What is Perrin in The Wheel of Time?

The Wheel of Time takes place in a world of fantasy. Various characters, most notably Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), are able to channel, which basically means they can use magic. They tap into the One Power, the source of all things, and can do marvelous and miraculous things.

Edwene and Nynaeve also have the ability to channel, as does Rand al’Thor, who is a channeler so powerful he is known as the Dragon Reborn. Then there’s Perrin Aybara (Marcus Rutherford), who’s…different. So far as we can tell, he can’t channel, but something is definitely up with him. He seems drawn to wolves and they to him. His eyes are yellow, and he has sharpened sense — remember when Rand asked him how he made out the tablet in the Ways from so far away in dim light?

The show has been vague with what exactly is happening with Perrin, but there is an answer. Read on to find out what it is.

Perrin is a wolfbrother on The Wheel of Time

Although we can’t know when (or whether), the show will spell it out, in The Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan, Perrin is a wolfbrother, a man with a psychic connection to wolves. We meet a couple wolfbrothers throughout the story, including Elyas Machera, whose part has been cut from the first season; it’s anybody’s guess if we’ll see him in subsequent episodes down the line.

The origin of wolfbrothers (or wolfsisters if they’re women) is unclear, but it’s known that they predate the One Power. Their powers are pretty much what we’ve seen on the show: a connection with wolves, enhanced senses, and yellow eyes. They also may get prophetic dreams, although this may be specific to Perrin.

In the books, Perrin learns more about his abilities as the story goes on. We expect the show to follow suit.

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