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The Wheel of Time Season 3 climax offered some remarkable moments, including intense character development, rampant emotions, and an utterly stunning episode. The literal sky darkening alongside character deaths and shocking betrayals in “He Who Comes with the Dawn” certainly took the series to a new, unexplored territory.
As always, Entertainment Weekly’s Rafe Judkins dived into the numerous show-defining moments with book series differences alongside what to expect out of future seasons.
Major Deaths Reshape the Wheel of Time
I think the part that touched everybody's hearts in the finale the most was when Siuan Sanche, the Amyrlin Seat, played by Sophie Okonedo, was killed. Her death at the hands of Elaida becomes the main force of the scenario going forward. Judkins stressed the importance of the moment on how it reshaped the world order of the entire series.
“It’s the changing and the upsetting of the world order,” Judkins explained. “We wanted to deliver that kind of emotional punch that the Tower being under control of someone who is not friendly to our characters is extremely dangerous.”
Siuan's death fits not only the thread of the story but also the loss of power in Season 4 in a way that is going to be deeply felt. Judkins was full of praise for Okonedo's portrayal and also expressed the grief everyone, including the characters and the audience, felt during her departure.
The other major death was between the forsaken. Moghedien murdered Sammael in a very cruel manner after his capture by Moiraine, a moment that left the audience not only stunned but also set the level of the unknown that situated the Forsaken in the minds of the viewers.
“They’re sort of like the Avengers of bad guys,” Judkins said. “We wanted the audience to really grasp the stakes... it really feels like they might kill each other at any moment.”
Book Changes: Forsaken Focus and Liandrin’s Dark Turn
Despite mostly staying true to Robert Jordan's work, The Wheel of Time series has never been afraid of introducing changes, and Season 3 was one of the most daring so far.
One of the most noticeable changes was what the series did with Liandrin. She was featured in the story of the book early. However, in the show, she is in no way such a minor character, but even becomes a killer, re-awakened by Moghedien, thus appearing to be one of the Forsaken.
“We felt like Liandrin’s story just kind of drifted off in the books,” Judkins noted. “In the show, we’ve put a lot of time and energy into that character… we wanted her to leave with a bang.”
Through such creative freedom, the series could explore the idea of other enemies possibly reaching Forsaken-level, which is equally attractive for both new and old fans of the series.
Season 4: What’s Next in the Pattern
With the smoke clearing after Season 3’s explosive climax, all are now directed toward the future. Although Amazon has not yet announced the series’ renewal for a fourth season officially, Judkins has given hints that it might be continued.
“We’ve put a lot of pieces in place to tell some of the most iconic stories from book six… and some of the biggest moments from book five,” he revealed.
Judkins had the show "a reverse Game of Thrones" by Kramer, where it gets better as more seasons are produced - a sequence that the book fans are more likely would be in line with.
“Great shows hit their stride in season 3 and 4, and I think that’s what this series has the potential to do.”
Recently, the fans do not have any official information on the date when the new season will be released, or they do not have any confirmation of the show's renewal, but Judkins' confidence and the show's increasing momentum quite strongly indicate that the Wheel will not stop turning.
Final Thoughts
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The Wheel of Time Season 3 proved that the danger is real, no character is safe, and, in fact, the story becomes more intricate and sadder. Rand's transformation, Egwene's fear, and the return of the Dark One bring the road ahead more exciting moments than before, and Judkins looks like he has prepared well to make use of them.
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