Did You Notice Mat’s Iconic Weapon Sneakily Introduced in Wheel of Time Season3?

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Warning: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 8

In a subtle but significant scene, the third season of “The Wheel of Time” introduced Mat Cauthon’s well-known weapon as depicted in the original material. The finale of season 3, however, took a major leap from Mat’s storyline in Robert Jordan’s novels when it placed him in confrontation with an Eelfinn member, a mystical race within “The Wheel of Time” universe. By granting Mat three wishes from the Eelfinn in this episode, the show has brought his character more in line with his counterpart in the “The Wheel of Time” books.

As a movie critic, I must say that despite Mat’s tragic end by hanging, it appears that two out of three magical aids bestowed upon him have proven incredibly beneficial. The first was the silver foxhead medallion, which serves as his shield against the One Power, and the second is said to untangle the confusing memories he acquired in the finale of ‘The Wheel of Time’ season 2.

At first sight, it may seem that the show overlooked the third gift from the Eelfinn – the ashandarai. However, a closer examination of Mat’s hanging scene suggests otherwise.

The Wheel Of Time Season 3 Finale Secretly Included The Ashanderei

The Ashandarei Is Mat’s Weapon Of Choice In The Books

In “The Wheel of Time,” when Mat was suspended from a doorway adorned in red ter’angreal, a spear, which supported the rope suspending Mat, stood prominently at the top of the scene. This arrangement mirrors the book version of the event; specifically, in “The Shadow Rising,” Rand discovered Mat hanging from a rope connected to a spear. After his recovery, Mat employed this spear, often referred to as an “ashanderei” within the series, as his preferred weapon during his subsequent escapades in the books.

In the TV show, it’s unclear whether the spear called ashandarei will become a regular weapon for Mat since it was only briefly shown and not depicted being removed from the doorway. However, considering that the series didn’t fully explain their departure from Tanchico, there’s a chance that Mat, Min, and the others might have taken the ashandarei with them when they left. If this is true, Mat may be seen wielding it in the fourth season of “The Wheel of Time.

Why The Eelfinn Gave Mat The Ashandarei

It Was The Answer To His Third Wish

Initially, it may seem that Mat’s three wishes and the ashandarei have no clear link, but later instalments in the series provide insights into this connection. In essence, Mat’s last wish for freedom was indirectly granted by the ashandarei. Although the Eelfinn sent him away themselves, they utilized the ashandarei to fulfill his desire when needed. In the novel ‘Towers of Midnight’, Mat learned in the realm of the Eelfinn that the ashandarei serves as a kind of key.

Put simply, the Eelfinn utilized the ashanderei to provide Mat with an exit from their realm – a solution he no longer requires but may prove beneficial should Amazon’s series The Wheel of Time ever bring Mat back to their world, arming him with the tools necessary for another escape.

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2025-04-20 21:37