Note what I said to Cannoli, I meant this in a figurative sense not a literal one. Min represents his connection to the common people, Elayne to AS and Aviendha to the Aiel. He needs these connections as reminders of his humanity (IMHO).

I think Min's problem is that her ability is practically overwhelming. She has all these visions of people she doesn't know and cares nothing for and therefore does her best to block them out rather than try and puzzle with them. Not to mention the few times her visions could help they were ignored. Siuan could have been better prepared if she had taken Min's visions more seriously, but instead she basically ignored "what she couldn't control" and wound up completely unprepared for the situation.



Naturally when you mentioned Mieren the entire board's brain goes straight to her OP strength, which you've gone on and on about over the years. The very fact that you'd even postulate that such an obviously flawed individual could have been a "candidate" for this "job" implies that surface beauty and OP strength are the reason you would put her forward. If accomplishment is what makes someone a "candidate" then LPD or Graendal would have both been far more ideal candidates for the Dragon's Mate than an obscure researcher who hadn't even managed to earn a 3rd name.



I will never understand why you feel this need to romanticize any of the Forsaken! There is absolutely nothing in the text or in RJs comments to lead us to believe that Lanfear was ever anything but a selfish child. What little we know of her prior to the Bore points this out. It's clear that she is a massively flawed individual whose "mere susceptibility" to the DO took her to a level of evil only a handful of others could achieve. We have never seen a single thing that even approaches a redeemable quality in any of the Forsaken!

Lanfear wasn't "seduced", she (like the rest) leaped at a chance to gain more personal power and reveled in the fear they inspired. What you are suggesting is as silly as saying "if you ignore the 30-odd people he slaughtered without remorse, Ted Bundy was a normal guy". I'd be willing to bet that there are some dead kitties and puppies in Lanfears childhood.