Warning: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 8
All indications point toThe Fires of Heavenserving as the primary inspiration forThe Wheel of Time’sfourth season. The fifth installment inRobert Jordan’sWheel of Timebook series,The Fires of Heavenis the sequel to the book that Prime Video’s live-action adaptation just wrapped up,The Shadow Rising. However, that fact on its own doesn’t mean it’s the next book in the sequence. After all, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the show skipped book 3,The Dragon Reborn, going from the second book,The Great Hunt, straight into the fourth entry.
With 14 books to cover over the course of a run that most likely won’t exceed eight seasons, it’s difficult to predict with accuracy which books will get full-season adaptations, which will get shelved, and which will get merged with others. From the looks of things so far,The Wheel of Timeseason 4 may combine storylines from multiple books, such asTowers of Midnight,The Dragon Reborn,andLords of Chaos, into its fourth season, but the book that appears to have the most influence on it is none other thanThe Fires of Heaven.
3Couladin Left With The Shaido
Couladin May Be A Secondary Antagonist In Season 4
A major plotline fromThe Fires of Heavenwas set up for season 4 when Couladin and the Shaido departed from Alcar Dal, refusing to acceptRand al’Thor as the Car’a’carn. In the book, Couladin led the Shaido over the Dragonwall and to Cairhein, which he attempted to conquer. Looking to stop him, Rand led his new armies out of the Aiel Waste and to Cairhein for a showdown with the Shaido. Surprisingly, the conflict with the Shaido didn’t culminate in a faceoff between Rand and Couladin. Rather, it was Mat that dueled and killed Couladin. Afterward, Cairhein was placed in Rand’s control.
While Couladin is shaping up to be a season 4 villain, Mat may not get to fight him, considering that the show currently has him as part of the group involved in the Moghedien arc.
Same as it was in the books, the TV versions of Rand and Couladin look to be on a collision course. AsThe Fires of Heavensuggests,The Wheel of Timeseason 3 finaleis unlikely to be the last viewers see of Couladin, who is likely to take out his frustration on a “Wetlander” city. Cairhein would make sense as a destination, considering that the city has already been introduced as a major location in the show.
Rahvin Is Likely To Be One Of Season 4’s Main Villains
Image via Prime Video
Interestingly, the show has set up not one, but both of Rand’s main antagonists fromThe Fires of Heavento go against him in the forthcoming season. In the book, Rand went up against Couladin first before proceeding to Caemlyn for the grand finale where he did battle with Rahvin, one of the13 Forsaken inThe Wheel of Time. His pursuit of Rahvin was a response to the latter overthrowing Queen Morgase Trakand, who was presumed dead after her deposition.
Much of what has happened in season 3 signals that a similar sequence of events will play out soon. Firstly, it’s already been confirmed that Rahvin - as “Lord Gaebril” - is following in the footsteps of his book counterpart by using Compulsion to manipulate Morgase and gain power inthe kingdom of Andor. What’s more, Rahvin has seemingly set his sights on Rand, with Lanfear suggesting that he intercept him at the Stone of Tear. If Rahvin does lay a trap for him, that could set the stage for Rand to challenge him in Caemlyn in season 4’s ending.
1Moghedien Is On The Loose, With Part Of The Domination Bands
Moghedien Will Probably Be Nynaeve’s Next Opponent
In the books,The Shadow RisingandThe Fires of Heavenare essentially two halves of a story when it comes to Elayne and Nynaeve.The Shadow Risingsent the pair to Tanchico on the hunt for the Black Ajah, where they clashed with Moghedien over the Domination Bands, a male a’dam. The conflict with Moghedien continued intoThe Fires of Heaven, with Nynaeve and Elayne usingTel’aran’rhiod a.k.a. the World of Dreamsto chase down Moghedien.
With Liandrin now an ally to Moghedien, who has a piece of the Domination Bands, it stands to reason that Nynaeve and her friends will be going toe-to-toe with one of the deadliest Forsaken when the series returns.
With Elayne now knowing that her mother is in danger thanks to Thom Merrilin’s warning about Rahvin, she may not head down this road, but Nynaeve - at the very least - is all but guaranteed to be on that path inThe Wheel of Time’sfourth season. She just beat her channeling block, and has unfinished business with Liandrin, who failed to drown her. With Liandrin now an ally to Moghedien, who has a piece of the Domination Bands, it stands to reason that Nynaeve and her friends will be going toe-to-toe with one of the deadliest Forsaken when the series returns.
The Wheel of Time
Cast
The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine, a member of the powerful all-female organization Aes Sedai, as she leads a perilous quest with five young individuals. Moiraine suspects one among them could be the prophesized reincarnation of a mighty figure destined to either save or doom humanity.
