THE WHEEL OF TIME Episode 4 Recap: The Road to the Spear

The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 4, “The Road to the Spear,” is a feat of cinematic beauty. This is easily the show’s most immersive, high-fantasy, and, to use the word again for emphasis, cinematic installment thus far. It’s gorgeous. I love how the montage in the rings is shot — it makes you feel like you’re spinning in the rings with Moiraine. Josha Stradowski showcases his versatility here, turning in truly compelling work.

The Wheel of Time, “The Road to the Spear”

We open with Lan (Daniel Henney) engaging Rand (Stradowski) in sword training in the Three-fold Land. Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) observes from afar (with a guest star appearance from her cute sun hat). Egwene (Madeleine Madden) tells Moiraine about a popular saying in the Two Rivers (and here): “A watched pot never boils.”

Later, Moiraine and Egwene sit with the Wise Ones, Bair (Nukâka Coster-Waldau) and Melaine (Salóme Gunnarsdóttir). Moiraine asks the Wise Ones how they knew our heroes were coming. Bair admits it’s easier for them to see what’s already happening or beginning to happen than what will occur. Melaine adds they didn’t see Egwene, though.

Rand and Lan hold their swords aloft while training on a sunny day in the desert on The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 4, "The Road to the Spear." — THE WHEEL OF TIME Season 3 Episode 4, “The Road to the Spear” – Photo credit: Julie Vrabelova/Prime Video

Bair reveals that since Rand is here, if he survives Rhuidean, some of the Aiel will also live. “If you had not come, you would have died,” Melaine tells Moiraine. Melaine also begins to say that if Moiraine doesn’t go through Rhuidean, she will die, but she stops herself. Moiraine isn’t supposed to know this.

Never Touch a Sword

Outside but still in the camp, Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) scolds Rand for handling a sword, especially this close to Rhuidean. Rand reminds her that Aiel don’t touch swords. So, is he Aiel or not? Aviendha knocks down Rand, her spear hovering near his throat. Then, she sets her sights on Lan. Her warning includes him. What transpires next is a fun fight sequence of Aviendha versus Lan, culminating with Lan snagging one of her spears.

However, Bair puts a stop to the friendly fire. She and Melaine remind Aviendha that she’s destined to be a Wise One, not a Maiden of the Spear. Bair admits she, too, resisted her fate initially, but she came around to it. Bair takes Aviendha’s spears and breaks them. Then, Aviendha strips off her warrior look. She asks for permission to enter Rhuidean, which Bair and Melaine grant. Aviendha leaves.

After this, Moiraine asks Rand if he plans to venture into Rhuidean. The conversation pivots to Moiraine’s intentions. Rand doesn’t trust her and believes she’s only in this for herself. Moiraine insists she’s dedicated her life to protecting him. She won’t sit idly by while he puts his head on the chopping block.

The Shaido

The following day, Rand asks Rhuarc (Björn Landberg) if he’s entered Rhuidean. All clan chiefs and Wise Ones must pass the test. He shows Rand his sick dragon tattoo. Pretty cool of Rhuidean to offer free tattoos. While clan chiefs who emerge from the City in the Clouds get one tattoo, the Car’a’carn will boast two. Our crew arrives on the edge of Rhuidean before they encounter the Shaido. Sevanna (Natasha Culzac), a Wise One, interacts with Bair and Rhuarc.

Then, both clans gather under a tent to discuss why they’re near Rhuidean. Sevanna reveals she married her late husband’s son, who is now in Rhuidean. Couladin (Set Sjöstrand) declares that if his brother fails, he’ll go in next. Bair reminds Couladin that he must ask the question first, though.

Ask for Permission

Rand steps forward, asking Bair and Melaine for permission to enter Rhuidean. They grant it much to Couladin’s anger, who only sees Rand as a Wetlander. Couladin lunges at Rand, but Rhuarc and Bair stop him. Moiraine also asks to venture into Rhuidean and receives approval. Egwene tries to accompany Rand, but the Wise Ones remind her that her path differs from our Dragon Reborn.

Bair and Melaine prepare our duo for their trial. Moiraine will enter three rings, which will show her thousands of different futures. Rand, on the other hand, will move through the glass columns, walking in the footsteps of his ancestors. Each step forward is a step back in time. Outside the city, the Wise Ones ask Rand and Moiraine to remove their weapons. It’s so funny that a powerful Aes Sedai has several blades on her person.

Avendesora

Once in the city proper, Moiraine notes the towering statues don’t seem to be of Aiel origin. She also observes the “dry fog,” remarking that she can occasionally see threads of the One Power before they vanish. After this, Rand and Moiraine encounter the Tree of Life or Avendesora. It’s believed to be almost 3,000 years old. Moiraine explains that the Aiel entrusted a sapling to Cairhien hundreds of years ago. Unfortunately, her uncle Laman cut down the tree to construct his throne.

This led to the Aiel War — the Aiel came over the Spine to kill Laman for breaking his oath to protect the Avendesora. They finally tracked him down on the slopes of Dragonmount … where Rand’s mother gave birth. Rand realizes he and Moiraine have been connected since before he was born. He admits she shouldn’t have tagged along with him into Rhuidean.

Dragonmount and Rhuidean

Then, our pair go their separate ways. Moiraine ventures off in search of the rings while Rand commences his journey through the glass columns. There, he spies Muradin, Sevanna’s husband. He’s not doing so hot. As Rand moves through the glass columns, a gust of wind nearly knocks him over. Then, Rand’s hurtled back in time. We see his Aiel father, Janduin (Stradowski), on Dragonmount during the Aiel War. He gets stabby-stabby with his spear as he takes out his enemies.

Unfortunately, he discovers Rand’s mother is dead. He tells the shade of his heart that he killed Laman before he learns from another warrior that baby Rand is missing. Uh-oh. Then, Rand forges ahead in the glass columns. This time, he ventures further into the past. We see his ancestor, a clan chief (Stradowski), preparing to enter Rhuidean. Once inside, he and the other clan chiefs meet an older Aes Sedai, Latra (Ania Marson), who pulls what looks like a glowing orb — the Sakarnen — from the Avendesora.

She explains that the last true Aiel are all dead now — the people who built this city and planted this tree. She adds that there’s too much these men don’t know. Basically, it’s time to peruse what Ancestry.com has to offer and learn about their ancestors. Whoever cannot learn will not live. Latra also reveals that the one who will lead the Aiel will come later, “of the blood but not raised of the blood.”

The Way of the Leaf

Then, Latra uses the Sakarnen to create the glass columns. She urges the clan chiefs to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors and learn why the Aes Sedai call the Aiel “oathbreakers.” After this, Rand takes another step forward, hurling himself further into the past. We see a young man who looks an awful lot like Rand — Lewin (Stradowski). Lewin and his friends, Alijha (Ferdinand McKay) and Charlin (Kiren Kebaili-Dwyer), marvel at the Avendesora sapling.

We learn that Lewin and the Aiel are there to build a city in the desert. Lewin’s mother (Jennifer Steyn) tells him that a group of bandits kidnapped his and Alijha’s sisters. Older Adan (Peter Gilchrist) refuses to let the boys save the girls. Lewin won’t accept that, though. He and his friends break into the bandits’ camp that night to retrieve the girls.

Unfortunately, Lewin and his pals resort to violence, killing the bandits. Charlin takes a blade to the stomach and dies. As these Aiel follow the Way of the Leaf, murder is a huge no-no. Lewin and Alijha return the following morning, carrying Charlin’s body, with their sisters in tow. Lewin’s mother and Older Adan know what this means — Lewin and Alijha are no longer Aiel. Lewin’s mother tearfully claims she doesn’t recognize him, ordering him to turn away from her.

Alijha wonders what they’ll do now. Lewin claims they’ll protect their clan. They’ll do what their loved ones cannot do. Meanwhile, in Rhuidean, Moiraine senses a powerful presence. She stands before the Avendesora and channels, which removes the vines concealing the Sakarnen. She pockets it.

The Rings

Next, Moiraine stumbles upon the three rings. She spies Aviendha, who’s levitating and slowly spinning in the air inside one of the rings. Aviendha is screaming. It doesn’t look like fun. Moiraine steps inside the ring opposite her and is thrust into the air, slowly spinning as countless futures unfold before her at breakneck speed. In one future, Moiraine sits on the floor of Siuan’s childhood fishing hut.

In another future, Moiraine, now the Amyrlin Seat, looms above Rand in the Hall of the White Tower. Moiraine kills him. Then, in another, Moiraine releases Lan from their bond. In yet another, Moiraine and Rand bond together as the latter becomes her Warder. Lan is on fire, and Moiraine puts it out. Moiraine, as the Amyrlin Seat, cradles Rand in her arms in the Aiel Waste as he dies. In another future, Moiraine, still the Amyrlin Seat, kills Rand in the Waste with Lan by her side. Next, in a different future, Moiraine swears herself to the Dragon Reborn in what looks like Emond’s Field.

Bury the Dead and Move On

Meanwhile, in the glass columns, Muradin screams in agony as Rand moves past him. Further into the past, Janduin (Stradowski) searches for his grandson Adan (Atom Uniacke) among the mayhem and burning wreckage from an attack by bandits. Janduin is the clan chief. Sulwin (Amrain Ismail-Essop) claims they can’t continue like this. Janduin addresses her in the Old Tongue, claiming they bury their dead and move on. When Adan is older, he says this to Lewin.

Janduin reassures Sulwin that the others will come; they’ll meet them across the Spine. His daughter dreamt it. Sulwin declares the rest of the clan is going south. Now that the Aes Sedai have killed the last male channeler, peace is settling across the land. Adan refuses to leave his grandfather’s side.

After the others depart, Adan helps Janduin bury the dead. Janduin reveals that Adan’s mother dreamed of a city in the desert — a haven for the Aiel. We see the sapling in Janduin’s wagon, which Adan will oversee when he’s older. Adan asks how they’ll get across the Spine. Janduin begins pulling the wagon. “Together,” he responds.

The Sakarnen

As Rand moves through the glass columns, we see another of his ancestors. This time, from before the Breaking of the World. Rand’s ancestor (Stradowski) meets a young Latra (Katie Brayben) and Solinda (Thandi Sebe). He informs Latra in the Old Tongue that every wagon has a tree — cuttings from the Chora — and a pot. These are for the Aiel.

Before he leaves, Latra gives Rand’s ancestor the Sakarnen. Solinda protests this, reminding Latra that it’s too precious. Latra explains to the man what the Sakarnen is and its male component, Callandor. He vows to care for what she’s given into their charge until the Aes Sedai want it again. Latra encourages him and his people to continue moving until they find a place of safety and peace.

Then, Latra addresses the other Aiel behind Rand’s ancestor, urging them to keep these oaths and uphold the Way of the Leaf. After this, he places the Sakarnen in a sapling inside his wagon. His partner, Comran (Randy Yav), asks if he’s afraid. “All will be well,” Rand’s ancestor chants, almost more so to soothe his nerves. “And all manner of things will be well.” If you recall, we heard Older Adan say this to Lewin’s mother in the other flashback.

Mierin Sedai

Now, it gets increasingly more difficult for Rand to trudge through the glass columns. Muradin screams behind him, blood pouring from his eyes. Another step sends Rand into the past. This time, he’s an Aiel man (Stradowski) watching Aiel servants work in the field as they sing in the Old Tongue. He’s in a massive globe that hangs in the sky.

Mierin Sedai (Natasha O’Keeffe), aka Lanfear (well, before she was Lanfear), remarks that it’s a beautiful song. Rand’s ancestor reveals his family is from here. They still farm these fields. Mierin encourages him to visit them. He insists he can do it tomorrow; today is too important to Mierin. We learn Mierin discovered the thinnest part of the Pattern. She hopes to find what’s on the other side.

Mierin adds that true power awaits them, which can be wielded by men or women. Anyone, anywhere, can have access to this power. After their chat, Rand’s ancestor joins the other servants in the field. Suddenly, a crackle whips through the air as a hole appears in the floating globe. It malfunctions and crashes to the ground, sending the Aiel servants scrambling for safety. Rand’s ancestor stays to watch, in shock. Cracks form in the sky above. Is this Mieren tearing open the Dark One’s prison?

The Boy With the Dragon Tattoos

Later, Rand relives all these lives, sees his ancestors as they were, before collapsing outside the glass columns. He made it. The dragon tattoos materialize on both his forearms. Once he wakes up, he finds Aviendha unconscious on the ground. After she stirs, she instantly clocks his new ink. He’s officially the Car’a’carn. He asks about Moiraine. Aviendha responds that she’s still inside the rings.

The cast of The Wheel of Time Season 3 pose for new key art while in costume among what looks like sword blades. They stand in formation like an army while looking forward. — THE WHEEL OF TIME Season 3

Aviendha returns to the tents, but Rand refuses to leave without Moiraine. Meanwhile, Moiraine continues to see various unsettling futures. In one, Lanfear, with our other heroes as Forsaken, corner Moiraine in the Ways. Lanfear slits her throat. Then, in another, Moiraine and Rand get it on in bed. After this, Moiraine and Lanfear are intimate until the latter chokes her (and not as part of the fun).

In yet another future, Lanfear kills Moiraine in the White Tower. Then, Lanfear slices Moiraine’s throat in the streets of Tar Valon. Lanfear also kills Moiraine in myriad ways in the Aiel Waste.

The Other Side

Elsewhere, Lan and Egwene wait outside for Moiraine and Rand to return from Rhuidean. We learn they’ve been gone for a week, but Aviendha returned two days prior. Egwene proposes they go in after them, but Lan reminds her that Rand and Moiraine wanted them to stay.

Finally, Rand carries an unconscious Moiraine from their sojourn in the City in the Clouds. They both desperately need moisturizer. Lan takes Moiraine into his arms after she regains consciousness. Rand and Egwene embrace.

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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