After two full seasons, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books that there are 13 of the Forsaken, the group of one channelers that followed during the Dark One during the Age of Legends. But in the TV version of the story, there's much less clarity regarding its approach to the Forsaken.
A few clues sprinkled through the show has suggested that there may be less of them in this telling of the story, meaning that some of the 13 Forsaken may have been cut. For that reason, there's been much speculation as to which characters are included in the show's take on the Forsaken, and who - if anyone - has been cut from the narrative. Thanks to an exchange in The Wheel of Time season 3's third episode, those questions have finally been cleared up, eliminating any further confusion on the subject.
The Wheel Of Time Confirms There Are Only Eight Forsaken In The Show
5 Have Been Seen, And 3 Have Been Referenced
The number of Forsaken statues in a season 1 episode, combined with the inclusion of six broken seals in The Wheel of Time season 2's finale strongly hinted that the TV show had reduced the number of Forsaken from 13 to eight. The series proved once and for all that this is indeed the case, as "the other six" were mentioned in episode 3, referring to Lanfear and Ishamael as the only Forsaken the main characters are directly aware of. This line goes in hand-in-hand with the previous hints about the number of Forsaken.
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This detail is not necessarily surprising, and not because of the show's efforts to set up this particular reveal. Considering the extreme length of the book series, there was never an expectation for the show to adapt every installment. With that in mind, it's only natural that certain arcs - and in turn, their respective antagonists - would have to be cut from the story to make room for the ones that matter the most.
The Wheel Of Time Has Revealed The Identity Of All But One Of The Eight Forsaken
7 Of The 8 Forsaken Have Been Named In The Show
Going into Wheel of Time season 3, the names of only five Forsaken had been officially confirmed in-universe. Three had appeared in the flesh, with Moghedien ing Ishamael and Lanfear to become the show's third onscreen Forsaken. The series had also namedropped Graendal and Sammael. The Wheel of Time season 3 added to the list by formally introducing Rahvin as "Lord Gaebril" in episode 2. Sammael made an in-person appearance in the following episode, meaning that five of the eight now have faces to their names.
- Ishamael
- Lanfear
- Moghedien
- Sammael
- Rahvin
- Graendal
- Semirhrage
At the end of the tense meeting between Lanfear, Sammael, and Rahvin, the latter mentioned that he was going to inform "Graendal and Semirhage" of their talk, thus confirming the identity of yet another Forsaken member. As things stand, only one of the show's eight Forsaken remains unrevealed.
Who The Last Forsaken In The Wheel Of Time Could Be
It's Probably Demandred Or Asmodean
As for who this character could be, the strongest candidates for this role are arguably Asmodean and Demandred. Either being The Wheel of Time's mystery Forsaken would make sense, albeit for different reasons. Demandred is the last member of the group that Rand al'Thor defeats in the books, and in a sense, "the final boss" of the Forsaken. On of that, it could have been decided that Demandred's Wheel of Time debut should come later in the show's timeline.
If Asmodean is a secret villain for season 3, avoiding any mention of him and keeping his presence in the series ambiguous feels like a logical move for the show to take.
The opposite could be true if the mystery Forsaken is Asmodean. If it's him, he'll be in the show sooner rather than later, given that he's the villain that Rand faces off with at the end of The Shadow Rising (the book season 3 is adapting). If Asmodean is a secret villain for season 3, avoiding any mention of him and keeping his presence in the series ambiguous feels like a logical move for the show to take.
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A third - but ittedly less likely - option is Be'lal. In book 3, The Dragon Reborn, Rand and Moiraine battle Be'lal at the Stone of Tear when the time comes to claim Callandor. Since season 3 has already made mention of a Forsaken waiting for Rand to come get Callandor, it certainly does seem like the show is setting up the battle with Be'lal. That said, this is the extent of Be'lal's role in the story, so it could be that the series is keeping the fight itself but giving Be'lal's role to someone with more significance to the wider narrative.
Wheel Of Time's Forsaken Reveal All But Confirms These Forsaken Won't Appear
Some Have Been Effectively Ruled Out
With only one Forsaken left to be named and Rahvin and Semirhage both confirmed to be among the group, that drastically narrows the discussion of the missing Forsaken to just a few characters. Since Aginor and Balthamel were killed in the end of the first book, it's long seemed unlikely that either would appear, and with it now being known for sure that there are only eight, that all but guarantees the show has cut Aginor and Balthamel.
Another character in a good position to be cut is Mesaana. She's a major villain in her own right, but her importance doesn't compare to Asmodean or Demandred; Asmodean is vital to Rand's future, and Demandred plays a key role in the saga's final chapters. Mesaana's main purpose is to lead the Black Ajah, and theoretically this job could simply be handed to one of the Black Sisters, like Liandrin, rather than a proper Forsaken.
The Wheel of Time
- Release Date
- November 18, 2021
- Network
- Prime Video
WHERE TO WATCH
- Showrunner
- Rafe Judkins
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