Full spoilers observe for The Wheel of Time seasons 1 and a pair of.
The Wheel of Time (TWoT) has been considerably overshadowed by its Prime Video sibling – The Rings of Power – because the latter’s preliminary arrival in September 2022. Indeed, if not for The Lord of the Rings‘ prequel sequence, The Wheel of Time could be the dominant style power of its form on Amazon’s streaming platform.
Nevertheless, TWoT‘s live-action adaptation remains to be properly price watching – and, with the present’s third season set to be the darkest and most epic but, it’d even be sturdy sufficient to wrestle the excessive fantasy crown from its greatest Prime Video present peer.
Ahead of The Wheel of Time season 3’s launch on March 13, I sat down with its solid to seek out out what we will count on from their particular person and collective journeys, and the way The Wheel of Time season 3 goes larger and bolder than earlier seasons. Light spoilers for season 3 and TWoT‘s supply materials observe, so proceed with warning.
Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred
“The Moraine-Rand story is vitally essential to this season,” Pike says of the Prime Video present’s two fundamental characters. “For a lot of season 2, he tried to offer her the slip, has fallen in love with a Forsaken [in Lanfear], and type of gone rogue.
Moiraine nonetheless feels that Rand wants her
Rosamund Pike, The Wheel of Time actor
“Now, so as to add to the hazard, the entire world is aware of he is the Dragon Reborn, so completely different factions are all of a sudden closing in on him. They wish to manipulate him for their very own ends or, within the Red Ajah’s case, seize him and kill him.
“Moiraine nonetheless feels that he wants her,” Pike continues. “She must information him as a result of that is a part of the prophecy that she obtained – she has to arrange him for what he should face within the Last Battle.
“But, he is being extra obstructive to her. He’s like a young person who’s rebelling and desires his personal thoughts, and he needs to make his personal choices, which is comprehensible. That additionally impresses her, although, as a result of he wants to seek out his mettle to fulfil his future. So, I feel she’s studying that, as a way to nonetheless have affect, she should observe him and that is a complete new factor for Moiraine to cope with on this larger, bolder, and bleaker season.”
Josha Stradowski as Rand al’Thor
“It was Moiraine who revealed Rand was the Dragon Reborn,” Stradowski reminds us of occasions that transpired in The Wheel of Time‘s season 2 finale. “And I feel he realized that, subsequent time, it will be him that can [use the One Power] to point out he is the Dragon. He is aware of there is not any working away from the prophecy anymore – he has to confront it.
“When I had conversations with [showrunner] Rafe [Judkins] I wished to seek out out why Rand is the Dragon and what meaning,” Stradowski continues about Rand’s determination to journey to the Aiel Waste, an enormous desert area that may maintain some clues to the Dragon’s origins.
“I used to be curious concerning the thought of a non secular factor to it, like there is a hook pulling him to a spot the place he ought to go, or he will get indicators or solutions from individuals. It’s like a homecoming to a spot he hasn’t been earlier than; an echo of one other life that leads him to the Waste. It’ll be a totally distinction expertise for him and I feel that is a really thrilling factor to discover.”
Daniel Henney as Lan Mandragoran
“Unfortunately, each time Lan is with Nynaeve, it is often a second the place they’re parting methods,” Henney tells me of TWoT’s seemingly star crossed lovers. “I feel he senses this imminent hazard and anytime they half methods, it may very well be the final time they see one another. Zoe [Robins] and I do not get loads of scenes collectively, so it is all the time good to have these moments of levity or romance in our present.
As for the importance of Lan lastly brandishing the Sword of Malkier, an historical and highly effective weapon created to struggle the Dark One’s forces, to not point out solely one in every of two household heirlooms he nonetheless has, Henney says: “He’s been haunted for years by this previous he does not know not a lot about and his household who was murdered. I feel it begins to vary his thought course of about confronting his previous and making his means towards that [becoming the rightful King of Malkier] and what that might imply sooner or later. Hopefully, we’re capable of showcase that in some unspecified time in the future on this present.”
Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara
“Everything that is occurred in seasons 1 and a pair of has given him time to replicate and be taught issues about himself,” Rutherford says of Perrin’s journey thus far. “I feel he is slowly been piecing collectively the type of individual he’s.
“In season 3, he is reluctant to be concerned on this journey anymore, or being thrust into the sample and this prophecy, so he takes himself out of it and transfer again dwelling. But, when he returns, there is a there’s an instantaneous hazard with the Trollocs and the White Cloaks, and he feels guilt over that. He seems like his actions elsewhere is why they have been attacking the village and the those who he loves.
Perrin is reluctant to be concerned on this journey anymore
Marcus Rutherford, The Wheel of Time actor
“There’s additionally an actual catharsis about returning dwelling and transferring on from Layla’s loss of life [in season 1]. Once he involves phrases with that trauma, he may see that, somewhat than hiding within the nook and never eager to trigger any injury to himself or anybody round him, he will be helpful to the Two Rivers.
“Whether he likes it or not, he is thrust into this management place,” Rutherford teases about Perrin’s coming-of-age arc in season 3. “There are so many kind of elements this season that heart on the reluctance of being a hero, however he turns into so integral to the village that he turns into somebody that everybody rallies round. Again, there is a reluctance to take that limelight, however these management qualities come out of him naturally. It’s why individuals look to him because the darkness bodily looms over the horizon.”
Donal Finn as Mat Cauthon
“There are some pivotal Matt moments that, as somebody who consumed the books concurrently we have been taking pictures, I used to be simply delighted to see them placed on the display screen,” Finn mysteriously says about the place Matt’s journey goes subsequent. “We’ve all seen books tailored for big- and/or small-screen initiatives that you simply hope finally ends up being depicted the way you imagined it in our head canon, they usually grew to become good focal factors for Matt’s arc all through the season.
“Obviously I’m not going to spoil something for viewers who have not learn the books!” Finn provides with a smile. “What I can say is, in the beginning of season 3, Matt is on the White Tower. It’s identified that we’ll see Gawyn and Galad [Elayne Trakand’s half-siblings] coaching there, so all the elements are there for a selected struggle from the books to make it into the present. There are different moments that make it into the sequence from the novels as properly and I feel they keep true to what’s within the supply materials, so keep tuned.”
Ceara Coveney as Elayne Trakand
“At the tip of season 2, Elayne understands a lot extra about herself,” Coveney explains. “Last season, she was kidnapped, thrust right into a harmful state of affairs, and healed the Dragon Reborn to avoid wasting him from sure loss of life. So, she got here face-to-face along with her energy, however I additionally suppose her journey all through season 2 uncovered her flaws and that she wants her mates as a result of they complement her so properly.
I feel we see her beginning to put the items collectively of the unbelievable and highly effective chief she’ll finally turn into
Ceara Coveney, The Wheel of Time actor
“Coming into season 3, she has a brand new sense of self,” Coveney continues. “I feel she’s actually questioning what sort of Queen she needs to be [in the future], and the way she will use her energy to carve this path out earlier than her.
“When we’re launched to her household [who travel to The White Tower to find out what happened to her], we see this newfound battle inside Elayne. She’s made this new life for herself with mates, however she’s totally conscious of her tasks and duties to Andor, her mom’s expectations of her and the way that is now being challenged, and why she does not see it in the identical means as her mom does anymore.
“However, her mom is a really highly effective determine, so Elayne is confronted with obeying her mom, or following her mates and preventing for what she believes in. That propels her on a journey of discovery and exploration this season. Elayne pushes boundaries in ways in which she hasn’t earlier than, and she or he fights with a ardour and a fireplace that she’s discovered inside herself. So, I feel we see her beginning to put the items collectively of the unbelievable and highly effective chief she’ll finally turn into, and I’m actually excited for followers to see that.”
Ayoola Smart as Aviendha
“It’s an enormous season for Aviendha,” Smart says of her character’s more and more pivotal function in The Wheel of Time. “When we met her in season 2, she had this clear goal [to find the Dragon Reborn].
“In season 3, she has this inside battle raging inside her. What do you do when this individual [the Dragon] you have been looking for your entire life, been taught about, and raised on inside your tradition, is somebody who disappoints you and you discover annoying? I feel an enormous a part of Aviendha’s journey is coming to phrases with the truth that you do not all the time get the result that you simply’re anticipating or wanting.
“But having the ability to return to the Aiel Waste, and what meaning for her, is an enormous deal as she’s bringing again this one that holds a lot significance to her and her individuals,” Smart provides about Aviendha bringing Rand to her homeland. “How that performs out and what it means for her… I will not say anymore, but it surely’s very thrilling!”
Natasha O’Keeffe as Lanfear
“In a super world, Lanfear is wanting the entire ‘king and queen of darkness’ factor,” O’Keeffe says of the Forsaken’s obsession with Rand. “But, that would not be very attention-grabbing for her. Plus, her plan to do this is not as easy because it was final season as a result of Rand is not falling for the methods she beforehand employed.
“So, Selene [Lanfear’s human alias] had her second and now Lanfear has to work with Rand and this new model of himself that he is displaying. He’s evolving, which is a pretty prospect to Lanfear as a result of she believes he is slowly turning in the direction of the Shadow. That makes for a enjoyable push and pull dynamic between them.
“That all mentioned, I feel attaining energy is her fundamental purpose this season,” O’Keeffe teases of Lanfear’s function in proceedings. “Rand could be a pleasant accoutrement, however she’d be okay with out him!”
The Wheel of Time season 3 makes its Prime Video debut with a three-episode premiere on Thursday, March 13. New episodes air weekly till the season 3 finale on Thursday, April 17.
