Editor’s note: The below interview contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time Season 3.
Three seasons in, and The Wheel of Time has made significant strides in expanding its epic fantasy world. From new cultures like the Aiel to new locations like Tanchico, the Prime Video series is building out the scope of its story in ways that create an even better understanding of what our heroes are up against — and what’s at stake if the prophesied Last Battle doesn’t go their way. Season 3’s latest episode, “The Shadow in the Night,” sees Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) and Elayne’s (Ceara Coveney) hunt for the Black Ajah taking them into the seedier corners of Tanchico, but they can’t navigate those winding dockside streets alone. Good thing both Mat (Dónal Finn) and Min (Kae Alexander) have tagged along — and both of them come in handy when it comes to getting some answers about where to go next.
Ahead of the premiere of “The Shadow in the Night,” Collider had the opportunity to speak with Alexander about her experience on The Wheel of Time and Min’s biggest moments in Season 3 so far. Over the course of the interview, which you can read below, Alexander reveals why she decided not to read ahead in the books, what she enjoys about Min’s unique sense of style, and how working with Finn — who joined The Wheel of Time in Season 2 — helped strengthen Min and Mat’s friendship. She also discusses what Min’s conversation with Elaida (Shohreh Aghdashloo) changes regarding Min’s perception of her visions, what she most enjoyed about filming the “Hills of Tanchico” scene, and more.
COLLIDER: I’ve asked some of your castmates this, but I’m curious to hear your answer about how far you’ve read in the books. Josha [Stradowski] has read the whole series, and Ceara [Coveney] just tries to read to where the show is. Do you not want to know anything too far ahead of where Min’s story is at this point, or have you read beyond Season 3?
KAE ALEXANDER: Well, I was avidly reading it, but then, as the seasons were going, Min’s journey was changing so much. She was veering so far from the books that it wasn’t really helpful for me because I was having these expectations from the books every time I would talk to Rafe [Judkins]. It was getting kind of confusing, so it was best for me to just refer to it where we are and then just focus on what we’re doing in this show. It’s been okay so far. I really enjoyed reading the books, but it just got too confusing.
Min’s very much a tomboy in the books. She doesn’t really want to dress like other women dress, and I really love how the show has interpreted that through her wardrobe. What have you enjoyed about how Sharon [Gilham] and the costume design team have really interpreted Min’s identity, the way that she views herself through her appearance, and the way that she presents herself?
ALEXANDER: I really enjoyed seeing the development of her look, as well, because I don’t want her to be too obviously androgynous. It’s a really lovely, authentic look that they found. I remember when I first got cast, there were so many illustrations of her, and I’m glad that they found their own look. She has lots of tattoos, and they’re quite delicate, actually. Some of them are quite feminine. It’s so authentically her that now I don’t even think of it as a costume. It’s really nice that her look has stayed quite consistent throughout the season. I just really like it. I really, really like the hair, as well. I like that it’s not too conventionally androgynous. You can’t really quite place her. She’s her own entity. There’s no vanity to it, but there’s still definitely this kind of identity that is different to everyone.
She’ll wear a leather piece with something more flowy, which really plays into the contrast between the masculine and the feminine. That suit that she wears when she’s trying to disguise herself and pretend to be White Tower staff? That’s one of the sharpest looks Min has had on the show.
ALEXANDER: Yes! It kind of felt good, but kind of not at the same time.
‘The Wheel of Time’s Kae Alexander Reflects on Creating Min and Mat’s “Special Bond” in Season 2

Image via Prime Video

Going back to Season 2, you were really one of the first people in the cast to get the chance to bounce off of Dónal [Finn] when he joined as Mat. How did those early scenes, and getting to really develop that friendship, help the two of you create the foundation for what we’re now getting in Season 3?
ALEXANDER: I really, really loved welcoming Dónal in Season 2. It definitely created a very special bond, because I think we had more scenes in order to kind of really introduce him fully. I just loved it so much. It definitely, for sure, like what you said, added that extra depth to our chemistry and the friendship that is now in Season 3.

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She also discusses the significance of that ring moment between Lan and Nynaeve and how going to Tanchico challenges her character.

There is that sense that they’re not starting off on the strongest footing at the beginning of Season 3. What was that process like, having to reset their friendship?
ALEXANDER: Well, it’s complex, isn’t it? Because they’re both going through their own stuff. Maybe, in a way, the reason why Mat can forgive [her] is because he could probably understand why she did what she did, and their commonality of pain is so similar. So, they have this real understanding. For Min, she’s probably never met a friend like this before, where they truly understand that pain. So, the betrayal maybe had to happen to make them stronger, and for her to make up for it. It’s really nice that she really just goes, “OK.” Clearly, the other direction doesn’t work for her, so she needs to now get really courageous and get vulnerable.
Min’s visions don’t always come to pass exactly as she sees them, but there is this sort of inevitability to them. When she sees Mat stabbing Rand, it doesn’t play out exactly the way that she sees it, but it does happen. What do you think her foresight does to her ability to form relationships?
ALEXANDER: Yeah, I think so. Until she met Mat, she had been running away from everyone and maybe assumed that everyone was trying to exploit her and use her. She has trust issues. And in Season 3, she’s beginning to realize that it’s safe to trust him and that maybe he can trust her. It’s very peaceful and it’s very relatable.
‘The Wheel of Time’s Kae Alexander Reveals Min’s Biggest Takeaway From Elaida

Image via Prime Video

You have a really great scene with Shohreh [Aghdashloo] this season. Elaida’s conversation with Min feels equally like a manipulation, of trying to sway Min to her side, but Elaida also immediately clocks that Min has this ability that they share. What do you think Min’s biggest takeaway is from that chat?
ALEXANDER: That her visions are not a curse, and that, maybe, there is power in it. It’s so complicated, isn’t it? Because in a way, it does change her. She has this sort of realization from that encounter, but also senses danger. She probably sees that ambition. It’s very interesting. Mentors, they’re not always clean-cut. But yeah, in that scene, [Elaida] basically mentored her. I think that’s what she realized. It’s complex, but the main point was that [Min] is realizing she could be of help. She could do something with this.
Min’s always struck me as a very street-smart character, but in Tanchico, she’s giving everyone else a crash course in how to really survive in this cutthroat, lawless city. What do you feel drives her to tag along? Is it about protecting Mat at this point and making sure her vision doesn’t come to pass, or is it a more general desire of wanting to help?
ALEXANDER: She’s realizing that if she doesn’t take a chance on people and on herself, she’ll always be hiding, or just be a victim of her trauma. In protecting Mat, she’s realizing that she needs to take a chance. The first step is protecting Mat, but then, through that, through taking action to follow them, she’s coming out of her shell and taking courage to get out of her comfort zone and take a risk.
There’s a big musical number this week, but Min and Nynaeve come in while it’s already in full swing, and everybody’s drinking and partying. What was the experience like on set during filming?
ALEXANDER: Oh my gosh, it was so fun. The great thing about this show, The Wheel of Time, especially when we film in Prague, everyone, especially the supporting artists, they get so into it. We had dances, we had acrobats, and everyone is so fully invested and having so much fun. It’s just a blast, and it’s a real treat. It feels very, very special. It feels like it should just be a wide shot the whole time. And it was gorgeous. It was really, really gorgeous.
No disappointment at all that you didn’t get to sing a little?
ALEXANDER: I was like, “I didn’t not realize that people were going into the recording studio to sing this.” [Laughs] No. Ceara has a wonderful voice, and so does Dónal. It’s amazing. So catchy.
New episodes of The Wheel of Time Season 3 premiere Thursdays on Prime Video.

The Wheel of Time

Release Date

November 18, 2021

Network

Prime Video

Showrunner

Rafe Judkins

Directors

Sanaa Hamri, Ciaran Donnelly, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Thomas Napper, Maja Vrvilo, Wayne Che Yip

Writers

Amanda Kate Shuman, Dave Hill, Rohit Kumar, Justine Juel Gillmer, Celine Song, Rammy Park, The Clarksons Twins, Katherine B. McKenna