10 Great Wheel Of Time Moments We’re Worried Won’t Happen In The TV Show

Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time book series

Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time is an adaptation of Robert Jordan’s fantasy novel series of the same name, but the show looks increasingly likely to omit 10 hugely important moments from Jordan’s novels. The Wheel of Time season 3 is expected to adapt the fourth novel in Jordan’s series, The Shadow Rising, but it remains to be seen if elements from any of the other novels in the series will be included.

The Wheel of Time season 2’s ending corresponds roughly with the end of the second novel, mostly skipping book three. With that in mind, several key scenes have already been cut from the show. Further, The Wheel of Time show’s trajectory is much clearer than it was after season 1, making it easier to predict where the show will go next. Based on what has already been skipped and which stories have been set up thus far, it looks like The Wheel of Time could skip 10 huge events from Jordan’s novels.

10

Ishamael’s Return As Moridin

The Dark One Resurrects And Renames Ishamael Moridin

After Ishamael’s death in The Wheel of Time season 2, it’s hard to say if the villain will return to the show. In the books, Ishamael survives his encounter with Rand in Falme, only to be killed at the Stone of Tear when the two next meet. However, Jordan did not wish to part with the most powerful of The Wheel of Time‘s Forsaken so early, so he had the Dark One pluck Ishamael’s soul from his dying form, placing it in a new body. After being resurrected, Ishamael is renamed Moridin.

Ishamael/Moridin remains central to the story for the entire book series, even playing a vital role in The Last Battle, but the show may not be following this outline. There is a sense of finality in Ishamael’s death scene during The Wheel of Time season 2 that suggests the villain could be gone for good. Then again, this feeling could be meant to convey Ishamael’s exultance at finally dying, only to be dragged back into the world by his cruel master. So, there’s still hope that Ishamael/Moridin will return.

9

Mat Meeting The Aelfinn & The Eelfinn

The Aelfinn And The Eelfin Are Devious Creatures From An Alternate World

Mat’s story in The Wheel of Time season 3 is somewhat difficult to predict, as there are several important storylines from his book arc that should have been covered by now. One critical part of Mat’s story that is looking increasingly unlikely to occur is Mat’s encounter with the strange species known as the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn. Mat first encounters them in The Dragon Reborn, but since most of that book is glossed over in The Wheel of Time season 2, this now looks unlikely.

Mat’s next encounter with the Aelfinn and Eelfinn comes in the city of Rhuidean, deep within the Aiel Waste. However, it’s looking increasingly likely that Mat’s season 3 arc will jump to his visit to Caemlyn with Thom, rather than sending him into the Waste with Rand. With that in mind, the Aelfinn and Eelfinn may be cut from the show altogether, as it would be difficult to include their later contributions to the story without these early scenes setting them up.

8

Moiraine Being Captured By The Aelfinn And Eelfinn

Moiraine Drags Lanfear Into The Doorway To The World Of Snakes And Foxes

Moiraine looks set to face off with Lanfear in The Wheel of Time as she does in the books, but if the Aelfinn and Eelfinn are cut, as Mat’s story changes seem to suggest, then their conflict will need to happen differently. In the books, Moiraine tackles Lanfear through a ter’angreal shaped like a doorway, transporting both of them to the world of the Eelfinn and the Aelfinn.

Lanfear would’ve eventually been killed by the strange species as they sucked the One Power from her body, but Moridin arrives and kills her prematurely, allowing the Dark One to reclaim her soul and resurrect her in a new body. Moiraine, on the other hand, is their captive for roughly half the book series, until she is rescued just in the nick of time by Mat, Thom, and Noal. It’s highly likely Moiraine will still defeat Lanfear, at least temporarily, but the Aelfinn and Eelfinn’s probable absence would rule out Moiraine becoming their captive.

7

Rand Fighting Ishamael At The Stone Of Tear

Ishamael Survives The Duel At Falme In The Wheel Of Time Books

Another incredible moment from The Wheel of Time book series in danger of being cut from Prime Video’s adaptation is Rand’s second duel with Ishamael, which takes place at the Stone of Tear near the end of book 3, The Dragon Reborn. This epic encounter sees Rand finally kill Ishamael, but as previously mentioned, Ishamael is resurrected in the books under the name of Moridin. Unfortunately, after Ishamael’s death in The Wheel of Time season 2’s finale, a rematch between the two most powerful channelers ever is looking unlikely.

Firstly, Ishamael’s death scene in the show carries a sense of finality that casts doubt on his potential return as Moridin. Further, The Wheel of Time show is already being forced to cut several of the Forsaken due to time restraints, so it might not have time to start resurrecting previously defeated villains. Still, it would be an enormous disappointment if The Wheel of Time‘s greatest and most powerful villain were defeated for good so early in the series, so there’s still hope for an eventual rematch between Rand and Ishamael, even if it doesn’t happen in Tear.

6

The Eye Of The World’s Prologue

This Is The Only Scene In The Wheel Of Time Books Set In The Age Of Legends

One of the most crucial missing moments from the first Wheel of Time book, The Eye of the World, is the prologue, which provides a glimpse of the Breaking of the World. In this scene, Ishamael finds the newly mad Lews Therin Telamon surrounded by the family members he killed after going mad. Ishamael temporarily lifts the veil of insanity from Lews Therin’s mind, allowing him to see what he had done.

Swallowed by his grief, Lews Therin Travels to a spot near where Tar Valon will eventually stand, drawing so much of the One Power that it kills him and creates the mountain known as Dragonmount. The Wheel of Time season 1 finale includes a brief scene with Lews Therin, but the show has yet to depict The Eye of the World‘s prologue. Since The Wheel of Time season 1 opted to include Lews Therin but not show his death, the chance to include this iconic book scene may have already passed.

5

The Green Man Appearing

The Green Man Is The Last Of A Constructed Species Known As The Nym

Another consequence of The Wheel of Time‘s changes to The Eye of the World is that Someshta, otherwise known as the Green Man, does not make an appearance. Someshta is a Nym, a species constructed by the Aes Sedai during the Age of Legends to help agriculture flourish and ensure that hunger was eliminated completely. By the events in The Eye of the World, Someshta is the only living Nym, left to guard the untainted pool of Saidin found within the Eye.

Someshta’s appearance in the books provides an important bit of worldbuilding for the Age of Legends, an era that has been scantly discussed in The Wheel of Time show, despite its importance to the story. Someshta also fights and defeats one of the Forsaken in The Eye of the World, so the show is missing out on a fantastic fight scene as well. Unfortunately, with the changes made to the Eye in The Wheel of Time show, it’s unlikely that Someshta will appear in the series in any capacity.

4

Mat Dueling Gawyn And Galad With His Quarterstaff

Mat Duels The Half-Brothers In Tar Valon In The Wheel Of Time Books

One of the numerous scenes from The Dragon Reborn that did not make the cut for The Wheel of Time season 2 is Mat’s duel with Galad Damodred and Gawyn Trakand, Elayne Trakand’s half-brother and brother, respectively. In this riveting scene, Mat duels them two-against-one, using his quarterstaff against their swords. Mat wins the duel easily, despite their being two of the best young swordsmen in Tar Valon.

Unfortunately, it now looks unlikely that Mat will be traveling back to Tar Valon after the Battle of Falme, as he does in the books. Instead, The Wheel of Time season 3 is poised to send Mat to Caemlyn to introduce Queen Morgase, and likely the Forsaken known as Rahvin. While this means Mat’s iconic duel is unlikely to happen in Tar Valon, it’s possible that the show could work the scene into his time in Caemlyn, as this is where Gawyn and Galad are from, but that could simply be wishful thinking.

3

Egwene Taking The Aes Sedai Accepted Test

Egwene Becoming Accepted Paves Her Way To The Amyrlin Seat

One moment from The Wheel of Time books that the show may not be able to include due to time restrictions is Egwene taking the test to become Accepted. This occurs in the books before she travels into Aiel Waste with Rand, and more importantly, before the White Tower schism. In the show, however, Egwene is being set up to journey to the Waste with Rand in season 3, which is also expected to include the White Tower coup.

This means that Egwene likely won’t return to the Tower before the coup occurs, making it impossible for her to take the Accepted test. Egwene is destined to join the faction of Aes Sedai that leaves the Tower, eventually becoming Amyrlin Seat and reuniting the two sides of the Aes Sedai. This means that Egwene will probably be the Amyrlin Seat by the next time she’s in Tar Valon, making it incredibly unlikely that she will ever take the Accepted test in the show’s canon.

2

Mat Obtaining His Fox Head Medallion Ter’angreal In Rhuidean

The Medallion Protects Its Wearer From Flows Of The One Power

Mat’s likely journey to Caemlyn in The Wheel of Time season 3 could also prevent him from obtaining his fox head medallion, a ter’angreal that causes weaves of the One Power to dissipate when they touch him. Naturally, this medallion gives Mat a huge advantage against Aes Sedai and other channelers, but it now appears unlikely that he will have this advantage in the show. Mat obtains the medallion during his trip to the Aiel city of Rhuidean, which he won’t be able to visit if he’s in Caemlyn, as expected.

If Mat does go to Caemlyn in The Wheel of Time season 3, then there’s still a chance he could obtain the medallion elsewhere, but if this fascinating ter’angreal is to be included, it would likely require Mat to travel to Rhuidean. It’s also worth pointing out that even if Mat doesn’t obtain the medallion in season 3, he could still find it at a later point in the show. However, the likelihood of Mat finding it decreases substantially if he doesn’t visit Rhuidean in season 3.

1

Moridin Saving Rand In Shadar Logoth

Moridin Saves Rand During His Fight With Sammael

Another massive moment from The Wheel of Time books that can’t happen if Ishamael doesn’t return as Moridin is when the Forsaken unexpectedly saves Rand’s life during his fight with Sammael in Shadar Logoth. This moment is obviously important because of the mystery of it — why Moridin would save his mortal enemy’s life — but also because it’s at this moment that Rand and Moridin’s souls are inextricably linked.

After Moridin saves Rand, Mashadar appears, prompting them to weave balefire at the dark creature. Their streams of balefire intersect, which, unbeknownst to either Rand or Moridin, links their souls. This link is crucial because it allows Rand to survive in Moridin’s body after The Last Battle. The details of Rand and Moridin’s body swap are muddy, but suffice it to say that without this moment, Rand would die in the end. With that in mind, this is a huge event for The Wheel of Time show to skip, but it now looks increasingly likely to be overlooked anyway.