Re: The more I think about it (Egwene and the Rebels) - Edit 1
Before modification by LadySaranthe at 01/12/2009 01:43:45 AM
Two things come to mind, that I don't think the Rebels/Egwenists/War Hawks can defend.
1. Did Egwene and the Rebels cause Elaida's downfall?
2. Did Egwene and the Rebels expedite Elaida's downfall?
I don't see any way that anyone can truthfully answer "yes" to either question.
[...]
So... what exactly did the whole side-plot accomplish? Even if Egwene and the Rebels had just went along and conceded, Elaida would still have been captured in her sleep, at exactly the same moment.
Seems like a rather lengthy aside to to put a specific person (Egwene) on the Amyrlin's Seat.
1. Did Egwene and the Rebels cause Elaida's downfall?
2. Did Egwene and the Rebels expedite Elaida's downfall?
I don't see any way that anyone can truthfully answer "yes" to either question.
[...]
So... what exactly did the whole side-plot accomplish? Even if Egwene and the Rebels had just went along and conceded, Elaida would still have been captured in her sleep, at exactly the same moment.
Seems like a rather lengthy aside to to put a specific person (Egwene) on the Amyrlin's Seat.
Yes, but that was the whole point. imho.
It was a mega plot device (or as we used to call it in rasfwrj, a sa'plot device) to contrive a semi-plausible way - within the narrative framework - for Egwene to achieve her position.
The problem, once again, imho, is that RJ lost control of the narrative and his obvious agenda of placing each our Young Heroes in positions of power went astray. It was evident he lost control of his pacing, so he kept adding side plots (e.g "the Too Young Sitters?" "the Faile Abduction" escapade, "The Siege of Caemlyn"
and silly one-off quests (e.g. "The Bowl of the Winds" ) to keep them busy so they'd all catch up to each other until.Unfortunately, he let the plots all unspool and now BWS is scrambling and condensing away to make sure that they are all in proper place for Tarmon Gaidon.
All of which is to say that I agree with your central point - it was a lot of drama and hoo-ha to get Egwene in place, and it could have been done a little tighter and more compact.
imho, of course.