According to the WGA website, the first episode of season 3 will be titled “To Race the Shadow.” The episode was written by Justine Juel Gillmer, who also serves as an executive producer for the show. Episodes 1 and 2 will be directed by Ciaran Donnelly, who directed the final two episodes of season 1.
Gillmer has been with the show since its first season and has written episodes 106 and 207; Aes Sedai were featured heavily in both episodes, with Moiraine and Siuan playing big roles. Episode 106 was a nominee for the Hugo Awards in 2022 in the category of Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form.
“To Race the Shadow” is also the title of the 47th chapter of The Dragon Reborn, book three of The Wheel of Time. The chapter is from the point of view of Mat Cauthon and takes place in Caemlyn. Given how Caemlyn is yet to be introduced but will be in season 3, it is unlikely that the goings-on of the episode will match those of the chapter. This would not be the first time the TV series repurposed book chapter titles for a completely different part of the story.
The season 2 finale did not feature any Aes Sedai outside of Moiraine and Maigan, who was collared by the Seanchan and turned into a Damane. A return to the realm of Aes Sedai and their politics could very well be central to this episode, especially what happens to Siuan Sanche, who was left for dead by Lanfear in Cairhien to end episode 207.
About Season 3
Season 3 was greenlit in July 2022, and the season started filming in April of 2023. The season has enlisted three directors: Ciaran Donnelly (returning) directing four episodes, Thomas Napper (returning) directing two, and Marta Cunningham directing the remaining two. The season will mostly cover events from The Shadow Rising, the fourth book in the series. New places we will see in this new season include Tanchico, the Aiel Waste, and Caemlyn. Rand and Perrin should be featured heavily here, with Rand going to Rhuidean and Perrin returning to the Two Rivers. We should expect to meet more Aiel as well as new Forsaken.
Most of the filming was done in the Czech Republic. The show was also filmed in Slovenia for a few weeks in September/October and will finish up the season in South Africa.
Editorial Note
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I am a long-time fantasy fan. Also a technology generalist with a knack for research. A mix of Brown, Blue, and Yellow Ajah.
I hope Season 3 grows out of becoming a soap opera. Way too many feelings and too little action
Have you read the books
This is epic fiction – so there will need to a certain amount of feelings, as you call them
If you want to see things go boom now, maybe transformers might be more your speed? Transformers has the ancillary benefit of not having a plot.
Cannot wait for next series. Fantastic. Its the rightmix of action and feeling for me
Elaida is in the premier then! Insert *Finally* GIF by Lanfear.
I absolutely love this series. Way more excited than I was for GoT. The characters are so well developed and Moraine, Siuan & Lanfear have incredible actresses.
Why haven’t you made new series of Sleep Hollows it’s really good
I can’t wait for the Asha’man and also Moghedien (one of the forsaken that captured Lanfear in the end of season 2) to be captured and be the teacher/test subject for the female leads. And I hope the Two Rivers fight with Perrin will be the best also.
Happy to see the series get more attention. I myself have stayed away after season 1. The book series is one of my all time favorites, and I started it back in 1995. The screen adaptation has made some changes that are just too jarring for me, but I can understand that it’s not a easy task to bring this behemoth to the tv screen. I satisfy my curiosity by reading the summaries but otherwise prefer to keep the original story straight and unaltered in my imagination.
Honestly, I felt this way a bit, too. I think I must have been a bit more hopeful though, because I did watch season 2… No regrets. Season 1 was awful but holy heck they pulled through for season 2. I’m not saying its on the level of GoT or anything, but I was pleasantly surprised and moved by season 2. One key thing I try to remember is that tv adaptions are rarely great, and the first attempt being great is even rarer. Remember the first Harry Potter? I thought it was terrible lol but the movie series as a whole was actually pretty brilliant in the end.
My advice would be that you should watch season 2, but if you have waited this long it might be worth waiting for season 3 then binge-watching it all! My biggest complaint about season 2 is that now I know I have to wait for way too long for season 3. How dare they make me feel excitement and anticipate the next season??!!! Bah!
I just love,love,love this series. I can’t wait for more! I waited as the books were published and this is just as exciting! It’s just the beginning of the story!!
Peace n love
Hope to watch Season 3 the soonest.
Change the name. Portal Stone World.
Came here from WoT Up! Just wanting to show my love and appreciation for your work – thanks for keeping us all up to date and giving YT channels like WoT Up! more stuff to talk about <3