The story lined up for Perrin in The Wheel of Time season 3 reveals how the show can make up for the absence of a major character. Galadred Damodred, better known as just “Galad” in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time books, is easily one of the biggest characters in the source material that Prime Video’s TV adaptation has thus far avoided. Despite being the step-brother of Elayne Trakand, his existence hasn’t even been acknowledged yet.
Had the show abided by the books, Galad would have appeared in both seasons 1 and 2. However, The Wheel of Time never covered Rand’s run-in with Andor’s royal family in Caemlyn nor did it see Elayne’s relatives pay her a visit at the White Tower. Either of these events would have allowed Wheel of Time to bring Galad into the picture for the long haul. Further complicating matters is the fact that Galad plays only a small role in The Shadow Rising, the book The Wheel of Time season 3 is adapting. But with a change to Perrin’s story, the series can easily rectify the issue.
Galad Would Fit Perfectly Into Perrin’s Wheel Of Time Season 3 Story
Galad Could Be A Member of Dain Bornhald’s Whitecloak Army
Despite not being involved in Perrin’s next arc, Galad would fit rather seamlessly into what’s ahead for Marcus Rutherford’s character. In The Shadow Rising, Perrin returns to the Two Rivers and becomes embroiled in a conflict with the Whitecloaks, as Dain Bornhald is seeking revenge on him over the death of his father, Geofram. This conflict could be what introduces Galad because it’s the Whitecloaks who Galad chooses to align himself with in the books. In book 5, The Fires of Heaven, it’s revealed that Galad joined the group off-page.
Galad’s first appearance in the books came in
The Eye of the World
when Rand accidentally wound up in the palace at Caemyln, which is also where Elayne, Gawyn, Morgase, and Elaida made their debuts.
With that in mind, it’s not implausible that Galad is already a Whitecloak in the TV show’s version of the timeline and is also among the group sent to the Two Rivers with Dain Bornhald. If that’s the case, he could be a central player on Dain’s side, allowing the Whitecloak faction in the series to have multiple, developed characters in play – as opposed to just Dain Bornhald and Eamon Valda.
Perrin’s Fight With The Whitecloaks Has Already Been Set Up
The Whitecloaks Are All But Confirmed For Perrin’s Next Adventure
Although Perrin was still in Falme when The Wheel of Time season 2 ended, there’s little doubt as to where he’ll end up next. The show created a pathway for him to face the Whitecloaks again (and possibly Galad for the first time) by having him kill Geofram during the fight with the Seachan. In doing so, he earned the hatred of Dain Bornhald, whom he had crossed paths with earlier. How Dain will retaliate against Perrin hasn’t been explicitly stated, but his choice of “Two Rivers” as an nickname for Perrin makes his next move clear. It’s essentially a reminder that he knows exactly what place Perrin calls home.
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Not only that, but Two Rivers is a confirmed location for Wheel of Time season 3. What’s more, Padan Fain (the real antagonist of the story) is still on the loose and someone with whom Perrin holds a vendetta. These factors make it all the more apparent that Perrin’s arc from The Shadow Rising is on the horizon. And with that promising a heavy dose of Whitecloaks throughout the third season, there will be plenty of room for Galad to make a meaningful impact on the story if he’s with them.
Galad Appearing In Two Rivers Can Fix A Missed Opportunity From Season 1
Being In The Two Rivers Can Be A Great Introduction For Galad
The way in which Jordan chose to introduce Galad worked well for the series, in how effectively it characterized him. Upon catching Rand with Elayne and Gawyn inside the palace in The Eye of the World, Galad immediately turned him into the guards. He had the situation explained to him, but his principles didn’t dissuade him. Because ultimately, just as Gawyn and Elayne explained, Galad is someone who always does what he believes is the right thing to do, and exposing someone for illegally entering the palace fell within those parameters.
This moment perfectly captured who Galad is as a person and how he operates. But unfortunately, the series has seemingly missed it chance to include it, as Rand already knows Elayne and his upcoming trip to the Aiel Waste makes a pitstop at Caemlyn seem highly unlikely for his arc. However, it can recreate the first impression The Eye of the World offered of Galad by having him team up with the Whitecloaks. Because of the supposedly righteous cause that they pursue, he could legitimately see what they’re doing in the Two Rivers as the “right” thing to do and his side as a force of good.
Heading in this direction can be great for Galad’s character development. By placing him in this situation, The Wheel of Time can effectively challenge Galad’s mindset by facing him with a moral dilemma pertaining to the Whitecloaks’ treatment of the Two Rivers folk. Forcing to make these decisions can go a long way toward making Galad a compelling and worthwhile character in season 3 and beyond.
Galad’s Two Rivers Role Could Allow A Key Wheel Of Time Story To Happen Early
Another benefit that could come with moving Galad’s introduction to the Two Rivers arc in The Shadow Rising is the character’s connection to Perrin in the later books. Book 13, The Towers of Midnight, has a rather substantial Perrin-Galad storyline that sees the Whitecloak put Perrin on trial. They have a contentious dynamic in the book that culminates in Perrin rescuing Galad and the latter agreeing to fight under his command during the Last Battle. This alliance between Perrin and the Whitecloaks serves as one of several stepping stones toward The Wheel of Time’s ending.
Combining this plotline from
The Towers of Midnight
with Perrin’s story in
The Shadow Rising
would mean there would be one less story it’ll have to cover later, which should help keep things streamlined.
Considering that this happens in book 13, it may seem far too early for the show to adapt this arc, but given the number of stories it’ll need to incorporate every season, it’s not implausible. After all, it doesn’t have to conclude with the two forming an alliance. Combining this plotline from The Towers of Midnight with Perrin’s story in The Shadow Rising would mean there would be one less story it’ll have to cover later, which should help keep things streamlined. And, it’ll provide setup for the team-up between Perrin and the Whitecloaks that’s expected to occur late in The Wheel of Time’s future.