All the book changes in the first three episodes of The Wheel of Time

Episode 2: “Shadow’s Waiting”

Taren Ferry

In the show: The companions leave the Two Rivers farm and make it to Taren Ferry with a horde of Trollocs on their heels. They pay the ferryman for swift passage, though he’s unaware Lan will cut the line to the ferry and Moiraine sink it once they arrive on the other side.

To the dismay of the group, the ferryman wades out to the ferry, sinking in a whirlpool, and ultimately drowns to death. The Two Rivers folk now traveling with Moiraine — Rand, Perrin, Mat and Egwene — mistrust Moiraine after this, although Moiraine argues that her action was necessary and the man foolishly threw his life away.

In the books: The ferry still goes down in the books, but the ferryman doesn’t die trying save it. Instead, Lan gives the ferryman more gold for his trouble.

The One Power

In the show: Moiraine and Egwene go off to discuss something in the woods alone, away from others in the group. Moiraine uses this moment to teach Egwene about channeling and the three oaths of the Aes Sedai. Using a blue stone, Egwene is able to touch the One Power as Moiraine helps to guide her.

In the books: After the ordeal at Tarren’s Ferry, the party finds a place to hide out for the night. Moiraine and Egwene sit by themselves and begin talking about the One Power. Moiraine tells Egwene that she can use the One Power and will eventually start to channel. Using a blue stone, Moiraine guides Egwene in her first attempt to channel, and she manages to produce a small flicker all by her own. At the end of the chapter, Egwene cries out in delight, telling Rand that she’ll become an Aes Sedai.

Dreams

In the show: The first night away from the Two Rivers, Egwene, Mat, Perrin, and Rand are get terrifying dreams. All of them involve bats in some shape or form, and their dreams became a reality when they woke up, as dead bats littered the ground. There is also a man with “eyes like embers.” Moiraine warns that if the dreams happen again, they should tell her.

In the books: Unwanted nightmares play a frequent role throughout the first book, although they only plague Mat, Perrin and Rand, not Egwene. All three dream of Ba’alzamon, believed to be the manifestation of the Dark One himself. He constantly hunts the dreams of the Emond’s Fielders, unsure which one will fulfill the prophecies of the Dragon Reborn.

Manetheren

In the show: While riding away from the encounter with White Cloaks, Mat begins to sing “Weep for Manetheren,” a song the villagers learned in the Two Rivers, although they don’t know its meaning. Moiraine explains it is the true story of Manetheren, one of the first cities to emerge after the previous Dragon broke the world. It means “Mountain Home” in the Old Tongue, and used to be in the Two Rivers. During the Trolloc Wars, the small but strong army of Manetheren withstood the entirety of the Dark One’s forces for days that extended into weeks. Aid was promised, but never came. The army of Manetheren eventually fell, and the Queen Eldrene used the One Power to destroy the Trolloc army, killing herself in the process.

In the books: After the events of Winternight, an angry crowd blames Moiraine for the damage, and she delivers and extended version of the Manetheren story, telling of King Aemon, Queen Eldrene, and the people of Manetheren who came to defend their home when no one else would.

Shadar Logoth

In the show: Lan brings Moiraine and the rest of the group to shelter within the ruined city of Shadar Logoth, as Trollocs will not enter the city. Lan begins to lay out the history of Shadar Logoth, which mean’s “Shadow’s Waiting” in the Old Tongue. It was the richest, most powerful city in the world, but they closed their gates during the Trolloc Wars and failed to come to the aid of Manetheren. Though the people of that ancient city were valiant warriors, evil destroyed the city, infesting it.

As he explores the ruined city, Mat uncovers and takes a ruby-hilted dagger,  despite warnings not to touch anything. Suddenly an oozing manifestation of shadow threatens the group, and they have to flee, separating along the way.

In the books: The Emond’s Fielders ride into Shadar Logoth in awe, despite its ruined state. Rand, Mat and Perrin explore the city, meeting a mysterious man named Mordeth who gives Mat a ruby dagger. Mordeth didn’t turn up on the show.

Back at camp, Moiraine delves deeper into the histories of the evil that took Shadar Logoth when Lan appears with news of Trollocs in the city. As they scramble to get away, a silver-grey fog spreads through the streets, killing anything it touches. In the confusion and chaos, everyone separates but manages to make it out of the city alive.