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leithskilling.bsky.social
Leith Skilling
@leithskilling.bsky.social
300 followers 350 following 32 posts
Writer 🏳️‍🌈
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leithskilling.bsky.social
#SiuanDeservedBetter
We write as dedicated readers, engaged viewers, and advocates for inclusive storytelling within global fan communities. On 17 April 2025, Episode 3x08 saw Siuan Sanche - a Black, lesbian woman and one of the series' highest-ranking leaders - brutally beaten offscreen, publicly put on trial, and ultimately depicted as a decapitated corpse. In subsequent statements, showrunner Rafe Judkins characterized this decision as carefully considered, while asserting that it provided the necessary "emotional punch". That "punch" indeed landed, causing considerable distress among LGBTQIA+ and BIPoC viewers. We respectfully urge the production team to acknowledge the impact of this narrative decision and give careful consideration to the points outlined below. BRUTALITY: Siuan Sanche represented one of very few prominent Black lesbian leaders in mainstream fantasy television....The graphic portrayal of her beaten and decapitated body appears insensitive at best, deeply damaging at worst. Explicitly showing Siuan's corpse was unnecessary as the dissolution of the oath bond with her partner, Moiraine, already communicated her death. FRIDGING: Fridging refers to the literary/media practice of killing off a marginalized character to provide emotional stakes or motivation for the protagonist. In this context, Siuan's premature death, especially framing her scenes around her partner Moiraine is troubling. Such a portrayal risks reducing a complex character to a mere narrative tool used for shock value and emotional motivation for a (white) central character. This perpetuates harmful tropes regarding the disposability of marginalized characters. BURY YOUR GAYS: The BYG trope is multifaceted and can be defined the following way: "The unexpected death of queer characters before their stories are fully realized or their characters achieve depth and complexity to the same extenf a their heterosexual peers". The showrunner's statements appear contradictory. In "Inside Episode 8", he stated that characters, referencing Siuan, were given "their big moment and then they exit". However, in the Instagram AMA on April 19, it was indicated that those responsible "have plans for who will take on her other main story". This inconsistency raises further concern regarding the thoughtfulness and intent behind the treatment of Siuan's narrative. Furthermore, when asked whether he was concerned about killing off one half of the show's flagship sapphic couple, Judkins responded "we knew going in we'd have to do that, so we could either not make them lesbians or see one or both die". Framing queer representation as a binary choice between tragic visibility or complete exclusion perpetuates one of queer television's oldest harmful tropes. RACIAL OPTICS: We recognize and sincerely appreciate the show's commitment to casting a wide range of BIPoC actors....However, Siuan' portrayal does not exist in isolation. Fan communities have consistently raised concerns regarding the treatment of Black and dark-skinned characters throughout the series....Whether intentional or not, these creative choices carry racial implications that can be problematic for viewers. Such matters require sincere acknowledgement and thoughtful consideration rather than dismissal or minimization by the production team. PROMOTION VS OUTCOME: For three seasons, promotional campaigns, press tours, teasers and official social media platforms heavily emphasized Siuan and Moiraine' relationship as a "central pillar of the show". This strategy fostered trust and emotional investment within queer communities, setting the expectation for thoughtful, committed representation. That trust was broken by Siuan's sudden and brutal death....Her death not only cut short her individual arc, it also erased the very relationship the show had presented in the marketing. REDUCTIVE STORY FUNCTION: Siuan Sanche was more than the "washerwoman" the showrunner characterized her as. Following the coup, she played a crucial role in pivotal storylines....She was the first woman healed from being Stilled, played a key role in facilitating Egwene's ascension to the Amyrlin Seat, and provided steadfast mentorship during significant challenges. By contrast, the show's portrayal reduced her to Moiraine's ineffectual partner, someone who repeatedly "fails', as characters explicitly state. This diminishes her agency and distorts the depth and significance of her original narrative. Fan responses, including detailed analytical essays and personal mental-health disclosures, underscore widespread feelings of betrayal, fatigue with flawed representation, and experiencing re-traumatization. We urge the production team, and Judkins personally, to publicly acknowledge these criticsms, apologize for the harm caused, and commit to greater sensitivity and accountability. Fictional choices shape real-world perceptions and do not exist in a vacuum. We recognize the challenges inherent in adapting complex source material....we also acknowledge the series' meaningful efforts in increasing representation....nonetheless, responsible storytelling requires vigilance when traditional stereotypes intersect with issues of race, gender, and sexuality. Thank you for your thoughtful attention. We hope to see a public acknowledgement in future interviews, press statements, or in communication with the fandom. Our goal is not condemnation but mutual understanding and better storytelling for all. Respectfully, Fans of the Wheel Of Time. Reference list for the letter, including links to Entertainment Weekly, WoTSeries, GLAAD, YouTube, Collider, among other sources and supplementary data.
April 25, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
feelinmyshelf.bsky.social
@leithskilling.bsky.social has an excellent interview with Sharon Gilham, #WotSkies check it out. www.the-wide-screen-with-leith-skilling.com/amazon-prime...
EXCLUSIVE: “The Wheel Of Time” Costume Designer Sharon Gilham Talks Season 3
In my exclusive interview with The Wheel Of Time costume designer Sharon Gilham, she breaks down iconic costumes and teases the upcoming third season
www.the-wide-screen-with-leith-skilling.com
March 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
nerdygunz.bsky.social
Yeeees!!! Cast interviews @talkaranrhiod.com 🧡

#TheWheelOfTime #wotskies

youtu.be/Iv7hvx146yU?...
The Wheel of Time S3 Cast Interviews
YouTube video by Talk'aran'rhiod: The Wheel of Time Showcast
youtu.be
February 24, 2025 at 10:05 AM
leithskilling.bsky.social
This is so not what I'm used to posting and don't expect any more but I felt kinda cute here
Photo of me from below, looking down with a slight smile. My left arm is raised, showing off my armpit. I'm wearing a dark gray t-shirt. I have short dark brown hair and facial hair. The lighting is purplish-blue-gray.
February 4, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
berekthehorse.unhingedfellowship.lol
I'm normally here to talk about The Rings of Power, but I really do also enjoy #TheWheelofTime. Maybe I'll do my own rewatch posting about it. #WOTSkies
Poster for The Second Season of the Wheel of Time television show on Amazon Prime.
January 3, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
pevarat.bsky.social
Streets are saying WoT isn't getting covered because of lack of engagement with the IP, so y'all know what you need to do.

#WoTSkies
Reposted with #AltText
A graphic featuring a number of upcoming titles, their official logos each inside a box of various colors. At the top is a blue banner next to Invincible - a young superhero. A white man with black hair, he wears a suit of teal and yellow, with a mask that covers his eyes and goes around his head but leaves his mouth and hair free. It reads: AMAZON PRIME VIDEO UPCOMING SLATE CULTURE CRAVE Below in the rows of boxes are the following titles: THE BOYS SEASON 5 FALLOUT SEASON 2 RINGS OF POWER SEASON 3 REACHER SEASON 3 INVINCIBLE SEASON 3 BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER SEASON 2 HAZBIN HOTEL SEASON 2 THE BOYS: VOUGHT RISING BLADE RUNNER 2099 TOMB RAIDER GEN V SEASON 2 GOD of WAR MASS EFFECT CREED: ANIME SERIES WARHAMMER 40,000 POLTERGEIST THE BOYS: MEXICO THEGIRLWITH THE DRAGON TATTOO SPIDER-NOIR SECRET LEVEL SEASON 2
January 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
islandofnumenor.bsky.social
I can't believe there's people finding out about THE ODYSSEY because of the new Nolan film and complaining about spoilers. Sir please it was written almost 3000 years ago what spoilers are you talking about.
December 24, 2024 at 10:47 AM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
moirainesedai.bsky.social
IT'S NYNAEVE APPRECIATION DAY (I decided)
December 17, 2024 at 3:24 AM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
wotseries.com
BREAKING: the show officially announces actor Shohreh Aghdashloo as Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan.

Please excerpt from the official press release.

#TheWheelOfTime #WotSkies
A photo of the actress Shohreh Aghdashloo with text reading: "Series news: Shohreh Aghdashloo is Elaida in The Wheel of Time Season 3. Amazon MGM Studios." From the press release: Elaida is a ruthlessly powerful Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah, as proficient in politicking as she is in channeling.  She has a deep history with Moiraine (Pike) and Siuan (Sophie Okonedo), and scores to settle with both of them when she returns to the White Tower.  Elaida is someone who believes in ends over means, and is willing to do anything to achieve what she envisions to be the greater good.
December 11, 2024 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
wotseries.com
Rafe Judkins just posted this to Instagram! #TheWheelOfTime
An image from the set of The Wheel of Time, featuring dense, misty foliage representing the Blight. Rosamund Pike, in character as Moiraine, is visible in the background among the twisted, moss-covered trees. The text overlay recounts a story from showrunner Rafe Judkins, describing a moment in 2020 when Rosamund, while preparing for a scene, asked him about the character Elaida, saying, ‘Who do you picture when you think of this woman?’ The scene captures the eerie and atmospheric set built in Prague. The full text of his post reads: Back in 2020 when we were deep in the Blight, sitting on a wet log together, Rosamund said she had a question for me. She was giving a speech to Rand about a woman who had tortured her at the White Tower, beating her to make her more powerful. I explained it was Elaida. And she said 'who do you picture when you think of this woman?'
December 11, 2024 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
wotseries.com
NEW POST 📜: In this new installment of "what we know about season 3 of #TheWheelOfTime", @geekyeri.bsky.social breaks down what we believe to be the four main storylines👇

www.wotseries.com/2024/12/10/w...
What We Know About The Wheel of Time Season 3 Storylines - Wheel of Time TV Series News
It has long been known that season 3 of Prime Video's The Wheel of Time would mainly focus on adapting the story of book 4, The Shadow Rising. This story can largely be broken up into four main plotli...
www.wotseries.com
December 10, 2024 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
ancaldazarr.bsky.social
So Brazilians said they saw two con exclusive scenes!

One with Rand and Lan training!

The other with a certain White Tower event 🥲

I NEED THEM NOW

#WoTSkies
December 8, 2024 at 3:04 AM
leithskilling.bsky.social
HOLY FUCK THAT TRAILER
December 7, 2024 at 11:28 PM
leithskilling.bsky.social
Where is it??? Where's the teaser!!! Show it to me!!!
December 7, 2024 at 11:22 PM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
talkaranrhiod.com
This article from The Telegraph is an interesting read on Rosamund... Especially when they confirm a March release date for S3!

archive.is/2024.12.06-0...

#WoTSkies
archive.is
December 6, 2024 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
ancaldazarr.bsky.social
Rafe confirming we are getting the release date on Saturday!

WE HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE BACK!

TRAILER GAI'DON RELOADED! #WoTSkies
December 5, 2024 at 5:11 PM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
wotseries.com
Season 3 🥹

#TheWheelOfTime
A photo of Rand al'Thor, Josha Stradowski, carrying Moiraine Damodred, Rosamund Pike, through a desert landscape. Text at the top reads “The Wheel of Time is blazing a new path for fantasy on television. – Vulture”. At the bottom there is The Wheel of Time and Prime logo.
December 5, 2024 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
xenostron.bsky.social
Not sure if anyone posted this yet but here’s the full Q&A with Charlie, Morfydd, and the showrunners.

#TheRingsOfPower
#TheRingsOfPowerS2

m.youtube.com/watch?v=--gH...
LOTR: THE RINGS OF POWER (2024) Q&A with Charlie Vickers, Morfydd Clark, J.D. Payne, Patrick McKay
YouTube video by Rama's Screen
m.youtube.com
December 4, 2024 at 4:03 PM
leithskilling.bsky.social
Halfway through 911 s5:

I need Maddie and Chimney back ASAP

Who gave Eddie a job in social media and do they know Eddie

Eddie now pulling a Buck upon being told he can't have his job back right away and lashing out at Bobby, does he realize how much he sounds like Buck rn
November 24, 2024 at 5:33 AM
leithskilling.bsky.social
Is there a way to automatically block everyone I already blocked on twitter when they join bluesky?
November 22, 2024 at 4:04 AM
Reposted by Leith Skilling
zahra-the-bard.bsky.social
Let's talk gender modality in Wheel of Time! I couldn't go too far down the rabbit hole of gender and metaphysics here because of word count, so maybe I'll expand on this elsewhere, because I have a lot of thoughts on the subject.
2 Subtle Differences Between The Wheel Of Time Books & Series Could Have 2 Big Impacts On The Show
The Forsaken are more enigmatic than in the books.
screenrant.com
November 19, 2024 at 8:17 PM
leithskilling.bsky.social
I have made it to season four in my 911 bingewatch can Buck and Eddie kiss already omfgggggg I get it now
November 20, 2024 at 4:20 AM
leithskilling.bsky.social
A man sitting at the edge of a grassy cliff with his back turned, looking out over a quiet mountain valley filled with clouds. A young girl on a small raft, boating down a wide river between tall hills of craggy stone and marshland. Aerial shot of the White Tower in the city of Tar Valon, a sprawling complex of stout turrets and domed buildings on a hill surrounded by white walls. Wide shot of the city of Falme at daybreak, with its harbor filled with red-sailed ships. A round tower stands in the city by the harbor, and further back is a long, low palace.
November 17, 2024 at 8:13 PM