Includes SPOILERS for The Wheel of Time season 3 finale and spoilers from the book series.
The Wheel of Timeseason 3 had six major character deaths, all of which differ from the novels in some capacity. Robert Jordan’sWheel of Timebooksare packed with literally thousands of characters, populating every corner of his beautifully detailed world with individual meaning. However, the infinite bounds of literature allow for a much broader cast than television, which is limited to eight hours each season and a finite budget for paying actors. Because of this,season 3 saw several characters killed off who are still alive at this point in the novels.
Season 3 was primarilyadapted fromThe Shadow Rising, the fourth book in Jordan’s series. The book counterpart features a number of deaths, but none from the main cast. Unlike George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice & Firenovels, Robert Jordan kept the vast majority of his characters around as long as possible. It’shard to say how the excessive character deaths in the TV series will ultimately impact the narrativein the long run. Only time will tell, but for now, it’s worth breaking down how these instances differ.
6Siuan Sanche
Dies In The Last Battle
The Wheel of Timeseason 3’s endingfeatures one of the most compelling stories in Robert Jordan’s book series, the Breaking of the White Tower. Throughout season 3, Elaida, an Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah, has stirred up commotion in the White Tower, which led Siuan Sanche to believe she was one of the Black Ajah. While Elaida isn’t working for the Dark One, she’s potentially even more dangerous, as she’s convinced that gentling the Dragon Reborn will service the Light. The season ended with her capturing the tower andexecuting her rival, Siuan Sanche.
This story is a bit more complicated in the novels, but it’s otherwise fairly close, up until the moment Siuan Sanche dies, which doesn’t happen in the novels.
Siuan was the Amyrlin Seat ofthe Aes Sedai, who was growing supportive of Moiraine’s belief that the White Tower should agree to support Rand, after he proclaimed himself as the Dragon. This story is a bit more complicated in the novels, but it’s otherwise fairly close, up until the moment Siuan Sanche dies, which doesn’t happen in the novels. In the books, she’s stilled, losing her access to the One Power, but still escapesthe White Tower.
In Jordan’s books,she manages to survive all the way until the Last Battle, where she’s killed by a Gray Man. Before that, she helps organize a faction of rebel Aes Sedai, working against Elaida’s White Tower, she mentors Egwene in the politics of the order, and she even manages to regain her access to the One Power in part, though she’s never as powerful again. She also has a separate romantic arc in the novels, which was essentially cancelled out by she and Moiraine’s romantic connection in the show.
5Loial
Doesn’t Die In The Books
Loial is one of the most beloved characters inThe Wheel of Timebook series, making it all the more heartbreaking to see the character go so early. The TV show previously faked out Loial’s death in season 1’s ending, which was met with harsh reactions from audiences, but this time, it seems to be more final. Loial’s death in the TV show wasn’t bad by any account. He wasgiven a heroic final moment that’s worthy of how much readers love the character, essentially saving the day at the Battle of the Two Rivers.
That said, fora character who doesn’t die in the books, it’s still jarring to see a prominent character killed so early. Loial isn’t as critical as Rand or Perrin, of course, but he’s one of the few characters to provide levity inwhat is otherwise a rather dark series. It’s almost like killing off Hagrid too early inHarry Potter. Loial also plays an important role in the books in connecting our characters to the other Ogier, demonstrating that not all the non-human races in Jordan’s world are evil.
Presumably Dies In Winter’s Heart
Image via Prime Video
Ihvon is the most minor character to die inThe Wheel of Timeseason 3, and one many audiences might not have paid much mind to. That said, he was a character from the novels who suffered a premature death and is tied to one of the show’s Aes Sedai, Alanna. Alanna is one of the Green Ajah, meaning she has multiple Warders, beginning the series with Ihvon and Maksim. In the novels, her Warders are Ihvon and Owein, though their roles are changed around in notable ways for the TV series.
Ihvon died in the season 1 premiere during the Black Ajah’s escape from the White Tower, complicating Alanna and Maksim’s relationship through the rest of the season. In the books, Owein dies inThe Shadow Risingduring the Battle of the Two Rivers, while Ihvon remains by Alanna’s side much longer, but disappears inWinter’s Heartand is never seen or heard from again, leading many to assume his death off-screen. Maksim, the replacement for Owein in the TV show, will likely be the one to stick around a while longer.
3Sammael
Dies In A Crown Of Swords
Sammael is one of the Forsaken, and another character to die significantly earlier than his book counterpart. Following his release from imprisonment,Sammael assumes the role of Lord Brend and begins meddling in the political affairs of Illian, a large city and country inThe Wheel of Time’sworld. to win the Last Battle, the Dragon Reborn needs the support of a significant portion of the world, putting Rand and Sammael on a natural collision course. This is the primary conflict ofA Crown of Swords.
Sammael was defeated by Rand inThe Wheel of Timeseason 3, episode 6, seemingly dead, but returned in the season 3 finale only to be killed by Moghedien. With Sammael absent from the rest of the TV series, theplot ofA Crown of Swordsmight be skipped in its entirety. The TV adaptation could use another Forsaken in Illian, find a way to bring Sammael back, or skip over the Illian plotline, which would be a shame given how crucial world-building is to Robert Jordan’s book series.
2Eamon Valda
Dies In Knife Of Dreams
Eamon Valda is the main casualty among the antagonists at the Battle of the Two Rivers, as, even though his side agrees to help support the Two Rivers-folk against the Trollocs, Valda takes the opportunity to try and kill an injured Aes Sedai. The White Cloaks are meant to serve the Light, but their extremist beliefs and hatred for the Aes Sedai often make them clear antagonists themselves, and the malicious Eamon Valda was among the worst of the worst. Luckily, the newly trainedCauthon sisters were there to protect Alanna, killing Valda.
In the book series, Eamon Valda doesn’t die until much later, and actually manages to pull off even more gruesome acts than we saw with him in the show, particularly regarding Queen Morgase Trakand. He’s killed in the prologue scene ofKnife of Dreamsby Galad Damodred, a character who was introduced in the TV show earlier in season 3.
Natti Cauthon is another rather minor character, but she’s tangentially important due to being Mat’s mother. She was captured by the White Cloaks to lure Perrin out at the start of season 3, and the TV show had a similar plotline to the books, where Perrin goes on a rescue mission to save her.InThe Shadow Rising, Perrin is successful, and Natti Cauthon lives out her days, but theWheel of Timeshow’s version of her character was tortured and killed by Eamon Valda on suspicion of being able to channel.
