The Wheel of Time just aired another barn-burner of an episode: "Goldeneyes," where Perrin Aybara (Marcus Rutherford) leads the citizens of the sleepy Two Rivers in a battle against vicious Trollocs and even some rogue Whitecloaks. It's easily the most successful battle episode the show has mounted so far, and sets up some interesting new storylines for Perrin going forward.
We got to talk to Rutherford and asked him what he's looking forward to doing with the character in future seasons, assuming the show gets renewed. A lot of his thoughts had to do with Perrin's relationship with Faile (Isabella Bucceri), a hunter of the horn Perrin grew close to in this new season. "[T]here's something about the dynamic with Faile [Isabella Bucceri] that I just think is exceptional," Rutherford told us. "I love working with Isabella. I think there's some parts maybe in the books that people like, 'Oh, you know, Faile gets captured and then there's kind of this long drawn out thing,' but I just find it quite interesting that Perrin's handed himself in and how that could change the dynamics. I think utilizing their level of confidence and leadership now in tandem with Rand and the Last Battle, I think there's something really exciting and special about that."
Faile and Perrin are indeed well-matched; her grit and sass pair nicely with his soft-spoken confidence. "Like I said, I know there's parts where she's captured and how that happens, but just how that would develop further in a different dynamic," Rutherford continued. "I was only kind of getting started working with Isabella, but there's something...she came in in Episode 3, but [it] almost feels like she's been there since episode one when you feel what she's done [on the show]. I think one of my favorite things, when I kind of understood how good she is, we have a conversation in episode 6, where she essentially has to tell me to stop grieving about my wife, whilst in the next scene we see, we're getting intimate. And I don't think people realize the level of performance that requires to come across still likable."
"[W]hen you have 8 episodes and you have a lot to get in...it's why I say I don't think we've really met Perrin fully until season 3, because there's a lot of characters who speak a bit more openly, a bit more clearly, who've had the moment in the limelight, so I think it's been really nice. If everyone kind of thought Perrin might be a bit slower...I was saying to someone, in the books his first description is he 'might appear to be of slow wit,' and I always thought that was quite interesting, that like, if he's grieving or if he doesn't want to cause anyone danger, he kind of is this big giant who's a bit quiet. And I thought, if that's what people see him as from two seasons, that's fine because I know there's that development coming in season 3, where his shoulders are back, he's a bit more open, he's a bit more confident. So it'd just be really exciting to carry on that journey, man. You know, it's been sort of thought out, how I wanted to play it, and it's been a privilege to get this far in the storyline to be honest. So I'd just love to continue, to see where he's at now."
It does indeed feel like Perrin has come into his own more in this new season. Of the five characters who left the Two Rivers at the start of the show, Perrin has always seemed like the one least at ease with their new lives as high-profile adventurers. He just wanted to go back to his country home and be a blacksmith. But once he got there, he realized his journeys had changed him, for better or worse, and that there really wasn't any going back. Now that he knows he has it in him to lead, what happens next?
Amazon still hasn't renewed The Wheel of Time for more seasons, but they should
Rutherford also talked to Entertainment Weekly about what could come next for Perrin. Again, he Faile was on his mind. "And it'd be lovely to see more like Saldaea culture, where she's from."
Besides Faile, the main takeaway is that Rutherford wants to keep going, period. "I've played this character who's been very inward, very shy, very quiet, doesn't really speak much, not confident. And I think for a moment [in episode 7], he's got his shoulders back and before the battle happens, there's really sweet moments with Mat's sisters and people in the village that are really sweet and warm and funny," he said. "So I think to just continue that really, to play someone now who isn't always head down or isn't sad boy vibes all the time and is a bit of a warrior, has accepted his abilities and what he is as a wolfbrother, but also has this incredible partner now in Faile, and to develop all that further would be amazing."
As of yet, Amazon and Sony — who produce The Wheel of Time together — have yet to renew the show for a fourth season, let alone more. We can only hope that announcement is coming any minute now.
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