Warning: Includes MASSIVE SPOILERS for The Wheel of Time book series!
Amazon's cancellation of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time novels, a fifteen-book series that encomes thousands of characters and dozens of perspectives, meaning there's a wealth of lore material to explore beyond the show. Prime Video's adaptation only really covered three of the fifteen books and left multiple characters on notable cliffhangers.
Amazon's Wheel of Time cancellation.
8 Rand al'Thor's Internal Conflict With The One Power
The Dark One's Touch Was Just Beginning To Show
Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn, but being a prophesied hero in The Wheel of Time isn't particularly easy. In fact, much of Robert Jordan's best storytelling revolves around the immense challenge of power, as Rand would continue to struggle with his role throughout most of the series. The male half of the One Power is tainted by the Dark One, and season 3 begins to show Rand's struggle to contain it.
While Rand teeters toward evil and shuts himself away from his friends and loved ones at times, he ultimately chooses to fight against the Dark One.
Rand's destiny as the Dragon is revealed fairly early in The Wheel of Time, as the story isn't necessarily about who the Dragon is, but what role the Dragon will play in the Last Battle. Moiraine's goal is to guide Rand toward the Last Battle as a warrior for the Light, but other forces, including the Dark One, look to guide him toward other fates. While Rand teeters toward evil and shuts himself away from his friends and loved ones at times, he ultimately chooses to fight against the Dark One.
7 Moiraine & The Aes Sedai's Future After Elaida's Coup
Would Moiraine Survive In The Show?
Moiraine's fate in The Wheel of Time TV series is the most challenging to determine, as her fight with Lanfear actually results in her "death" in the books. That is, until much later in the series when Mat rescues her from the Tower of Ghenjei. Given that Moiraine survived the fight in the show, and that Amazon likely wouldn't have killed off its lead star and producer, I anticipated her taking over Siuan Sanche's role from the books.
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Siuan Sanche, the Amyrlin Seat, was killed during Elaida's coup in The Wheel of Time season 3's finale, though she doesn't die in the books. Due to the show's storyline connecting Moiraine and Siuan romantically, I imagined that Moiraine would follow Siuan's path, traveling to Salidar and helping to form the faction of rebel Aes Sedai in defiance of Elaida's White Tower.
6 Perrin Was Taken Captive By The White Cloaks
Perrin Would Face Trial By The Children Of The Light
Perrin defended the Two Rivers from the invading force of Trollocs and the malicious White Cloaks, as he did in the books. However, the TV series showed him agreeing to captivity under Dain Bornhald and the White Cloaks, differing from the books. Perrin isn't in The Fires of Heaven, so I anticipated the story would jump to his conflict with the White Cloaks in Towers of Midnight. Throughout The Wheel of Time, Perrin continues to grow as a leader and warrior, amassing armies from the Two Rivers and beyond to fight in the Last Battle.
5 Mat Made A Deal With The Eelfinn
Mat Eventually Becomes A Beloved Hero
Mat's story in The Wheel of Time season 3 finale took a confusing turn when he traveled through a redstone gateway and met with an Eelfinn, a fox-like extradimensional creature. Asta'veren, Mat is incredibly important to the overarching narrative of The Wheel of Time, although he struggles initially with accepting responsibility, as he does not want to be involved in events of high consequence. Throughout the novels, he finds his place in this role, with the memories of ancient generals helping him to be a master tactician and leader.
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Mat's TV version saw numerous changes, practically in a different location than his book counterpart at almost every turn. The show also scarcely explored his inner conflict, which his POV chapters in books like The Dragon Reborn and The Shadow Rising highlight. Season 4 would hopefully have been a chance to get him back on track, especially with his new medallion protecting him from the One Power, which would have made him a valuable asset in defeating a Forsaken.
4 Nynaeve's Channeling Block & Pursuit Of Moghedien
Nynaeve Becomes A Powerful Aes Sedai & A Queen
The season 3 finale adapted one of the most powerful moments from the book series, showing Nynaeve break the block on her channeling capabilities that had been holding her down since season 1. While previously unable to access the One Power unless she was angry, Nynaeve can now tap into her full strength. Her storylines in future books include the continued pursuit of Moghedien, which would likely also involve Liandrin, who saw numerous changes from her book counterpart.
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Nynaeve's unprecedented channeling capabilities allow her to accomplish astounding feats, such as reversing the gentling that was done to Logain, restoring his power, and healing him. Her romance with Lan, which had been teased since early on in the series, also begins to take form in a more serious shape with their marriage.
3 Elayne's Kingdom Is Under Threat From A Forsaken
Elayne Becomes Queen Of Andor
Elayne made some critical discoveries about her past and future while in Tanchico, which could have led to changes in her book narrative. In the novels, she continues with Nynaeve to defeat Moghedien. In the show, however, events seemed to be gearing her toward a return to Caemlyn, the capital of the Kingdom of Andor. Elayne's mother, Queen Morgase Trakand, has been under the influence of the Forsaken Rahvin, using the power of Compulsion.
Elayne would also eventually become Queen herself, and is destined to be one of the three women romantically bonded to Rand al'Thor.
Elayne's reunited with her biological father, Thom Merrilin, in season 3, and the show seemed to be pointing toward a t adventure, with the two of them returning to Andor to rescue the kingdom. Elayne even acquired a ter'angreal rod that hinted at her defeating Rahvin with balefire. Elayne would also eventually become Queen herself, and is destined to be one of the three women romantically bonded to Rand al'Thor.
2 Egwene's Dreamwalking Ability & Growing Power
Egwene Wins Back The Aes Sedai As Amyrlin Seat
Like Nynaeve, Egwene is an innately powerful channeler, and season 3 also demonstrated her powers as a Dreamwalker. The next step in Egwene's journey would have been her path to Salidar, where she would eventually become the Amyrlin Seat of the Aes Sedai. Her inexperience with Aes Sedai politics was one of the precise criteria that led to her selection, as the rebel Aes Sedai wanted someone who was distant from the conflict. In the books, Siuan Sanche helped Egwene develop her skills in Aes Sedai politics, a role that could have gone to Moiraine in the show.
1 Lan Is The Heir To A Fallen Kingdom
Lan Reclaims Malkier & Leads His Armies In The Last Battle
Lan is Moiraine's Warder, and though he got to mess around with some swordplay, his story took a major backseat in season 3. Again, with Moiraine's journey being nearly impossible to predict on the TV series, Lan's would have come with a similar challenge. He eventually finds his way to Nynaeve after Moiraine's "death," marrying her and fulfilling a romance that had been building for years. Nynaeve helps Lan assemble the forces of Malkier, whom he leads in the Last Battle. At the end of The Wheel of Time, Lan reclaims his place as king and starts to rebuild.
The Wheel of Time
- Release Date
- November 18, 2021
- Network
- Prime Video
- Showrunner
- Rafe Judkins
Cast
Moiraine Damodred
al'Lan Mandragoran
WHERE TO WATCH
- Directors
- Sanaa Hamri, Ciaran Donnelly, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Thomas Napper, Maja Vrvilo, Wayne Che Yip
- Writers
- Amanda Kate Shuman, Dave Hill, Rohit Kumar, Justine Juel Gillmer, Celine Song, Rammy Park, The Clarksons Twins, Katherine B. McKenna
- Franchise(s)
- The Wheel of Time
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