Top 10 Mat Cauthon Moments in The Wheel of Time

Introduction

• Mat is a fan favorite in The Wheel of Time series.
• The lecture ranks Mat's top 10 moments based on four criteria:
  1. Meaning to the story
  2. Fun
  3. Emotional weight
  4. Payoff
• Scores out of 40.

10. Breaking into the Stone of Tear

• Book: The Dragon Reborn
• Event: Mat rescues Egwene, Elayne, and Nynaeve.
• **Breakdown: **
  • Meaning: 8/10 (Impact on the plot and future events)
  • Fun: 7/10 (Exciting and humorous)
  • Emotional Weight: 3/10 (Mat’s duty and personal cost)
  • Payoff: 5/10 (Mat following through on saving the girls)
• Total Score: 23/40

9. Blowing the Horn of Valere

• Book: The Great Hunt
• Event: Mat blows the horn, calling heroes to save the group.
• **Breakdown: **
  • Meaning: 9/10 (Saves lives and ties Mat to the horn)
  • Fun: 6/10 (Exciting battle scene)
  • Emotional Weight: 3/10 (Action-focused, minimal emotions)
  • Payoff: 6/10 (Foreshadowed by prophecy, unexpected)
• Total Score: 24/40

8. Fighting Gawyn and Galad

• Book: The Dragon Reborn
• Event: Mat defeats Gawyn and Galad with a quarterstaff.
• **Breakdown: **
  • Meaning: 3/10 (Shows Mat’s potential)
  • Fun: 10/10 (Highly enjoyable and impactful)
  • Emotional Weight: 4/10 (Mat’s worth is evident)
  • Payoff: 8/10 (First glimpse of Mat’s true abilities)
• Total Score: 25/40

7. Defeating the Gholam

• Books: Various
• Event: Mat defeats the nearly invulnerable Gholam.
• **Breakdown: **
  • Meaning: 7/10 (Major threat neutralized)
  • Fun: 6/10 (Ingenious and tense battle)
  • Emotional Weight: 6/10 (Relief from constant threat)
  • Payoff: 7/10 (Resolution of a long conflict)
• Total Score: 26/40

6. Taking Over the Kyrian Army

• Book: The Fires of Heaven
• Event: Mat takes command in battle and defeats the Shaido.
• **Breakdown: **
  • Meaning: 9/10 (Begins Mat’s military leadership)
  • Fun: 8/10 (Reluctant hero theme, exciting battles)
  • Emotional Weight: 4/10 (Mat’s acceptance of being in the thick of things)
  • Payoff: 6/10 (Start of the Band of the Red Hand)
• Total Score: 27/40

5. Tuan Realizes Mat’s Leadership

• Book: The Gathering Storm
• Event: Tuan observes Mat’s true leadership skills.
• **Breakdown: **
  • Meaning: 8/10 (Leads to Mat and Tuan’s union)
  • Fun: 7/10 (Changing perceptions)
  • Emotional Weight: 6/10 (Tuan’s change of heart)
  • Payoff: 8/10 (Big character development for Mat and Tuan)
• Total Score: 28/40

4. Mat Realizes His Luck

• Book: The Dragon Reborn
• Event: Mat discovers his extraordinary luck in gambling.
• **Breakdown: **
  • Meaning: 8/10 (Defining trait of Mat)
  • Fun: 9/10 (Enjoyable and triumphant)
  • Emotional Weight: 3/10 (Not particularly emotional)
  • Payoff: 9/10 (Long-term character development)
• Total Score: 29/40

3. Taking Over in the Last Battle

• Book: A Memory of Light
• Event: Mat leads forces in the Last Battle.
• **Breakdown: **
  • Meaning: 10/10 (Crucial to winning the Last Battle)
  • Fun: 9/10 (Mat’s strategic prowess)
  • Emotional Weight: 2/10 (Focus on battle, not on emotions)
  • Payoff: 9/10 (Climactic end to Mat’s journey)
• Total Score: 30/40

2. Bowing to Egwene in Salidar

• Book: Lord of Chaos
• Event: Mat publicly shows respect to Egwene as Amyrlin.
• **Breakdown: **
  • Meaning: 6/10 (Elevates Egwene’s standing)
  • Fun: 6/10 (Mat’s irreverence vs. public honor)
  • Emotional Weight: 10/10 (Deep bond between Mat and Egwene)
  • Payoff: 9/10 (Significant character development)
• Total Score: 31/40

1. Rescuing Moiraine from the Finns

• Book: Towers of Midnight
• Event: Mat saves Moiraine from the Tower of Ghenjei.
• **Breakdown: **
  • Meaning: 9/10 (Pivotal for the Last Battle)
  • Fun: 6/10 (Exciting and strange rescue)
  • Emotional Weight: 9/10 (High stakes and sacrifices)
  • Payoff: 10/10 (Long-awaited resolution)
• Total Score: 32/40

Conclusion

• Different perspectives on what makes Mat’s moments great.
• Encourages viewers to share their thoughts and subscribe for more content.
• Reminder to join WatCon and support the channel via Patreon.