Favorite Moment? Part 1 Retrospective.

[eriwancoselyn]

Hi everyone!

Now that the first half of the series has come to a close, I thought it might be nice to have a celebration of all the great moments that got us to this point. You post your favorite chapter, bit of dialogue or character interaction and say why you like it so much.

For me, the best moment in the whole stormlight archive is the chasm scene from book two.

it feels like the whole story before that, including book 1, is building up to that moment. Showing us the aspects of Shallan and Kaladin as characters, telling us about the dangers of the chasms and doing all the world building to get us to that moment. 

Shallan and Kaladin's interactions throughout the whole book were great and to see them finally resolve their issues was so enjoyable. Ik it's enemies to lovers but I feel like this one was done really well. Shallan had a really unique relationship with him in that she was the only one who really challenged him intellectually or socially. Most of the other people Kaladin knows either worship him or are too stupid to push his buttons properly. Her showing Kaladin that she's more than just a spoilt rich girl, and his sense of happiness after that, might be among the most complex character moments that Brandon has ever done. And it feels so natural for both of them. it's a natural follow on from what we know about them up to this point.

the imagery is immaculate. Kaladin and Shallan, leaning up against each other in the darkness while a massive blue storm rolls through the chasms. The chasmfiend, surrounded by hundreds of glowing luckspren as it eats in the dark. The two of them, wandering through the massive dark maze while something scrapes along the walls behind them...

it has huge plot ramifications, showing the rise of the storm forms and the moment Shallan killed her father. It shows us that Kaladin killed Heleran, which felt insane on the first read. it gives us a conversation with the stormfather that sends Kaladin to his lowest point. 

Shallan handing Kaladin her shard blade was such a huge moment for the two of them, especially when you didn't know where it was going to go.

I also love beyond words that the chapter where they get out is titled 'true glory' in reference to the death rattle in book one. it feels like such a subtle and personal touch that I can't help but love it.

ik that's a lot. thanks for reading. I look forward to seeing what other people liked.

[KaladinWorldsinger]

Kal saving Dalinar, and Dalinar giving up the shardblade.

Nothing in these books has ever come close to that. That is the peak of this series.

Kal saving Adolin, you cannot have my pain are close tho

An underrated one to me is Kal admitting he could not swear the third ideal in Oathbringer. And it not mattering as Dalinar helped them out instead

[PurpleZebra5]

I honestly think that my favorite moment might be Taln defeating a literal army of Fused and Regals on his own, without any armor, weapons, or Stormlight.

[Inevitability]

2 minutes ago, PurpleZebra5 said:

I honestly think that my favorite moment might be Taln defeating a literal army of Fused and Regals on his own, without any armor, weapons, or Stormlight.

And without any screen time

[Ewery1]

You cannot have my pain is probably #1 for me.

favorite in this book was “He wasn’t Kaladin. He was Tien.”

[ALAKA]

Dalinar at the end of Oathbringer. Everything's falling apart, the man has been broken over the course of the story, Kaladin can't help... and then he takes the next step and boom!

[boonboon]

On 12/7/2024 at 11:04 AM, eriwancoselyn said:

For me, the best moment in the whole stormlight archive is the chasm scene from book two.

Hard agree. It's laughable that BS decided to subvert it with cringe Shadolin fanfic.

Edited December 9, 2024 by boonboon

[The Stick]

You cannot have my pain.

[logicless.bt]

Hmmm... I think my favorite aside from the chasms already mentioned was Jasnah choosing not to kill Renarin during his vision reveal. Might be my Renarin bias, but learning that he accessed strange -- yet beautiful -- arcane powers given by the enemy was a striking scene even considering Dalinar's story in the same book.