Yesterday The Wheel of Time unleashed one of its biggest, craziest episodes yet, and we're still reeling. "Goldeneyes" saw a horde of vicious Trollocs descend upon the sleepy town of Emond's Field, where Perrin Aybara (Marcus Rutherford) led a desperate defense. The Battle of the Two Rivers is an important event in Robert Jordan's novel The Shadow Rising, and it's become an equally important moment for The Wheel of Time television series.
Perrin may have been the heart of "Goldeneyes," but he was far from the only major character caught up in the Battle of the Two Rivers. The Aes Sedai Alanna (Priyanka Bose) and her Warder Maksim (Taylor Napier) both played crucial roles; the Ogier Loial (Hammed Animashaun) and Aiel Maidens of the Spear Bain (Ragga Ragnars) and Chiad (Maja Simonsen) launched a daring assault on the nearby Waygate; the Whitecloaks got into the thick of the fighting in the village; and of course, the people of the Two Rivers themselves were on the front lines.
And then there's Faile Bashere, played by Isabella Bucceri. Faile is a crucially important character from the book series who finally made her debut in season 3, and became pivotal to the Two Rivers storyline. She's a hunter for the Horn of Valere who started falling for Perrin, and a deadly fighter in her own right. Faile stayed by Perrin's side throughout the battle, cutting through Trollocs and helping him keep his resolve even when all seemed lost.
Standing out in a show with as big a cast as The Wheel of Time is no small feat, but Bucceri's Faile has managed it; she's been a highlight of the Two Rivers storyline, and I can't wait to see more of Faile and Perrin in the future. We had the opportunity to interview Bucceri around the release of "Goldeneyes," and spoke about everything from how she trained for its intense battles, to Faile's relationship with Perrin, her hopes for future seasons, and even how she developed Faile's voice for the series. Watch our full interview below, or read on for a transcription that's been edited for clarity:
Winter Is Coming: This is a huge episode for The Wheel of Time, with probably the biggest battle scenes the show has had. You had a lot of fighting in the episode. What was your preparation like, both for Episode 7 and for the role of Faile in general?
ISABELLA BUCCERI: For the episode, we were in the gym every day for over an hour, trying to perfect that. I wanted to really dive into the fight training because Faile is a character that has a military background, but she also doesn't have any powers, so she really does kind of rely on those skills. And I think, coming into the season knowing how skilled she was, especially with the knives...I was intimidated in a sense, but I was also really excited for the challenge. So I think yeah, prepping was definitely a lot of working with the stunt team, trusting them. And they're incredible, they really got into the details of the character, and how she moves, and even some of the knife tricks, just everything. It was really exciting to play because I think as an actor, the physicality really informs a lot.
And yeah, those battle scenes for me...by the end of it, I mean, you kind of go into the gym in the first day and you're like terrified, and you see all these stunties just flipping over each other and you're like, 'How?' Just completely blown away. And then, as you do it every day, you start to surprise yourself in that way where you do kind of fall into a rhythm. And by the end of it, I was just so excited to dive into those last battle scenes, they were chaos but in the best way.
WiC: You also had a lot of like quieter scenes too. Beyond the fight scenes, what's an aspect of Faile that you particularly loved playing this season?
IB: I think for me, it was...two things in a way, I think her loyalty, but that kind of informed how she just dived into things. There was no second guessing, it was just like, 'Yup, I have a gut feeling. There's some instincts, there's some impulses, I'm going for it.' I think, me personally, would love to inhabit a bit more of that, where it's just going for it and not wanting to be overlooked in any way, not allowing that to happen. And just following her feelings in a way, just following whatever's drawing her in [and] just going for it. I think that was the most exciting thing for me to play about the character.
WiC: So, I wasn't planning on asking you this, but hearing you talk is so interesting to me because Faile has a really distinct accent and way of speaking that really draws you in when she's talking, and it's obviously different than your natural voice. Can you talk about developing that at all?
IB: Yeah, I auditioned in the accent. I did two types of auditions. I did one in my natural and one in the accent that I chose for Faile, and it just didn't feel right to do it in a natural accent. I felt that the character really came out for me through the accent, and working with the dialect coaches, it really brought her to life in a way. I think she has this really kind of slow but intense way of speaking that does draw you in and...you kind of really listen to her. So yeah, it was fun to explore.
WiC: Faile and Perrin have a budding romance this season, and it's a really important romance in the overall series. When we last see them though, Perrin has made this shocking decision to surrender to the Whitecloaks. Do you think he made the right choice to surrender?
IB: I think initially [Faile's] protective of him, so I think she doesn't agree with the decision and she's quite almost frustrated by it. But I think once he speaks to her, you see this kind of...almost like him throwing her words in her face, and she has to accept it. And maybe she does, deep down, she admires it quite a lot. Because it is such a brave thing to do, and she is a brave person and she sees that...she admires it I think. But it's frustrating, you know, they create this budding romance and it's just [taken out of reach].
WiC: Now that Perrin has been taken by the Whitecloaks, what do you think Faile will do to get him back?
IB: I don't know, I'm not sure. I genuinely have no clue, but I think I would like to see her maybe form some relationships with other characters. Maybe Bain and Chiad...maybe trying to, I guess, get him back in a way. I have no clue, this is just my theories. But yeah, it'll be interesting how she navigates it all now.
WiC: There are a lot of people rooting for the show to get a fourth season. If it does, is there any particular part of Faile or her story, or even just for yourself as an actress, that you'd like to explore more with the character if you get that opportunity?
IB: I'd like to see more about where she's come from. You know, that Saldean culture, hopefully we get to see some of that coming in. That would be really exciting as an actor to kind of go into the backstory, into the whys and how she's been raised, and the things she has been through. So that'll be, I think, the most kind of interesting way of going about her next little arc.
WiC: I think we've got time for one more quick question! What was your most memorable day on the set of The Wheel of Time?
IB: I think it would be...our last few days of shooting those battle scenes in Episode 7. I think they were magical just to be involved in...everyone was kind of committing to a new level, and everyone was just together in this kind of chaos and madness that just flowed so beautifully together. I think that was definitey my favorite day of shooting on set. Because yeah, it was bringing everything together, bringing everyone together, and you see how everyone's own training or experience with their characters comes together, and it all works. And you just go, 'Oh, that's what they were training for.' It was just so incredible to watch.
A huge thank you to Isabella Bucceri for taking the time to talk all things Faile with us!
One episode remains in The Wheel of Time season 3! We've got plenty more coverage to come for the series, including more exclusive interviews with the cast, so be sure to check back if you're as excited for the finale on April 17 as we are!
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