Thom: I have hated Thom Merrilin since he was first introduced - everything from his description to his fashion sense. In fact, I lost respect for Morgase for her past relationship with him and came very close to disliking Elayne for her behaviour around him. I would love to take that patchwork quilt and shove it down his throat. I was hoping he had died fighting the Fade. No such luck. He's probably the most active older man in the series, though - too bad I think he sucks.

Noal: I like his back story - his adventures as Jain Farstrider and etc, but I don't have any comment of his current state or experiences. I think he is a bit of a blank slate. Unfortunately, I think the same happens to all of the older male characters - I get the feeling that RJ puts them out to pasture, and we don't see any interesting ones with sparking wit, athletic bodies or energetic personas like a Jack Lalaine, Quentin Crisp, or Serge Nubret.