WoT on Prime episode 6 SPOILERS

[Thalia]

No, I mean we don't know if the actor left literally in the middle of filming. I think Fal Dara was filmed after they came back from the covid break, so they may not have had an actor for Mat available at all. By that time I imagine there was some time pressure from Amazon to get this season done and ready after all the delays.

I'm purely guessing at whether him staying behind was done for a reason, and whether we'll see Mat with Fain etc in the next two episodes (maybe), but it may well be that we won't get a Mat now until season 2 and the new guy takes over. Since it's such an odd decision, I'm leaning towards it being the best of a bad salvage.

I've only watched the episode once but it looked odd to me, like Mat was transposed from earlier footage when they were all yelling. That's possibly because it was a retcon. They may have decided it was easier to cut/reshoot any more scenes he was in (or supposed to be in) rather than replace him on short notice. Especially if he left very late in the process, and it was easy to write him out.

I don't think Moiraine is reopening the gate. If Mat's story does continue this season I don't think he's going to Fal Dara or the Eye at all.

It might equally mean the tension is ramped up, because if the dragon is Mat, well then they're fucked.

Rafe has mentioned before that logistics was one of the biggest challenges. Ingtar was supposed to be in this season but actor availability meant that they've had to rename the character, and Ingtar will be season 2 instead now.

Valda was terrified of Perrin. I think he is mixed with Byar and 100% will be hunting down the yellow eyed darkfriend next season. He may not have personally killed any Whitecloaks but I think Valda is enough fanatic that it doesn't matter. Hell think Perrin instructed the wolves to do it or something.

For the eye being described as the DO's prison I think that's handholding for the viewer, who is expecting this to be Ishy. I think it will end up being a lure in order to either get them to break the first seal (and let the forsaken out in the show) or manipulating the dragon into setting the prophecy in motion. Sooner he does that the sooner the DO is free after all. Suian's dream was that the DO is weak and they might be able to strengthen the prison, or seal him permanently. It wasn't to kill him I don't think.

I think what her dream actually means is that the seal there is about to break. It's one of the locks on the DO's prison after all so it makes sense when you're talking about the difficult interpretation of dreams, and she has just misunderstood (or been deceived if Ishy is sending the dream)

Also, just saw your edit, but I wrote the post now lol.