What’s Next for Rand al’Thor After Being Named Car’a’carn in The Wheel of Time?

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In the finale of Wheel of Time season 3, Rand al’Thor’s Car’a’carn identity was confirmed officially, paving the way for a fresh chapter in his journey. The Amazon Prime Video series based on Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time novels has been chronicling Rand’s quest to win over the Aiel clans and earn their support as the prophesied Car’a’carn (He Who Comes With The Dawn). Hints about Rand being the one foretold were gradually revealed, with characters like Rhuarc and some of the Wise Ones sensing that the time had come. However, with this confirmation, any lingering doubts have been eliminated.

In the novel that shaped the narrative for season 3, titled “The Shadow Rising“, reached its climax with Rand announcing himself as Car’a’carn and exposing a startling truth about the Aiel: they once adhered to the Way of the Leaf. This shocking disclosure, which effectively marked their destruction in the eyes of many, was hard for some Aiel to accept. However, the majority found it increasingly challenging to dispute Rand’s claim due to his dragon tattoos and ancestry. The finale of The Wheel of Time season 3 largely stayed faithful to this development, suggesting that future events will draw heavily from the original source material, albeit with some necessary deviations.

Rand Goes To Both Cairhein And Caemlyn In The Fires Of Heaven

Rand Travels To Two Major Locations In The Shadow Rising’s Sequel

Following The Shadow Rising, Rand’s subsequent destination was Cairhein. In The Fires of Heaven, book five of the series, he guided the Aiel in a relatively smooth conquest of Cairhein. This strategic move was born out of his confrontation with Couladin, who led the Aiel who refused to follow Rand into the city from the Aiel Waste. Once he defeated Couladin and his troops, Rand managed to secure Cairhein and found himself in control of the nation.

In contrast to what some might expect, Rand’s conquest of Cairhein was not the climax of “The Fires of Heaven”. Instead, the story’s conclusion unfolded in Caemlyn, the capital city of Andor. Rahvin successfully executed his plan to seize control of Andor, causing Rand to travel to Caemlyn. By the book’s end, Rand found himself locked in a dramatic, high-stakes confrontation with Rahvin.

Rand Still Hasn’t Taken The Stone Of Tear

Going After Callandor Will Probably Be Rand’s Next Task

In “The Fires of Heaven,” we find a plan for Rand’s storyline in season 4, but it’s crucial to remember that altering the sequence of events could mean the show won’t follow Rand’s exact book journey. It seems that instead of sticking to the original order, the series is presenting Rand’s narratives from books 3 and 4, “The Dragon Reborn” and “The Shadow Rising,” in reverse. In the novel’s conclusion for “The Dragon Reborn,” Rand obtained the Stone of Tear and wielded Callandor, meeting a group of Aiel afterwards. Subsequently, he embarked on a quest to unite the other Aiel clans in “The Shadow Rising.

Rather than choosing that path initially, the TV series set Rand on a journey to earn the title of Car’a’carn in Tar Valon, delaying his pursuit of Callandor. However, it is evident that Tear has not been disregarded by the show, as both Lanfear and Moiraine have previously recognized the importance of retrieving Callandor.

The show subtly hinted at Rand’s upcoming mission to acquire Callandor during the season 3 finale. Moiraine acknowledged to Rand that his decision to form an alliance with the Aiel was justified, as it provided him with an army to seize the Stone of Tear effectively. This suggests that securing Callandor is probably the next step on Rand’s plans. The possibility of this storyline being explored next was reinforced by Lanfear’s discussion with Rahvin in the finale, where she suggested that he should confront Rand at Tear.

This remark adds another crucial component to a revised conclusion for “The Dragon Reborn.” However, it’s important to note that Rand doesn’t engage in a skirmish with Rahvin concerning Callandor, but a Forsaken protecting the Sword That Is Not A Sword is indeed significant in the original story. In the source material, Rand found himself confronted by both Be’lal and Ishamael when he attempted to claim Callandor. Since Ishamael has been killed and Be’lal might be eliminated from “The Wheel of Time’s” Forsaken group, Rahvin could be the antagonist who attempts to ambush Rand at the Stone of Tear.

Taking The Stone Of Tear Should Be Next For Rand, With Caemlyn Also On The Horizon

Rand Could Conquer Tear In The Beginning Of Season 4

Based on how events have unfolded for Rand’s character in the TV series up to now, it appears that the most likely course of action at this juncture would be for him to visit the Stone of Tear and possibly one or both locations he went to in “The Fires of Heaven”. While it might seem difficult to incorporate so much into a single season, it’s not entirely impossible. It’s worth noting that most events from “The Dragon Reborn” have either been resolved or made insignificant, leaving only the book’s conclusion yet to be portrayed on screen. This could easily be wrapped up in one or two episodes.

In simpler terms, it seems that Rand’s claim on Callandor might set the stage for the fourth season of “The Wheel of Time,” potentially skipping over “The Fires of Heaven” as the series’ foundation. Given that Season 3 demonstrated the show’s flexibility in adapting books, we can’t be certain that “The Fires of Heaven” will serve as the primary narrative, but the current plot trajectory strongly suggests this possibility. Notably, Rahvin, the principal antagonist from “The Fires of Heaven,” has already been introduced and appears to pose a significant ongoing threat for Rand to confront later on.

In addition, there remains the issue of Couladin and the Shaido’s role within the larger narrative. Though they have left, it doesn’t necessarily mean that their matters have been fully resolved. As they were central figures in the conflict in Cairhein during “The Fires of Heaven”, their storyline is already well-established. However, it could be repositioned to Caemlyn to tie together various plotlines. In any case, given his past actions, Couladin seems poised to serve as a formidable adversary for Rand in the upcoming season.

Apart from this, Elayne’s tale is poised to lead her to Caemlyn as well, given that she is aware of Gaebril being a Forsaken. The presence of various characters associated with Caemlyn, such as Queen Morgase Trakand, sets the stage for it to have a pivotal role in the broader storyline of The Wheel of Time series, with the Dragon Reborn anticipated to be at the heart of these events in season 4.

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2025-04-18 21:18