Summary
- Verin’s Black Ajah journey is introduced early in The Wheel of Time season 2, adding a unique layer to her character’s development.
- TV format allows for showing multiple character perspectives at once, enhancing the storytelling experience for viewers.
- Starting Verin’s arc sooner may impact the big reveal later on, but it sets the stage for a deeper exploration in future seasons.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time booksThe Wheel Of Time season 2 added another major departure from the Robert Jordan novels, teasing a future story long before its book appearance. This alteration relates to Verin, the Aes Sedai played by Meera Syal, who was introduced in the second season. Verin will have a significant role to play in the possible Black Ajah conflict that may arise as soon as season 3. Her part in this storyline will involve a shocking twist for her character, and it’s something that The Wheel Of Time has already alluded to, several seasons before it occurs in the books.
Novel readers will know that Verin is a member of the Black Ajah, the evil faction of the Aes Sedai who serve the Dark One in secret. Verin is tragically redeemed in the 12th book in the series, The Gathering Storm, when she reveals that she has actually been serving as a double agent, gathering crucial intel on other Black Ajah members. While it may seem too early to delve into this Verin arc, having only covered the first two books in the series so far, introducing this crucial plot point sooner will work better for Amazon’s The Wheel Of Time.
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Wheel Of Time Sets Up A Different Version Of Verin’s Black Ajah Reveal
Her Work As An Undercover Spy Will Be Shown From Her Perspective
The hint that Verin is already aware of Black Ajah among the Aes Sedai ranks is subtle enough that viewers who haven’t read the books won’t get the wider implication being made. When their investigation into the girls’ disappearance leads Yasicca to conclude that “Black Ajah really exists”, Verin shows no sign of shock. Nor would she – Verin has been Black Ajah for decades at this point in the book timeline. Her “scatterbrained” nature, played so well by Syal, allows Verin to escape suspicion.
The small hints dropped in season 2 already created a fascinating dynamic between Verin and other Aes Sedai, particularly Sheriam and Liandrin
The tease doesn’t alter Verin’s book storyline, it just introduces it early, though this doesn’t mean that The Wheel Of Time won’t make some alterations to her arc going forward. Significant departures from the books are already likely. The season 2 Mat twist will change the circumstances of Moiraine’s disappearance in the books. Egwene’s White Tower arc may need to be altered in season 3 if the series wants to preserve its accuracy. The only difference in The Wheel Of Time’s portrayal of Verin is that we are already shown her point of view.
Why Showing Verin’s Black Ajah Journey Makes More Sense For The TV Series
The Early Reveal Will Add An Interesting Layer To Her Character
Television is a format that allows for multiple character perspectives at once. Novels restrict the reader’s knowledge by showing one view at a time. Both of these can be manipulated to great effect by talented writers. The Wheel Of Time viewers will learn of Verin’s Black Ajah connection before other characters, adding an interesting layer to her interactions. The small hints dropped in season 2 already created a fascinating dynamic between Verin and other Aes Sedai, particularly Sheriam and Liandrin, whose Black Ajah connections have also been implied.
Showing Verin’s plight as an undercover agent onscreen will have its own advantages.
Television is also a more concise format than literature. Any adaptation will abridge some storylines, and cut some out altogether. The Wheel Of Time season 3 will skip The Dragon Reborn novel entirely, jumping straight to the fourth book. Beginning Verin’s Black Ajah journey so soon puts the show in a good position to explore this arc in later seasons. It will also add continuity so that when her true identity is revealed in the show it won’t appear to have come from nowhere.
The only concern with The Wheel Of Time starting Verin’s Black Ajah arc so early is that it will undermine the big reveal, one of the book’s most memorable twists. The line, “By the way, that dress you are wearing is green,” won’t pack the same punch if viewers already know that Verin, as a Black Ajah, can lie. Showing Verin’s plight as an undercover agent onscreen will have its own advantages, though. It will give Syal more to play with as she navigates her dual allegiance to the dark and the light, making her final sacrifice even more tragic.
The Wheel of Time
Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan’s expansive fantasy series is brought to life in The Wheel of Time, a fantasy tv series created for Amazon Prime Video. The series follows a woman named Moiraine, a member of the all-female Aes Sedai group who can utilize a great power. Following an attack on a local village, Moiraine heads there to find a villager that may be the reincarnation of an all-powerful dragon that will either save or destroy the world.
- Cast
- Barney Harris , Zoe Robins , Madeleine Madden , Marcus Rutherford , Daniel Henney , Rosamund Pike , Josha Stradowski , Kate Fleetwood , Priyanka Bose , Hammed Animashaun
- Release Date
- November 19, 2021
- Seasons
- 2
- Franchise(s)
- The Wheel of Time
- Writers
- Rafe Judkins , Robert Jordan , Michael Clarkson , Paul Clarkson , Celine Song
- Directors
- Sanaa Hamri , Ciaran Donnelly , Thomas Napper
- Showrunner
- Rafe Judkins