The Wheel of Timeseason 3 spreads its ensemble throughout four separate storylines, but there’s at least one major character missing from each one. The Amazon Prime Video series is an adaptation ofRobert Jordan’sWheel of Timebooks, with season 3 specifically drawn fromThe Shadow Rising, the fourth book in the series. Like the novel,this season spreads its heroes into four locations: Tanchico, the Two Rivers, the Aiel Waste, and the White Tower, with events of significant consequence occurring at each.
As has been the case with the previous two seasons ofThe Wheel of Time, adapting novels as extensive as Jordan’s requires a degree of sacrifice. Television is a more limited medium than the boundless world of prose, and bringing such a series to life involves logistical issues. Even in an eight-hour season, there’s only so much time for each character’s story, and the results are cuts from the books' interpretations.Each of the four main stories in season 4 is missing a character, and it’s interesting to note the differences this creates.
Tanchico
Image via Prime Video
Juilin Sandar is a thief-catcher in theWheel of Timenovels who’s introduced inThe Dragon Reborn,hired by Elayne, Nynaeve, and Egwene in their pursuit of the Black Ajah. He then returns inThe Shadow Rising, where he companies Elayne and Nynaeve in the Tanchico plotline, playing a pivotal role alongside Thom Merrilin, who was reintroduced in season 3, episode 6. The season seems to be replacing his role with Mat, who’s in the Aiel Waste in the novels.
3Tam Al’Thor
Two Rivers
Tam al’Thor is Rand’s adoptive father, and he’s played byGame of Thronesstar Michael McElhatton inThe Wheel of Timeseasons 1 and 2. However, as of season 3, episode 6,he’s yet to make an appearance in the Two Rivers plotline, in which he plays a prominent role inThe Shadow Rising. Aside from being a shepherd in the Two Rivers, Tam’s past as a warrior makes him an incredible asset in the battle against the Trollocs.
Tam’s past as a warrior makes him an incredible asset in the battle against the Trollocs.
Perrin Aybara finds himself taking a leadership role in the Two Rivers in bothThe Shadow RisingandThe Wheel of Timeseason 3, but Tam also helps to unite the region’s forces for its defense.Tam continues to play a prominent role throughout the book series, so hopefully, he’ll be brought backbefore the season ends or later on. Regarding season 3, it’s strange that he hasn’t appeared yet, but he could return with Abell Cauthon and reinforcements to turn the tide in the finale.
2Mat Cauthon
Aiel Waste
Dónal Finn’s Mat Cauthon is obviously a lead character inThe Wheel of Time’scast, but season 3 has him as part of the Tanchico plotline, differing from the books.InThe Shadow Rising, Mat travels with Rand, Moiraine, and Egwene to the Aiel Waste. Possibly the most notable difference created by this change has already passed, with Rand and Moiraine journeying into Rhuidean in the celebrated episode 4.
Thom’s Return To The Wheel Of Time Sets Up A Story I Wish Had Happened In The Books
Thom Merrilin’s return in The Wheel of Time season 3 lays the groundwork for a story that could have been perfect for Robert Jordan’s book series.
In the novel, Mat enters Rhuidean and travels through a redstone ter’angreal gateway, which has been established as the transportation of the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn, two extradimensional species that exist in the novels. These creatures offer a similar function to genies, granting wishes. Mat makes his wish, and then Rand discovers him later on, hung from thebranches of Avendesora. This is a pivotal step in Mat’s arc, but the TV show seems to be accomplishing it in different ways.
1Logain Ablar
White Tower
Logain was a False Dragonand an incredibly powerful male channeler whose strength was exhibited inThe Wheel of Timeseason 1. After being captured bythe Aes Sedaiand gentled, Logain is paraded through Caemlyn in the novels, where he has a similar moment to the show, making eye contact with Rand from far away. Then, he’sbrought to the White Tower where he lingers untilThe Shadow Rises, where he plays a crucial role in Min and Siuan Sanche’s story.
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Logain waslast seen inThe Wheel of TimeTV series at Cairhien, where he played a role in Rand’s season 2 story. This was a notable departure from the books, and now he’s absent from the White Tower narrative. Logain hasn’t appeared yet inThe Wheel of Timeseason 3, and at this point, it seems like he’s going to be a total omission from the plotline, hopefully returning for season 4.
