Wheel of Time TV Show Kills Off Major Villain Early, Shaking Up Future Plot

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In simpler terms, the final episode of season 3 in the Amazon Prime Video adaptation of “Wheel of Time” novels has eliminated a Forsaken character much sooner than in the books. This early removal means that a significant portion of plot from one book is no longer present in the series, as it’s challenging to cover every detail from the extensive novel series on television. The show has previously skipped over book three, “The Dragon Reborn,” and while they plan to revisit its key elements later, this omission still results in a substantial amount of missing development.

Critics frequently find Jordan’s novels slow and wandering, making it tempting to compile the most contentious parts. However, it appears that the TV show might be shuffling all the events around, making it difficult to match seasons with books in the future. Now that The Wheel of Time season 3 has concluded, covering the majority of The Shadow Rising, there’s a logical next step: moving on to books five and six. Unfortunately, events from book seven have already been adapted.

The Wheel Of Time Confirms The Death Of The Seventh Book’s Main Villain

Sammael Is One Of Several Premature Character Deaths

In The Wheel of Time’s third season, episode six, Lanfear placed a significant challenge before Rand, challenging him as the Dragon Reborn. Moiraine decided not to intervene, and Rand narrowly escaped death during his battle against the Forsaken, Sammael. Had it not been for Egwene and Aviendha’s intervention, Rand would have perished, but they provided an opening for him to retaliate, employing the One Power against the antagonist. It appeared as though Sammael had expired in episode six, yet he resurfaced for a brief scene in the season three finale.

In the final episode of season 3 of “The Wheel of Time,” Sammael makes his reappearance, only to be swiftly defeated by Moghedien, one of his own kind. This event effectively removes the character from future storylines, particularly in the Illian plot, where he would have likely become a significant antagonist. In the books, after being freed from confinement, Sammael assumes the identity of Lord Brend and seizes control of the Council of Nine, amassing immense power within one of the largest cities and nations in the “The Wheel of Time” universe. Naturally, this places him on Rand’s radar as a formidable adversary.

In the narrative of “A Crown of Swords,” Rand encounters Sammael, but it could prove difficult to maintain this plot thread as is, especially if Sammael is not substituted by another Forsaken. This is because there are only eight Forsaken in Amazon Prime’s adaptation, which might lead to a slimming down of such storylines from the larger narrative. The books between seven and ten are often criticized for their slower pace and repetitiveness, so it’s plausible they’ll be substantially abridged for the TV series. It remains uncertain whether these changes will prove advantageous or if they might diminish the main themes of the story.

How Skipping A Crown Of Swords Will Impact Rand’s Future

Will This Take Too Much From The Wheel Of Time’s World-Building?

In “A Crown of Swords,” Rand chases Sammael to Illian, but their confrontation takes place in Shadar Logoth instead. When Sammael is slain by the malevolence of Shadar Logoth, Rand gains control of Illian’s crown, which explains the book’s title. However, in the TV show, Rand may acquire Illian’s forces through different methods, but the essence of what makes “The Wheel of Time” unique is its diverse cultures and the multitude of factions and armies that unite to fight in the Last Battle.

In the TV series, they are free to create any number of troops supporting Rand in the struggle. The specifics aren’t crucial for what happens during The Last Battle, and over-elaborating might prove too complex to portray effectively on screen. The books may seem repetitive or redundant at times, but that’s part of their charm. The intricate world-building is just as significant, if not more so, than the storyline itself. Jordan intended The Last Battle to be a global confrontation.

Reducing the number of skipped narratives in the TV show may diminish the sense of The Last Battle being the epic battle Robert Jordan envisioned and Brandon Sanderson wrote. Trimming excess details is acceptable, but eliminating key characters or events that have a domino effect could significantly alter the final outcome. A significant chunk of “The Wheel of Time” involves Rand traveling globally to confront various adversaries, so it’s plausible that numerous stories will be combined into one season for streamlined storytelling.

The Wheel Of Time May Use Other Parts Of A Crown Of Swords

Egwene’s Storyline Could Still Happen In The Show

The novel “A Crown of Swords” remains a substantial read, and it’s unlikely that the TV series will overlook it entirely. I suspect Illian may be incorporated into the show, possibly with Rand engaging with a human council rather than combating a Forsaken threat. On the other hand, Egwene’s storyline is crucial. Starting from “Lord of Chaos”, Egwene assumes the role of the Amyrlin Seat for the rebel Aes Sedai forces and confronts Elaida directly. Given that we witnessed Elaida seize control of the White Tower in the season 3 finale, it’s clear this narrative will unfold in the series.

In “A Crown of Swords,” Egwene learns and grows under the guidance of Siuan Sanche, who in the books remains alive but is instead “stilled” and later manages to break free from the tower, losing her abilities. Although she regains a small portion of her control over the One Power later on, Siuan primarily uses her political acumen among the Aes Sedai to teach Egwene how to navigate her position as the Amyrlin Seat. Since Siuan Sanche dies in the show, I speculate that this storyline may be transferred to Moiraine, providing her with a role during her absence from the novels.

In the novel “A Crown of Swords,” there’s an additional storyline that unfolds in Ebou Dar, featuring Elayne, Nynaeve, Mat, and Aviendha. This thread eventually links back to the return of the Seanchan, which forms a substantial part of “The Path of Daggers.” Since this tale will likely be combined with material from book eight, future seasons of “The Wheel of Time” may move through these books at a quicker pace than Jordan did. Whether this speedier approach enhances or diminishes the epic is yet to be seen, and only time can tell.

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2025-04-18 22:18