Liandrin's True Goal In The Wheel Of Time Isn't In The Books, But 1 Storyline Set It Up

WARNING: Includes SPOILERS for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 6, as well as spoilers from the books.

The Wheel of Time show has introduced an entirely original motive for Liandrin, and it's backed by information from the books. Adapting a beloved book series like Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time novels comes with its challenges, as deciding what narratives to keep and which have to be sacrificed for TV logistics is a thin line. Amazon Prime Video's adaptation of Jordan's work has adjusted the timeline of events and removed major story elements, but it's also added a number of original ideas, many of which have received divisive responses.

The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 6, provided audiences with a glimpse at Liandrin's life nearly a century before the present day. In Tanchico, she gave birth to her son and found herself in a dire situation when the Forsaken Ishamael entered her dreams and recruited her. Now, she supports the Dark One as one of the Black Ajah. She openly left the Aes Sedai in the season 3 premiere after being exposed as a traitor and escaped along with the other Black Ajah, fleeing to Tanchico.

Liandrin Wants To Be A Forsaken In The Wheel Of Time Season 3

Liandrin's Goal Is Original To The Television Adaptation

Liandrin is one of the primary antagonists in The Wheel of Time show so far, but we've seen her as a fairly conflicted character. Throughout season 2, she demonstrated a clear love for her son, Aludran, who is an original character in the TV series, incorporated with the purpose of making Laindrin more sympathetic. In season 3, episode 6, however, we learn that Liandrin's main goal in the television adaptation is to become one of the Forsaken, raising questions of practicality that require book context.

We learn that Liandrin's main goal in the television adaptation is to become one of the Forsaken

Liandrin's backstory hints that she may only have turned to Ishamael out of desperation, but now she's acting with the aforementioned mission in mind. The storyline of her searching for the Domination Bands is in The Shadow Rising book, which season 3 is based on, but her desire to become Forsaken is fresh to the show. Her goal is to collar Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, with the Domination Bands, turning him over to the Dark One in return for becoming a Forsaken. She swore herself to Ishamael originally, but now he's dead, and other Forsaken are fighting for power.

Mazrim Taim Proves Liandrin's Plan Is Technically Possible

Mazrim Taim Becomes A Forsaken In A Memory Of Light

Wheel of Time A Memory of Light Cover Art

Liandrin's plan raises some questions regarding its feasibility. The Forsaken were chosen long ago, and during the Third Age, in which the show takes place, there are notably only thirteen of them. That said, there is one character from the books who proves that it's possible. Mazrim Taim is a False Dragon who appears in the Wheel of Time novels, beginning in Lord of Chaos. He's immensely powerful as a male channeler, rivaled only by the likes of Rand and Logain. In A Memory of Light, he fully becomes a member of the Forsaken.

Rand al'Thor (Josha Stradowski) training with his katana in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Ep 2

The Wheel Of Time Season 3 Finally Makes Up For Season 1's Biggest Missing Fight

The Wheel of Time season 3 has finally shown what Rand al'Thor is capable of, and it makes up for a disappointingly omitted scene from book 1.

Posts2

Mazrim Taim earns Rand's trust in the later books, then betrays him by turning most of the Asha'man (male channeler equivalent of the Aes Sedai later in the books) to the Dark One's side. This earns him a place in the Forsaken, and his name is changed to M'Hael. With that in mind, Liandrin's story could follow a similar arc, or at least she could try to become one of the Forsaken and then get betrayed and killed.

Liandrin's Plan Could Resolve A Major Problem With Her Book Story

Liandrin's Fate Is Unclear In The Books

Liandrin Guirale (Kate Fleetwood) accuses Siuan Sanche (Sophie Okonedo) of violating the traditions of the White Tower in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Ep 1

Liandrin is a compelling character in Robert Jordan's novels, but her last appearance is in Knife of Dreams, and she's far less prevalent in the later novels. In fact, we don't even really know what her fate was in the books, given that she's all but forgotten in Brandon Sanderson's final books. The TV series seems keen on improving her story, given that it's already made multiple adjustments to increase the intrigue surrounding her. Even if the TV adaptation is condensed, it seems like there's a long-term plan for her arc.

Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike) casting magic in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Ep 5

The Biggest Character Missing So Far From Each Wheel Of Time Season 3 Story

The Wheel of Time season 3 is adapting some iconic book storylines, but there's at least one prominent character absent from each of the main four.

Posts4

No matter where the show leads with Liandrin's story, her character is essentially in the position where any ending is better than nothing. Providing some resolution in the form of her becoming a Forsaken, or at least being killed off in a meaningful way, could be a nice payoff for how crucial her character is to the early books and early seasons of the show. Liandrin's final chapters imply that she becomes damane, like Egwene in season 2, but the Wheel of Time show can provide something more concrete.