The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 1, “To Race the Shadow,” delivers a propulsive, high-octane opening to what’ll undoubtedly be the show’s most expansive season yet. A lot happens. But boy, is it fun to watch.
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The Wheel of Time, “To Race the Shadow”
We open with Siuan (Sophie Okonedo) standing on the balcony outside her quarters. Leane (Jennifer Cheon Garcia) tells her it’s time. Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) and Lan (Daniel Henney) watch the White Tower from afar.
Inside, Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood) learns that Siuan has summoned her. However, only the Sitters of each Ajah are allowed to attend. Liandrin’s Red Ajah friends vow to support her regardless of the charges. Ihvon (Anthony Kaye) and Maxim (Taylor Napier) try to accompany Alanna (Priyanka Bose) for protection, but they’re barred from entry.
Accusations
Meanwhile, Verin (Meera Syal), Adeleas (Nila Aalia) and Nyomi (Rachel Denning) track down sacred objects that Siuan wants them to protect, including a metal cuff that looks suspiciously like what the Seanchan used to control their damane. Hmm. Elsewhere, Liandrin accuses Siuan of being a traitor, informing the Sitters that Siuan met with Moiraine despite the latter being banished. Siuan also encountered a man who could channel — Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn. She let him get away, too.
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Siuan denies this as the room fills with gasps. She pivots the attention back to Liandrin, unveiling her as a Darkfriend and member of the Black Ajah. To prove this, Siuan brings in Nynaeve (Zoë Robins). She explains to the room that Nynaeve was sold to the Seanchan by Liandrin. Liandrin doesn’t repudiate this. Instead, she channels, levitating in the air.
Then, Siuan ensnares Liandrin with fiery gold weaves, calling the latter out for daring to attack her Sisters. She demands Liandrin to give her the name of every Black Ajah member before she’s put to death. Liandrin calls upon her Black Ajah Sisters to join her. Suddenly, we see Sitters from various Ajahs rise to defend Liandrin. Alanna and Leane flank Siuan as they protect her from the Black Ajah’s power blasts.
Aes Sedai vs Aes Sedai
What transpires next is unadulterated bloodshed and violence. Horrified by the display, Nynaeve attempts to channel but fails. Next, one Black Ajah strikes one of the pillars, seemingly falling on Nynaeve.
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After this, another Black Ajah chucks large debris at Siuan, knocking her down. This releases Siuan’s hold on Liandrin, who also falls to the ground. Outside the doors, Maxim and Ihvon try to join the action to protect Alanna. They butt heads with Tsutama (Diêm Camille) and Galina (Clare Dunne), members of the Red Ajah, before a handful of Black Ajah lash out at them.
As it turns out, everyone you think is a hero is really a Darkfriend. This rings true for Nyomi, who unveils herself as Black Ajah to Verin and Adeleas. Nyomi steals the sacred objects, but not before zapping their minds via channeling. Meanwhile, Liandrin urges her Black Ajah Sisters to link with her and combine their abilities. They channel a massive energy pulse, which sends Alanna and Leane scrambling to protect Siuan. Liandrin and the Black Ajah slip out. Siuan orders her Daughters to track them down.
More Confrontations
Next, Moiraine and Lan stare in horror as the aforementioned blast emanates from the White Tower. Verin cradles her sister, who’s not doing so hot. While Nyomi’s work doesn’t erase Verin’s memories, Adeleas isn’t so lucky. “Who are you?” Adeleas asks Verin. Elsewhere, Alanna, Ihvon and Maxim confront Liandrin, Nyomi and the others. Before this, though, Nyomi informs Liandrin that she has the artifacts. The plan is to snag a ship and get the hell out of dodge.
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Siuan searches for stray Black Ajah through the streets of Tar Valon. She encounters Joiya (Joelle) and Amico (Zenobia Kloppers), who kill the Sisters tailing Siuan and restrain our fave Amyrlin Seat. Alanna, Maxim and Ihvon engage in a bloody skirmish with Liandrin. At one point, Alanna’s Warders stab Liandrin through the heart. However, Liandrin conveniently has a former member of the Yellow Ajah to Heal her.
Liandrin and the Black Ajah knock Alanna into a pair of columns. She orders her Sisters to flee. Before she departs, though, Liandrin controls a bloody sword with her mind and sends it in Alanna’s direction. Maxim shields her while Ihvon takes the sword through the chest. He dies. Maxim tearfully admits he can’t feel Ihvon anymore while Alanna lets out a gut-wrenching scream as she leans over his body. RIP, Ihvon.
The Aftermath
Meanwhile, Joiya and Amico send debris from a collapsing bell tower to topple onto Siuan as they run. Thankfully, Moiraine stops said debris from landing on Siuan. Siuan and Moiraine lock eyes in an emotionally charged moment before Moiraine leaves. My Siuanraine heart. Inside the White Tower, Lan finds an unconscious Nynaeve in the wreckage. He cradles her as she slowly wakes up.
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Later, Nynaeve reunites with Egwene (Madeleine Madden), Rand (Josha Stradowski), Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) and Mat (Dónal Finn). Rand reveals that Moiraine wants him to go to Tear next because one of the most powerful sa’angreal is there — Callandor, or, as Mat rattles off in the Old Tongue, “The Sword That Is Not a Sword.” Callandor is located in a fortress called the Stone of Tear. Whether it can slay a Forsaken or the Dark One remains to be seen.
Elayne (Ceara Coveney) informs the gang that Moiraine wants to chat with them. They join Loial (Hammed Animashaun), Aviendha (Ayoola Smart), Chiad (Maja Simonsen) and Bain (Ragga Ragnars). Moiraine reveals they’re all sailing for Tear the following morning. It’s not safe for any of them to remain in Tar Valon. News of the Dragon Reborn appearing in Falme is spreading. Plus, the Black Ajah striking against the White Tower makes them even more of a collective sitting duck.
The Car’a’carn
After this, Mat persuades Perrin and Rand to join him for a night on the town. Aviendha and the other Maidens are hot on Rand’s heels. Rand urges the Aiel trio to leave him be for a spell. Bain and Chiad insist they must protect Rand and see him safely to the Aiel Waste. Aviendha is unsure Rand’s cut out to be the Car’a’carn. Firstly, he has yet to face the Trial of Rhuidean. Rand reminds Aviendha that she refuses to teach him. All she does is stare at him and roll her eyes.
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Meanwhile, Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne have a girls’ night. Egwene admits that, sometimes, it feels like she and Rand are growing closer. Other times, however, when Rand touches her, Egwene sees Renna. It’s clear she’s grappling with the trauma of her abuse at the hands of the Seanchan. Elsewhere, someone sketches Mat with the Horn of Valere. Perrin and Rand watch as Mat continues to boast about blowing said Horn. Hey, a little ego boost can’t hurt anybody. The lads chat about women. Mat has his sights set on the Aiel trio. Rand discloses he slept with someone else besides Egwene, but not that, you know, she was a Forsaken.
Next, Verin tells Moiraine and Lan that the Black Ajah stole the Tower’s most powerful weapons. Verin warns Moiraine about keeping Rand from the Aes Sedai. Also, to keep a watchful eye on his progress. The madness could take him at any moment. After this, Lan and Moiraine run into Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe), who’s as sleek and stylish as ever. She wants Rand to go to Tear and use Callandor to protect himself against the other Forsaken.
Lanfear’s Deal
Interestingly, she and Moiraine are on the same page. Lanfear believes Rand’s friends are holding him back from becoming the man he’s meant to be. She thinks Moiraine will do what’s necessary to get rid of them. Once Lanfear vanishes, Lan warns Moiraine not to trust her. She urges Lan to get his Malkieri blade from the Tower. If she’s wrong about Lanfear, they’ll kill her.
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Meanwhile, Egwene and Nynaeve tease Elayne about Aviendha. Besides Perrin, Elayne is the only person Aviendha is nice to. Siuan arrives, allowing Elayne to relax now, but tomorrow, it’s back to the Novice whites. Elayne steps out so Siuan can chat with Nynaeve and Egwene. She encourages them to exercise caution regarding Rand. He could turn on them.
Initially, Egwene refuses to resume her duties as a Novice. That is until she strikes a deal with Siuan. If the Amyrlin Seat allows her to go through the Arches and become Accepted, Egwene will return to the Tower. We see Moiraine eavesdropping on their conversation. After this, we see Egwene step through the Arches during her test.
Tests and Prophecies
Lan reunites with Nynaeve, who reassures her that Egwene will do just fine. Nynaeve tells Lan about what she saw in the Arches — their beautiful child. And, yes, they were happy as a family. Elsewhere, Elayne and Aviendha get their flirt on. Elayne also reassures Aviendha that Rand will adjust to his responsibilities to the Aiel people as the Car’a’carn. At the same time, Loial and Rand recite the prophecies together. Elayne enters the room and dispenses wisdom about wielding power to Rand.
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Next, we see Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne in gorgeous outfits as they ride horses through stunning terrain. This is what Egwene sees when she enters the Arches. In this alternate reality, Egwene is the Amyrlin Seat. They stumble upon Rand, who’s succumbed to the madness. He’s standing in a river, looking, well, mad. He demands they bow to him. Egwene advises Nynaeve and Elayne to “steel” themselves. Egwene emerges from the Arches covered in blood.
Meanwhile, Rand and Moiraine chat about next steps. Rand wonders if their trip to Tear and his retrieving Callandor might be a trap. Perhaps this is what the Forsaken want. Rand admits he wants to head home to the Two Rivers. Moiraine reminds him that he needs a legitimate army, not a militia composed of farmers. Rand asserts Moiraine can’t tell him what to do anymore.
Accepted
Siuan slips the Great Serpent ring on Egwene’s finger. She’s officially an Accepted. Egwene departs, but not before telling Siuan that her duty is to the Light, not the Tower. Now that she has the ring, she can come and go as she pleases.
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That evening, Lan shows Nynaeve his father’s Malkieri sword. He voices his concern regarding the Forsaken. They won’t just come for Rand; they’ll come for everyone. Elsewhere, Mat and Loial slake their thirst with some booze.
Bain and Chiad propose they partake in an Aiel classic game — Maiden’s Kiss. They thrust their spears at Mat’s throat. The name of the game is kissing. If Mat’s kissing is satisfactory, Chiad and Bain move their spears away from his throat. However, if it’s a fail, they’ll draw blood (and perhaps more). Unsurprisingly, Mat’s all in because he loves kissing.
Intimacy
Then, Elayne and Aviendha play their own version of the kissing game. Well, sans blades. They finally share a smooch. They’re cute. Meanwhile, Egwene dresses Rand’s wound. He asks her about her venture through the Arches. Egwene remarks that it was terrible. She admits a version of him was there. But she’s not afraid of Rand. Egwene vows to stay by his side til the end of the line. While they get intimate, Egwene relives the memory of Renna grabbing her throat. Despite this, she tells Rand she wants to try.
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Next, we see a cloaked stranger descend the stairs behind Moiraine. Nynaeve and Mat hang out after everyone else has gone to bed. He spreads out his cards and asks if she wants to play. Nynaeve reminds Mat that she’s still his Wisdom. She can help him. In addition to occasionally blurting out sentences in the Old Tongue, Mat has insomnia and hears voices in his head. He even has memories that aren’t his own. Blowing the Horn of Valere changed him.
Night Attacks
Egwene has a nightmare about Renna in Falme and Mad Rand from her Arches experience. Mat becomes entranced by his cards. The figures move to and fro. While he’s distracted, the stranger stabs Nynaeve. Egwene wakes again to find an alternate Rand strangling her. Rand wakes up and tackles Alt Rand. They both tell Egwene to run. More Rands emerge from two adjacent mirrors.
At the same time, an errant axe flies around the room where Perrin and Loial sleep. It embeds itself in Perrin before he rips it out of him, sending it flying elsewhere. At one point, Loial throws it in Bain and Chiad’s direction. At another, the axe almost chokes Chiad, but Loial saves her. Meanwhile, the stranger incessantly stabs Nynaeve. Mat’s still bewitched by the cards. Moiraine and Lan listen to the carnage. This is part of their deal with Lanfear — she orchestrated this to extricate Rand from his friends.
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Egwene channels and inadvertently smashes one of the mirrors, which shatters one of the Alt Rands. Another Alt Rand stabs Egwene in the gut. Realizing it’s the mirrors, Egwene instructs Rand to break the other mirror. The real Rand channels and does just that. However, he enjoys channeling a little too much. Egwene urges him to let go. Loial lodges the axe into the floor and breaks off the handle. Lan overhears Nynaeve call out for him. Unable to stand idly by any longer, Lan grabs his sword and stabs the stranger. Moiraine emerges and Heals Nynaeve’s wounds.
Parting Ways
Later, Moiraine and Lan confront Lanfear. They tell her she went too far. Nynaeve was stabbed 11 times. Moiraine describes the assailant as having gray eyes with blackened fingers. Lanfear realizes this is a Gray Man. Only one Forsaken can create Gray Men. Lanfear urges Lan and Moiraine to get Rand out of Tar Valon now.
The following day, Nynaeve and Mat reveal their plans to stay in Tar Valon. Perrin is returning to the Two Rivers with Loial, Bain and Chiad. Since Loial saved the Maidens’ lives, they’re offering their protection. Egwene insists she’s sticking with Rand. Lan gives Nynaeve his mother’s ring as a parting gift, asserting that he wouldn’t want anyone else as his queen. Oh, my heart.
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Aviendha’s accompanying Rand, too. She’s giving him a chance to prove he’s the Car’a’carn. Rand tells Moiraine they’re not going to Tear, but the Aiel Waste. He’ll amass his army from the Aiel people to defeat the Shadow.
Elsewhere, Moghedien (Laia Costa) tortures Jaichim (Jared Doreck), a Whitecloak. We see her transform him into a Gray Man, and it ain’t pretty. After this transformation, Moghedien tasks him with finding someone for her.
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The Wheel of Time drops new episodes every Thursday on Prime Video.
THE WHEEL OF TIME: Prime Video Releases First 11 Minutes of Season 3
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