Warning: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 5 and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books
The fight with the Black Ajah exposed some of the traitors inside the White Tower, but a few Darkfriends still have their secrets intact in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time books stood revealed as Darkfriends, people who have sworn allegiance to the Dark One. Characters from all walks of life were exposed as minions of the Shadow, underscoring the scope of the Dark One's reach in The Wheel of TIme's world.
So far, it looks like Prime Video's adaptation is sticking close to the source material when it comes to how well the Darkfriends have infiltrated various factions on the The Wheel of Time season 3's cast are also spies for the Dark One and the Forsaken.
Alviarin Friedhen
Alviarin Is Revealed As Black Ajah In A Crown Of Swords
Image via Prime Video
The White Tower plotline in The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 5 centered on the search for a Black Ajah spy and the idea that Elaida might be that person. Interestingly, the episode featured the most likely suspect, albeit without casting any suspicion on them. Shortly after confronting Siuan Sanche, Elaida was shown bringing her concerns to a member of the White Ajah. The Aes Sedai answered Elaida in a way that was consistent with the methods of the White Ajah, insisting that she was only interested in decisions based on "logic and reason."
The Wheel of Time has laid more of the groundwork needed for Elaida to usurp Siuan and for Alviarin to become the former's puppeteer.
When Elaida spoke of the name of the character, "Alviarin," her reluctance to side against Siuan came across as pretense. The book version of Alviarin Friedhen was a White who Elaida chose to be her Keeper of the Chronicles after becoming the Amyrlin Seat. Unbeknownst to her, Alviarin was a Black Ajah member seeking to use her proximity to the Amylrin Seat to control the White Tower. Through this exchange, The Wheel of Time has laid more of the groundwork needed for Siuan to be usurped by Elaida and for Alviarin to become her puppeteer.
Galina Casbin
Galina Is Revealed As Black Ajah In Lord Of Chaos
Chances are, the last-remaining member of Liandrin's group being sought out by Siuan, Verin, and Leanne isn't the only Black inside the White Tower in season 3. In the third episode, one of the Reds was addressed as "Galina," thus confirming the inclusion of yet another key villain from Robert Jordan's books. Similar to Liandrin, Galina was a Darkfriend and a member of the Red Ajah. Taking her orders from Alviarin, Galina led a group of Reds in an attempt to capture Rand in book 6, The Lord of Chaos.
There was speculation among fans that Jaret Byer, the Whitecloak that Eamon Valda spoke to in The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 5, was a Darkfriend, but this was never confirmed.
Galina acted as a recurring antagonist for several books, long after she was exposed as one of the Black Ajah in The Wheel of Time. As for the TV character, there's no evidence yet of her Black Ajah connections, but the show appearing to set up the Red Ajah's pursuit of Rand does indicate the show is slowly building up to this particular arc in Lord of Chaos. Elaida is advocating for a vote to capture Rand, and if she becomes the Amylrin Seat, that mission could become a reality.
Melindhra
Melindhra Is Revealed As A Darkfriend In The Fires Of Heaven
Melindhra, the Maiden of the Spear who befriended Lan and talked with him about his Malkier bloodline, comes across as a potential ally in Rand's race to unite the Aiel. But if Melindhra is anything like the character from the books, a betrayal could be in the cards. In The Shadow Rising, Melindhra had no connection to Lan, but she did become briefly romantically involved with Mat Cauthon. She used her relationship with Mat to try to manipulate him into distancing himself from Rand.
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Mat and Melindhra are on different paths in The Wheel of Time season 3, and are unlikely to ever meet. It's possible that with Mat being in Tanchico instead of the Aiel Waste, the show is replacing Mat with Lan in the books' arc. That would explain Moiraine's apprehension at Lan and Melindhra getting along so well. Similar to how she tried to drive a wedge between Rand and Mat, she may drive to create unrest between Lan and Moiraine as she seeks to undermine their cause in the season's remaining episodes.
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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