The return of a key missing character is among the things I’m looking forward to most from The Wheel of Time season 3. The book chosen for The Wheel of Time season 3’s story reveals a great deal in terms of what to expect from the next batch of episodes. It’s no secret at this point that even though The Dragon Reborn is the next book up in the Wheel of Time reading order, The Shadow Rising is the next installment to get the live-action treatment.

Based on that, there’s quite a lot I imagine will be explored when the show returns. First and foremost, of course, is a deeper look at the Aiel and their customs. There’s also the possibility of there being some new Wheel of Time characters, like Juilin Sandar, Faile Bashere, Queen Morgase, Asmodean, and more, who are all due for appearances. Though I want to see all of these people in the show, the character I perhaps want to see most is already on hand; he just wasn’t in season 2. We know, however, that this won’t be the case for Wheel of Time season 3.

Why Thom Merrilin Has Barely Been In The Wheel Of Time (Despite Being A Major Character)

One of the characters who I enjoyed the most in season 1 was Thom Merrilin, someone who is confirmed to be back for Wheel of Time season 3 [via Winter is Coming]. A key supporting character in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, Thom has a recurring presence in the novels as a reliable ally to protagonists like Rand, Mat, Elayne, and Nynaeve. Unfortunately, his importance to the narrative hasn’t properly translated to the show – yet. Thom was only in two episodes, but though this doesn’t line up perfectly with the books, it does make some degree of sense.

Thom having a limited presence does indeed relate to the books, although not to the same extent. He disappears at the same point in the story that he did in the show, so Thom not being around for the trips to Tar Valon or Fal Dara is consistent with the source material. He was also only in a segment of The Great Hunt, so not too much about the story was changed by the decision to leave Thom out of season 2. That said, there was room for Thom to have a role in the story, considering that he was at a location that turned out to be vital to season 2.

Thom encountered Rand during his stay in Cairhien in The Great Hunt, and therefore could have had an interesting impact on Rand’s journey there in season 2. Rand listened to a few different perspectives while in Cairhien, such as Lanfear, Moiraine, and Logain, but each was a character with direct ties to the One Power and, in turn, his destiny as the Dragon Reborn. Speaking to someone like Thom, who isn’t a channeler but has experience with people who are is an idea with a lot of storytelling potential.

Thom Was One Of The Best Parts Of Wheel Of Time Season 1

Of the many book characters the show has adapted thus far, few have impressed me more than Alexandre Willaume’s Thom Merrilin. I wondered how the show would tackle a gleeman; because as a musician garbed in colorful clothing, Thom came across as someone who might be hard to take seriously in live-action. That’s not how I felt at all, though, after just one scene with Willaume as the character. There was nothing laughable or comedic about his riveting Dragon Reborn song, which was the perfect introduction for the character.

There was a certain grace and sense of sincerity to the show’s take on Thom that made me want to see more of him in The Wheel of Time’s world. The scene where he spoke candidly to Rand about his nephew being gentled instantly made him a sympathetic character. And just as it was in the books, this backstory helped make him feel relevant to the overarching plot. As someone who was emotionally impacted by having a male channeler in his life, Thom has a strong, personal connection to Rand’s dilemma that’s worth being explored in full.

Wheel Of Time Likely Has Two Great Stories It Can Tell For Thom In Season 3

When it comes to Thom’s story in Wheel of Time, there’s good reason to have high hopes for it, even if there’s some confusion as to what it will be. The obvious route to take here would be to adapt Thom’s story in The Shadow Rising, which saw him as a supporting player in Elayne and Nynaeve’s arc. He’s not interacted with either of them yet, and could certainly develop a unique dynamic with Elayne, based both on their book history and connections to her mother, Queen Morgase. In the books, Thom was a former lover of Morgase.

Teaming up with Nynaeve and Elayne could make for a fun adventure for Thom in Tanchico, but it’s not the only storyline he could receive. His role in The Dragon Reborn would work as a very plausible alternative. While the show is seemingly skipping ahead to The Shadow Rising with most characters, it may not do so for Mat since a big part of his arc from that book looks to have been replaced already. If that’s the case, his book 3 story may be next, and that could hold implications for Thom since he was a part of that.

In The Dragon Reborn, Mat met up with Thom when he went to Caemlyn to deliver a message to Morgase. If the book decides to use this story, it could do more than just discuss Thom’s relationship with Elayne’s family in Wheel of Time and the royal family of Andor. Being in Caemlyn with Mat could allow for a deep dive into Thom’s backstory and exactly how he knew the queen. Heading in this direction could help flesh out both characters, not to mention the fact that this trajectory would enable the series to continue the dynamic it already set up with Mat and Thom in season 1.

Whether he’s traveling alongside Mat in Caemlyn or helping Elayne and Nynaeve oust the Black Ajah in Tanchico, I’m confident The Wheel of Time season 3 has an exciting arc in store for Thom. Both could provide compelling character pairings for him. In just two episodes, it became clear to me just how much potential he has. I’m leaning toward Caemlyn being the most interesting scenario of the two available options, especially since Nynaeve and Elayne may have a partner in Juilin Sandar. As for Mat, he could use an ally like Thom to keep him on the right path.