Warning: the following article contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time book seriesAmazon’s The Wheel of Time is continuing to build anticipation now that more details about the upcoming third season have been released. New casting announcements, a trailer, and the sneak peek at the upcoming first episode indicate that The Wheel of Time may be trending upward in quality, especially considering The Wheel of Time season 3’s explosive opening.
With the book series long completed, we know there are still another ten books’ worth of plot and characters yet to be introduced to the Amazon show. The Wheel of Time season 3 trailer gave us tantalizing glimpses at a few of these, but even more exist in the margins of the first two seasons. Between dialogue implications, foreshadowing, and using the books as an outline, here are some of the major Wheel of Time characters we know will show up – if not in season 3, then soon.
10
Gawyn Trakand
Prince Of Andor
The older brother of Elayne, Gawyn is an idealistic and kind young man, raised with the knowledge that ruling Andor will never be his concern. Andoran royal succession is matrilineal, so princes like Gawyn are groomed for a position known as First Prince of the Sword so they can serve as their Queen’s right hand. His existence was confirmed in The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 5, when his name was found in Sheriam’s log book. It wasn’t true, of course, but it was claimed that the three girls were brought to Camelyn for Gawyn’s name day ceremony.
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Thanks to a press release from Amazon, we know that Gawyn will appear in season 3, played by Luke Fetherston (Big Mood). Whether the show will retain Gawyn’s romance with Egwene and eventually becoming her Warder, though, is still unknown.
9
Morgase Trakand
Queen Of Andor
Queen of Andor by the Grace of the Light, Morgase is the mother of Elayne, Gawyn, and Galad. Unfortunately, her control over Andor has been compromised; her Aes Sedai advisor Elaida influenced her to make decisions that were unpopular with much of the nobility, as well as drawing the attention of the Children of the Light. Her new advisor, the charismatic Lord Gaebril, seems to have even more influence over her, to the point that she has begun acting uncharacteristically cruel.
Like Gawyn, she too was mentioned, with Sheriam’s records falsely indicating that Queen Morgase’s soldiers were serving as escorts to the girls.
Like Gawyn, she too was mentioned, with Sheriam’s records falsely indicating that Queen Morgase’s soldiers were serving as escorts to the girls. Amazon’s press release confirms past rumors that Morgase will appear in season 3, with critically acclaimed actress Olivia Williams (The Crown) in the role. While the season 3 trailer also implies that Elayne will at least try her mother’s crown on at some point, it’s likely that the Queen of Andor will remain in place on the Lion Throne, at least for now.
8
Sammael
General Of The Forsaken
One of the 13 Forsaken in The Wheel of Time books and their most martially-inclined member, Sammael was originally a general for the forces of the Light in the Age of Legends until his insecurities led to him turning traitor. Cold, ruthless, and humorless, Sammael has little patience for foolishness. Once released from his imprisonment, he quickly consolidated what power he could, posing as a member of Illian’s Council of Nine and using his loyal Darkfriends to amass a collection of angreal and sa’angreal to ensure his strength in the One Power would be absolute.
While there have yet to be any confirmed details about Sammael’s casting, dialogue between Ishamael and Lews Therin Telamon in season 2, episode 8 specifically references the Forsaken general by name. This tactical genius likely already has a good amount of Illian under his thumb, and season 3 may be the time he chooses to reveal himself – or he may continue to bide his time, waiting until he can strike at Rand for maximum effect.
7
Mazrim Taim
False Dragon And Founder Of The Black Tower
This False Dragon almost destroyed most of his homeland of Saldea before visions of Rand’s victory at Falme knocked him off his horse, which led to him being captured by the Aes Sedai, although he eventually escaped. Rand’s amnesty for male channelers brought him in from the cold, and after swearing loyalty to Rand he was made the head of the training center for Rand’s loyal male channelers, the Asha’man. However, Taim’s loyalty to Rand was only one of convenience, and his ambition and lust for power would lead to him finding darker masters to pledge himself to.
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Mazrim Taim has yet to be confirmed on any casting lists, but dialogue between multiple Aes Sedai in season 2 indicates his presence offscreen. Episode 1 references him, but not by name, when Sheriam, Liandrin, and Joiya discuss the powerful new False Dragon in Saldea, and episode 2’s discussion between Alanna and Ihvon names him outright, meaning it’s only a matter of time before Taim appears out of the shadows.
6
Cadsuane Melaidhrin
Aes Sedai Of The Green Ajah
The oldest living Aes Sedai, as well as one of the strongest, Cadsuane had already been a full Sister for over a century and a half by the time Rand al’Thor was revealed to be the Dragon Reborn. Her accomplishments in the White Tower are considered to be as remarkable as they are contentious, as she once kidnapped the Amyrlin Seat because she thought the woman needed toughening up. Eventually, she reveals herself to Rand and appoints herself one of his advisors.
While little is known about Cadsuane in the show’s continuity, her appearance is likely inevitable. Elayne and Alanna both confirm her existence in dialogue in season 2 (episodes 2 and 4, respectively), specifically making reference to her status as a legend among the Aes Sedai, particularly with how quickly she was elevated from novice to Accepted.
5
Faile Bashere
Hunter of the Horn
Faile Bashere is an impulsive young noblewoman from Saldea, initially questing for the Horn of Valere in The Wheel of Time, but after encountering Perrin she decided to follow along with him, as the young ta’veren’s aura of destiny appealed to her. A proud woman, desperate to prove herself, she is a deadly fighter in her own right, and her connection with Perrin eventually deepened into powerful love and affection.
Whether Perrin’s traumatic loss of his wife will change their dynamic from that shown in the books is something that will only be revealed once season 3 premieres.
Rumors were circulating about Faile’s presence in season 3 for some time before the trailer’s release confirmed it with a shot of actress Isabella Bucceri passionately kissing Perrin. The Wheel of Time‘s showrunner Rafe Judkins also said that Faile was one of his favorite characters, and he was excited about how the show would portray her. Whether Perrin’s traumatic loss of his wife will change their dynamic from that shown in the books is something that will only be revealed once season 3 premieres.
4
Jaichim Carridin
Inquisitor And Darkfriend
A grim and patient member of the Children of the Light’s Questioners, Jaichim Carridin was a man torn between two masters, as he was also a Darkfriend in Ishamael’s service. In the books he first appeared in the infamous “Darkfriend social” scene using the alias Bors, where Ishamael ordered him to keep an eye out for the boys from the Two Rivers, and to lead Whitecloaks into Almoth Plain in order to sew chaos.
While the equivalent scene in the Amazon show in season 2’s premiere did not identify Carridin by either name, it did clearly show that one of the Darkfriends assembled to meet Ishamael in Tel’aran’rhiod was a Whitecloak, as the telltale white sleeves, along with matching gloves, could be seen underneath the robes of the figure directly across the table from Ishamael. It’s unlikely that Carridin would be removed from the narrative only to be replaced with another Whitecloak, so season 3 will likely reveal some of his machinations.
3
Couladin
Leader Of The Shaido Aiel
Couladin was the brother of Muradin, who aspired to lead the Shaido clan of the Aiel; he accompanied his brother to meet with the Aiel Wise Ones at Chaendaer so that Muradin could get permission to into Rhuidean and be tested. There they encountered Rand al’Thor, who Couladin immediately picked a fight with. When Muradin did not return from Rhuidean, Couladin accused Rand of killing him, and left to lead the Shaido Aiel, unknowingly playing into the hands of the Forsaken that were attempting to manipulate the Aiel into turning on the Dragon Reborn.
Couladin has no confirmed casting, but the season 3 trailer contains numerous shots of various Aiel gathered at Chaendaer and elsewhere in the Wastes. One Aielman is clearly positioned in several shots as being in conflict with Rand, meaning it’s likely Couladin will be causing trouble in season 3 as soon as Rand arrives to meet the Wise Ones.
2
Lord Gaebril
Andoran Chief Advisor
The mysterious Lord Gaebril ingratiated himself with Queen Morgase after Elaida a’Roihan left the Andoran court to return to the White Tower. Gaebril became Morgase’s most trusted advisor, as well as her lover, after helping calm the unrest caused by riots opposing Morgase, and the influence he had over her began to push her to treat her subjects with increasing cruelty. Of course, Gaebril was only an alias, and the charismatic nobleman was actually the Forsaken Rahvin in disguise, manipulating Morgase with the One Power.
Rahvin, as a member of the Forsaken, has not been mentioned or confirmed in The Wheel of Time thus far. However, Amazon’s casting announcement on December 18 specifically mentions Lord Gaebril, calling him Morgase’s lover and advisor and sworn to her service. Starring in the role will be Portugese actor Nuno Lopes (White Lines).
1
Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan
Aes Sedai Of The Red Ajah
This stern and belligerent Sister of the Red spent years serving at Queen Morgase’s hand, providing counsel to the throne of Andor that frequently proved to be unpopular. When Morgase discovered that her daughter Elayne had left her studies at the White Tower and wound up at Falme, she dismissed Elaida, who returned to the Tower in frustration, blaming Siuan Sanche for what she saw as the Tower losing influence.
Rumors of Elaida’s presence in season 3 began circulating in mid-2023, but weren’t confirmed until December 11, 2024’s announcement that the contentious Aes Sedai would be played by Iranian-born, award-winning actress Shohreh Aghdashloo. Aghdashloo’s casting in the role was theorized as early as September 2023, and many fans noted the similarities between Elaida and Aghdashloo’s character from Amazon’s The Expanse, the endearingly foul-mouthed Earth politician Chrisjen Avasarala.
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.