This will be our full spoiler review and episode breakdown for The Wheel of Time, Season 3, episode 6. When we say “full spoilers,” we’re including the entire book series, as we will be discussing changes from the books and potential ramifications for the future. If you don’t want plot points from the books that may show up in future episodes and seasons of The Wheel of Time spoiled for you, please read our spoiler-free review of the season instead.
Introduction
As we approach the end of the third season, we have a lot of ground left to cover across the three major plot arcs. Episode 305 set the stage for the back half of the season, which paid off in this episode with a major tipping point in each plot arc. Read on for our recap and review.
Summary of Episode 306 – The Shadow in the Night (written by Rammy Park, Directed by Marta Cunningham)
Tanchico
95 years ago, a young Liandrin (Lola Shaw) comforts her crying baby in the basement of the Lounalt manor. Her much older husband (Colin David Reese) enters and threatens to drown the baby. Liandrin screams and ends up channeling a weave that kills her husband and his servant. She leaves into the city with her baby, but no one will even look at her, let alone help her. Falling asleep beneath a statue of a shackled man, Liandrin is approached in her dreams by Ishamael (Fares Fares), who offers her help.
In the present, Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood) is dreaming of sitting in the Amyrlin Seat when Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe) enters her dream and orders her to find a Black Ajah sister working for Rahvin hidden among her cabal. In the waking world, Liandrin tells her cabal the plan to obtain the two bracelets and a collar for a male a’dam hidden somewhere in the city. Moghedien (Laia Costa), posing as their servant, hears the plan.
Elsewhere in the city, Elayne (Ceara Coveney), Nynaeve (Zoë Robins), Mat (Dónal Finn), and Min (Kae Alexander) disguise themselves with veils, splitting up to search the city for clues. Min gets Nynaeve to loosen up in a bar, and they learn that Jeane Caide (Olivia Popica) is staying at the old Lounalt manor and that it’s rumored that Liandrin’s ghost massacred the whole Lounalt clan a few weeks back.
While Mat is asking a man about a collar, his attention is drawn by music and he finds Thom Merrilin (Alexandre Willaume) performing on the street. Thom wants nothing to do with Mat, but Mat cheekily lifts his coin purse – a callback to the pair’s moment in season one – and convinces Thom to join them for a drink. Mat catches Thom up on the latest happenings, including Rand’s identity as the dragon and his own as the hornblower, but the gleeman still refuses to get involved until he hears the name Liandrin Guirale. Thom is distracted by Elayne who has been recognized by an unsavory admirer as the Daughter Heir of Andor. He rescues her with some quick thinking and Elayne, pretending she’s a gleeman’s apprentice, treats the bar to a performance of “The Hills of Tanchico.” Min and Nynaeve return in time to see the end of the song, and the two groups share information after a little dancing. Before they leave, Mat’s earlier contact brings him one of the bracelets needed for the male a’dam.
Nyomi (Rachel Denning) wakes to Liandrin looming over her with a menacing weave. Nyomi confesses that she knows the collar is in the Panarch’s Palace, and Liandrin kills her. Ispan (Olumide Olorunfemi) walks in to witness this, but doesn’t comment on Nyomi’s death at all. Later, while Ispan is awaiting Rahvin in Tel’aran’rhiod, Moghedien corners and kills her.
Moghedien then tracks down Nynaeve and Elayne in their room, using Compulsion on the pair to extract both information and the bracelet. After she leaves, the pair realizes in horror that the bracelet is gone and they have seemingly been targeted by a Forsaken, although they cannot remember any of the encounter.
The Two Rivers
An injured Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) is brought to the Winespring Inn, hoping for Alanna (Priyanka Bose) to heal him, but Marin (Rina Mahoney) reveals that Alanna is in no shape to heal anyone after her violent encounter with the Whitecloaks. On a hillside above the village, Padan Fain (Johann Myers) whistles and watches alongside several Trollocs and Darkfriends.
Later that night, Faile (Isabella Bucceri) and Perrin have a conversation, where Faile reveals some of her backstory, and Perrin shares about the Winternight attack and Laila’s tragic death.
In the Whitecloak camp, Dain Bornhald (Jay Duffy) sits near Natti Cauthon’s corpse. The Whitecloak reinforcements have arrived, but they are led by Padan Fain. The soldiers are covered in blood, purportedly from Trollocs.
Maksim (Taylor Napier) comforts a weakened Alanna, who thinks her time is up. The Cauthon sisters (Lilibet Biutanaseva, Litiana Biutanaseva) visit to thank Alanna, and it dawns on Maksim that they can channel. Alanna leads the girls through embracing the power and, together, they heal Alanna.
Perrin shares with Faile that he is a wolfbrother and asks her about her hunt for the Horn of Valere. Then he shares the drawing of Mat, revealing the truth of the Horn to Faile; she is annoyed as she realizes the futility of her quest, but Perrin distracts her with a kiss. A newly rejuvenated Alanna interrupts their smooches to offer Perrin some healing.
Some time later, Bain (Ragga Raggnars), Chiad (Maja Simonsen), and Faile scout near the Waygate, where they see an army of Trollocs emerging.
The Aiel Waste
Bair (Nukâka Coster-Waldau) and Melaine (Salóme Gunnarsdóttir) confront Egwene (Madeleine Madden) about entering the dream world alone. Egwene also admits to lying about being Aes Sedai, but is determined to learn how to stop Lanfear in Tel’aran’rhiod. Bair explains that her only chance is to lure Lanfear into her own dream.
Meanwhile, Lanfear pops into Moiraine’s (Rosamund Pike) dream, where they have a discussion about Egwene, and Lanfear threatens Moiraine who appears visibly shaken. Lanfear mentions she is sending Rand a little surprise.
Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) guides Rand (Josha Stradowski) around the Aiel stronghold, where he encounters Alsera (Julie Van Leeuwen) tending the gardens. They share a sweet moment where Rand incurs toh to Alsera, promising to harvest her garden to repay his debt to her.
Egwene resumes training with the Wise Ones, but Lanfear interrupts and Egwene finds herself strapped to Lanfear’s torture wheel in her damane outfit. Lanfear taunts Egwene with the knowledge that Rand knows she is a Forsaken. Egwene is defiant, but before the confrontation can continue, the pin drops in the real world and she awakens with Bair and Melaine. Egwene is still determined to try again.
Later that evening, Rand and Moiraine have a conversation about Rhuidean. Rand asks about Moiraine’s visions, about whether or not he goes mad and kills the people who care about him. They discuss the Sakarnen and Moiraine asks Rand about how he handles so much power. Rand explains she can’t submit to it, and the ground begins to shake as he absentmindedly channels. Moiraine draws his attention and he stops.
Egwene confronts Rand about Lanfear. Rand apologizes and admits he should have told her. Egwene calls him a fool and thinks he is already going mad. Rand feels that she does not understand the whole story, and does not answer when Egwene asks if he loves Lanfear. Rand says that he knows the truth: Egwene was always going to want something more than him, even if he is the Dragon Reborn. He says he respects that about her and then she reveals that Lanfear has been the one torturing her nightly. The ground begins to shake and before Rand and Egwene can finish this conversation, they are interrupted by Lanfear’s “little surprise”: Sammael (Cameron Jack), who enters through a gateway alongside black-veiled Aiel. Sammael blasts the duo across the room. Egwene fights back with channeling, and Aviendha joins the fray armed with spears of the One Power. Sammael blasts the room with his hammer. Rand sees Egwene and Aviendha hurt and channels a powerful shield and then a concentrated blast of lightning, bringing the whole building down.
As the dust clears, Aviendha reveals that Alsera was upstairs. Rand finds Alsera, dead under the rocks. Rand begins to cry, not accepting that she is dead. Moiraine and Lan arrive just as Rand begins to push weaves of the power into the little girl’s body. Rand is laughing and crying, repeating parts of the prophecy, not understanding why he can’t do this one thing. He tries again and again, losing himself further, but Moiraine’s touch on his shoulder brings him back to himself. Last we see, Sammael is still under the rubble.
Review of Episode 306 – The Shadow in the Night
Likes
The Tanchico plot was a standout in this episode, and we were happy to see it get the screen time it deserved. The al’Meara-Trakand Detective Agency is on the case, with Mat and Min – and a newly reintroduced Thom – adding their own skills and comedic timing to the mix. The humor in these scenes was a welcome bright spot in an otherwise harrowing episode. From Min’s shimmy on the “dance floor” to Nynaeve discovering the wonders of alcohol to Mat decking himself out in the beadiest veil, this episode had us chuckling a lot more than we would have expected. The bonding between the Tanchico gang was heartwarming, with sweet moments such as Mat proudly yelling “That’s my friend” after Elayne’s performance. We also loved the return of diegetic music; we were treated not only to a new song from Thom to herald his return to the series, but to Elayne belting out a banger of a bawdy ballad. We know from personal experience that “The Hills of Tanchico” will worm its way into many a fan’s ears for the foreseeable future – hats off to Rammy Park for the lyrics, and to Nikhil Koparkar for a melody we can’t help but tap our feet to. The set design and costumes in Tanchico were also top notch, playing an undeniably important part in establishing this new and cutthroat city, and we can’t praise Ondřej Nekvasil and Sharon Gilham’s contributions enough.
We’d be remiss to mention Tanchico without admiring how much more unhinged and terrifying Moghedien has become, which is impressive, considering what we’ve seen from her thus far. Her, ah, interactions with the Black Ajah cabal’s clothes and food, and the way she casually but brutally killed Ispan, had our stomachs turning. And the Compulsion scene with her, Nynaeve, and Elayne was sheer perfection, with an undercurrent of pure horror beneath the cutesy veneer of smiles and giggling and face caressing.
True to the episode’s title, the Shadow was truly closing in this week. We especially appreciated seeing the reemergence of Lanfear’s true nature. She’s spent most of the season as a more sympathetic character, so it felt like it was high time to remind viewers of her true capacity for cruelty. We even get a glimpse of Ishamael meddling in dreams before his release from captivity. Finally, Padan Fain returns to the story, armed with his creepy whistle and an army of bloodied dead-eyed Whitecloaks. Presumably, these were his Darkfriend allies who killed the Whitecloaks and took their uniforms.
Although there were significant changes to Faile’s backstory, the ripple effects of which remain to be seen, we enjoyed seeing her and Perrin communicate, sharing their tragic backstories and Perrin bursting Faile’s bubble regarding the Horn. Faile’s dialogue is really lovely, feeling like it is from the books. It also shows a little about Saldean culture without being too info-dumpy.
The Rand and Egwene breakup scene has been a long time coming for readers who know this pair is not meant to be together. We appreciated that Rand respects Egwene’s ambition as a core part of who she is, while still being understandably hurt by it. It’s also very true to Egwene’s ambitious character in the books, which is further exemplified by the fact that instead of immediately confronting Rand upon learning of his connection to Lanfear, she goes for more training (despite yet another Lanfear encounter).
As usual, there were many easter eggs sprinkled throughout the episode that book readers will appreciate: Mat’s luck on full display by happening to chat up a man whose Dad happens to have the second bracelet, Nynaeve fighting back against Moghedien, Thom’s mention of serving in Queen Morgase’s court, and Elayne’s penchant for drunken antics.
Dislikes
Time in the Threefold Land and the Two Rivers has obviously passed, but the viewer has to hunt for clues, and it would have been beneficial for the show to be a bit more explicit about how much time has passed, especially considering the number of plots in which the passing time is relevant – Egwene’s training, Alanna and Perrin’s injuries, and so on. We know the trip to Tanchico took a little over two weeks but it is hard to tell how aligned the other timelines are.
We wish we could have heard more of Thom’s song, as his performance in the first season was also a highlight, and we’re still waiting for studio versions of both. We were also hoping for more time with Mat singing, to take better advantage of Dónal Finn’s musical background.
The Faile-Perrin kiss was cute, but felt a bit fast considering their limited screentime together so far. This is another instance where it would have been beneficial to know how much time has passed. Also, Perrin did just get stabbed, which left us wincing at that straddle.
Finally, the battle at Cold Rocks Hold felt distractingly small. Where were the rest of the Aiel? That amount of ruckus would surely have roused every warrior within a mile, yet there was no one in sight outside the core group of main characters.
Book to Screen Comparisons
Alsera
One of the more unsettling scenes in the books is of Rand trying to raise a little girl from the dead in Tear. The show has rewoven this plot point to Rand trying to bring Alsera back to life, and the connection that we saw develop between Rand and the precocious Aiel youngster deepened the impact of both her death and Rand’s attempts to do the impossible.
Rand and Egwene…and Lanfear
The relationship between Rand and Egwene in the books is mostly over before it begins, as both characters realize very quickly that the expectations of their families were probably the only thing driving them together romantically. In the show, we see Rand and Egwene start in season one with a more mature and developed relationship. We see them struggle with their situations changing, as Egwene realizes she will never be Wisdom and Rand holds on to his secret about his own fate. At the end of the first season, Rand leaves Moiraine, Lan, and his friends behind, allowing his loved ones to think he is dead. In season two, Egwene expresses her belief that she could have saved Rand had she been there to help and is grieving his death. The pair does not interact again until the finale of season two.
In season three, we see Rand and Egwene have fallen into comfortable patterns, but they are both hiding things from one another. Egwene does not reveal that she can pop into his dreams or the extent to which his touch is making her revisit her trauma. And Rand not only fell in love with another woman but she is also one of the Forsaken. Their breakup conversation, after Egwene realized in episode 5 that her nightmares are really Lanfear torturing her nightly, may come a few episodes later than some would prefer, but does a good job adding layers of characterization to them both. The scene feels like a goodbye to the people they keep pretending to be when they are together.
The relationship between Rand and Lanfear is much more developed in the show than in the books. In the books, the reader never fears that Rand will go to Lanfear through his own free will. But the possibility of his love for the woman who released the Dark One raises the stakes: could Rand be turned to the Dark, through his own choices, and truly break the world again?
Forsaken and Black Ajah
Liandrin in the show is infinitely more competent and calculating, and expresses her desire to be a Forsaken. Given how central Liandrin’s character has been throughout all three seasons, we wonder if we might see her raised to Forsaken rather than–or alongside–Mazrim Taim. At this point, it would almost be a misstep not to do so, considering how much time has been spent on her backstory. This would be a change from the books but considering the show has whittled down the number of Forsaken, it leaves open plot points for a newly raised Forsaken such as Liandrin to take.
Egwene
Egwene’s dreaming ability progresses faster than in the books, though we do get a few indications that she is being worked hard by the Wise Ones. Her “let’s try again” after Lanfear confronts her on the wheel feels very much like book Egwene. Her disobedience of the Wise Ones, and her much quicker admission that she is not Aes Sedai, cause a lot less drama and her toh is glossed over, possibly because we’re out of time, and possibly because Rand and Alsera’s interactions set up the concept of toh for the viewers.
Faile’s Family
In this turning of the wheel, Faile’s mother confessed to being a Darkfriend and murdered her brother. In the books, Deira Bashere is no Darkfriend. While this change in backstory was a bit jarring, Deira Bashere is a very minor character in the books, who we will likely never see onscreen. One could also argue that Faile running from a serious danger – rather than ledgers and familial expectations – better establishes her agency. Faile’s character isn’t exactly widely beloved in the fandom, so making her a bit more sympathetic is an understandable choice. In a 2018 Q&A, showrunner Rafe Judkins described Faile as a “favorite and least favorite character from the series” but assured fans that “she’ll be awesome on the show.”
Channeling
Both of Mat’s sisters are channelers in the show, a slight change from the books where only Bode can. They also channel with ease, which didn’t happen in the books either, but makes for better television. We’ve already seen a young Siuan channeling deftly in season one, so this isn’t inconsistent and it is a meaningful display of the power of the Two Rivers channelers. The show has also established the concept of a powerful channeler healing without training, as both Egwene and Nynaeve did in the first season.
Final Thoughts
In an eight episode season, the sixth episode is often referred to as the “all is lost” episode. This episode certainly fits that description. Egwene and Rand’s romantic relationship seems broken beyond repair, Liandrin is murdering her cabal with the intent of being raised to a Forsaken, Moghedien has mind controlled two of our Tanchico crew and stolen the bracelet, Padan Fain and the Trollocs are marching on the Two Rivers, and Rand was attacked by Sammael and thoroughly traumatized by his inability to heal a dead girl. No one is having fun.
Yet, true to the essence of The Wheel of Time, there are pinpricks of light scattered throughout the darkness: Thom and Elayne leading the bar in song, Perrin and Faile’s blossoming romance, Bode and Eldrin holding hands as they learn to channel, Nynaeve fighting back against a Forsaken, Moiraine’s soft touch on Rand’s shoulder. These veins of gold remind us that no matter how dark things get, there is always hope.
With just two episodes left to go, the show has a lot of ground left to cover to bring the plot arcs to a satisfying conclusion, but we’ve also seen how much has been crammed into the season so far and expect the show will be able to pull it off. The Wheel of Time’s third season continues to impress us on all fronts, from writing to costumes to production design, and we again rated this episode very highly.
Ratings
(Due to the bar being raised so high this season, we found it difficult to rate episodes with only half or full ratings to choose from. As a result, we have decided to add quarter ratings this season. Ratings are best compared to other episodes of the same season, versus across seasons.)
Episode 6 – The Shadow in the Night (Overall: 4.4/5)
Lane: 4.0/5, Sara: 4.5/5, Eri: 4.5/5, Omar: 4.5/5, Cait: 4.5/5
I love books of all kinds and especially Wheel of Time (I even have a tattoo!) I also love video games and building community online. Blue/Brown ajah (don’t make me choose) and Spoiler Gaidin for the show-only crowd. Find me @feelinmyshelf.bsky.social
I'm a longtime SFF fan but Wheel of Time will always be my first love. I want to call myself Green Ajah, but--let's be real--I'm probably a Brown. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, writing, and getting lost in the wilderness.
Lover of fantasy and other geeky goodness.
Thanks for another great review! My siblings and I haven’t read the books but we love the show (especially this season), and it’s so interesting to read your side-by-side commentary – which we do every week since finding your site 🙂
My sister and I are wondering if you could answer a question we have about the episode? The scene at the start when young Liandrin meets Ishamael – does the fact he could communicate with her before being released imply that the statue has some special powers that enable him to temporarily escape his prison? Not having read the books, we were under the impression that in the thousands of years they were imprisoned they couldn’t do anything, so is this setting up something? Or is this a sneaky little inconsistency they’ve got away with because the scene is so engrossing? 😛 Thanks! <3
So, even though Ishamael wasn’t fully freed, there have been times when he’s able to touch the world a bit more through Dreaming. Liandrin falls asleep under the statue and it seems that Ishamael approaches her either through her own dream or through tel’aran’rhiod. We see similar in season 1 when he’s able to terrorize the kids through their dreams.
Hope that helps!
Ah that makes a lot of sense! Thanks a lot 🙂 That would’ve bugged me so much. My sister is now very smug cause her theory was closest to your answer…
So ridiculous that the how made Faile’s mother a Darkfriend. Such a pointless change, among many others. why? Just…why?