I doubt very much that Sanderson had it in him to portray Rand this way without excessive notes from RJ. And I'm very certain RJ left tons of notes on this. There's something entirely believable about this Rand. As Nynaeve points out, it is so easy to slip into the mindset that he is only doing what is right, being entirely rational.

It was the build up to this character that allows us, at one point, to actually see reason in a man who is mad. That was the truly scary part of the story, and it has always been heading there.


The realism and darkness were always there. Don't tell me you actuall had to see the room darken around Rand to see the darkness in him! That's ludicrous.

Roose Bolton is barely a character. What are his motivations except wanting power? No clue.
Bolton feels alien, like someone you rearely encounter. Rand feels personal. The fear Rand induces would not be a tenth of what we felt if we did not know this came from the same guy who was so easy to like in EotW. That contrast is scary, and adds immense depth to his darkness.
Roose Bolton is a cardboard cut out in comparison.

Did you notice that Egwene uses the exact same thing without being dark in any way? Projection of certainty and control. Moiraine used it too.

Nonsense? It is the central thematic element of this book, and one of the biggest themes of this story!

I must ask... while it was "entertaining" in that there was uncertainty and unpredictability around his story, did you actually LOVE it when he was about to destroy a city? When he attacked his dad? Because that is... disturbing.

Well thank god the authors have more sense than to preserve a character who is cool on the outside and a useless husk on this inside.

Name one author who would do that. Martin? No way.
The Light may win the Last Battle with Dar Rand. There was never any question of that. The question always was... what would be the point of that victory?

Yeah, like Roose Bolton is going to emerge the victor of the fight in aSoIaF.
And in the real world, meanwhile, the ruthless battle commanders in Iraq are beginning to realize that needless civilian deaths, cut throat tactics, torture chambers, etc. have only prolonged the war and used up more manpower and resources. They have pushed the population into hating them, and can see no quick way to finish the war.
Aren't they trying to win the hearts and minds of the people too?

Its all a matter of efficiency. When a leader tries to lead by reason and charm, he's stepping on as few toes as possible. Meaning fewer people are going to get angry or desperate and turn against him. And while that may seem less cool, it is quicker and easier. And more believable.
There, that's my view.