Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5.
Three seasons into The Wheel of Time, it’s safe to say we’ve already been introduced to a lot of different landscapes and cultures — but it really feels like these last few episodes, in particular, have extensively broadened the scope of this epic fantasy world. This week’s installment, “Tel’aran’rhiod,” written by Ajoke Ibironke and directed by Marta Cunningham, is the title of a world we already know in The Wheel of Time, but it’s one of the first times we really get a sense of how the rules work — and how dangerous is can be if you end up in the wrong dream. On the other hand, this week’s episode also delivers some of the season’s most emotionally poignant moments, given that Tel’aran’rhiod is the only place where we can see the characters’ biggest longings laid bare, with each of them dreaming of the things that may never come to pass in the waking world.
Before we jump into what everyone’s sweetest dreams are made of, there’s a scene worth somewhat unpacking before the opening titles. As we saw last week, Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) found an Age of Legends-era sa’angreal in Rhuidean called Sakarnen, sneaking it into her pocket after taking it from the heart of Avendesora. It seems like she’s not wasting any time trying to figure out how to channel through Sakarnen, but given how strong the thing is, even an Aes Sedai as powerful as Moiraine risks burning herself out if she’s not careful. Good thing Lan (Daniel Henney) is there to stop her before she accidentally immolates herself — but thanks to their bond, he also knows exactly what Moiraine was feeling while channeling: euphoria, but also hunger and thirst beyond a physical level. When he asks her to tell him what she saw in the rings, Moiraine conveniently finds herself too weak to fess up to any details — at least for now.
Egwene Learns the Do’s and Don’ts of Dreamwalking in ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 Episode 5

Image via Prime Video

It turns out that even though Rand (Josha Stradowski) has gone through Rhuidean and come out the other side with two fancy-pants dragon tattoos, indicating him as the Aiel’s prophesied Car’a’carn, that doesn’t mean the Aiel will automatically accept him. According to Bair (Nukâka Coster-Waldau), the Taardad Wise Ones have been reaching out to the Wise Ones in other clans in the dream world — in the hopes that all the clan chiefs will descend on Alcair Dal (or “the Golden Bowl”) so Rand can declare himself. It seems that Sevanna (Natasha Culzac) and Couladin (Set Sjöstrand) were less than receptive when Rand emerged from Rhuidean, which Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) expresses little shock about, since Rand’s status — being “of the blood, but not raised by the blood” — means he’s been making a mess of Aiel ways since he arrived. Bair and Melaine (Salóme Gunnarsdóttir) have a solution to this problem that Aviendha is less than thrilled about: she will now shadow Rand every waking moment, as part of her Wise One training, and teach him Aiel customs.
The former Maiden of the Spear can only blink, stunned by her new responsibilities, but there’s no chance to debate the matter further — the group has made it to Cold Rocks Hold, the seat of the Taardad Aiel, to await the arrival of the other clan chiefs at Alcair Dal. They’re received by Rhuarc’s (Björn Landberg) other wife and the hold’s roofmistress, Lian (Nicole Sherin), who gives her husband and her first-sister, Bair, a separate, more tender welcome — and effectively establishing that polyamorous relationships are the sort of thing that Aiel don’t blink an eye at. Later on, Rand starts to bond with one of Rhuarc’s grandchildren, and it’s through their interactions that Aviendha seems to begin softening toward a “wetlander” she had originally written off as being too ignorant of Aiel ways.
Meanwhile, Egwene (Madeleine Madden) and Rand’s paths have been diverging for a while now, and it becomes even more apparent this week, particularly once Egwene begins her official Jedi Aes Sedai training in dreamwalking. As we learn from Bair and Melaine, while it is possible for anyone to enter Tel’aran’rhiod — and indeed, many stumble into it accidentally — it takes a special kind of ability, apart from the One Power, to be able to travel within the dream world, or even to bend it to one’s liking. Yet threats in Tel’aran’rhiod can be just as deadly, and those who die there will not awaken. Even the most idle thought can change things, as we see Egwene shift her clothing in the blink of an eye and jump from Cold Rocks Hold to the streets of Tar Valon in an instant. It’s in that same dream where she’s confronted by Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe), who has no qualms about trying to choke her once again. When Egwene snaps awake, she has fresh bruises on her neck, and Bain and Melaine immediately identify that she’s being stalked by a Shadow-souled — AKA, a Forsaken.
One person remains ignorant of the entire situation, though, and that’s Rand, because Lanfear sure as hell isn’t mentioning it when she visits him in his dreams. When Rand confesses to having seen her during his trial in Rhuidean, Lanfear insists she’s not Mierin anymore, but Rand recognized glimpses of the woman he first met in Cairhien. In that moment, Lanfear comes as close to real vulnerability as we’ve ever seen from her — and finally admits that she’s in love with every part of Rand, even the dark parts. What else is a Dragon Reborn to do other than smooch her, after that?
Siuan Begins to Lose Control in ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 Episode 5

Image via Prime Video

It seems that all of Elaida’s (Shohreh Aghdashloo) wooing and gifts have paid off, since, when we pick up with the White Tower politicking this week, the Red is having her much-desired meeting with Siuan (Sophie Okonedo). After a few backhanded compliments that quickly turn into straightforward barbs — Siuan remarks on Elaida’s cloying rose perfume, while Elaida insults Siuan’s taste in more rustic decor — Elaida decides to cut through the small talk and get right to the point of this meeting. Siuan’s control over the White Tower, as well as her sway over the Aes Sedai who remain there, is slipping, particularly now that her secret meeting with Rand in Cairhien has been exposed. Elaida plainly states her intention to call for a vote in the Hall about caging the Dragon Reborn — something Siuan should have done a long time ago. Of course, the Red sister can’t resist getting in a follow-up jab about Siuan and Moiraine’s relationship, especially since those two have had a thing going on since they were all novices (and apparently weren’t being subtle about it, either).
Apparently, Elaida’s gauntlet is alarming enough that Siuan later shares her suspicions with Leane (Jennifer Cheon Garcia) and Verin (Meera Syal) about the Red possibly being Black Ajah. Based on the “hearts” we already know of (with each “heart” consisting of three sisters), there would have been 12 Black Ajah inside the White Tower on the day Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood) was called to the Hall, and according to Verin’s calculations, they’ve been able to name 11 between the ones who escaped and those who are Tower prisoners. Meanwhile, Elaida is making moves of her own, trying to cozy up to other sisters like Alviarin (Claire-Hope Ashitey) and Adeleas (Nila Aalia), the latter of whom is revealed to be part of the plot orchestrated by Verin, Leane, and Siuan, even while still recovering from Nyomi’s (Rachel Denning) attack on her mind. The goal? To manipulate Elaida into paying a visit to Joiya (Joelle) and Amico (Zenobia Kloppers), so they can determine whether this Red just so happens to be the missing Black Ajah member they’ve been looking for. After quickly dispatching Amico and torturing Joiya for information, it’s clear that Elaida’s methods of interrogation are much more violent than Siuan’s — but is she Black Ajah? The fact that two Gray Men suddenly emerge from the shadows would seem to indicate otherwise, and fortunately for Elaida, the injuries she sustains in the attack are quickly healed once Siuan and Leane arrive on the scene and take out the assassins.

Related

“It Was Such an Undertaking”: ‘The Wheel of Time’ Director on the Months-Long Process Behind Making Season 3’s Rhuidean Episode

Thomas Napper also discusses the technical process behind filming Moiraine’s visions and Josha Stradowski’s incredible performance.

Meanwhile, Moiraine’s glimpse into those thousand, thousand futures in Rhuidean has clearly been weighing on her mind, because out of all her visions, there’s one common refrain she keeps returning to: the only way Rand can live is if she dies. Telling Lan the truth — that she won’t make it to the Last Battle — is only the first step in coming to grips with her fate, as the two drink some Aiel oosquai and decide to take their future one night at a time. Asking Egwene to help her reach Siuan via Tel’aran’rhiod feels extra risky, but it’s a risk Moiraine is willing to take. When she finds Siuan inside her hut, she informs the Amyrlin Seat that the White Tower needs to ally itself with Rand and quickly tries to duck out, but Siuan isn’t letting Moiraine slip away that easily. The emotional conversation that plays out feels like even more of a goodbye this time, as Moiraine insists that their relationship can’t be mended in this life — but Siuan emphasizes that she’ll wait for Moiraine in the next one, “again and again, until we get it right,” and Moiraine tearfully promises the same, vowing her love for Siuan before the two share a passionate kiss.
Perrin Plans a Rescue Mission in ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 Episode 5

Image via Prime Video

While we know that the Whitecloaks have kidnapped Natti Cauthon (Juliet Howland) and her two daughters as a way to flush Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) out into the open, we didn’t know that Dain Bornhald (Jay Duffy) was the only thing keeping Eamon Valda (Abdul Salis) at bay from subjecting the women to an intense Questioning. Yet Dain doesn’t have much moral leg to stand on when the Cauthon women are already being kept in a giant cage. After Natti makes an unsuccessful grab at the keys, Dain attacks her, resulting in the Whitecloak commander being blasted back by the One Power. It seems that one of the Cauthon girls can channel, but rather than let her daughters be taken, Natti offers herself in their place — subsequently, Dain hands her over to Valda for interrogation.
As night falls, Perrin runs through the plan with everyone who’s tagged along for this rescue mission. After a bit of attractive knifeplay doubling as sexual tension, Faile (Isabella Bucceri) convinces Perrin, as well as Bain (Ragga Ragnars) and Chiad (Maja Simonsen), that she’s going to be part of the main infiltration group. Loial (Hammed Animashaun) is on potential getaway duty with the horses, since stealth isn’t his forte, and Alanna (Priyanka Bose) volunteers, against Maksim’s (Taylor Napier) protests, to create some cloud cover so Perrin and the others can sneak in undetected. Once Aes Sedai and Warder are alone, Alanna reveals the real reason they came to the Two Rivers in the first place — to see whether more channelers exist in these here hills. From Maksim’s perspective, it’s a mission that means nothing while the person who killed Ihvon (Anthony Kaye) is still alive and kicking, and he storms off into the woods.
Once Alanna’s fog cloaks the camp and the Cauthon girls are freed from their cage, Bain and Chiad sneak them away while Perrin and Faile continue in search of Natti — but to Perrin’s horror, and ours, he’s too late to save Mat’s (Dónal Finn) mother, who has already been tortured and ultimately burned to death at Valda’s orders. By the time Perrin discovers Natti’s body, however, the Questioner has already made his way to where Alanna is channeling, and while the Green puts up an admirable fight, she’s taken down by several crossbows. Fortunately, Maksim returns from his temper tantrum just in time to rescue his Aes Sedai, but takes a few arrows himself while protecting her. Back at the camp, Perrin is confronted by Dain, and the two finally come to blows — the Whitecloak even stabs Perrin before Faile throws a knife into Dain’s shoulder.
Meanwhile, things aren’t going swimmingly on the way to Tanchico. Elayne (Ceara Coveney) and Mat are constantly bickering, while Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) spends most of the trip with her head over a bucket — and that’s even before Mat discovers that Min (Kae Alexander) has snuck on board. Everyone’s having pretty big cabin fever after being stuck on a boat for the last two weeks, and despite Elayne’s protests that they promised the Sea Folk they wouldn’t go above, Mat storms up to the top deck — where the reason for the sailmistress’s insistence later becomes clear. The Sea Folk aren’t just making good time; their women use the One Power to swiftly move their ships, called “rakers,” through the water, meaning that our motley crew will be in Tanchico much sooner than they’d planned. Down in Min’s room, Mat realizes she’s been drawing the same thing over and over — her previous vision featuring him hanging by the neck from a red doorframe — and even if he initially scoffs at the accuracy of her ability, it’s clear he’s still bothered by the image.
As the episode winds down, and Egwene leaves Moiraine and Siuan to spend whatever time is left to them, her thoughts take her into the dreams of those closest to her. Nynaeve is teaching her and Lan’s daughter, the one she raised in the Arches, how to listen to the wind, while Elayne envisions herself at the bow of a Sea Folk raker, channeling the ship through the open seas before welcoming Aviendha into her embrace. Mat’s dream involves giving his mother and sisters every comfort in life, and hearing Natti express her pride in him, while Perrin’s dream finds him working as the Two Rivers’ blacksmith with Faile by his side, as Hopper dances happily before them. Yet when Egwene stumbles into Rand’s dream, she makes a disturbing discovery — him and Lanfear, the Forsaken who’s been tormenting her in Tel’aran’rhiod, locked in a passionate embrace.
New episodes of The Wheel of Time Season 3 premiere Thursdays on Prime Video.

The Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5 takes us on an unforgettable journey inside Tel’aran’rhiod, the dream world.

Release Date

November 18, 2021

Network

Prime Video

Showrunner

Rafe Judkins

Directors

Sanaa Hamri, Ciaran Donnelly, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Thomas Napper, Maja Vrvilo, Wayne Che Yip

Pros & Cons

The rules of Tel’aran’rhiod mean that anything is possible, and it allows for exciting storytelling opportunities.
Elaida’s making moves, and Shohreh Aghdashloo plays a compelling antagonist.
I’ll admit it: I cried when Hopper showed up again.