Includes MASSIVE SPOILERS for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 4, and future events from the book series the show is based on.
The Wheel of Timeseason 3 hasset up a climactic conflict between Moiraine and Lanfear, and a new book change development could have shifted the tide.The Wheel of Time’sseason 2 endingchanged the game forever, with Rand al’Thor openly declaring himself to bethe Dragon Reborn. Now, everyone in the world will be forced to act, choosing how they wish to react to the Dragon’s emergence, either by supporting him, attempting to control him for their own gain, or trying to control him.
Moiraine and Lanfear are two such characters inThe Wheel of Time’sseason 3 story. Interestingly enough, both of them began the season with similar ideas for Rand, hoping he wouldjourney to the Stone of Tearto begin fulfilling his destiny. They’ve formed a tentative alliance as they both want Rand to become the prophesied legend, with the difference being thatMoiraine intends to use him to defeat the Dark One, while Lanfear wants to rule the world by his side. This ideological difference will likely see them return to being adversaries soon.
Moiraine’s New Sa’angreal Sets Up A Massive Power Level Upgrade
Moiraine Has Acquired Sakarnen, Increasing Her Access To The One Power
The Wheel of Timeseason 3, episode 4, saw Moiraine and Rand al’Thor enter thecity of Rhuidean. While Rand sawvisions of his ancestors' pasts, Moiraine saw glimpses of potential futures,including numerous outcomes where she would be killed by Lanfear in a fight to the death. However, Moiraine also received a boon from her journey: a sa’angreal known as Sakarnen. A sa’angreal is an object that allows one who can channel to access more of the One Power, effectively increasing her magical capabilities. Moiraine was already dangerous, but now she’s got an additional boost.
Like with the One Power, which is divided into saidar or saidin, the female and male halves, sa’angreal are gendered. The TV show has made somechanges to the role of Sakarnen, making it asa’angreal that’s said to be the female counterpart to the male, Callandor, the sword that the Dragon is intended to wield. This creates an interesting tether to Rand’s storyline, implying that they’ll be linked throughout the narrative by their magical objects. Rand has yet to obtain his, but it’s bound to happen soon, given how much they’ve mentioned Tear already.
The Wheel of Timejust had its highest-rated episode yet, with 3x04 earning a 9.5/10 on IMDb, earning acclaim from book readers.
What Moiraine’s New Weapon Could Mean For Her Lanfear Fight
Moiraine Might Be Able To Defeat Lanfear
Lanfear is one of the thirteen Forsaken, making her extraordinarily powerful. InThe Shadow Rising, Lanfear travels to the Aiel Waste in disguise. Then, inThe Fires of Heaven, she attempts to kill Rand, feeling betrayed by him after finding out he’s slept with Aviendha. It’s important to remember that Lanfear isn’t only attempting to manipulate Rand; she loves him because she once loved Lews Therin. In the chapter “Fading Worlds,“Rand refuses to kill Lanfear because she is a woman, causing Moiraine to interfere, pushing Lanfear through a ter’angreal doorway and allegedly killing them both.
Wow, Wheel Of Time Just Delivered Its Most Book Accurate Episode Yet
The Wheel of Time season 3 has wowed audiences with its adaptation of a pivotal sequence from The Shadow Rising. Here’s our breakdown of its events.
Sakarnen could shift the dynamic in her fight, allowing her to defeat Lanfear, possibly with the help of Rand and Callandor. This would simplify multiple arcs in the show but would be consistent with the TV adaptation’s habit of distilling convoluted parts of the dense novels. The death of Lanfear would also allow for other Forsaken to take over as the show’s primary ongoing villains, as there are several that have yet to play a role.
Image via Prime Video
In the books,Moiraine is gone from the end ofThe Fires of Heavenall the way toThe Towers of Midnight. Given that Rosamund Pike is a producer on the show and the top-billed actress, it seems unlikely that the show would kill her off for multiple seasons, even if she’d eventually return for the ending. WhileGame of Thronesset a precedent for killing off major characters,The Wheel of Timeisn’t as safe right now, with season 3 likely being a pivotal moment for the saga.
It’s unclear if season 3 will even reach the events ofThe Fires of Heaven, but for Rand to retrieve Callandor, they’d have to leave the Aiel Waste, meaning the show will likely burn through all the stories there before departing to Tear. Especially given the foreshadowing in the Rhuidean sequence in episode 4,Moiraine and Lanfear’s battle will probably happen in this seasonofThe Wheel of Time, and it seems doubtful that it will end with Moiraine’s ambiguous disappearance.
