Summary
- Mat’s memories came from his past lives, confirmed by Ishamael's tea and summoning Heroes of the Horn in The Wheel of Time season 2.
- The TV series departed from the book’s explanation of Mat's memories, creating a personal connection with the Heroes of the Horn.
- The show’s choice to align Mat's history with a misconception adds new layers to his character, setting the stage for potential storytelling in season 3.
Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time book series, Mat is just beginning the journey of his counterpart from the novels. Although Prime Video's show has made changes to the early parts of his arc, it appears that he's ultimately on a similar - if not the same - path.
One of the biggest moments for the TV version of the character came in Heroes of the Horn is a standout moment for Mat, and one that has a lot to do with his larger place in Wheel of Time's world. It also confirmed a massive detail regarding his story and one that's been a subject of speculation among readers for decades, in spite of the fact that Jordan himself has personally disputed it.
Ishamael Confirmed That Mat's Memories Came From His Previous Lives
Upon calling up the Heroes of the Horn, Mat came to the shocking realization that he recognized Artur Hawking and all the others, remarking that he "ed" them. Artur Hawking returned the sentiment, having recognized Mat as someone he had shared the battlefield with before. This twist was perfectly set up by the previous episode, which saw Mat drink a tea prepared for him by Ishamael. According to Ishamael, the tea would reawaken Mat's memories of his "past lives." This was followed by various flashes, suggesting that Mat was getting a glimpse into his prior experiences before being reborn as Mat Cauthon.
From the looks of things, Ishamael's tea is what allowed the Horn of Valere to have the impact that it did on Mat in the season 2 finale. It would seem that the Horn finished what the tea started, stirring Mat's recently unlocked memories of his forgotten adventures. In addition to helping him recall whatever history he has with Artur and his allies, it also gave him a massive boost to his fighting skills. Presumably, earlier versions of Mat were incredible warriors, which would explain why he fought so well against the Seanchan.
As for who Mat was in his previous existences in the Pattern, the show has offered a few vague clues. The sinister nature of his flashbacks when he drank Ishamael's tea insinuated that he may have been evil, but the finale indicated otherwise. Considering that he has some sort of prior relationship with Artur (not to mention the other Heroes of the Horn) it's safe to say Mat was a great hero in his own right. Artur, Birgitte Silberbow, and many of the other characters were figures in some of Wheel of Time's most historic battles, which means that Mat may have been involved in some of them as well.
What Robert Jordan Said About Mat's Memories In The Books
The books' author had a different explanation for Mat's memories
Perhaps what's most interesting about the show's reveal about the origin of Mat's memories is how it contrasts with the books. Similar to the TV character, the book version of Mat also had a wealth of knowledge about military encounters from ancient history. But unlike the books, there was some level of uncertainty among readers as to what these memories actually were. Many were under the impression that they simply came from his past lives, especially since reincarnation is a fundamental concept in the books. However, Jordan's comments have confirmed that Mat's memories actually belonged to completely different people from the Pattern.
In a response to a question about the matter in a 2002 interview, Jordan definitively shot down the notion that Mat could recall his past lives [via Aelfinn and the Eelfinn for a wish to be granted, he failed to perfectly articulate his desires; he asked for the gaps to be filled, but never said for them to be filled by his own memories. As a result, he was given the memories of "adventurers and soldiers and men of daring."
Because Of Wheel Of Time's Season 3 Plan, I'm Worried This Major Character Won't Be In The Show
The direction Wheel of Time looks to be taking for season 3 creates concerns that a major ally to the main characters will be left out of the show.
In other words, Mat had no real personal connection to Artur Hawking, or any other Hero of the Horn for that matter. The "adventurers and soldiers and men of daring" mentioned by Robert Jordan may have known them, but none of these people represented Mat's past. But while this was the explanation that Jordan settled on for the book character, the series opted to use the old, non-canon interpretation that Mat and these military leaders from Wheel of Time's ancient history were one and the same.
Why Wheel Of Time's "Past Lives" Explanation Makes More Sense For The Show
The show's book changes made the new explanation necessary
Aligning the show's adaptation of Mat's story with a misconception - rather than what was officially laid out both by the books and their author - was a surprising move, to say the least. That said, in light of the circumstances, this direction makes sense for the series. After all, it's important to note that Mat getting the memories of random generals is a twist that related directly to his poor phrasing of his wish in The Shadow Rising, which is an event that hasn't happened in the TV series.
ittedly, it would be difficult to explain the Horn or Ishamael's tea infusing Mat with memories of people with no connection to him whatsoever. Theoretically, it could suggest that the Hornsounder immediately becomes infused with memories of other heroes from the Pattern, but to do so would amount to a substantial, unnecessary change to the lore. Alternatively, the show obviously could have made the original catalyst for Mat's memories being unlocked work, but the fact that it didn't is a sign that it doesn't intend to incorporate the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn into the narrative.
If the show truly does have no intention of adapting Mat's experiences with the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn, that would have necessitated a different explanation for this aspect of the character from the books. Leaving them out completely - if that's what the show has done - will most assuredly culminate in more changes to Jordan's story, given their importance to future events. Similarly, the replacement its chosen for their role in Mat's arc could also lead to new stories. The Wheel of Time season 3 has the potential to invent additional layers to Mat's backstory.
Sources: Theory Land
