The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 1 Ending Explained: Who Survives and What Path Do They Take?
The Wheel of Time Season 3 starts with everything upside down. It’s been a while since the battle at Falme, and our protagonists have returned to Tar Valon, but peace doesn’t last long. Rand is already known as the Reborn Dragon, and the news has reached the White Tower, where the Sedai Aes have their internal moves. On the other hand, Egwene is still traumatized by the events of the past season and does not know how to move on. Meanwhile, Rand begins to realize how enormous the power he has and how dangerous it can be if it gets out of hand.
The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 1 Ending Explained: Who Survives And What Path Do They Take?
The episode begins with the Sedai Aes meeting at the White Tower to judge Liandrin, whom they have discovered as a Friend of Darkness. His defense is simple: Siuan Sanche, the Amyrlin Seat, let Rand escape, knowing what he was. Siuan responds by revealing to the room that Liandrin is a traitor, but without clear evidence. It is then that Nynaeve intervenes and confesses that Liandrin kidnapped her and sold her to the Seanchan. The situation explodes in combat in the middle of the room, and surprisingly, many Aes Sedai support Liandrin and rebel against the Amyrlin Seat. A massacre breaks out. Meanwhile, Verin and Adeleas are betrayed by Nyomi from Red Ajah, leaving Adeleas in a devastated state of mind and Verin with no way to reverse it. Nyomi also steals important objects of power and escapes. On the other hand, Moiraine manages to save Siuan, although chaos has left the White Tower in ruins. In the middle of the confrontation, Alanna and her guardians try to resist, but Ivonh dies protecting her from Liandrin’s sword.
What About Rand, Mat and Perrin?
Rand, Mat, and Perrin are taking advantage of their “last day of freedom” before Moiraine decides her next steps. Mat, who used the Horn of Valere, cannot sleep because he hears battle cries in his head and, to top it off, begins to speak in the old language without realizing it. Meanwhile, Rand tells Mat and Perrin about Selene, though he omits Lanfear. And speaking of Lanfear, she appears before Moiraine to discuss a crucial issue: Rand must go to Tear to reclaim Callandor, the legendary sword that can help him defeat the Forsaken and the Dark. Although Lan distrusts her, Moiraine considers her a necessary evil because Lanfear fears other Forsaken more than they do.
Does Egwene Manage to Pass his Test in the White Tower?
Egwene is in the midst of an identity crisis and plans to leave the White Tower to follow Rand. However, Siuan reminds you that if you leave without completing your workout and getting an Accepted ring, you will never be able to return. Egwene agrees to undergo the Arcos test, where he faces visions of the future, including one in which he becomes the Amyrlin Seat and must execute Rand because he has lost control over his power. The proof is brutal, but Egwene overcomes it and gets his ring, although he makes it clear that his loyalty is to the Light and not to Siuan. Upon leaving, he decides to join Rand on his journey.
Who Attacks the Protagonists?
When night falls, the protagonists are attacked by surprise. Mat is hypnotized by tarot cards while Nynaeve is brutally attacked in the same room. Meanwhile, Egwene is stabbed, and Rand loses control of his power by trying to save her. Lan finally steps in to rescue Nynaeve, who is still unable to channel. It turns out that there are two threats: Lanfear, who just wanted to scare them into Tear, and a Renegade named Gray Man, who was trying to kill them. This means that the Dark One already knows where Rand is, so they must leave as soon as possible.
Will the Protagonists Separate?
After the battle, the characters decide to take different paths. Nynaeve chooses to stay in the White Tower to learn how to control her power, and Mat decides to stay with her to deal with her curse. Egwene, on the other hand, will follow Rand, while Perrin plans to return to Dos Ríos alongside Loial, Bain, and Chiad. At the end of the episode, Aviendha joins Rand because, like the Car’a’carn (the Chief of Chiefs of the Aiel), she is destined to protect him. However, Rand makes an unexpected decision: instead of going to Tear by the Callandor sword, he decides to head to Wasteland Aiel to assemble an army to help him defeat the Shadow.
What Does the Final Scene Mean?
The episode ends with Moghedien, one of the Forsaken, torturing a man named Jaichim in a network of shadows. She gives him a choice: to die or become a “Gray”, a kind of spy who is neither with the Light nor with the Dark. This suggests that the Gray Man who attacked the protagonists was also sent by Moghedien, which means that the danger is still far from over.
Conclusion
The first episode of the third season of The Wheel of Time puts all the pieces on the board for a darker and more dangerous plot. Rand is beginning to understand his destiny, but every decision he makes could change the course of the story. Egwene continues to struggle with her role in all of this, while the White Tower teeters on internal betrayal. With the Forsaken lurking and an impending war, the fight against the Shadow has only just begun.
