The first episode of any show has a lot to do: introduce the characters, the world, and the conflict at the heart of the show. “Leavetakings” does that clunkily but overall, this was an excellent way to begin a series.
You can see in the light and you can’t in the Dark. I think Robert Jordan was telling us that the difference between good and bad is the ability to see the value of other people.
There are people out there who think Egwene al’Vere is both a bad person and a bad character. I’m convinced it’s because these people don’t understand Egwene or the role she plays in The Wheel of Time.