WarnIng: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 4
Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books always expected, this turned out to be a deception. A flashback in season 1's penultimate episode confirmed that Tam actually took Rand from a dying female warrior on the slopes of Dragonmount.
Heading to Rhudiean in season 3 gave Rand an in-depth look at the history of the Aiel and - much to his surprise - some answers about his real parents. Through the memories of his ancestors, Rand learned the name of his real father and even witnessed the aftermath of his mother's death. Plus, he nows knows the circumstances behind his birth. However, The Wheel of Time curiously didn't go over everything related to their situation. It did, though, hint at the rest of the story in the season's second episode when it introduced Elayne Trakand's mother, Queen Morgase.
Rand's Father Was A Chief Of An Aiel Clan
Janduin Was An Accomplished Aiel Leader
Rand's first Rhuidean-induced memory placed him in the shoes of his father, a character the show named as "Janduin." The book version of Janduin was the chief of the Taardad, one of the 12 Aiel clans in The Wheel of Time's world. Janduin was an active player in the Aiel War, which was fought between four Aiel clans and Cairhein, the nation visited by the show in season 2.
As Moiraine explained in the episode, the war was a consequence of the actions of her uncle, King Laman Damodred, cutting down a tree that had sprouted from Avendesora. The Aiel had gifted the tree sapling to Cairhein 500 years prior, so its desecration greatly angered the clans.
Rand's Shocking Decision In The Wheel Of Time Flips The Books' Original Order
The Wheel of Time season 3 has turned Rand's story on its head, with the Dragon Reborn charting a verse different course to Robert Jordan's.
In retaliation, Janduin led his clan and the other three to get revenge on Laman, culminating in the battle that took place on the slopes of Dragonmount where Rand was born. The show covered this event in the memory, but didn't delve into Janduin's fate. According to The Shadow Rising, Janduin - overcome with guilt over the loss of his wife and the disappearance of his child - stepped away from his position as chief and wandered off into isolation. Similar to a Warder who loses their Aes Sedai, he entered the Blight to fight Trollocs until his death.
Rand's Mother Was The Daughter-Heir Of Andor
She Is Also The Mother Of Galad Damodred
In the show, Rand remarked that his mother was an Aiel, before being corrected by Bair, who explained that it was his father who was Aiel. This matches the backstory provided by the books, where Rand's biological mother is established as Tigraine Mantear, a member of Andor's royal family in Wheel of Time. Like Elayne, she was the daughter-heir (princess) of Andor. Her mother was Mordrellen Mantear, the queen of Andor and Morgase's direct predecessor.
During Mordrellan's reign, it was decided that Andor would form an alliance with Cairhein. To this end, a political marriage was arranged between House Mantear and the ruling family of Cairhein, Wheel of Time's House Damodred. As a result, Tigraine married Taringail Damodred, King Laman's nephew and Moiraine's brother. Together, the two had a son, Galad Damodred, one of the two princes that accompanied Queen Morgase to the White Tower in The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 2.
As the son of Tigraine Mantear and Taringail Damodred, Galad is the half-brother of Rand al'Thor and the nephew of Moiraine Damodred.
Of course, Tigraine Mantear never fulfilled her duty as the daughter-heir, which was to take the Lion Throne upon her mother's death. Instead, Tigraine fled the kingdom altogether. This decision was addressed in episode 2, when Queen Morgase mentioned the cause of all the in-fighting was Tigraine Mantear leaving. Her departure left the kingdom in disarray, because it's an Andorian tradition that a woman holds the reins of the kingdom. Had she stayed, the noble families never would have fought over the Lion Throne, and in turn, House Mantear would have maintained their reign.
Why Tigraine Mantear Left Andor & How She Met Janduin
Gitara Moroso Convinced Tigraine Mantear To Travel To The Aiel Waste
Why Tigraine left Andor has yet to be explained by the show, but is covered adequately by the source material. Jordan's novels reveal that it was a reaction to a Foretelling from Gitara Moroso, the Aes Sedai whose vision of the future set up Moiraine and Siuan Sanche's t search for the Dragon Reborn. Gitara frightened Tigraine when she told her that the world would be destroyed if she didn't give up her life as the daughter-heir to become a Maiden of the Spear in Andor.
Gitara Moroso made a cameo appearance in The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 7, which showed a flashback of her warning to Siuan and Moiraine about the Dragon Reborn's birth.
Apparently trusting in Gitara's prophetic abilities, Tigraine did exactly as she was told, thus setting in motion the circumstances necessary for Gitara's prediction of the Dragon's return to come true. She entered the Aiel Waste, and nearly died from dehydration. She was found by the Maidens of the Spear, who ultimately Tigraine one of their own, which is exactly what Gitara said needed to happen.
In becoming a Maiden of the Spear, Tigraine was given a new identity: Shaiel. As Shaiel, she ed the Chumei sept, one of the factions controlled by the Taardad clan. She took part in the Taardad clan's efforts to get revenge on King Laman and subsequently left the Aiel Waste. At some point during all this, she became romantically involved with Janduin.
As a pregnant woman, she was supposed to return to the Aiel Waste to give birth, but chose to stay with her clan. Because of this, her part in the Dragon Reborn prophecy was fulfilled, as it paved the way for Rand to be born on the slopes of Dragonmount just as it was meant to happen in The Wheel of Time.
The Wheel of Time
- Release Date
- November 18, 2021
- Network
- Prime Video
- Showrunner
- Rafe Judkins
Cast
Moiraine Damodred
al'Lan Mandragoran
WHERE TO WATCH
The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine, a member of the powerful all-female organization Aes Sedai, as she leads a perilous quest with five young individuals. Moiraine suspects one among them could be the prophesized reincarnation of a mighty figure destined to either save or doom humanity.
- Main Genre
- Fantasy
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