This article contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 6.The Wheel of Time’s Lanfear twist is actually a very smart fix for a major complaint with Robert Jordan’s original novels. A sprawling epic fantasy,The Wheel of Timestars a handful of villagers from the Two Rivers who prove to be the fulcrum around which the entire world turns. Three of them areta’veren, and the entire Pattern is woven around them; but the two main female characters, Egwene and Nynaeve, are not to be underestimated either.
Egwene was introduced as a love interest for Rand al’Thor, but swiftly proved to be much more important than that - just as she is in the books.The Wheel of Timeseason 3, episode 6 saw the relationship between Rand and Egwene break down at last, with Rand acknowledging that he will never be enough for the woman he loves. Egwene, for her part, understandably feels betrayed now she knows Rand has been having an affair with Lanfear, one of theForsakenwho has literally been torturing Egwene in her dreams.
Rand & Egwene Don’t Always See Eye To Eye In The Later Books
Anyone who’s familiar with the books knows full well thatRand and Egwene were destined to split up. For one thing, while Rand will indeed wind up in a romance - with no less than three women, to whom he will bond - Egwene is not one of them. In fact, Egwene’s path will take her on a very different road, one where her decisions often conflict with Rand’s.
As fantastic as Robert Jordan’s books may be, the division between Rand and Egwene is actually one of the more frustrating aspects. Jordan didn’t really portray this particular arc well, leading many readers to complain they couldn’t understand why Egwene didn’t trust Rand more as theDragon Reborn. Amazon’s TV show has done a good job of reworking this.
Rand’s Betrayal Helps Set Up His Book-Accurate Relationship With Egwene
The Wheel of Timeseason 3, episode 6 sets up future conflict quite nicely. Egwene has lost trust in Rand; not because she is a jilted lover, but rather becauseshe knows he has literally chosen a member of the Forsaken over her. This is something Egwene simply cannot understand, and she even contemplates the possibility the madness has overtaken him. Rand denies this, speaking cruel and hurtful words that will leave a lasting mark, and she’s left reeling.
Worse still, the confrontation never fully plays out. Shortly afterwards, Egwene watches with heartbreak as Rand literally attempts to raise the dead, pulling on the One Power far more than is wise - especially with the taint that affects male Channelers. Egwene will surely never forget that moment, the power she sensed issuing from the Dragon Reborn, nor the darkness. She’s lost confidence in Rand, and that will be very hard for him to regain inThe Wheel of Time.
