The Wheel of Time returns this week on Amazon Prime Video for its third season, making it the perfect time to recap the climactic events of season 2. After the enormous success of Game of Thrones, practically every streaming service has attempted its hand at some sort of fantasy epic, with Amazon putting a number of its chips into the adaptation of Robert Jordan’s fourteen-book series, The Wheel of Time. The first two seasons have done their best to adapt his enormous novels into exciting television, adapting The Eye of the World and The Great Hunt, respectively.
Anyone who’s read the books might think they have a pretty decent idea of where the story is headed following The Wheel of Time season 2’s ending, given that many of the events at Toman Head were taken from The Great Hunt. However, the show has been known for taking creative liberties with the source material, so there are book differences to account for. Also, The Wheel of Time season 3’s story is set to adapt The Shadow Rising rather than The Dragon Reborn, so they’ll be skipping a novel and apparently returning to some of its events later on.
10
Rand Al’Thor Proclaimed Himself As The Dragon Reborn
“Bannered ‘Cross The Sky In Fire”
Moiraine and Lan originally traveled to the Two Rivers in their search for the Dragon Reborn and took Rand al’Thor, Mat Cauthon, Egwene, and Perrin Aybara, suggesting that one of them might be the prophesied savior or destroyer of humankind. Rand al’Thor has since been confirmed to be the Dragon Reborn. In season 2, he began to fulfill part of the prophecy, but there are still many more pieces to come as the Pattern weaves his destiny.
The full Dragon Reborn prophecy is called the Karaethon Cycle.
Now that Rand being the Dragon is public knowledge, the stakes are going to be more heightened than ever. Those who seek to oppose him will do so openly, and Rand will need followers to prepare for the Last Battle. Trailers for season 3 show him traveling to the Aiel Waste, which is a significant component of his arc in The Shadow Rising, though they’ll have to eventually pivot back to the events of The Dragon Reborn. Season 3 will also begin to show him training as a swordsman and also with his ability to channel.
9
Perrin Has Made An Enemy Out Of Dain Bornhald & The White Cloaks
Perrin Slew Geofram Bornhald In Season 2’s Final Battle
One of the most heartbreaking moments in The Wheel of Time season 2 saw Perrin’s wolf friend, Hopper, get killed in the battle at Falme. Hopper was killed by Geofram Bornhald, causing Perrin to lose it in a fit of golden-eyed rage, avenging his wolf. Dain Bornhald, son of Geofram, saw this transpire, shouting the words “Two Rivers!” in reaction. This is vital information, setting up critical events from The Shadow Rising that we’ll see play out in season 3, with a significant conflict ensuing between Perrin and the White Cloaks, with major development for the protagonist.
8
Moiraine Regained Her Powers After Losing Them In Season 1
Moiraine Is Just As Strong As Ever Heading Into Season 3
“Stilled” is a term in The Wheel of Time that refers to a woman who can channel being cut off from the One Power. In The Wheel of Time season 1 finale, Moiraine lost access to her magic, believing herself to be stilled for the majority of season 2. However, Lan realized that Moiraine wasn’t stilled but instead had a blocker preventing her from accessing the One Power. Rand used his access to the One Power to destroy this barrier, freeing Moiraine to access her power again in the season 2 finale, which she used to help Rand defeat Ishamael.
A man will be “gentled” instead of “stilled,” which is what happened to Logain in season 1.
7
Mat Cauthon Blew The Horn Of Valere
Mat Summoned The Heroes Of The Horn
Mat Cauthon has been fairly off-track compared to his book counterpart, with him spending most of season 2 away from his friends. He began the season imprisoned by Liandrin in the White Tower before adventuring out with Min. He eventually arrives at Falme to join up with everyone else, and he’s given the dagger from Shadar Logoth, with Padan Fain hoping he’ll use it to kill Rand, which he nearly does on accident. Mat ends up blowing the Horn of Valere in a moment of desperation, turning the tide by summoning the Heroes of the Horn.
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6
Ishamael Freed Several Of The Forsaken Before His Death
There Are New Enemies For Our Heroes To Face
Ishamael was the primary antagonist of The Wheel of Time season 2 and actually had a premature death, as he doesn’t die until The Dragon Reborn in the novels. Before dying, Ishamael freed many of the Forsaken, the leaders of the Dark One’s armies who have been imprisoned since the War of Power. The season 2 epilogue also set up Moghedian, another Forsaken whom Lanfear described as “insane,” likely foreshadowing the next primary antagonist. Lanfear is also still around and featured prominently in the season 3 trailer.
5
Egwene Befriends Elayne, The Daughter Heir Of Andor
Morgase & Elaida Will Be Prominent New Characters In Season 3
Egwene and Nynaeve traveled to the White Tower in season 2 to begin their training as Aes Sedai. Joining Egwene, as her new roommate, was a young woman named Elayne, who’s quickly revealed to be the Daughter Heir of Andor, one of the most prominent countries in the world. Though she was raised as royalty, Elayne is shown to be a woman of a kind and decent nature, joining the heroes to help them in the battle at Falme. Two critical characters in Elayne’s story have been cast for season 3: Queen Morgase (Olivia Williams) and Elaida (Shohreh Aghdashloo).
4
Nynaeve Has Become An Accepted Of The Aes Sedai
Nynaeve Proved Her Dedication By Surviving Her Worst Fears
Nynaeve went through a perilous journey in The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 3, where she was tested to become an Accepted of the Aes Sedai. While overseen by members of the different Ajah, Nynaeve enters the ter’angreal arches, which force her to face her worst fears. In doing so, she sees her father, mother, Tam al’Thor, Lan, and more, barely making it through the test. She spends most of the episode lost, with the Aes Sedai believing her to be dead. She eventually returns and helps her friends throughout the rest of the season.
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3
Liandrin Has Revealed Herself As Black Ajah
Liandrin Was A Darkfriend In Hiding
Liandrin was never the most friendly character, even as a member of the Red Ajah. However, season 2 demonstrated her full colors as she knocks out Elayne, Egwene, and Nynaeve, offering them up to the Seanchan. The Red Ajah are already something of a threat to Rand, as they’re the most determined to gentle men capable of channeling. As a Black Ajah, however, Liandrin is a servant of the Dark One, masquerading as a member of the Aes Sedai while secretly a Darkfriend working against the order’s wishes. She’ll be an important antagonist going forward.
2
Egwene Escaped Her Seanchan Collar
Egwene’s Arc Was Season 2’s Most Poignant
After being sold out to the Seanchan by Liandrin, Egwene goes through a horrible experience at the end of season 2. She’s turned into a damane by her Seanchan captor, essentially enslaving her and putting her on a leash as a weapon for their cause. She’s led to the top of the tower in Falme to wield fire as a way of defending the city, but she rebels at the last moment, refusing to harm her friends. She manages to defeat her Seanchan assailant when they’re left as the only two alive, then uses her powers to help Rand al’Thor beat Ishamael.
1
Lan & Moiraine Are Bonded Again
Aes Sedai & Warder Are Bonded Once More
After Moiraine believed herself to be stilled in The Wheel of Time season 2, she cut off her bond with Lan, even lying to him and saying that Rand had died. The bond between Aes Sedai and Warder is sacred, and Lan undergoes a serious internal conflict after this happens. However, he eventually finds Moiraine after learning of a fabled Forsaken power that would shield Moiraine from her powers. In The Wheel of Time’s season 2 finale, he and Moiraine bond once again on the beach near Falme.
The Wheel of Time
6/10
- Release Date
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November 18, 2021
- Network
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Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Rafe Judkins
- Directors
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Sanaa Hamri, Ciaran Donnelly, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Thomas Napper, Maja Vrvilo, Wayne Che Yip
- Writers
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Amanda Kate Shuman, Dave Hill, Rohit Kumar, Justine Juel Gillmer, Celine Song, Rammy Park, The Clarksons Twins, Katherine B. McKenna