Warning: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 7

A major decision from the source material was reversed in The Wheel of Time season 3's penultimate episode, seemingly setting up one of the last books as the basis of Perrin's next story. Devoting an entire episode to the Battle of Emond's Field from The Shadow Rising, "Goldeneyes" looks to be the final chapter in Perrin's season 3 arc. Not unlike The Shadow Rising, Perrin's adventure in the third season wrapped up with the Two Rivers folk achieving a victory over Padan Fain's Trolloc army.

Much of the buildup closely resembled the efforts Perrin, Alanna, Faile, and a few other Wheel of Time characters made to prepare for the Trollocs, including Perrin's offer of an alliance to Dain Bornhald and the Trollocs. However, some of these characters - such as Dain and Faile - made choices not shared by their book counterparts. In doing so, they paved the way for Perrin to go on what appears to be an unexpected journey. If the ending of "Goldeneyes" is any indication, Towers of Midnight will be one of the plotlines explored in season 4 - if it happens.

Perrin's Surrender In "Goldeneyes" Changes His Ending In The Shadow Rising

The Two Rivers Folk Wouldn't Let The Whitecloaks Take Perrin In The Book

In both versions of the story, Perrin offered to surrender in exchange for the Whitecloaks' help against the Trollocs. In The Shadow Rising, Dain agreed to forces with the Two Rivers folk, but when the time came for them to act, they chose to do nothing, allowing the battle to play out. This was essentially the opposite of what Dain did in The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 7; he promptly refused, but changed his mind at the eleventh hour and brought the Whitecloaks into the Two Rivers to the fight.

The Whitecloaks opting out of the final battle didn't doom the Two Rivers in The Shadow Rising, as Faile - who had been previously told to leave by Perrin - recruited Deven Ride in her absence. Serving as last-minute reinforcements, they helped repel the Trolloc army and secured Perrin's victory at the Battle of Emond's Field without any need for Whitecloak . Despite going back on their end of the arrangement, the Whitecloaks tried to arrest Perrin regardless. Unsurprisingly, they were turned away by the Two Rivers folk.

On The Wheel of Time's map, Deven Ride is one of Two Rivers' neighboring villages.

The Wheel of Time's "Goldeneyes", on the other hand, never saw Faile leave and bring back the people of Deven Ride. In this case, the assistance of the Whitecloaks was indeed necessary. And since Dain's men did provide much-needed help, Perrin went with them willingly and convinced the Two Rivers folk to accept his decision. In doing so, season 3 facilitated a huge reveal of The Shadow Rising's ending, considering that it now puts Perrin in the custody of the Whitecloaks in season 4.

The Wheel Of Time Hints Perrin's Season 4 Arc Will Follow The Towers Of Midnight

It Looks Perrin's Story Is Skipping Several Books Ahead

While it's true that Perrin wasn't captured by the Whitecloaks, it's worth noting that he did find himself in such a situation eventually - but not until book 13 in the series, Towers of Midnight. In Towers of Midnight, Perrin's group came up against two threats, Dain Bornhald's Whitecloak army and Graendal, one of the 13 Forsaken in The Wheel of Time books. Graendal was ordered by the reborn Ishamael to deal with Perrin. Meanwhile, the Whitecloaks wanted Perrin to pay for what they perceived as crimes against their .

Perrin subjected himself to a trial conducted by the Whitecloaks, but ultimately had to put his differences with them aside as a result of Graendal's plotting. Towers of Midnight's Perrin story culminated in the Wolfbrother reaching an understanding with Dain Bornhald and the Whitecloaks, one that would enable them to be unlikely allies in the Last Battle.

Despite Skipping Multiple Books, A Towers Of Midnight Adaptation In Season 4 Makes Sense

Perrin Isn't In Book 5 At All

The Wheel of Time leaping so far ahead in Perrin's arc would be surprising, but there are shared aspects of The Shadow Rising and Towers of Midnight that would make this transition feel organic. Both Perrin stories hinge on one key event - the death of Geofram Bornhald. With that in mind, it does make some degree of sense for The Wheel of Time to resolve it immediately after its adaptation of The Shadow Rising, rather than prolong it for several seasons after it's already been forgotten by many viewers.

The circumstances presented in The Shadow Rising's ending certainly do allow for this. Had the Whitecloaks captured him then, Perrin could have stood trial for the killing of Geofram much sooner. Perrin's exchange with Dain indicated that this will happen just as it did in Towers of Midnight, as Perrin expressed a willingness to face Whitecloak "justice" for what happened in The Wheel of Time season 2's ending.

picking one of Perrin's future arcs could be the best way of ensuring that he has something to do in a potential Fires of Heaven adaptation.

What's more, there isn't a clear alternative for Perrin's next adventure. Perrin was notably absent in The Shadow Rising's sequel, The Fires of Heaven. With the Forsaken known as Rahvin, Rand's opponent in The Fires of Heaven, being poised to serve as a major antagonist later on, it's possible that the show is moving on to that book next. If so, picking one of Perrin's future arcs could be the best way of ensuring that he has something to do in a potential Fires of Heaven adaptation.

The Wheel of Time Has Most Of The Building Blocks It Needs For Perrin's Towers Of Midnight Story

One Of Grandal's Pawns Has Already Been Introduced

Working a mostly self-contained story like Towers of Midnight into the show's fourth season isn't implausible, but there are complications that come with it. Perrin's trial and Graendal's emergence can technically happen now, but the story hasn't progressed to a point where all building blocks are in place. One example of this is Queen Morgase Trakand; she served as the judge, but was only in this position because she had lost the Lion Throne, whereas the TV show version of Morgase still holds power in Andor.

There's also the matter of Galad Damodred, Morgase's step-son and a high-ranking Whitecloak. He's one of Towers of Midnight's main characters, with Galad playing a pivotal role in Perrin's interactions with the Whitecloaks. The problem here is that the show hasn't made any effort to set up Galad's association with the Children of the Light. That means The Wheel of Time season 4 would either have to speed that up significantly or risk another massive change by not aligning Galad with the Whitecloaks.