An emotional moment surroundingThe Wheel of Timeseason 3 finale’s major character death pays off a peculiar book change from the first season. The most common critique of Amazon Prime Video’s adaptation ofRobert Jordan’sWheel of Timebookshas been the numerous changes to the source material. This is one of the highest-selling book series ever written, so it’s no surprise that readers are irked by all the differences. That said, one notable change in season 1 has ended up paying off in a powerful way.
The Wheel of Timeseason 3’s endingsawSiuan Sanche, the Amyrlin Seat of the Aes Sedai, killed by Elaida in her coup. This happened simultaneously with Moiraine’s battle with Lanfear, the Forsaken antagonist to season 3’s Aiel Waste plotline. Moiraine found herself losing the fight despite thepower boost from Sakarnen, yet, upon Siuan Sanche’s death, Moiraine unleashed her anger and grief to fight back against Lanfear, defeating her enemy for he time being.
Moiraine Swore An Oath To Siuan Sanche In Season 1
Image via Prime Video
Moiraine immediately feels a drastic bout of pain the moment Siuan Sanche is killed, raising questions about their connection. We’ve seen this bond shared by Aes Sedai and Warder, but Moiraine and Siuan Sanche wouldn’t normally share it. They’ve been shown to be in love, but that also wouldn’t inherently create a magical bond inThe Wheel of Time’sworld. The reason Moiraine feels this death is because of theoath she swore to Siuan Sanche in season 1.
Upon Siuan’s death, that oath was broken, allowing Moiraine to feel the death from elsewhere in the world, and setting up her future.
InThe Wheel of Timeseason 1, Moiraine and Siuan Sanche plotted Moiraine’s exile from the White Tower as a strategy so that she could operate in secret, allowing her to handle the Dragon Reborn as she best saw fit without the interference of Aes Sedai politics.This was a shift from the books, causing Moiraine to be banished from the towerand swear a sacred oath of loyalty to Siuan Sanche. Upon Siuan’s death, that oath was broken, allowing Moiraine to feel the death from elsewhere in the world, and setting up her future.
There Were Moments Of Clear Foreshadowing
Siuan Sanche’s death may have come as a surprise to book readers, since she manages to escape from the White Tower alive inThe Shadow Rising. However, the TV series has been setting it up for a while. First,the fact that neither Min nor Logain was seen at the White Tower this season should have been a hint that her escape from imprisonment wouldn’t be happening. Second,The Wheel of Time’sscene between Moiraine and Siuan in Tel’aran’rhiod was a very clear tell that one of them wasn’t long for the world.
