Wheel of Time Season 3: All The Setup & Story Hints For Elayne’s Family Finally Appearing

Elayne’s family account for some of the books’ most important characters, yet she’s the only member of House Trakand to appear in The Wheel of Time thus far. The first installment in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time book series, The Eye of the World, memorably introduced readers to the royal family of Andor. Surprisingly, though, the show has opted to show only one of them in Prime Video’s TV adaptation. However, that’s not to say the show has cut them out of the narrative.

Like her book counterpart, Elayne Trakand played a crucial role in the TV version of The Great Hunt, joining Nynaeve and Elayne in their unplanned trip to Falme. She was also vital to Wheel of Time season 2’s ending, as it was her use of the One Power that Healed Rand ahead of his final showdown with Ishamael. In the books, members of her family (and their allies) also serve as key figures in the story. Their importance raises questions about where they are and when they’ll appear in the TV version. Fortunately, clues in the show – combined with what’s known about Wheel of Time season 3 – offer a possible timeline for their debuts.

Wheel Of Time Has Reportedly Cast 2 Members Of Elayne’s Family

Two members of Andor’s royal family are heavily rumored to appear in Wheel of Time season 3

According to reports, two members of Andor’s royal family have already been cast. The Crown actress Olivia Williams has been linked to the role of Queen Morgase Trakand, Elayne’s mother. It’s also been claimed that The Wheel of Time has tapped Callum Kerr to play Galad, a member of Wheel of Time’s House Damodred who becomes part of Elayne’s family by marriage [via WOTSeries]. For now, there’s no official confirmation from Prime Video on the supposed casting of the two characters, but based on how essential both are, they are indeed due for an appearance.

Morgase holds the Lion Throne at the start of the books, making Elayne’s mother a massive figure in the political side of The Wheel of Time’s world. As for Galad, he entered the family when his father, Taringail Damodred married Morgase (before the timeframe of the books). In Jordan’s novels, Elayne’s stepbrother has a reputation for being self-righteous, a character trait that ultimately leads him to align with the Whitecloaks. Both Morgase and Galad hold major ties to Elayne, but their relationships with her don’t define their roles, as they appear across multiple key storylines with and without Elayne.

Wheel Of Time Has Teased Appearances From Galad, Gawyn, & Morgase

Two of them are already confirmed to exist

While The Wheel of Time isn’t averse to cutting and combining characters, there are indications in the show that the show won’t go either route with at least two members of Elayne’s family. In fact, Morgase was namedropped twice in season 2. To hide the kidnapping of Elayne, Egwene, and Nynaeve, someone within the White Tower left behind a false record that said Morgase’s soldiers were escorting the three girls to Caemlyn. It was incorrectly stated that they were on their way to see Gawyn, which confirms that even though he hasn’t been officially cast, he definitely exists in the show’s canon.

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In the case of Galad, the only in-universe setup for his role stems from the show’s introduction of House Damodred in season 2. Galad wasn’t referenced directly in Anvaere and Moiraine’s storyline, but the show’s exploration of the family and their efforts to gain power in Wheel of Time’s world brings the show one step closer to establishing House Damodred’s ties to House Trakand, which essentially serves as the backstory for Galad.

Comments from Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins support the notion that both Galad and Gawyn will be on hand at some point or another. In The Dragon Reborn, Mat Cauthon engages both in a fight in the Warder training yard at the White Tower, and impressively defeats the pair with only a quarterstaff. When asked about adapting this moment, Judkins called Mat’s fight with Galad and Gawyn an “iconic” scene and said that a “believable version” of it is something the show will build toward. Given that Judkins has acknowledged its “iconic” status, there’s a good chance the TV show’s take on it won’t replace either of Mat’s opponents.

How Elayne’s Family Can Fit Into Wheel Of Time Season 3

Mat and Thom could meet them in Caemlyn

Confirmed plans for The Wheel of Time season 3 considerably narrows the show’s options in regards to how Gawyn, Galad, and Morgase can appear. With the show adapting The Shadow Rising, Rand and several others are expected to spend most (if not all) of the season in the Aiel Waste. For that reason, none of the three is in a position to be a part of that story, or at least, not without massive changes. The same can be said for the Tanchico plotline with Elayne and Nynaeve. There’s no expectation for any of them to appear there either.

Even so, opportunities for them to appear do exist, depending on the direction The Wheel of Time season 3 takes. One possibility is that the show spends a portion of the season in the White Tower in order to advance Elayne and Egwene in their Aes Sedai training and get them to the Advanced level. If that happens, Gawyn and Galad could visit Elayne, just as they do in The Dragon Reborn, which would also create the first stepping stone toward Egwene and Gawyn’s romance. Morgase wasn’t supposed to be there, but since her debut has already been significantly delayed, she could be added to that story nonetheless.

Alternatively, The Wheel of Time could make Caemlyn a focal point of Mat’s story, allowing all three missing members of Elayne’s family to get major roles in season 3, as opposed to cameos. In The Dragon Reborn, Mat and Thom learn of a plot by Forsaken member Rahvin (disguised as Morgase’s lover, Lord Gaebril) to kill Elayne. Since Mat seemingly no longer needs to go to the Aiel Waste to have his memories unlocked since this happened in the season 2 finale, the show could make his trip to Caemyln and a conflict with Rahvin the driving force of his season 3 arc.