The Wheel of Time has reached the end of its third season, and nothing will ever be the same. At a whopping 68 minutes long, "He Who Comes With The Dawn" was a mega-sized episode that featured major developments for nearly every member of the show's main cast. From Rand claiming his place as the Car'a'carn to Siuan Sanche being deposed in the White Tower, there's been a lot to pore over.
Then there was Tanchico, where Min Farshaw, Mat Cauthon, Nynave al'Meara, Elayne Trakand and Thom Merrilin sought to foil the plans of the Black Ajah. They split into groups to search the Panarch's Palace, and each of those groups has a moment which could have served as the climax in any other episode. For Min and Mat, things got deadly fast, as Mat stumbled through a portal into the world of the Eelfinn, leading to the fulfillment of a vision Min had seen of him hanging dead from a noose.
However, Min is able to use her foresight to actually make a difference, knocking out a member of the Black Ajah and saving Mat's life in the nick of time. It's a major turning point for her and her relationship with her visions, which have often been framed as more of a curse than a blessing.
We spoke with Kae Alexander about playing Min in The Wheel of Time's third season, how the character's relationship with her visions has changed, what it was like filming on the high seas aboard a Sea Folk ship, and more. Plus, we got into a fascinating aspect of Alexander's history as an actor: her time as Leaf, one of the Children of the Forest in Game of Thrones, and how working on fantasy television shows has evolved in the years since.
Watch the full interview below, or read on for a transcription edited for clarity:
Winter Is Coming: Season 3 is all out now, and it's been really well received. What were you most excited for fans to see this season?
KAE ALEXANDER: Everything. This season is so, so good. I just finished watching the last two episodes of the season on Sunday, and I am so, so proud of everyone. It's a very special season and yeah, the show has just got better and better and better, and it just feels really, really powerful. We're in a very good place, a very good shape. I'm just so happy. I'm so happy to be here, we've worked so hard. And yeah, it's been five years of being in the show...I just feel very proud to be part of [it].
WiC: Throughout the show, Min has talked a lot about how her visions are almost kind of a curse. We see that shift a bit this season, starting with her conversation early on with Elaida, and some stuff happens in the season finale that plays into that. Do you think it's possible for Min's relationship with her visions to change into something more positive?
KA: Oh, completely, and you see that in season 3, especially at the end of season 3 where she takes that responsibility and...she changes the the future for her friend that she really cares [for] and loves. It must be so scary for her...she does it anyway because she believes that she can make a difference, and that she's not completely ruled by her visions.
WiC: You got to be a part of like a lot of really fun scenes this season, especially in Tachico. What was your most memorable day on set there?
KA: Oh, that singing in the bar scene, the dancing was amazing with all the supporting artists, everyone going for it. It's so incredible, the set design, just the performances...we had such a good time, and the dancers were loving what they were doing and it was just so easy. I really loved doing the big scenes in Prague. All the actors are just so dedicated and we have a great time.
WiC: That's such a fun scene, it's good to hear that it was just as fun on set as it was to watch.
KA: Yeah, it was for sure.
WiC: Min's friendship with Mat has gone through the wringer in the series, and a large part of this season is them kind of finding forgiveness for each other. What was your favorite scene to play with Dónal Finn that you did this season?
KA: Well, obviously I liked saving Mat. I thought it was so beautiful. To see Min that vulnerable, that maybe she does, she can care and she can feel that scared of losing someone, especially when you meet her in season 1 where she's just like, cool and cold. So that was really wonderful. I just love that challenge...it was really, really interesting to see her, to give herself to another person that much, that growth was really fun to develop.
But the lighter stuff, I love the scenes on the boat. The boats were so fun. I mean, I love being in a show like this because the effects and everything coming together...if you saw the box that we were filming in to create the boat, it's just so amazing. I love filmmaking, TV-making, it's just so amazing. And then the box was sort of rocking as well, and you did all day and it was really hot and it was actually really uncomfortable, but when you watch it you go, 'Oh, wow, we needed to do that because it looks like we're on the sea.'
WiC: You mentioned enjoying the TV magic of seeing something like this come together. I feel like a lot of viewers may not realize you were also in Game of Thrones as the main Child of the Forest character, Leaf, because you had tons of makeup and prosthetics on. Aside from the costuming, what is the biggest way for you that working on The Wheel of Time has been different than working on Game of Thrones?
KA: Well, I joined Game of Thrones in season 6, so...joining a show that far into the seasons was very different. It was a very closed set. So the experience was very different...but it was very exciting. It was a very different time of TV filmmaking as well, so it's very interesting to look back. We were way more innocent back then. But also, things were leaking all the time, so there was a lot more paranoia. It's a very good question, but filmmaking was so different...I think that's the big difference. I've never done anything like that.
But the one thing that really resonates with both [Game of Thrones and The Wheel of Time] is that the dedication from the creative team, it's amazing. It's hard making a fantasy show, long hours, and it's the weather — the set where we filmed for Thrones was very challenging, we were walking in mud...and it was really cold. But do you know what...just the VFX and I don't know...it was so incredible, I can't even tell you. I loved it so much. The movie TV magic is so real in both shows. I can't really compare and contrast, but I just loved every moment of it. I was just like, 'Wow, I can't wait for it to all come together.' But yeah, it's incredible...I think [The Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins] was actually on set when I was filming one of those scenes.
WiC: Really?
KA: Yeah. He came to see it, so he remembered me from there, which is really cool. But I was like, blind with contact lenses, so I didn't really see him then. But yeah...I had an amazing time. Thank you for asking me, because I hadn't thought of that.
WiC: It's absolutely my pleasure. We write a lot about Thrones, and I wondered if anyone had asked you about it yet. It's so interesting to see you in both shows, because Thrones was where this whole fantasy TV boom started and The Wheel of Time is kind of, in my opinion, the next big one to really come along since.
KA: Yeah, you think so? I hope so. That's the plan!
WiC: It should be, based on how beloved the the book series is.
KA: Yes. You know, one thing I do remember is that I didn't know my whole storyline in Game of Thrones.
WiC: So you do in The Wheel of Time?
KA: Not the whole thing, but I do every season. [Laughs]
WiC: Since you know what's ahead, if The Wheel of Time is renewed for more seasons like we all hope, what is one aspect of Min's character that you're really hoping to dig deeper into in season 4 and beyond?
KA: Well, I would love to dig more into her friendship with Nynave. I think that could be interesting, yeah.
A huge thank you to Kae Alexander for stopping by the site to talk about Min and the magic of acting in fantasy television.
All eight episodes of The Wheel of Time season 3 are currently available to stream on Prime Video. We've been covering the show extensively, so if you're in need of more material to see you through all its twists and turns, we've got you covered:
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