Considering how vast The Wheel of Time book series is, it’s no wonder that the Amazon Prime Video show hasn’t covered every detail written in the novels, however, the removal of the Aelfinn and Eelfinn races is an interesting choice. The Wheel of Time originated as a high fantasy book series written by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. The 14-book saga was recently adapted for television in 2021, and so far, two seasons have aired. The story follows Moiraine, a powerful woman who travels to the secluded Two Rivers to find the individual who is the Dragon Reborn, a reincarnation that will either save the world or destroy it.
The Wheel of Time presents a fantasy world that goes beyond just human life, and encompasses all sorts of magic and magical people. One example of this is the Aelfinn and Eelfinn races. Also known together as the “Finn,” these races are from dimensions entirely separate from that of humans, and as a result, they are quite different from humans. A quote by the character Brigitte Silverbow claims, “The Aelfinn are not evil, but they are so different from humanity they may as well be so. They are not to be trusted.” Ultimately, the Finn represent the mysterious and magical aspects of The Wheel of Time.
Wheel Of Time Season 2’s Mat Story Suggests Aelfinn & Eelfinn Won’t Appear
Although the Finn do play a role The Wheel of Time books, the television series has hinted that they might not appear at all on-screen. This is because the show depicted a particular scene from the books that removed the Aelfinn and Eelfinn’s roles completely in exchange for another form of magic. When Mat is looking to fill the gaps in his memory, the show allows him to fix this problem by drinking a brew of Ishmael’s tea. However, according to Robert Jordan’s writings, Mat actually had his memory resolved by the Aelfinn and Eelfinn.
The fact that Amazon Prime Video’s Wheel of Time removed the Finn from Mat’s memory problem insinuates that these magical beings may not appear at all in the series. As previously mentioned, Jordan’s writings were vast, and the books include endless details and plots that the show simply can’t handle all at once. Therefore, this Mat scene may be the first hint that the Finn won’t be in the television series, or at the very least, won’t turn up until much later.
Cutting The Aelfinn & Eelfinn Would Change More Wheel Of Time Stories
Although the Finn are not mandatory parts of The Wheel of Time, more stories will change as a result of their removal from the television series. For example, one major aspect of the Aelfinn people is that they give truthful answers to three questions. Characters like Mat, Rand, and Moiraine all seek answers from the Aelfinn, but without them, these characters will have to find answers elsewhere. Similarly, the Eelfinn grant three wishes, which will not occur in the on-screen adaptation. Ultimately, the loss of the Finn in The Wheel of Time is not catastrophic, but it is sad to see such an interesting piece of lore go unused.
