The Two Rivers boys are back together
One element of the books I've really missed is getting to see Perrin, Rand, and Mat (Dónal Finn) all together. The opportunities to get all three Two Rivers lads in the same room are rare, but thankfully, we'll get some downtime with them this season. "There's not enough ale in the world to deal with this," Rand says, and Perrin laughs.
This scene is going to come early in season 3, since it'll have to be before Rand heads to the Aiel Waste and Perrin to the Two Rivers. That matches up with the book, where they all start in one location. I also have to note that Perrin has golden eyes! They're here to stay.
The shot above is hard to parse, but to me it looks like Joiya Byir (Joelle), the bald-headed Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah we saw fighting alongside Liandrin earlier in the trailer. But what's she doing? Based on the architecture, it looks like she could be in the White Tower. Maybe she was taken prisoner? Then again, there are no signs she's under guard. Maybe she's just taking a squat to plot her next move?
Lanfear, looking stylish as always. The Forsaken was one of the breakout characters of season 2, and I can't wait to see her back this season. It's hard to discern where she is; we don't have much to go on aside from the lighting and the crumbling pillar.
My shot-in-the-dark guess is that she's meeting one of the other Forsaken. We get quite a few meetings between the shadowy group in the books, and the color palette seems to suit that sort of scene. With Moghedien and the rest of the Forsaken on the loose, there could be good reason for Lanfear to have some uncomfortable conversations.
"They won't just come for Rand. They'll come for all of us," Lan tells Nynaeve. His hair's down and she's in a shift. It looks like the two lovers are getting some intimate time this season, which is well-deserved! Lan and Nynaeve are one of my favorite romances from the books, and I'll always root for them.
Next we see brief flashes of the "all of us" Lan mentioned, starting with Mat in a very fine doublet:
That doublet matches the one we saw him wearing in the earlier scene where he was drinking with Rand and Perrin. The foliage and architecture looks like the White Tower to me, so I'm guessing that's where he's hanging out.
Egwene is standing in a bar, next to Perrin:
Next we have one of the more intriguing shots of the trailer:
Who is that person pushing open the door? Where is this hallway? Obviously, we can't say anything for certain; everyone is cloaked and details are sparse. But perhaps that's the point. My guess is that this is a palace in Tanchico where a Forsaken has taken up residence. The background and guards match the earlier shot we saw of Liandrin bowing.
Speaking of Tanchico...
Nynaeve and Moghedien
We have Nynaeve and Moghedien! The Shadow Rising features an exciting showdown between these two characters, and we're getting it this season. Here we see Moghedien stroke Nynave's face — clock the black fingers, which we saw she has at the end of season 2. Nynaeve looks dreamy in that shot, which makes me think she could be under compulsion, a form of forbidden magical mind control that few but the Forsaken dare to use. Moghedien looks very pleased to have Nynaeve in her clutches:
A sweeping outdoor shot shows a blooming orchard. Alanna walks up to Perrin, wearing some epic facepaint that we've never seen on her. Alanna is involved in the Two Rivers battle in the books, and it looks like she will be involved in the show as well:
As for this orchard location, that has significance too. In the book, Perrin finds out that his family was murdered during the raids on the Two Rivers. While grieving them, he thinks about how his younger siblings loved the apple trees. I have a strong feeling we're looking at the show's interpretation of that scene.
Next we cut to Rand:
"We're going to the last place anyone would ever look for me," Rand tells Lan. I'll bet it rhymes with "Ah, eel paste."
It's Loial! The ogier's looking pretty serious, and like he's gotten a serious makeover. At the very least, a new wig and some enhanced facial prosthetics that look like he might have a scar or two. He's also sporting some cool shoulder armor, so this shot is most likely from his experience during the Battle of the Two Rivers.
Our next pair of shots gives me a scar or two, right on the heart:
Yes, that's Rand and Lanfear, making out on a boulder in the valley around Emond's Field. It mirrors a very similar shot of Rand and Egwene from season 1. Presumably this is in the dream world, Tel'aran'rhiod, since Rand won't be returning to the Two Rivers this season. But that doesn't make it any more concerning! Lanfear still has her hooks in our dear sheepherder.
Speaking of Egwene, our next pair of images features her and the Aiel Wise One Bair:
"You do not belong here," Bair tells Egwene. They're in a desert that recalls the Aiel Waste; yes, Egwene will be heading out there with Rand this season.
There's more to these images than meets the eye. Bair is dressed as a Maiden of the Spear. In the books, she wears that garb in Tel'aran'rhiod, the land of dreams; in the real world, she's much older and dresses as a Wise One. A prominent part of Egwene's storyline in The Shadow Rising involves her learning how to navigate the dream world from the Wise Ones, so I'd guess that this scene is taking place there.
Our next pair of shots also must be in Tel'aran'rhiod. The first shows Egwene back in her damane outfit from season 2, when she was a prisoner of the Seanchan:
The second shows her being choked on the ground of her cell, before her head dissipates into black fragments:
The person on top of Egwene looks like they're wearing Seanchan clothing. It seems like she's having bad dreams about her time as a slave to the Seanchan. I wonder if we'll see Xelia-Mendes Jones, the actor who played Renna, at all this season? Egwene murdered Renna at the end of season 2, but all bets are off in Tel'aran'rhiod.
Next, we head to Rhuidean to get our brain melted by visions:
The Car'a'carn's arrival
This image above shows an Aiel Maiden of the Spear standing on top of a dramatic rise in the Waste. The obvious guess is Aviendha, especially since she narrates: "We have been waiting for the Car'a'carn's arrival...to think it might be you." Car'a'carn is what the Aiel call the Dragon Reborn; it means "Chief of Chiefs."
As Aviendha says this line, the scene cuts to someone pulling back their sleeve to reveal a golden dragon tattoo on their forearm. When Aiel chief candidates pass the trials of Rhuidean, they get a golden dragon tattoo. At first I thought this was Rand, but a closer inspection of the sleeve and woven armor points to Rhuarc, the Aiel standing beside Rand in the press image below:
Then we see the scene where Aviendha is actually saying the line, which is very clearly not in the Waste. Perhaps Tar Valon or Caemlyn? Wherever it is, I love the snark she's giving Rand:
The visions of Rhuidean
A mysterious narrator says "each step forward is a step backwards through time." I'm guessing that's Melaine or Bair, since it sounds like the sort of thing a Wise One would say.
This line refers to the trial of Rhuidean, where prospective Aiel chiefs are subjected to visions which show them the history of the Aiel. It's quite literal; the journey will take the person undergoing it gradually farther and farther back in time as they walk between a series of glass columns.
A robed figure takes a step:
We see a boot that looks similar to this in a later shot, seemingly belonging to Moiraine. I'm guessing this is her entering Rhuidean.
Bair, the Wise One, crouches over, smiling. She's wearing a flimsier outfit since she's in a sweat tent:
Our next shot is also in a sweat tent, where Moiraine sits naked:
In The Shadow Rising, prospective Wise Ones have to go into Rhuidean naked. Moiraine undergoes this trial, and has a scene where she strips down and discusses what awaits in Rhuidean with the Wise Ones. That's probably what we're seeing here.
The shoes of time
The following series of images flashes very quickly, showing a figure who I'm guessing is Rand stepping forward. The shoes and setting change with each frame, and seem to be progressing through time. Note the different styles. The first set of shoes are walking through Rhuidean:
The next are sleek black shoes that look slightly futuristic, walking on pavement:
And the last image shows Rand walking down a sci-fi looking hallway:
My guess is that last image of Rand is from the Age of Legends, or sometime close to it. That's the time the Forsaken are from, which was an era of advanced technology. And nice planters for mini-trees, apparently.
Let's take a breath and move away from Rhuidean for a moment, to Rand's relationship woes: