He's clearly and distinctively Middle Eastern, hence the names I used, but the point is that he's so ordinary. You use that approach to play the Devil in a movie where the hero's being tempted into a deal with hidden barbs, not as a way of introducing a villain with whom the audience has no history. This would have been fine to introduce him in a meeting with LTT as in the books. But there is s reason RJ presented him to Rand as an inhuman figure, who spoke as if he was far superior. It's of a piece with how he just stood there passively while Rand banished him or whatever.

This guy represents no threat or danger. What's more, his agenda is clearly dependent on Rand's choice, while ITB he tried to gaslight Rand into thinking it was inevitable and Rand's only choice was submission or death. If the show version took that line, and used his friendly, helpful demeanor to act as if he had Rand's best interests, maybe leaned into, 'can you really trust these Aes Sedai' line, it might work. But this guy was just flat out obvious "I want you to be evil, here's the carrot, let me share my carrot recipe."