A while ago, The Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins told us that a musical episode was on the wayOpens in a new tab. Well, in episode six of season three, we finally got a little music and joy in the midst of this season’s dark storylines. Yes, The Wheel of Time finally gave us a musical bit and it fit in perfectly. Here’s what went down in Tanchico and why we basically want to move there right now.
In this episode, Elayne, Nynaeve, and Matt are in Tanchico trying to locate Liandrin and the Black Ajah. They know that Liandrin wants to find the other parts of the a’dam to capture, collar, and control Rand, the Dragon Reborn. While there, they intend to keep a low profile, ask questions, and do some investigating. However, in a place like Tanchico, that’s hard to do.
Why? Well, Tanchico is a total vibe. The city is off the coast with a dock area full of vendors and trinkets. Everyone is bustling around and up to their own agendas. People chill, drink, and gamble in the streets and everyone seems to be quite transient. Nynaeve and Min end up in a bar to chat with some local people and take a look around. Min tells Nynaeve that she needs to take a drink and loosen up, which isn’t wrong. They take one drink… and then a few more. Honestly, Nynaeve needs a good time. It leads to a key conversation with a guy who tells them some key information. He reveals that he knows Liandrin and everyone says that her ghost came back to take over in Tanchico at the old manor.
Meanwhile, Matt and Elayne are out in a market square area at night. Matt finds his old “friend” Thom, who was once a bard in Andor and now a gleeman wherever the wind blows him, and begins to have a conversation with him. Despite Elayne’s clothing, Thom easily recognizes her as the Daughter-Heir of Andor and questions why she’s there. Sure enough, two men also recognize her and one puts a knife to her throat.
Thom makes up a quick lie, calling her a drunk and saying he regrets hiring her as his apprentice. He says Elayne likes to pretend she’s Andor royalty and quickly diffuses the situation. However, because he said she’s a gleeman’s apprentice, the band of men around them want her to sing a song. In a place like Andor, either the song will get the crowd going or it will get the singer a one-way ticket to death. She cleverly climbs on top of a table and begins to sing a song called “The Hills of Tanchico” while Thom strums his instrument. By the time Nynaeve and Min stumble to the area, there’s a full on concert going on and Elayne is the headliner. So much for the subtle approach.
The musical number in The Wheel of Time is a fun bit of respite from the show’s oft serious tone. It helps to bring Tanchico alive and show off more of the city’s vibrant culture. And, this is yet another confirmation that Elayne is one of the most clever characters in the series. If Tanchico were a real place, we’d pack our bags right to go dance in the streets.
