Why Elayne’s Missed Moment in Wheel of Time Season 3 is a Huge Disappointment

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Warning: Includes a SPOILER for The Wheel of Time book 5, The Fires of Heaven!

It appears that Amazon Prime Video’s show “The Wheel of Time” was building towards a significant moment for Elayne, but unfortunately, we won’t get to witness it because the series has been abruptly canceled by Amazon last Friday. The fantasy television adaptation based on Robert Jordan’s extensive book saga has generated mixed reactions since its debut, with some viewers expressing concerns about the numerous alterations from the original work, while others appreciated the new take, which deviated from Jordan’s complex and expansive material.

In essence, the finale of The Wheel of Time season 3 appears to have wrapped up the happenings from The Shadow Rising novel, hinting that The Fires of Heaven could be the next tale brought to life on screen. At this point, we can only guess, but by considering the book events and adjustments made in season 3, various ideas have been proposed about the series’ potential direction. Among the cast, Ceara Coveney delivers one of my favorite performances as Elayne, and I eagerly await seeing where her story will go next.

How Wheel Of Time’s New Ter’angreal Connects To Rahvin’s Fate In The Books

Elayne Has A Ter’angreal Rod That Creates Balefire

In the third season of The Wheel of Time, there was a significant shift regarding Elayne’s possession of a ter’angreal staff. This artifact had been among the items secretly taken from the White Tower by the Black Ajah. Liandrin, one of the Black Ajah, declared that this rod could unleash a destructive force called “balefire.” She employed balefire to save Thom Merrilin, annihilating an enemy in a single burst. Unlike ordinary means of death, balefire prevents the target from being reborn under the control of the Dark One. This powerful weapon was instrumental in defeating one of the Forsaken in the original novels.

Rahvin, once known as the Forsaken, has secretly entered the realm of Andor. By employing his forceful ability called Compulsion, he exerted control over Queen Morgase Trakand, who is Elayne’s mother. You may recall that we encountered him in season 3, and if the series had been based on “The Fires of Heaven” for season 4, Rahvin could have served as the main adversary.

In the book, it is Rand who uses Balefire to eliminate Rahvin, thereby vanquishing him and thwarting the Dark One’s attempt at resurrecting him. However, the show appears to be steering towards a different resolution for this critical moment, with Elayne stepping into Rand’s role instead.

Elayne Could Have Killed Rahvin Instead Of Rand

Elayne Killing A Forsaken Would Have Been Amazing

It’s quite possible that Elayne, having been equipped with means to eliminate Rahvin who poses a threat to her kingdom, may be the one to liberate Andor from his control. Given her status as the heir to the throne, it seems fitting for her character arc if she were the one to reclaim her kingdom. With numerous books and Forsaken characters to deal with, intertwining stories of other characters like Rand was quite reasonable.

In a potential scenario, we could find Rand al’Thor advancing his storyline more swiftly, perhaps even jumping to the events of “Lord of Chaos” in season 3’s finale. This progression might involve Rand encountering Mazrim Taim and embarking on the Black Tower plotline. Given Moiraine’s suggestion that he needed a trainer and the recent power shift with Elaida’s coup and the White Tower being seized, it seems plausible that Rand would prioritize mastering his newfound abilities, with Mazrim Taim taking over as his mentor in place of Asmodean from the original novels.

In the “Wheel of Time” series, Elayine experiences several remarkable instances, yet nothing quite matches the magnitude of defeating a Forsaken. Thom Merrilin revealed that Rahvin was masquerading as Lord Gaebril, and it wouldn’t have been surprising if her immediate response wasn’t to rescue her mother. The “Wheel of Time” series was brimming with captivating narratives that were just beginning to unfold, but I find myself mainly frustrated that Elayne did not get the opportunity to realize the promising storylines she had been established for.

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2025-05-27 06:07