorite moment—Egwene’s defiance, Rand’s escape, or Lanfear’s fiery rampage? Share your thoughts in the comments! Ready for the grand finale? Tap below for our “What Was Meant to Be” review.
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