The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 2, “A Question of Crimson,” is a somewhat quieter affair than the pulse-pounding premiere, but it’s still solid nonetheless. We finally meet Elayne’s family and Elaida, the powerful Red Ajah advisor to Queen Morgase. “A Question of Crimson” strikes a nice balance between levity and drama and moves at a steady clip. It also plants the seeds for what’s to come, particularly as Nynaeve and Elayne embark on their secret mission to track down Black Ajah members in the White Tower.
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The Wheel of Time, “A Question of Crimson”
We open in Caemlyn — the High Seat of Andor — 20 years ago. Morgase Trakand (Olivia Williams) and Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan (Shohreh Aghdashloo) glide down the aisle to the Lion Throne. Morgase is pregnant with Elayne. She speaks with the leaders of various houses. We learn that, after a bloody battle for succession, she’s being crowned queen. Said leaders kneel before her to swear fealty. Morgase vows to wipe the slate clean should they offer their loyalty.
Suddenly, those standing behind the house leaders slit their throats. Morgase insists she cannot risk more betrayal and treachery. Now, the killers are declared the leaders of their respective houses. Elaida crowns Morgase as everyone chants for the new Queen of Andor.
A Queen’s Arrival
Now, we’re back in the present. Elayne (Ceara Coveney) overhears Leane (Jennifer Cheon Garcia) and Verin (Meera Syal) arguing in the corridor. Tensions are running high in the White Tower these days. Verin stops by the room Elayne’s cleaning to remark that her mother’s coronation song is playing. What’s Queen Morgase doing in Tar Valon? Sure enough, we see the queen with Lord Gaebril (Nuno Lopes), her prince consort, and her sons Galad (Callum Kerr) and Gawyn (Luke Fetherston). Elaida trails behind them.
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Siuan (Sophie Okonedo) makes the Andor party wait a beat before Leane announces their arrival. We learn that Elaida is of the Red Ajah. An Aes Sedai has always been among the court of Andor. When Leane gets to Gaebril, she blanks temporarily on his name before recollecting her thoughts. This feels significant to the narrative.
Next, our Amyrlin Seat asks Morgase about the purpose of her visit. Morgase has a one-track mind — she demands to know what happened to Elayne. Siuan promises to escort Morgase herself to meet Elayne. Meanwhile, Rand (Josha Stradowski), Egwene (Madeleine Madden), Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), Lan (Daniel Henney) and Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) continue their trek to the Aiel Waste.
Home, Sweet Home
Elsewhere, Perrin (Marcus Rutherford), Loial (Hammed Animashaun), Bain (Ragga Ragnars) and Chiad (Maja Simonsen) arrive in the Two Rivers via the Ways. Loial looks pretty damn exhausted. As it turns out, if an Ogier is away from their stedding, a disease called the Longing takes hold. It inevitably kills them. Perrin uses his wolfbrother abilities to sniff out the arrival of a man and a woman who also used the Ways. They smell like ash.
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Later, Elayne reunites with Gaebril and her brothers. Gaebril warns that Morgase has a head full of steam. She’s not happy. Elayne assumes her brothers are there to train to become Warders, but Galad and Gawyn reveal that the Queen of Andor wants to take Elayne back to Caemlyn. Meanwhile, Healers of the Yellow Ajah stand above Mat (Dónal Finn). They attempt to parse his clouded mind.
After this attempt, Ryma (Nyokabi Gethaiga) explains to Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) that the Healers’ weave wouldn’t hold. Mat’s mind is a hot mess. Ryma compares Healing it to bringing someone back from the dead. That said, they’ll monitor Mat closely. At the same time, Siuan and Morgase head to Elayne’s quarters. Siuan casts aside her Amyrlin Seat armor for a softer approach, revealing that Elayne is safer in the Tower than anywhere else. The alliance between the Lion Throne and the White Tower is crucial to maintaining peace in the West.
Time Is Up
Then, Elayne and Morgase reunite. Morgase gets down to brass tacks. She’s here to take Elayne home. Elayne protests this, insisting she hasn’t had enough time here. She still needs to go through the Arches. Morgase reveals Elayne will receive an honorary Serpent ring, though. However, Elayne wants to be the first full Aes Sedai to sit the Lion Throne.
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Next, Lan and Rand train with swords while Egwene and Moiraine watch (with Moiraine’s adorable little gardening hat). Moiraine notices bruising on Egwene’s neck. She asks if Rand is responsible. Egwene brushes her off, insisting she’s only there to protect Rand. Moiraine asserts they’re on the same side.
Aviendha returns with dinner. She spots Rand’s sword training and wonders why the Car’a’carn is wasting his time with swords. That’s not the Aiel way. She explains to Egwene and Moiraine that Aiel prophecy states that the Car’a’carn will save the Aiel people and destroy them. It’s a two-for-one deal. Wetlanders don’t understand bargain deals like the Aiel.
Village Visitors
Later, Perrin, Loial, Bain and Chiad head into Perrin’s village. Home, sweet home. There, Perrin reunites with Egwene’s mother, Marin (Rina Mahoney). She reveals that much has changed since he and the others left. Whitecloaks pass through regularly now. Marin insists that Perrin and his pals must hide with the others. Then, they can leave the following day. Marin leads to the Winespring Inn to find Alanna (Priyanka Bose) and Maksim (Taylor Napier) in hiding. It’s a small world, after all.
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Elsewhere, Morgase asks Elaida for intel. Elaida reveals that something awful happened in the White Tower — enough to make everyone stand on edge. Support for Siuan is wavering among some Sitters. At the same time, Leane and Verin warn Siuan about Elaida. Many Aes Sedai still support her. After all, Elaida lost the Amyrlin Seat to Siuan years ago. Elaida is very good at digging for information.
Then, our trio meets with Min (Kae Alexander), who’s posing as a servant. Verin has Min infiltrating powerful circles in the Tower to gather info. Siuan asks Min about her visions. Min reveals that a significant battle is on the horizon for the White Tower, culminating in the deaths of countless Aes Sedai. Meanwhile, Mat has fun with a gal pal impressed by his Horn (not a euphemism). Her friend arrives to inform them about Galad and Gawyn fighting shirtless.
A New Assignment
Mat ventures out of his quarters to watch the spectacle. He’s unimpressed, but all the other Novices are swooning. Nynaeve and Elayne are also there. After the show, Elayne and Nynaeve meet Siuan in her chambers. Siuan tasks Nynaeve and Elayne with rooting out the rest of the Black Ajah in the Tower. Liandrin undoubtedly left a few members behind in her wake. Siuan admits it’s challenging to trust even her most trustworthy advisors like Leane and Verin. However, she knows Nynaeve and Elayne are uncorrupted. Elayne will also go through the Arches that night.
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Elayne informs Nynaeve about her upcoming departure. Morgase is there to take her home. Her duty is to the Lion Throne. Nynaeve reminds Elayne that her test is fast approaching, though. She storms off in silence.
Later, Marin tells Perrin that the Whitecloaks are looking for him. Dain Bornhald is on the hunt for Perrin after the latter killed his father, Geofram, in Falme. Alanna and Maksim reveal they were attacked by Trollocs. Trollocs have returned to the area, which is fun. Perrin insists that if the Whitecloaks are after him, he’ll turn himself in to save the village.
Dreams and Nightmares
Meanwhile, Egwene dreams about her traumatic experience in Falme. Renna chokes her, spitting blood into her mouth. While Egwene has a bona fide nightmare, Rand and Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe) get cozy in his dream. Lanfear wonders why Rand isn’t going to Tear anymore. It’s hard to protect him if she can’t find him. Lanfear insults Egwene, which Rand doesn’t like. She believes Egwene will see Rand for who he really is.
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Back in Egwene’s nightmare, we see Renna is actually Lanfear. She continues choking Egwene. Suddenly, Egwene finds herself in the Aiel Waste, where she meets Bair (Nukâka Coster-Waldau), who tells her she shouldn’t be there. Egwene wakes up. Rand comforts her, reminding her she endured so much trauma while with the Seanchan.
Later, Mat and Min reunite. I love their banter together. Min laughs as Mat listens to Galad and Gawyn have sex with his lady friends. It’s torture for him. Min reveals that Siuan wants to meet Mat, and to bring the Horn of Valere with him. At the same time, Elayne tries on her mother’s crown. Gaebril enters, complimenting her new look. He discloses the situation in Caemlyn. It’s not good. The line of succession to the Lion Throne is under threat.
Are You a Hero?
Next, Mat boasts about blowing the Horn to the Amyrlin Seat. Initially, Siuan humors him. However, she reveals that once he dies, the Horn passes to someone else. So, proclaiming loudly about blowing it to everyone within earshot and getting his portrait painted with it might not be wise. Someone might try to kill him for it. Siuan takes the Horn of Valere off Mat’s hands before regaling him with a tale about her heroic uncle. Will Mat be a hero? Mat doesn’t view himself as one.
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Meanwhile, Elayne tells Morgase she plans to stay in the White Tower. She insists her devotion is to the Lion Throne, but she wants to earn it like Morgase did. Plus, she can fortify the alliance between Andor and the White Tower. Morgase honors her daughter’s wishes. Elsewhere, Moiraine urges Rand to channel. He must do this as the Dragon Reborn. Rand explains that channeling is simultaneously sweet and poisonous to him in a terrific monologue. We see weaves encircle his forearm, both black and fiery gold in color.
Later, Siuan wishes Morgase safe travels as the latter returns home. Morgase informs our Mother that Elayne’s brothers will remain at the Tower to begin their Warder training. Elaida will also stay. Siuan remarks that an Aes Sedai advisor has been in Andor for 1,000 years. Morgase insists that the Tower needs all the strength it can muster. And who is stronger than the woman who almost bested Siuan for the Amrylin Seat?
Aiel Waste
Next, our traveling crew finally reaches the Aiel Waste. However, they run into trouble. Aviendha demands to know who told the Aiel of their arrival. Suddenly, they’re beset by an Aiel clan, including Bair and Rhuarc (Björn Landberg), the clan chief of the Taardad Aiel. Egwene recognizes Bair from her dream.
RELATED: Read our The Wheel of Time recaps
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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