All the biggest book changes in The Wheel of Time Episode 205
By Daniel Roman
The Wheel of Time season 2 dropped a big episode last night with “Damane,” which expanded the scope and scale of the series in a number of ways. From a proper introduction to the Forsaken Lanfear to the bone-cracking debut of the Aiel spear maiden Aviendha to the far-flung city of Falme, there was a ton to nerd out over.
“Damane” stuck closer to The Wheel of Time books than perhaps any episode, at least in tone and spirit. But there were still changes. Let’s run through the biggest.
The Seanchan and Falme
In the show: High Lady Suroth and High Lord Turak have a falling out because Suroth invaded Atuan’s Mill against orders. Ishamael has infiltrated Seanchan society and is very clearly in league with Suroth. Suroth also knows that Ishamael is a Forsaken, as opposed to thinking he is the Dark One.
In the books: Ishamael does not appear with the Seanchan; a different Forsaken, Semirhage, is largely responsible for manipulating them from behind the scenes, and she doesn’t appear until later in the book series. Turak and Suroth do not have their falling out the way they do in the show, though it is hinted during Suroth and Liandrin’s meeting that she’s acting against the High Lord’s orders. Suroth does not know Ishamael is a Forsaken, but instead thinks he is the Dark One.
Another big change is that there are fewer Forsaken in the TV show than in the books; eight, as opposed to the 13 who feature in the novels. “Damane” confirmed that the Forsaken Moghedien and Graendal will appear in the show. We’re not sure which Forsaken are cut but we have our guesses.
Egwene, Nynaeve, Elayne and Liandrin
In the show: Liandrin brings Nynaeve, Elayne and Egwene through the Ways as her prisoners. She presents them to High Lady Suroth. Both Suroth and Liandrin have been established as Darkfriends by this point. However, there’s a great deal of tension between them, and at the last minute Liandrin frees Nynaeve from her bonds and un-shields the three Aes Sedai trainees, giving them a fighting chance to escape the Seanchan.
Egwene is captured and later collared as a damane. Nynaeve and Elayne escape and then sneak into Falme hoping to rescue Egwene, where they encounter the Aes Sedai Ryma and her warder Basan.
In the books: Liandrin doesn’t reveal she’s a double agent until after she leads Nynaeve, Elayne, Egwene, and Min Farshaw through the Ways. It also isn’t confirmed that Suroth is a Darkfriend until the moment when Liandrin springs her trap on Toman Head, and she doesn’t free Nynaeve or give the young Aes Sedai trainees any advantage. In fact, after Nynaeve and Elayne get away Liandrin insists the Seanchan go find them. The animosity between Suroth and Liandrin is almost word-for-word from the novel, though.
Just like in the show, Egwene is captured and collared as a damane, though it happens on the spot as opposed to later in front of High Lord Turak. In the book, Min is with them and is also captured. She is allowed to live as a way to ensure Egwene’s obedience. Unlike in the show, Nynaeve is able to access the One Power to defend herself from the Seanchan, ensuring her and Elayne’s escape.
Nynaeve and Elayne do head to Falme following their escape and sneak in, but they don’t meet Ryma or Basan.
Perrin and Aviendha
In the show: Perrin parts ways with Elyas after realizing that the wolfbrother is leading him away from Falme. Perrin sets out on his own with his best wolf boy Hopper, eventually heading to Atuan’s Mill in order to retrieve Uno’s body for burial. While there he meets Aviendha, an Aiel Maiden of the Spear who is trapped in a cage, as well as Dain Bornhald and a squad of Whitecloaks who have ousted the Seanchan from Atuan’s Mill. Perrin frees Aviendha and they beat the Whitecloaks, though they spare Dain.
Aviendha tells Perrin she owes him “toh” — a debt of honor — and will follow him until the debt is repaid. Together with Hopper, they set out for Falme to free Loial, Ingtar and the Shienarans from the Seanchan.
In the books: In The Dragon Reborn, Perrin meets an Aiel man named Gaul in a cage in the village of Remen while he’s searching for Rand with Moiraine, Lan and Loial. Perrin frees Gaul and they fight and kill several Whitecloaks. Gaul decides to follow Perrin just like Aviendha does in the show. However, Dain Bornhald is not involved.
Elyas and Perrin part ways during the first novel, The Eye of the World, following a Whitecloak attack. Hopper is killed in that attack, though by the time Perrin frees Gaul from the cage Perrin and Hopper are meeting on a regular basis in the dream world, Tel’aran’rhiod.
Aviendha is first introduced in The Dragon Reborn, where she meets Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne while they’re traveling to Tear in search of the Black Ajah.
Rand, Lanfear, Moiraine and the Damodreds
In the show: Moiraine and Rand run from Lanfear, who goes on a spree of sadistic terror across the Cairhienen countryside. They take shelter with Anvaere Damodred, Moiraine’s sister, and meet her son Barthanes. They learn that Barthanes is to wed Queen Galldrian. Eventually, Moiraine encourages Rand to go to sleep so that he can confront Lanfear in Tel’aran’rhiod, the world of dreams.
In the books: Rand doesn’t find out Selene’s true identity until much later, in the fourth book, The Shadow Rising. The storyline where Lanfear pursues Rand and Moiraine is new for the TV show. There is no Queen Galldrian in the books; in the novels, it’s King Galldrian, and he’s not engaged to Barthanes.
However, Rand does meet Barthanes during his time in Cairhien. After the inn he’s staying at in Cairhien is burned down, Rand, Verin and a tracker named Hurin track Padan Fain’s trail to Barthanes’ manor. Rand uses an invitation given to him as part of Daes Daemar — the great game — to infiltrate the manor. While there, Rand learns that gleeman Thom Merrilin is still alive and that Barthanes is excavating a massive sa’angreal. There are more reveals during this stretch, but we’re not going to spoil them yet since they may still be coming in later episodes of the show.
New episodes of The Wheel of Time drop Fridays on Amazon Prime Video.
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