Though The Wheel of Time season 2 only gives a sneak peek into the realm of Tel’Aran’Rhiod, the dream world is actually a much bigger part of the rest of The Wheel of Time story. Based on novels by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, The Wheel of Time is a fantasy television series with two seasons, currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The show follows Moiraine, a power woman looking for the Dragon Reborn, a reincarnation of the powerful Dragon who is fated to either save the world or ruin it. Though only two seasons are available at this time, The Wheel of Time season 3 has been confirmed.
Near the end of The Wheel of Time season 2, a place called Tel’Aran’Rhiod was introduced. Also known as the World of Dreams, Moiraine has Rand enter Tel’Aran’Rhiod in order to find out what Ishmael could be planning. However, as soon as he enters, Rand is intercepted by Lanfear, who tries to convince him to ally with her. Overall, Tel’Aran’Rhiod doesn’t play a very large role in The Wheel of Time season 2, but the realm won’t remain so isolated for long. As it turns out, Tel’Aran’Rhiod is vital for the greater story, and because of this, will become more and more important over time.
Tel’Aran’Rhiod Is More Than Just A Dreamworld – It’s The Key To Wheel Of Time
As of now, Tel’Aran’Rhiod is nothing more than a dream world, but later on in The Wheel of Time, it becomes imperative, specifically when it comes to defeating the Dark One. For context, Tel’Aran’Rhiod is not simply a world of dreams, but instead, is a realm totally outside the one The Wheel of Time characters know. More than that, it is a place where all possibilities exist and interconnect. Therefore, every path that could be taken, and every outcome, lives in Tel’Aran’Rhiod. In this way, Tel’Aran’Rhiod links all worlds together, making it both integral and entirely separate from the world humans know.
The reason why Tel’Aran’Rhiod is so vital to defeating the Dark One is because of what it holds. Apart from being the place where all possible timelines intersect, Tel’Aran’Rhiod is also the place where the spirits of heroes live, awaiting reincarnation. In particular, Lews Therin, the Dragon that originally attempted to lock away the Dark One, remains in Tel’Aran’Rhiod, along with all his troops and supporters. These heroes not only await reincarnation, but are also prepared to be summoned by the Horn of Valere. This artifact, when blown, summons the heroes of the Pattern to serve the blower and the side of Light.
An interesting detail that proves the importance of Tel’Aran’Rhiod is its name. Tel’Aran’Rhiod is a Welsh word that can be traced to the Welsh mythological figure, Arianrhod. Furthermore, when Arianrhod is translated from Welsh to English, it means Silver Wheel. The similarities between the names and the Wheel in The Wheel of Time show that Tel’Aran’Rhiod is not just a trivial otherworld, but is in fact vital to the future of the story. Additionally, another interesting fact about Tel’Aran’Rhiod is its connections to the real life concept of the Dreamtime. The Dreamtime is Australian aboriginal world that is said to hold heroic ancestors.
How Tel’Aran’Rhiod Fits Into The Last Battle
Ultimately, Tel’Aran’Rhiod will aid Rand and the Light side in the final battle against the Dark One because it will provide them with troops. By blowing the Horn of Valere, Rand will be able to summon those who originally fought the Dark One, and this will not only increase the Light side’s physical power, but also their experience. Having Lews Therin on their side could be a major gamechanger for Rand and the Light side. Therin will already know what doesn’t work for defeating the Dark One, and hopefully, that will lead them to be able to actually defeat the villain for good.
In the end, The Wheel of Time season 2 seems to be laying the foundation for a much grander and larger scale story. Though audiences know what must come next for Rand and the Dark One, it isn’t until the following seasons that true action can be taken. Introducing Tel’Aran’Rhiod is only the start of what is sure to be an epic story that unfolds in The Wheel of Time season 3 and season 4. So, for those anticipating this all-out war between good and evil, keep an eye out for Tel’Aran’Rhiod and all the secrets it holds.
