I wrote this a few years ago during season 1, during the pandemic when I was moved so deeply by Daniel Henney’s performance.

And As I am currently in California witnessing so much atrocity that is breaking my heart, As well as so much across the world where the worst of humanity bleeds through as we find reasons to demean or dehumanize others for simply being different, and wanting a better life for them and the ones they love,

I once again want to thank Daniel Henney not only for this incredible performance that tapped into the heart of the world, but for all three seasons of an incredible, masterful portrayal of this amazing character Lan.

A character I have loved from the books for over 30 years, And now love even more on screen.

And for all of the diverse team at The Wheel of Time for continuing to represent much of the best of humanity, Even as we all battle with the darkness within us all.

Thank you Daniel Henney. I am forever grateful. 🙏🏼💔

“To all of those not understanding this.

This grieving ritual seemed to be borrowed in part from Korea (of which the actor Daniel is part Korean) where, as it shows ,

they have a chief mourner who literally does does a ritual wailing and is the one who is duty bound to Relieve all of the mourners of their grief by being the one to Express it for everyone mourning.

In this context this decision was the absolute right one and a beautiful choice for so many reasons.

Number 1- It’s a both a part of Daniel Henney’s own history that he is tapping into to express real grief, as well as tracks that there was a strong Asian influence in RJ’s Borderlands Portrayal so why not make such a beautiful choice?

Number 2 -as a Warder it is his duty – HE IS DUTY BOUND AND IT IS HIS HONOR TO FULFILL IT, as the chief mourner To relieve us all of our grief.

While normally Lan does not show emotion, what could be more right for a man of such honor and duty bound then to hold and carry the weight of all to take on that most honored duty of chief mourner of his dear Warder friend for everyone. In that context it is the most Lan thing that he could do.

And last but not least, The entire production, of one of the most diverse casts from all over the world you can imagine, shot much of this production in the last couple of years going through this insane worldwide pandemic experience right along with us all.

And what on earth is art for but to tap deep into the heart of the world that we live in right now, and touch and move us, in a relatable way that brings beauty, or words, or expression, to personal, and collective experiences of what it means to be human through historical moments in time, that sometimes are hard to touch without the graceful hand of good art that speaks for the heart of us all.

And so,

in this crazy world right now,

for every soul that died alone, without someone at their side,

for every funeral we could not even have, because we could not even gather,

for every soul that we lost, because they could not make it through the isolation and loneliness and personal reckoning that so much time can do as you have time to face yourself,

and for every heart that has been broken, over the divisiveness and breaking of our world,

and all of the unexpressed collective grief that we have not had the luxury of coming together in the collective rituals needed to release all that we have been holding,

I for one say,

I hear your scream,

I hear your wail,

I feel your tears,

and thank you Lan,

yes thank you thank you even more Daniel Henney,

for taking on the heavy weight of this collective grief of the last 2 years of this entire insane world,

yes, and the duty, heavier than a mountain, and honor, for standing as the chief mourner in our stead,

sharing a breathtaking prayerformance,

and a beautiful gift of a ritual with roots deep in your own blood,

as you scream for us all,

and yes,

Relieve us of our grief. 😭😭😭💔💔💔🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🌻🌻🌻❤🧡💛💚💙💜🙏🙏🏻🙏🏼🙏🏽🙏🏾🙏🏿”