The Wheel of Time season 1 finale laid the groundwork for seven stories from the books to happen ahead of schedule. While it took liberties with the source material and the order in which certain plotlines develop, the first season served as an adaptation of the first book in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, The Eye of the World. That makes the story of the second book, The Great Hunt, the next adventure for the show to explore.

Based on the trajectory of the series and plans for future, there’s no expectation for Wheel of Time season 2 to be a straight adaptation of The Great Hunt. Showrunner Rafe Judkins has been upfront about his intention to shorten the story, which is a move that seems necessary since The Wheel of Time consists of 14 books. Not only that, but it’s already been confirmed that season 3 is about the fourth book, The Shadow Rising. With this in mind, it’s all but guaranteed that several stories from the books will have to happen early. What went on at the end of the season reveals how the show is already gearing up to do just that.

7 Rand Meets Selene

Selene is the alter ego of Lanfear, a member of the Forsaken and an immortal channeler with a love for Lews Therin that spans centuries. In The Great Hunt, Rand encountered Lanfear as Selene after he, Loial, and Hurin were split up from Ingtar’s group during the long search for Padan Fain. They shared an adventure together but wound up parting ways when they reached Cairhien. Because the show already separated Rand from the main characters, The Wheel of Time is free to make this meeting happen at any time. In fact, Selene could enter the picture as early as the season 2 premiere. This avoids the character showing up at midseason, only to be at Rand’s side for an episode or two.

6 Rand Goes To Cairhien

Additionally, Rand’s choice to go his own way after the finale sets the stage for his character to have his Cairhien story several episodes in advance. Originally, Cairhein was a place that Rand was able to get to after a long journey in The Great Hunt. Curiously, Rand is shown looking at the Spine of the World in his last scene in the finale, which carries the impression that Cairhien is Rand’s next destination. Cairhien is where Rand reunited with Thom and battled a band of Trollocs. This is also where the Illuminator’s Guild was destroyed. Rand heading here first is made more likely by footage released from season 2, which seems to show Rand in Cairhien.

5 Mat Gets Healed Of The Dagger’s Taint

In the process of setting up the quest for the Horn of Valere, The Wheel of Time season 1 finale indicated it’ll unfold (or at least begin) without one of its biggest characters. In episode 6, Mat chose not to follow them through Waygate, electing to head back to Tar Valon instead. Season 1 never reunited them, which is a decision with massive implications for Mat’s story. With Mat in Tar Valon, the door is open for Mat to get his arc from the third book while the series is still telling everyone else’s stories from the second book. In The Dragon Reborn, Mat was finally Healed of the ruby-hilted dagger’s taint in the White Tower.

4 Elayne Meets Nynaeve & Egwene (Before Rand)

In the original story, Elayne Trakand debuted in The Eye of the World when Rand accidentally fell behind the walls of the Andorian palace in Caemlyn. Their time together, though brief, was enough to set up their love story. Her introduction preceded her role in The Great Hunt, which saw her arrive at the White Tower and become a novice alongside Nynaeve and Egwene.

Since the show’s version of Rand hasn’t even gone to Caemlyn yet, there’s a sense that the show still has much to do before it can get to the part where Elayne forms a trio of female protagonists with Elayne and Nynaeve. But since season 1 has already set up Egwene and Nynaeve beginning their Aes Sedai training (combined with the fact that Ceara Coveney has been cast as Elayne), there’s a chance that Wheel of Time is prepared to tell Elayne’s story out of order. This would be a departure from the books, though, since Elayne is meant to fall in love with Rand before meeting either of them.

3 Perrin Leads The Search For The Horn of Valere

For a significant portion of The Great Hunt, Rand was the central figure in the book’s Horn of Valere story, despite both Perrin and Mat also being on hand. That took a turn when the group was split apart. As a result, this storyline converged into two, with Rand getting his own journey with Loial and Hurin and Perrin taking over the reins from him. Ingtar and the others ended up relying more and more on Perrin for leadership. Plus, his Wolfbrother powers were crucial to their efforts to track Padan Fain in the absence of their sniffer, Hurin. Rand not being around will allow Perrin to take the lead early on in Wheel of Time season 2.

2 The Battle of Falme

The Battle of Falme was an endpoint for many of the main characters in The Great Hunt. In the book, Rand battled Lord Turak of the Seanchan in Falme and faced off with Ishamael in a duel above the clouds. The season 1 finale scene that showed off the arrival of the Seanchan ship teased this storyline playing out sooner than expected.

Rather than save the fight with the Seanchan for The Wheel of Time season 2 finale, the series could dive into the Battle of Falme by the middle of the season. That would make sense, especially since season 3 is supposed to adapt The Shadow Rising, as mentioned above. If that’s true, it’s only logical that the series would want to finish the second book’s story within a few episodes, allowing room for the third book’s story to be told in the same season.

1 Rand Accepts His Dragon Reborn Destiny

The Wheel of Time season 1 concluded with the main characters realizing that the Dragon Reborn is none other than Rand al’Thor. In the book version, Moiraine and Lan alone reached this discovery at such an early point. The others – Rand included – didn’t find out until later. For this reason, the books were able to slowly build up to Rand accepting his destiny as the Dragon Reborn. This didn’t happen until the end of the second book, because even after being told the truth, it took time for Rand to process it. By having him find out before season 2, the series can speed up this story and make Rand embrace his role as the Dragon Reborn earlier than his book counterpart.