A theory on The Wheel of Time season 3’s story postulates that Padan Fain will take the place of a major book villain. While there are some noteworthy differences, Johann Myers’ take on the evil Darkfriend is quite similar to his book counterpart, especially when it comes to his loyalties and sinister nature. However, there’s a chance the character’s path is about to deviate from Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time books in a significant way.

Wheel of Time season 2’s ending left Padan Fain alive, paving the way for him to get his arc from the fourth book, The Shadow Rising. The Wheel of Time season 3 is on track to adapt The Shadow Rising, a novel that encompasses a handful of plotlines, one of which is Perrin’s return to the Two Rivers. His conflict with the Trollocs and the Whitecloaks sets him on a collision course with Fain in The Shadow Rising. While the same is likely to occur in the show, its version of the story could be considerably more nuanced in regards to Fain’s role.

Why Perrin’s Season 3 Story Risks Being Overcrowded With Villains

Perrin Fought Dain Bornhald, The Slayer, And Padan Fain In The Shadow Rising

In just Perrin’s book 4 arc alone, there are three key antagonists the characters have to be concerned about: Padan Fain, the Slayer, and Dain Bornhald. Two of the three are already in position to appear in this story, as Dain Bornald already developed a grudge against Perrin and Fain has pre-existing connections to Perrin and the Two Rivers. Each occupies a different side, with one leading the Whitecloaks and the other representing the Shadow. The third villain – the Slayer – adds a fourth side to the conflict in The Shadow Rising, which could make for an overcrowded story.

After all, it’s important to note that Perrin’s story will just be one of the arcs it’ll entail; presumably, it’ll have separate adventures in Tanchico, the White Tower, and the Aiel Waste. Since there will only be so much screen time the show can devote to Perrin in an eight-episode season, giving him as many as three villains could make telling a complete story for him unnecessarily challenging. Because of that, one of the three antagonists may get cut from the narrative. The obvious choice for removal would be the Slayer, but omitting him completely may not be the best move.

Why Padan Fain Could Be The Slayer In Wheel Of Time’s Show

The Slayer is a key player in The Wheel of Time saga, but also a villain with an incredibly complex backstory that was never fully fleshed out. There’s a great deal of mystery that surrounds the Slayer, who is understood to be a secret arm of the Shadow and the merging of two souls. He was created when the souls of Luc Mantear and Isam Mandragoran combined into one. Exactly how they came into being has long been a point of confusion, and theoretically, could be properly explained in the TV version of the story. However, doing so would most likely result in the series providing significant attention to the Slayer’s origins.

A deep dive into the Luc Mantear-Isam Mandragoran situation wouldn’t feel very relevant to Perrin’s journey, as neither have strong links to his personal story. In light of that, it’s possible that The Wheel of Time will try to streamline things by using Padan Fain to introduce the concept of the Slayer. It could be that in the TV version of the story, the Dark One selects Padan Fain to be the Slayer and gives him the abilities of the latter character from the books. Such a move would make sense, given that Padan Fain is a Darkfriend and would surely do the Dark One’s bidding in Wheel of Time’s world.

Padan Fain Losing His Mordeth Story Makes A Slayer Twist More Likely

Has Wheel Of Time Been Planning On Combining Padan Fain And The Slayer Since Season 1?

Adding credence to the idea that Padan Fain could become the Slayer is the fact that the series has already removed a major element of Fain’s story. After following Wheel of Time’s main characters to Shadar Logoth In The Eye of the World, Fain crossed paths with Mordeth, a corrupted, ancient villain trapped there for centuries. Mordeth touched Padan Fain’s soul and merged with him. By essentially hitching a ride on Fain’s soul, Mordeth was able to finally escape Shadar Logoth and later influence Fain’s decision-making. Fain also benefited from having Mordeth’s abilities.

Of course, The Wheel of Time’s show is well past the Shadar Logoth incident, thus indicating that it has no intention of using Mordeth. Why it omitted Mordeth hasn’t been made abundantly clear, but this move would make a lot more sense if the show winds up tying Padan Fain to the Slayer instead. Fain’s arc would be overly complicated if he gained Mordeth and the Slayer’s powers, especially since both are two completely different villains. The Slayer could serve as a fitting replacement for Mordeth in Fain’s story, as both are similarly mysterious and powerful beings.

What Becoming The Slayer Would Mean For Padan Fain’s Wheel Of Time Season 3 Story

Padan Fain Could Become A Hated Rival Of Perrin’s

Padan Fain becoming The Slayer would carry massive implications for Perrin’s Two Rivers story in Wheel of Time season 3. As a Dreamer, the Slayer is capable of traversing Tel’aran’rhiod, making him a threat both in dreams and the waking world. If Fain takes on this role, he can challenge Perrin in multiple forms. Not only would he threaten the Two Rivers village through the Trollocs accompanying him, but he’d also be killing wolves and wreaking havoc in Tel’aran’rhiod. Taking both of these routes in the show’s adaptation of The Shadow Rising would be an appropriate change based on his personal history with Perrin.

Making Padan Fain the Slayer would solidify the character’s status as Perrin’s greatest enemy in The Wheel of Time. Season 2 already emphasized Perrin’s disdain for Fain by highlighting the betrayal he felt when he found out that the peddler was responsible for the attack on the Two Rivers. The show could easily deepen this connection by having him be the one who targets the wolves, with whom Perrin – as a Wolfbrother – shares a strong bond. Because Wolfbrothers like Perrin can enter the Wolf Dream, he’s the one best-suited for fighting the Slayer, which would make it especially poignant for that character to be the person Perrin hates most.