My favorite Mat scene is actually one that I never see anyone talk about, and I think it's such an underrated scene because I think it's the perfect depiction of Mat's character. That scene is the one in Knife of Dreams, where the Aes Sedai barge into Tuon's room to try and negotiate with her and she collars all three of them. This scene was the one where Mat solidified himself as my favorite. Whenever people talk about Mat's hero moments, they always mention when he saves his friends. That's fair, there's good reason behind that. But I don't think those scenes define Mat Cauthon exclusively. All of the characters will do anything to save their friends. What I think defines Mat Cauthon exclusively is this scene. Mat really does not like these three. They've spent most of the trip making asses of themselves, despite the fact that Mat saved all three of them, and none of them seem grateful at all. They take zero precautions to keep themselves safe when Mat is trying to save their lives, and it culminates in this scene where their dumb decisions get them collared again. And what does Mat do? Without question, without hesitation, he immediately saves them again, he tries to talk Tuon down, removes the collars, and makes them swear to leave her alone so this doesn't happen again. These three people he does not like, and he saves them again for no reason other than because it's the right thing to do. THAT is what makes Mat a hero. It's not saving your friends from a horrible fate, anyone can do that. It's saving people, even if you dislike them, simply because to do otherwise would be wrong.

I really enjoyed the scene in Salidar when he is talking about the poor blind fool the rebels made Amyrlin.

This is a great video and it truly shows how dirty the tv series did this character. My favorites were between Mat and Perrin.

This video really highlights how dirty the tv series is to this character. To me my favorite characters wavered between Mat and Perrin.

I think that Mat's response to the Amyrlin Seat during his healing arc is my favourite moment of his. Mat says: "I am a free man, Aes Sesai. I am no Aes Sedai meat." And he even says it in the Old Tongue to make it truly epic! From a character standpoint, it really establishes his independent nature, and it also shows that he is assertive - note: not *aggressive* - about setting boundaries for himself with others. That scene is also the best representation of the overall conflict between groups that is very important in WoT - the dichotomy can be viewed as a women/men, urban/rural, thinking/intuition, collective/individual, or many other similar divides. Regardless of how you choose to see it though, the overarching theme in the story of disparate groups overcoming their differences and working together is summed up perfectly in that one scene, which is why I think it is my all-time favourite for Mat.

Never clicked so fast on a video before but I'm gonna pause and write out mine before watching. (I am having a really hard time ranking them!) 10. Mats letter to Elayne 9. Mat and Birgitte finds out each others secret and goes for a drink 8. Mat defeats the Gholam 7. Mat accidentally hits on Siuan Sanche 6. When he was trying to escape a battle and end up leading it and killing Couladin 5. Mat saving Moiraine 4. Mat Flexing on Rand about saving Moiraine 3. Mat smacking Gawain and Galad Around 2. Mat sounding the Horn of Valere (also him casually having a conversation with Arthur Hawkwing after the last battle always gets me) 1. Mat saving the last battle It is incredible to me that even this many years after my last read through I still remember these moments as if they were real memories about an old friend. Gonna include a more serious Mat quote that really stuck with me: "Always leave a way out, unless you really want to see how hard a man can fight when he has nothing to lose!" (After watching I SO agree on the outside perspecitves on Mat, seeing people realize his brilliance is so satisfying! And I love how much overlap I had with your list haha! He really is just a sensational character! Love these types of videos btw, would be awesome to see one on Rand and maybe Nyneave as well! Also I had a really funny moment at 26:03 where I misheard you and thought you said: "just absolutely a doormat" instead of "adore Mat", had me laughing a good bit!)

My favorite Mat moment was when he showed up at Elayne and Nynaeve's big meeting in Ebou Dar and struck up his own separate Bargain with the Windfinders.

Great video, Mat is my favourite character also (as you said, as soon as you see a Mat chapter you instantly know it will be good, and probably funny!), a genius tactician and strategist, badass fighter and indeed a man with a heart of gold! And the fact he thinks it is the soldiers of the Band of the Red Hand who Olver has been learning his behaviours from (instead of Mat himself) is endlessly hilarious :)

About Couladin, I think it was done perfectly. The surprise was for the readers also. Where is he? Don't worry, Mat bumped into him by mistake and killed him. It is so anticlimactic that it works.. The whole thing it's about Mat trying to escape Rand's Ta'veren pull, Couladin death it's an afterthought. Genius! One of my favorites is the whole Karede trying to rescue Tuon from Mat. It starts with me laughing at Karede than at Mat ( he just got married) and it ends in a somber mood with the aftermath of the battle/massacre. Another one is him spanking an Aes Sedai. It is a favorite because I don't condone violence and treating adults like children and humiliation especially in front of other people, BUT that scene felt so right. I don't want to say that she deserved it or things like that, just it was the right thing to do all those wrong things. Because Mat! Thank you for one of the greatest video on KZfaq! For me at least. Top 10 Mat moments, wow that's a great thing to brighten your day!

Maybe one of the most memorable scenes in the whole series (of all the characters) was a still recovering Mat vs Galad & Gawyn. To me it was comparable to David vs Goliath. Mat looked so outmatched but was ever so confident and I love how the warder ponied up the wager money because the G boys thought they were such the favorite to win.

A good list but a bit heavy on the last 3 books for me. I think a few scenes worth a mention include Mat seeing Egwene as the Amyrlin in Salidar, both initially when he tries to rescue her, and then later when he acts respectfully in front of all the assembled Aes Sedai (a friend through and through). Another scene is Mat's hangover in Ebou Dar where he wants a new skull. And rescuing Teslyn and the Sea Folk from the Damane kennels is one of the best examples of Mat's heroism. Also, glad you didn't mention Tylin.

I love all the times he narrowly misses the Forsaken without realizing it. Lanfear, Rahvin, Halima, Sammael, Semirhage.

just viewing this video for the first time, first off its a great list! i think its interesting that you would like to hear about a battle that happened off screen, there almost never a point where i dont want to see the battle

Love the video! That said....Matt vs. Galad/Gawyn MUST be higher. That was the moment that defined the character to the reader. Before that, he was, at best, a secondary character that wasn't all that interesting.

Rand and Mat are both epic good characters, but for almost opposite reasons :)

I loved Mat vs the Gholam, Mat vs Galad and Gawyn, and Mat leading the last battle. The funny moments were just everywhere and nearly every scene with Mat, so there are just way to many to mention. I loved seeing people's opinion of Mat change too; where he seems like such a prankster and so irresponsible, but then he's also the greatest battle leader of all time. It was nice to see people actually change and see beyond the clownish image.

By far, my most favourite character.

Awesome video! It's probably not a moment, but him leading the last battle is just incredible! I actually wrote this before you got to the end of your list, so great choice :) 👍 I also love the moment when he finds out that Tuon is the daughter of the nine moons and says something along the lines of "light, this is my bloody wife!"

19:08 who are you looking at here? Mat seems fairly youthful compared to Jain and Thom. Mat is my favorite Wheel of Time character throughout the series even during his early Gollum-esque arc and lack of PoV chapters. In the show, the bit where they implied Mat is fundamentally evil is what made me truly hate the entire project. I think the Sanderson books lacked the comedic flair Mat is supposed to have, but that's understandable. It's difficult to have the exact same sense of humor as another person, and of course I prefer a less funny Mat than no conclusion to the series at all. I was really sad when I came to the realization we would never get the full Mat story, which was implied to be post Last Battle with his exploits in Seanchan.

My favorite Matt moment was when he plucked out his eye and dropped it in the Well of Mimir. But that was in another age, another story.

I agree with everything you said!

The genius part of Mat vs Couladin is that not shwoing the fight makes Mats fighting skills a bit more mysterious. Like yeah Mat is surprisingly skilled, but can he really go toe to toe with a Aiel leader? This also happens relatively close after Mat gains his new powers. And what makes Mat so interesting is never knowing why he can do what he does - is it his staff training as a sheepherder, his dagger powers, his luck or is this part of the knowledge from the Finn?

I must admit, Mat is also one of my top favorite character. His patience with women is amazing. He rescues Aes Sedai from the Seanchen, hides them in a curcus to get put of town and they act as arrogant as ever. Even after Tuon snaps A'dams around rheir necks, Mat calmly releasesrhe women and buries the neck cuffs. Even in Tear, Egwene and Nynaeve are abrupt to him after he rescues them from prison. I would have loved an epilogue chapter at the end, giving us an insight into the lives of the 4 Aemon"s Field survivors. Was Rand a parent to his children or did he abandon them and Elayne, Min and Aviendha?

I love how he goes through so many changes, like the worst stuff happens to him, but his core character doesn't change.

Ah mate you are truly a treasure of the interwebs - there has never been a character written as well as Matrim Cauthon, in my honest opinion. And unpopular opinion but I think Brando Sando's writing of him was just as good, if not better somehow. Love him, love all of him. Theres only one moment you missed I reckon! When he and Thom meet Aludra in the barn - actually all his interactions with Aludra were just unreal if you ask me :-)

"a frog on the Ice" whistled by Talmanes (in LoC chapter 5 A Different Dance) - we do meet Olver but whole chapter is Mat at his best

My favorite Mat moment is when he finally starts openly using the old tongue and bringing up things from other men's memories in AMOL. After hiding it, poorly, for the whole series he is suddenly just like "what you have never read this book, or heard this saying from an ancient kingdom?" Then I realized he was just casually flexing on Galgan, the Seanchan's highest general lol.

Not necessary a moment but what stands out with Mat is that he is an even more unreliable Narrator that the rest of the 3 guys. And this kind of clashing with what is really happening with his pov makes every one of his chapters really fun.

Your editing is so good, that cut at the end had me laughing out loud..."no, NOT thief"

Just imagine what we could have had if Robert Jordan had not been taken from us prematurely. His plan for continuing writing in the Wheel of Time world was a series about Mat, Tuon and the Seanchan. What a horrendous tragedy and loss! By the way still waiting for your reviews of Season 2 😅

RJ was planning a sequel series about Mat and Tuon going back to the Seanchan homeland. They would rebuild the empire and free the Damane. If I remember right.

2:17 I love this section in the books of the two boys taking care of each other

I can't rank them! but one of the first to come to mind is when he accidentally gets married. It's just such a mat thing. Of corse his luck would make him say the exact words needed to marry the daughter of the nine moons.

My favourite character! (Book Mat, non CluterFuckShow Mat). My favourite is when he schools Galad & Gawyn at the White Tower. "Dovie'andi se tovya sagain." Love your videos!

My favorite Mat moment was his unchaining of the Windfinder damane. He really didn't have to, and it could've caused complications (which it did) but it's iconic as a moment when Mat couldn't ignore evil. He ends the literal enslavement of black woman because - it's the right thing to do! This is Mat's character in a nutshell. Always being forced by his conscience and upbringing to do 'what must be done' (no matter how he grouses about it). Sanderson's Mat is just a 10 year old boy in comparison.

Mat is an amazing character (at least after book 3) but Perrin is still my favourite.

Sorry, I didn't see this review. “There is some delight in ale and wine And some in girls with ankles fine But my delight, yes always mine Is to dance with Jak O’ the Shadows We will toss the dice however they fall And snuggle the girls be they short or tall Then follow Lord Mat whenever he calls To dance with Jak O’ the Shadows.” ― Robert Jordan, Knife of Dreams Cheers.

Karede's encounter with Mat and 'rescue' of Tuon was Deep Fake hilarious.

I am really interested in the book you recommend but have trouble understanding your words. Posting your recommendations in the information section would help. I really enjoyed your video. Sorry I am 2 years late.😊

I JUST finished my reread of TGH a minute ago, so I’m hoping to see the Horn somewhere on this list! 😊

Matrim fighting Trollocs and Dark Hounds in the nude.

My favorite moments are in no particular order: 1. Mat sending the Gholam over the edge while saying he hope theres no bottom. 2. Mat accidently blowing a hole in the Stone in stead of just making a distraction. 3. Mat beating Galad and Gawyn. 4. Mat being told he reminds Siuan of her uncle. 5. Egwene remembering how Mat jumped in the river to save a kid even after the ridicule from the year before. 6. Mat sauntering in when he is given control of the forces of the Light and the White Towers armies, saying he appreciates them comming to their senses. 7. Mat returning to Fortuona af the last battle, being told shes pregnant and she is therefore free to have him killed and then he just grins and asks if she would like to make a bet about that. 8. Mat stabbing Shaisam/Fain 9. Mat being told by Galgan that he is an asset to the empire so he will ensure his first assassins are newly trained so he can fend them off easily.

ARGH damn it!! ... I'll brb, gonna go re-read tWoT

Ok, but why noone is mentioning the interaction between Mat and Brigitte. For me it's hilarious how they buddy up and Brigitte becomes his ally and the whole "in what language are we speaking?"

Decided to drop mine before watching. Here goes. 10. Blowing up the stone of tear. 9. Twisted redstone doorframe, both times. 8. When he actually has the badger with perrin. 7. After flicker telling rand hed never betray him. 6. Gawyn and galad fight. 5. Lion on the plains. 4. Inventing the dragons with aludra. 3. The pure strategic genius of the last battle. 2. Blowing the horn of valere. 1. The battles of Cairhien and forming if the band.

Mat spanking Joline was hilarious, Mat reading Moraines letter would probably make my top 10, the first encounter with the Gholam would be in there, and the final fight with it would be my top moment.

I think you can tell who my favorite character is. Anyway my favorite Mat moment TDR chapter 20: The Amyrlin gave an exasperated sigh. “You remind me of my uncle Huan. No one could ever pin him down. He liked to gamble, too, and he’d much rather have fun than work. He died pulling children out of a burning house. He wouldn’t stop going back as long as there was one left inside. Are you like him, Mat? Will you be there when the flames are high?” He could not meet her eyes. He studied his fingers as they plucked irritably at his blanket. “I’m no hero. I do what I have to do, but I am no hero.”“Most of those we call heroes only did what they had to do. The absolute definition of who Mat really is in my opinion. And it kinda bothers me that his own friends (especially the women) never see this that Siuan saw in a 10 minute conversation with him

Mat's 5 minute summation was to liberate Cairiehenn, not Illian

the struggle between choosing Mat over Rand is real :D

Dovie’andi se tovya sagain.

The one up game between Mat and Rand

Hat, spear, one eye He is Odin

LOVE you!!!

Don’t you just love how they’re portraying Matt in the tv show 🙃

Before I even watch this video, I know what’s going to be one of the top spots on this list, Mat beats the shit out of Galad and Gawyn

>self-imposes a list of rules >cheats errrm

Yes, agreed! Matt is definitely the best character in WOT. Rand and Perrin don't even come close to Matt in my opinion.

Donatello

Great work. Also, pls stop cursing.

:)

You jump around a lot.

Brandon Sanderson ruined Mat's character