Blademaster Tam was neutered. I didn't love that. Have him kill a few Trollocs and then get overwhelmed.

I thought it was smart to do a few things to build Mat up as a character that we should care about before plunging him into dagger hell. ITB RJ never gave us much reason to root for Mat in books 1-2, thereby making the stakes never feel too high for the reader when the dagger gets stolen and Mat could die if they don't get it back. In my opinion it is a good move to do a bit to show some of his character strengths early on in the TV show. That said... why did it have to be some ridiculous over-the-top garbage? Making Abel Cauthon into a drunken, cowardly, adulterer? It just feels like the ham-fisted writing of a 14 year old.

I love and hate what they've done with Lan. I suppose that the parts I like least about Lan's characterization come from what they've done with Nynaeve. The TV show goes too far trying to make Nynaeve into a physical badass. First there is no way she should get a sword to Lan's throat before he knows what is going on. Then she tries to murder him, to no purpose. She wants to find the two rivers people. What good will killing Lan do? Then Lan strikes Nynaeve? Ugghh. It is a sensible move for someone in that situation, but ITB Lan would just grab her and restrain her with his iron muscles or whatever. In any case, I just don't like what they've done here with these two. Neither character feels quite right, even though both characters are also pretty cool.

I didn't love Thom robbing Mat. I didn't love Thom becoming Thom Vedder to sing a weird grunge song. I did like Thom teaching Mat a good moral lesson. I like that Thom throws knives.

I'm glad that they kept the black veils as part of Aiel culture. Based on the teasers I was afraid they just dispensed with veils for the Aiel. I get that they felt like it was best to go all in on diversity in the casting the wetlanders. Nevertheless, I hope they make the Aiel a bit more homogenous then the wetlanders.

I think the writers have gone a bit too far trying to make so many females into physical badasses. Why is the chubby hick bar maid so awesome with a sword? She looks like she would have made short work of Tam if the two crossed paths.

You touched on the weird confrontation with the Tinkers. What purpose does it serve to have them act the way they did upon meeting Perrin and Egwene? 5s of tension via behavior that makes no sense at all? It just feels like stupid writing. They need a grownup there to weed this crap out before it gets to the screen.

I really love the casting of Perrin, Egwene, Matt, Rand, and Lan. I think they've done a great job overall with casting. While I'd like Rand and Lan to be super tall like in the books, I understand that it greatly reduces your casting options to require them to be 6'6" or however tall they are supposed to be.

Like you, I was surprised that Valda and Fain are both portrayed by black men.

I have mixed feelings about the white cloaks. On the one hand, they've done a good job making them hateable, especially Valda. On the other hand, how exactly were they able to tie up a live Aes Sedai? Also, they should look a bit more imposing physically. They look almost dainty.

They should've nodded to RJ's inn keeper axiom of having fat inn keepers good and skinny inn keepers evil. The dark friend should have been skinny and Bran should have been fat.

I really don't like that Saidin and Saidar are gone.

I've got more to say, but I really need to get back to work. My overall feelings are mixed. I didn't love the first 3 episodes, but I liked them well enough to want to keep watching. I'm hopeful that the show will get better.

Edit 1: Correct some spelling and grammar errors