All the book changes in The Wheel of Time season finale
By John Fallon
The Ending
In the show: After Rand’s final confrontation with Ishamael, he leaves for parts unknown and asks Moiraine to tell the others that he fell in battle. Lan manages to track down Moiraine, who has been cut off from the One Power. Moiraine examines a fractured piece of cuendillar, which is supposed to be unbreakable. She recognizes that Rand, in using the angreal against Ishamael, has broken a seal on the Dark One’s prison and fears the last battle, Tarmon Gaidon, is yet to come.
A final scene shows a fleet of ships approaching the “western shore.” They are able to channel and create a giant tidal wave.
In the books: Rand comes to after the battle, pronouncing the Dark One dead. The companions reunite at the Eye of the World, where they find artifacts and remnants from the Age of Legends, such as the banner of the Lews Therin Telamon, the last Dragon before Rand; and the Horn of Valere, an artifact that can summon heroes of old to aid whoever blows it in battle.
The group takes the items and returns to Fal Dara, where the city rejoices from the victory and awe at how the darkness has been lifted from the land. The book ends with Moiraine confident that the Dragon has been reborn in Rand and that soon the foretold prophecies will be fulfilled.
At the beginning of the second book, The Great Hunt, the Horn of Valere is stolen by Padan Fain. The show moved this up a bit by having the Horn already in Fal Dara while Rand is at the Eye of the World.
As for the fleet of ships, this is our introduction to the Seanchan, a civilization who enslaves channelers for their own nefarious ends. They play a large role in the second book.
Finally, there’s Rand walking away from the Eye and asking Moiraine to tell everyone else he’s dead. There is a point in the books where Rand goes on a self-imposed exile, but it isn’t until Book 3, The Dragon Reborn. It looks like The Wheel of Time season 2 will mostly adapt The Great Hunt, but Rand’s journey will incorporate elements from The Dragon Reborn.
But we won’t know that for sure until season 2 airs. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long.
Next. The Wheel of Time turns in an excellent season 1 finale. dark
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