Halfway through the third season of The Wheel of Time, the characters have split into teams to travel to varied destinations, but one new location isn’t even in the physical world. Episode 5 is titled “Tel’aran’rhiod,” a term which is used for the mysterious, potentially dangerous World of Dreams. This isn’t the first time that this aspect of the show’s high fantasy setting has been mentioned, but it’s now in full focus as Egwene (Madeleine Madden) begins to train with the Wise Ones of the Aiel.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time Season 3.
At first it seems like this training, in which Egwene goes to sleep and regains consciousness in an environment almost identical to the real world, is a subplot with little importance to the main action. Egwene’s boyfriend Rand (Josha Stradowski) has accepted his destiny as the world-shaking Dragon Reborn, and she’s accompanying him to the Aiel Waste on a mission to recruit an army of desert warriors. In the last episode, Rand survived the trial of Rhuidean and proved himself the fated leader of all Aiel clans, and his mentor Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) endured a barrage of prophetic visions, including her own death.
The power of dreams is hardly anyone’s current priority, especially when we check in with the other teams. Elayne (Ceara Coveney) and Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) have been sent to the distant city of Tanchico to find the traitorous Black Ajah. During the sea voyage, they learn that their ship is powered by Sea Folk channelers who wish to keep their existence secret from the Aes Sedai. Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) has returned to the Two Rivers, only to find it beset by Trolloc attacks and interfering Whitecloaks.
However, things have a way of coming together. By the end of the episode, Egwene uses her newfound dreaming power to allow Moiraine to speak to her star-crossed lover, Siuan (Sophie Okonedo), the Amyrlin Seat. Tensions at the White Tower where Siuan rules are at an all-time high, with at least Black Ajah sister still hidden among the Aes Sedai, and the arrival of the ambitious and overbearing Elaida (Shohreh Aghdashloo) causing further division among the Ajahs. Although Moiraine can offer little more than a warning of new dangers, her meeting with Siuan at least helps to heal their own damaged relationship.
Egwene also takes the opportunity to peek into her absent friends’ dreams, sending us on a bittersweet montage as she observes each individual in the happy lives now out of their reach. Nynaeve is training her daughter to be a village Wisdom. Elayne sees herself as a Sea Folk Windfinder, with her Aiel lover Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) at her side. Perrin is working a forge in the company of Hopper, his late wolf companion, and Faile (Isabella Bucceri), a new acquaintance whom he hasn’t yet admitted he likes. Mat (Dónal Finn) dreams of making peace with his mother and little sisters, but in the real world Mat is traveling with Elayne and Nynaeve, and doesn’t know that his family in the Two Rivers has been captured by Whitecloaks.
Finally, Egwene’s dream journey brings her to Rand, but she’s stopped cold when she sees that he’s not alone. Rand already has a regular visitor to his dreams: the Forsaken Lanfear (Natasha O'Keeffe), whose undercover seduction of him in Season 2 has endured despite his distrust of her. It’s immediately clear to Egwene that their romantic interest is mutual.
With so many distinct storylines competing for space, it’s difficult for a show like The Wheel of Time to give each episode an independent narrative. The use of Tel’aran’rhiod can only be an asset in that sense, but the stronger theme that emerges from this episode is the relationships between the characters. One subplot involves the Aes Sedai Alanna (Priyanka Bose) and her Warder Maksim (Taylor Napier), who are both grieving for her other Warder but have been unable to emotionally support each other until Alanna’s life is in danger.
Moiraine likewise finds comfort in her Warder Lan (Daniel Henney) in one offbeat, quiet scene, while Mat gets frustrated by his close quarters with Nynaeve and Elayne and finds a simpler kind of friendship with Min (Kae Alexander). Perrin’s return to the Two Rivers reunites him with people he’s known all his life, but also shows how much he’s changed when he considers the companions he’s brought home with him.
So far, this has been The Wheel of Time’s strongest season. Each new installment balances faithfulness to the beloved book series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson with new material and twists, and the groundwork is being laid for exciting developments in seasons to
come.
Rating: ★★★★½
About The Wheel of Time Season 3
Premiere Date: March 13, 2025
Episode Count: 8
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Rafe Judkins, Larry Mondragon, Rick Selvage, Ted Field, Mike Weber, Darren Lemke, Marigo Kehoe, Justine Juel Gillmer, Sanaa Hamri, Amanda Kate Shuman
Director: Ciaran Donnelly, Thomas Napper,
Production: Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television
Distribution: Prime Video
Cast: Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Josha Stradowski, Zoë Robins, Madeleine Madden, Marcus Rutherford, Dónal Finn, Ceara Coveney, Kate Fleetwood, Natasha O’Keeffe, Ayoola Smart, Kae Alexander, Sophie Okonedo
Synopsis: After defeating Ishamael at the end of Season Two, Rand reunites with his friends at Falme and is declared the Dragon Reborn. But in Season Three, the threats against the Light are multiplying: the White Tower stands divided, the Black Ajah run free, old enemies return to the Two Rivers, and the remaining Forsaken are in hot pursuit of the Dragon… including Lanfear, whose relationship with Rand will mark a crucial choice between Light and Dark for them both. As the ties to his past begin to unravel, and his corrupted power grows stronger, Rand becomes increasingly unrecognizable to his closest allies, Moiraine and Egwene. These powerful women, who started the series as teacher and student, must now work together to prevent the Dragon from turning to the Dark…no matter the cost.