The Car’a’carn Declares Himself as New Enemies Rise
Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time Season 3 finale.
The Wheel of Time‘s Season 3 finale tells a dramatic story as the different plotlines culminate in a tense conclusion. The series is still building a war between good and evil, which Season 3 has pushed forward with the release of more Forsaken and the individual journeys of the heroes. Throughout the latest installment, Rand (Josha Stradowski) and Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) go to the Aiel Waste to prove that Rand is the car’a’carn, the White Tower faces growing unrest, and Nynaeve (Zoë Robins), Elayne (Ceara Coveney), and Mat (Dónal Finn) journey to Tanchico in pursuit of Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood). After the penultimate episode centered on Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) and the battle in the Two Rivers, the other characters are back and in as desperate a situation as ever. In the final moments of the season, the central characters face both wins and losses, setting up even more for a potential Season 4.
Rand Declares Himself Car’a’carn in ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 Finale
Having finally removed himself from Lanfear’s (Natasha O’Keeffe) influence with the help of Egwene (Madeleine Madden), Rand creates a powerful enemy that gives him a new obstacle in the form of a fake Car’a’carn. Rand’s goal in Season 3 is to follow the prophecy of the Dragon Reborn and find the People of the Dragon; however, to gain the Aiel’s trust, Rand has to prove himself as the Car’a’carn they’ve have been searching for. He survives Rhuidean, gaining the marks on his arms as he learned about the Aiel’s history, which convinces Rhuarc (Björn Landberg) and the Taardad Aiel, but that is only one clan.
In the finale, Rand goes before the rest of the Aiel to proclaim himself Car’a’carn, but he finds a new obstacle: he is not the only one with the dragon marks on both arms. Thanks to Lanfear’s interference, Couladin (Set Sjöstrand), a member of the Shaido Aiel, also has the marks of the Car’a’carn, forcing the Aiel to choose who they believe, and as a true Aiel, who understands their culture, Couladin is a preferable choice. Though Rand points out that he fits the words of the Aiel prophecy and Couladin does not, it is not enough to convince the gathered Aiel, so Rand takes a different approach.
Taking a risk that Rhuarc claimed would destroy the Aiel, Rand reveals what he saw in Rhuidean to the entire crowd, telling them their true history as people who lived by the Way of the Leaf. While it is a shock, the clan chiefs and Wise Ones know that Rand went to Rhuidean and Couladin did not. This truth, along with Rand’s show of using the One Power to create rain in the desert, proves Rand’s point, and many of the Aiel bow to him, but others cannot accept the trust, creating a division.
Moirane and Lanfear Battle It Out in ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 Finale
During Moiraine’s trip to Rhuidean, she discovers that for Rand to live, she must die. While she can’t be sure when her death is coming, she determines that she will sacrifice herself if that’s what it takes. So, after Rand angers Lanfear by breaking it off, Moiraine prepares to die for the Light. While Rand stands before the Aiel, Moiraine waits for Lanfear, who attacks, and the former allies battle. Both sustain substantial injuries, but neither dies.
Lanfear, whose neck is cut by Moiraine wielding Lan’s (Daniel Henney) blade, portals away, leaving her fate unknown. Meanwhile, Moiraine, who was run through, collapses, but Lan is by her side, and she is still conscious. While Moiraine went into this fight prepared to sacrifice herself, her vision of a thousand thousand futures in Rhuidean seemingly remains unfulfilled.
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‘The Wheel of Time’ Just Called Back to the Aiel’s Tragic History in One Pivotal Scene
“We bury our dead, and we move on. What else is there?”
Nynaeve Overcomes Her Block and Min’s Vision Is Fulfilled in ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 Finale
Elsewhere, Mat, Nyneave, Elayne, and Min (Kae Alexander) find themselves in a dangerous situation. Searching Tanchico for the Black Ajah members who followed Liandrin and a male a’dam, the group heads to the Pentarch’s palace, believing they will find the a’dam there. Having lost the bracelet to Mogedhien (Laia Costa), it is their last chance at foiling this scheme. Splitting up to search, Elayne and Thom (Alexandre Willaume) barely survive an encounter with Jeaine Caide (Olivia Popica). Yet, in their time together, Thom convinces her that Lord Gaebril (Nuno Lopes) is not what he seems, hinting at Rahvin’s control over her mother.
While Mat and Min do not find the collar, they end up in a room full of treasures, including a mysterious ter’angreal archway that Mat goes through. On the other side, he encounters a creature called an Eelfinn, who threateningly asks Mat what he needs, offering to help him for a price, in accordance with an old treaty. In the end, Mat asks to stop being overpowered by magic, to get rid of the memories that aren’t his, and to leave the Eelfinn’s layer. Technically, his request is met, but Min finds Mat hanging from the arch like in her vision, and he barely survives. Though the extra memories are gone, Mat has additional gaps, launching him into a very different story.
Nynaeve searches for the a’dam alone and actually finds it, but she runs into Liandrin. Though Nynaeve tries to talk Liandrin into turning from the Dark One, Liandrin doesn’t listen to her, taking the a’dam for herself and sending Nynaeve into the water to drown. But Nynaeve escapes, overcoming her block and Liandrin’s magic to unchain herself and part the water. Though she lost the a’dam, they all survived their trip, if narrowly, and they now know what Liandrin is planning.
Elaida Stages a Coup in the White Tower in ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season Finale
Having Liandrin leave with the a’dam isn’t exactly a successful mission, but it is not the most catastrophic. The finale also shows Suian Sanche (Sophie Okonedo) as the White Tower devolves into a rebellion. Elaida (Shohreh Aghdashloo) has long been up to something, working to gain power in the Red Ajah and opposing Siuan at every chance she gets, but her full plan comes to light in the finale as she deposes Siuan. Going behind Siuan’s back, Elaida campaigns and wins the role of the Amyrlin Seat, sentencing Siuan to death. With Elaida now in control, the Aes Sedai are not the allies they once were, adding yet another opponent into the mix for Rand.
Meanwhile, the Forsaken’s plans evolve as well. After Moghedien kills Sammael (Cameron Jack), Rahvin agrees to work with Lanfear under the condition that Rand dies, which Lanfear is more than happy to agree to. Not only is this a change for Lanfear, but if the Forsaken start allying themselves, the heroes will be in much more danger. Moghedien finds a new ally herself as Liandrin convinces the Forsaken to accept her help in collaring Rand. After all, the a’dam needs two bracelet wearers. While neither works well as a team, they cannot collar the Dragon alone, so they form an alliance. With the villains working together, the stakes are higher than ever heading into a potential Season 4 of The Wheel of Time.
- Release Date
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November 18, 2021
- Network
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Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Rafe Judkins
- Directors
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Sanaa Hamri, Ciaran Donnelly, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Thomas Napper, Maja Vrvilo, Wayne Che Yip
- Writers
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Amanda Kate Shuman, Dave Hill, Rohit Kumar, Justine Juel Gillmer, Celine Song, Rammy Park, The Clarksons Twins, Katherine B. McKenna
