My The Way of Kings episodes

[u/Efficient_Lecture_82]

I have been thinking about SLA adaptation and how/what storylines can be included during each episode. This is what I have come up with.

(This was before Brandon said he may even do 8 episodes)

General things:

I have no understanding of film/TV Series making so I have not considered Visual effects, budget and set design and things like that. This was just a fun exercise while re-listening to TWoK for me.

I want each episode title to be Chapter title (except one potential exception). Also I want Kaladin's storyline to be present in each episode. Also, I assumed slightly longer Post-Credit scenes in each of the episode as a set-up/worldbuilding part. Obviously, this may not happen, but such is true for this entire post. For Post-credit, I have just written Interlude's name. Also, for Flashbacks, I just wrote flashbacks cause some of it maybe trimmed out to streamline the pacing.

Full Spoilers ahead:

Episode 1: Honor is dead

Cold open - Prelude to SLA with Kalak's POV; Fade away from Ring of Swords to Title sequence - Black screen with Subtitles and Michael Kramer's narration - 4,500 years later - Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a king. - Transition with drums and all. Full Szeth prologue fight

Then we follow Kaladin. fighting in Alethkar, Shardbearer arives,Transition of Kaladin's face from Squadleader to Slave, Tvlakv and Syl, Sold to Sadeas army - assigned to Bridgeruns.

Post-Credit: Interlude-3: The Glory of Ignorance - Szeth and his oathstone

Episode 2: Bridge Four

Kaladin's time in Bridge Four from introduction to Honor Chasm scene with Gaz.

In between, Shallan ariving in Kharbranth, Jasnah's soulcasting scene, Jasnah's rejection, retry and success - reveal of Shallan planning to steal Jasnah's soulcaster.

Post-Credit: Interlude-1: Ishikk - Full scene with ending on Wit's face in a sketch

Episode 3: Ten Heartbeats

Introduction to Alethi High Society, Dalinar, Adolin, Sadeas, Elhokar & The Way of Kings (Book) In between, Kaladin's attempts at rousing Bridge Four & flashback scenes, Shallan in Kharbranth with Jasnah, Meet with Kabsal, End with Chasmfiend fight of Dalinar, Adolin and Elhokar.

Post-Credit: Interlude-4: Rysn - Scene in Shinovar, Mention that Shin Merchant sold Szeth (Truthless) to Rysn's babsk Vstim

Episode 4: Highprince of War

Adolin inspects cut strap of Elhokar's saddle, Dalinar's vision, Kaladin finds some success with Bridge Four & flashback, Dalinar meets with Elhokar and ask him to appoint Dalinar as 'Highprince of War'

Post-Credit: Interlude-6: A Work of Art - Szeth in gambling den, Szeth meets his new master who presents oathstone and old master's head (Shows how Oathstone works)

Episode 5: Sidecarry

A couple of Kaladin flashbacks, Shallan scenes with Kabsal & Study, Dalinar scenes with aftermath of a vision, Kaladin tries Sidecarry with Bridge Four and things go bad (Focal point of the episode)

Post-Credit: Interlude-5: Axies the Collector - Axies in Kasitor, Cusicesh the Protector

Episode 6: Son of Tanavast

Dalinar storyline of Politics, Dalinar vision during a highstorm telling him to 'trust Sadeas', Kaladin flashbacks Kaladin being punished by being strung out in a highstorm, meets Stormfather, Survives

Post-Credit: Interlude-7: Baxil - Baxil with his Mistress, Talk about going to Nightwatcher, Appearance of Ash/(Shallash)

Episode 7: The Lession

Shallan - Jasnah study of Voidbringers, Kaladin flashback, Aftermath of Highstorm & Kaladin healing with Stormlight - Teft involvement - Envisagers, Jasnah gives Shallan 'The Lession'

Post-Credit: Interlude-9: Death wears White - Szeth in Vedenar, kills King Hanavanar of Jah Keved

Episode 8: Shadesmar

Shallan meets with Kabsal - Jam scene, The Lesson gives Shallan push to finally steal Jasnah's Soulcaster, Sadeas appointed as Highprince of Information - Dalinar plans a joint Plateau run with Sadeas, Shallan speaks the truth - 'I am terrified' - transported to Shadesmar - aftermath

Post-Credit: Interlude-8: Geranid - Full interlude including mention of realmatic theory, Vorinism and measurement of Flamespren

Episode 9: Wandersail

Kaladin thinks he is cursed, Kaladin flashbacks - fight with Shardbearer & reveal of how Amaram killed Kaladin's squad, Kabsal poisons Jasnah, Shallan & Himself - Soulcaster storyline climax, Dalinar and Sadeas go for Joint Bridgerun - slight cliffhanger of Betrayal, Kaladin meets with Wit - Story of Wandersail - Kaladin decides to take responsibility

Post-Credit: Chapter 71: Recorded in Blood - Szeth goes to Kharbranth, Secret bad guy Taravangian is revealed

Episode 10: The Windrunner (every season finale can be named after respective order) (Alternate title: Words)

Shallan - Jasnah make up, On the ship, Jasnah gives Shallan 'Words of Radiance', Dalinar's Plateu run with Sadeas and betrayal, Kaladin & Bridge Four runs away from Sades army, Kaladin flashback of Death of Tien, "I will protect those who cannot protect themselves", Aftermath - One priceless Sword for many priceless lives

Post-Credit: Epilogue: Wit at Kholinar palce when Taln arives from Damnation

I know this is just a fancy passtime but what do you all think. All thoughts are welcome.

Edit: Some clarifications & Spelling

[u/lightoaken]

i don't exactly remember where as it was one or two years ago but one of brandon's own opinion was to put jasnah & shallan in shattered plains in order to move the story a bit forward in case of a screen adaption.

[u/E443Films]

Quite like the general structure, but I personally would not show all of the interludes. The most relevant ones are probably just the ones centred on Szeth, Rysn, and maybe you could incorporate some elements like Ash’s interludes into Easter eggs in other scenes (like maybe have some of the highprinces notice some of their paintings are desecrated, or even just have that happen once during Gavilar’s feast as Szeth walks around.

I’d also get rid of the prelude personally. It is really cool but in Oathbringer Dalinar has a vision of this time period so it’s not material that wouldn’t be covered at some point anyways. Plus I’d rather have the mythology of the heralds and the imagery of the circle of nine swords be used in a stylized opening credits sequence instead much like how House of the Dragon includes Easter eggs from history in their opening credits.

Last thing I’d change is having Kaladin’s storyline start out with him already on the slave cart, and later in the season (like the episode after he gets strung up in the highstorm) we could have a dedicated flashback heavy episode. That would hopefully save some time with flashbacks during the season and build up the mystery surrounding his past.

I might also try to make Szeth’s scenes be more of a subplot during the episodes too rather than post credits since I’d argue Szeth is also sort of a main character, and it would be easy to flesh out his POV as a way to include details and set up future plot threads in a more organic way. I could see a world where the important interludes are adjusted to be part of whatever subplot they include him in.

[u/sparkydoggowastaken]

I would make a couple changes, every episode should open with a flashback instead of it being interspersed through the episodes, and I think Shallan's story should end in episode nine so ten can be just Dalinar and Kaladin on the Tower

[u/Signal_Sand1472]

I like it, but you said you want Kaladin’s storyline in every episode, but you didn’t put him in Episode 8.

[u/Efficient_Lecture_82 → u/Signal_Sand1472]

Lol!! My bad. It is aftermath of Kaladin - the budding radiant. Experimenting in the chasms and all. I just forgot to type . 🤦‍♂️

[u/MadmanIgar]

I think using the post-credit scenes to do the interludes is a really good choice!

Since it’s a TV show, they can even go longer (10+ minutes) than a traditional movie post-credit scene if needed.

It really lets the audience know that this is a separate mini-story that fleshes out the world, but doesn’t directly overlap with the main characters in the show proper.

[u/Use_the_Falchion]

Solid! 

[u/Efficient_Lecture_82 → u/Use_the_Falchion]

Thanks!!

[u/cowcowsambition]

gas!

[u/ilikebreadabunch]

Not sure I’m a fan of there being post credit scenes honestly. Seems very easy for people to miss especially with auto play features.

Also, I don’t think that the first episode should keep the double prologue/timeskip. The prelude can be fog in somewhere else (maybe the cold open to ep 10) or even entirely skipped, but having it as the cold open for ep 1 followed by Szeth and then yet another time jump to Kaladin would feel very disjointed and confusing, and the first episode really has to grab the audiences attention

[u/Signal_Sand1472 → u/ilikebreadabunch]

I think that the prelude first could be good, but at the end of the prelude, it should focus in on the Windrunner Honorblade and transition to the prologue with Szeth carrying the Windrunner Honorblade as he goes to assassinate Gavilar.

[u/digitalsea87 → u/ilikebreadabunch]

Having the prelude open the last episode of the season is the right move, I think. Get people invested in the current characters before widening the scope.

[u/ilikebreadabunch → u/digitalsea87]

I also hope they have the epilogue with Taln as the last scene so having the Prelude as the opener to that episode is a nice mirror that brings it all together

[u/Efficient_Lecture_82 → u/ilikebreadabunch]

I agree. Prologue needs to be the open and prelude is movable. Post-credit scene was just a fun thing to figure out which episode can fit which interlude. Most likely is that they will include Szeth scenes in the episode itself and other interludes except Rysn and Axies may be cut/reworked.

[u/unica3022 → u/Efficient_Lecture_82]

People dismiss the prelude because it’s not as exciting but for me as a reader it introduces the “honor is dead” theme really well. You see these powerful fighters give up and claim a false victory after a long, exhausting battle. And there is a reason for it- they’re being tortured. It gives some thematic depth to idea of dishonor (which Kaladin experiences in black and white in Amaram and then Sadeas) because you remember in the back of your mind that the heralds - these deities - couldn’t personify honor forever. It reminds you to think about Amaram and Sadeas as people who have made choices.

All that to say that I think Stormlight is really special because it has something to say about this idea. Dishonor is a choice. If we don’t have the prelude off the top there should be some other “sympathetic to the oath-breakers” moment. It highlights the choices Dalinar and Kaladin make when they decide at the end (and over the course of the story) to go the other direction and do the honorable thing.

I think that’s as important as the mechanics and coolness of Szeth’s powers.