Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 6.
It’s easy to forget that sometimes, The Wheel of Time isn’t all trauma and darkness. Sometimes, an episode comes along that manages to inject a welcome dose of light into the proceedings. Granted, this week’s episode of Season 3, “The Shadow in the Night,” written by Rammy Park and directed by Marta Cunningham, doesn’t shy away from some of the darkest aspects of this fantasy story — both past and present — but it also delivers the closest thing this show has had to a musical episode yet. You take the good with the bad, which means you take a delightful, innuendo-filled song with an inarguably tragic backstory for one of the season’s biggest baddies.
Episode 6 doesn’t address the aftermath of Egwene (Madeleine Madden) spying on everybody’s dreams in Tel’aran’rhiod just yet; instead, we jump back 95 years, to where a much younger and visibly dirtied Liandrin (Lola Shaw) is being kept in what appears to be, for all intents and purposes, a dungeon. She’s doing her best to quiet her newly born son, Aludrin, so that no one hears his cries, but when her husband, Boral (Colin David Reese), comes into her cell with every intention of getting rid of the child, Liandrin unleashes the One Power, quickly killing both her abuser and one of his thugs, even getting in a few stomps on the former’s head just for good measure. Out in the streets of Tanchico, however, the situation looks even more dire; Liandrin’s desperate pleas for help go ignored until she curls up at the foot of the collared man statue. As she drifts into sleep, she’s greeted by Ishamael (Fares Fares), who deceptively extends an open hand to her. Was Liandrin’s choice to swear herself to the Dark fully her own, or did she only make it because she had no other option to save herself and her child?
Either way, the Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood) we all know is currently dreaming of being the Amyrlin Seat when she’s visited by Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe) in Tel’aran’rhiod. Lanfear’s clearly on an info-gathering mission as she interrogates Liandrin, trying to suss out whether any of the other Forsaken have attempted to sway the Black Ajah’s loyalty to their own camp. The likelihood is that Rahvin (Nuno Lopes) has already used his powers of compulsion to seduce one of them, but little does Lanfear know that Moghedien (Laia Costa) has been right under the Black Ajah’s noses in Tanchico this whole time. Not only is the Forsaken disguised as a servant girl in the house they’re hunkered down in, but she’s finding ways to undermine them at every turn — including spitting in their food. Gross.
‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 Episode 6 Welcomes You to “The Hills of Tanchico”

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As for our heroes who are hunting the Black Ajah, they’re still trying to figure out where to start their search. Elayne (Ceara Coveney) is busy quizzing Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) about which names and faces to know when Mat (Dónal Finn) and Min (Kae Alexander) interrupt their efforts to disguise themselves. Fortunately, the Trakand and al’Meara Detective Agency already has a plan in place. After they hit the night market, Mat will see if he can loosen lips over a card game or five, while Min can use her foresight ability to get more answers. Once they’ve firmly ensconced themselves in a tavern, Elayne does her best Taraboner impression while Mat bribes a handsome local for information on a collar designed to be worn by a man. Yet the sound of an all-too-familiar voice — singing about the Horn of Valere, no less — draws him away from the card tables and towards a friendly face.
Thom Merrilin (Alexandre Willaume) is less than thrilled to see Mat, considering what happened last time their paths crossed, but the Hornblower successfully talks him into sticking around with the help of a few coins. Meanwhile, in another tavern, Min convinces Nynaeve to loosen up and “let [her] braid down” with the help of a few strong drinks before a sudden vision leads them to a man who met a beautiful woman, one who fits Jeaine Caine’s (Olivia Popica) description exactly. As the two sneak off to investigate the Lounault estate for traces of the Black Ajah, Mat catches Thom up on everything that’s happened since they last met, but the gleeman soon catches a glimpse of Elayne. This tavern is a dangerous place for the Daughter-Heir of Andor to be, and at least one patron is already growing suspicious that Elayne isn’t who she says she is — so why shouldn’t she get up on the bar to perform, with Thom accompanying her on guitar? Less than a verse into “The Hills of Tanchico” (which Coveney performs herself!), Elayne has the realization that the song is actually about a very specific bodily part, but she has to sell it now, and sell it she does. In fact, she and Mat are performing a reprise of it when Nynaeve and Min return from their own investigation.
At the Lounault estate, Liandrin is doing her best to sniff out any other members of her cabal who might be in league elsewhere — and eliminate anyone she has no real use for anymore. That includes Nyomi (Rachel Denning), whom Liandrin reveals her ultimate goal to before disposing of her: she wants to become a Forsaken herself, and it seems nothing is going to stand in the way of that — not even Ispan (Olumide Olorunfemi), who’s revealed to be the one actually working for Rahvin but finds herself in Moghedien’s crosshairs instead. Back at the tavern, it turns out that even one more lead has paid off for Mat; his contact didn’t find the Seanchan collar, but did manage to secure one of the bracelets that controls it. Nynaeve and Elayne are quick to celebrate their (or Mat’s) good luck on that front, but the mood… doesn’t exactly change when Moghedien shows up, since the Forsaken instantly weaves into their minds so they’re compelled to do as she asks, smiles fixed on their faces. When Moggy finds out about the bracelet in their possession, she orders them to hand it over, but meets resistance from Nynaeve, who’s strong enough to briefly fight the Forsaken’s influence over her. As Moghedien leaves, neither Nynaeve nor Elayne remembers what happened as the weave dissipates — but there is a suspicious cut on Nynaeve’s cheek that wasn’t there before…
The Two Rivers’ Fight Is Only Just Beginning ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 Episode 6

After a partially successful Cauthon family rescue mission leaves Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) in pretty rough shape, the first assumption would be that there’s an Aes Sedai around who can heal him, right? Unfortunately, Alanna (Priyanka Bose) has also wound up on the business end of a few crossbow bolts and can’t even heal herself, much less anyone else. Yet even though Natti Cauthon (Juliet Howland) willingly sacrificed herself for her daughters, it turns out it was for a good reason; both Bode (Litiana Biutanaseva) and Eldrin (Lilibet Biutanaseva) are capable of channeling the One Power. Even though Alanna believes she may be at death’s door — and says as much to Maksim (Taylor Napier) — the Cauthon girls, through their powers combined (and with some instruction from Alanna), successfully heal the Green of her injuries.
As Perrin slowly recovers from his own injuries with the help of a poultice from the Two Rivers’ Wisdom, he and Faile (Isabella Bucceri) share the type of quiet fireside conversation that usually only leads to one thing — but there’s a lot of vulnerability that happens before that. Faile reveals the circumstances that drove her to become a Hunter of the Horn, including the death of her brother after her mother revealed herself as a Darkfriend. In return, Perrin finally opens up about losing his wife, Laila (Helena Westerman), in the tragic accident that happened at his own hand, as well as his wolfbrother status, which explains why his eyes are gold. Faile isn’t bothered by either admission, but she’s less happy when Perrin admits that he knows exactly where the Horn of Valere is — and that his friend Mat has already blown it. The mood improves when Perrin shuts Faile up with a kiss, even more so when Faile climbs into Perrin’s lap to keep that kiss going… at least right up until they’re interrupted by Alanna and Maksim. The next morning, Faile is on patrol with Bain (Ragga Ragnars) and Chiad (Maja Simonsen) when they notice activity around the Waygate; an army of trollocs and Darkfriends is pouring through the doors. “Soon, Goldeneyes will have to lead his people to war,” Chiad says, “whether he wants to or not.”
The Aiel Face an Unexpected Threat in ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 Episode 6

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In the Waste, Bair (Nukâka Coster-Waldau) and Melaine (Salóme Gunnarsdóttir) are both furious with Egwene for venturing into Tel’aran’rhiod without permission, but Egwene doesn’t have time to debate that; she’s gunning for the Forsaken who’s not only been tormenting her in her dreams, but secretly hooking up with Rand (Josha Stradowski). Bair admits that Egwene’s own dreams are where she’ll be strongest — and where she might have a “spear’s edge” of a chance to take Lanfear down. If only any of them knew that Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) is currently speaking with her in Tel’aran’rhiod right now, where the Forsaken expresses consternation that Moiraine hasn’t successfully kept Egwene out of the way. After making a few less-than-subtle threats, Lanfear reveals she’s sending a little present their way for Rand to take care of — another threat to be taken off the board, if he’s strong enough to handle it.
Meanwhile, the Dragon Reborn is wandering around Cold Rocks Hold with his new shadow Aviendha (Ayoola Smart), where the two of them eventually stumble into the hold’s hidden garden. Rand inadvertently offends Rhuarc’s (Björn Landberg) granddaughter, Alsera (Julie Van Leeuwen), in a very adorable scene that doubles as a crash course in the Aiel system of honor known as ji’e’toh, but it also seems to endear Aviendha to Rand further, much as she would rather it didn’t. As Egwene practices with the Wise Ones in forcing them from her dream, she lowers her guard long enough for Lanfear to drag her into another for a little heart-to-heart. Try as Egwene might to convince herself that Rand doesn’t know the truth about the Forsaken he’s been sleeping with, doubt begins to creep in. By the time Rand finishes his conversation with Moiraine about the One Power, and the difference in how it feels for male versus female channelers — as well as a brief moment in which he lets himself succumb to the temptation saidin — Egwene has made her way to his room for a long-needed, painful conversation.

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“It’s a Double-Edged Sword”: ‘The Wheel of Time’s Rosamund Pike and Josha Stradowski Discuss Moiraine and Rand’s Changing Relationship in Season 3

They also discuss getting to play out futures that may or may not happen and Moiraine’s tenuous alliance with Lanfear.

No amount of apologizing is going to fix the rift that Lanfear has created in Rand and Egwene’s relationship, but the truth is that these two have been on different paths for a while — and it all comes to a head in this moment. When Egwene asks Rand, point-blank, if he loves Lanfear, he can’t give her an answer, and she questions whether that’s a sign of the madness taking hold. “If that’s easier for you to swallow,” Rand replies, “then believe that.” On the one hand, Rand’s right; Egwene’s ultimate dream has never included him, even before he became the Dragon Reborn. On the other, when Egwene tells Rand that Lanfear has been torturing her in her dreams, he seems genuinely surprised by the news. The most heartbreaking part of all of it is that Rand respects Egwene more for not settling by being with him, but their conversation is cut short when Sammael (Cameron Jack), that aforementioned “gift” from Lanfear, opens a portal into the room, launching an attack alongside several members of the Shaido Aiel. Egwene — as well as Aviendha, who comes to their aid — both hold their own, but in the heat of the fight, they’re both knocked out. As Rand finally opens himself up to the full power of saidin, he’s able to unleash lightning bolts from the sky, burying Sammael beneath a pile of rocks, but whether the Forsaken is actually dead is unclear.
However, when the dust settles, there are multiple bodies scattered around, including Alsera, who had been asleep during the attack. Rand realizes with no shortage of horror that he may have had a hand in causing the young Aiel girl’s death, even indirectly, but attempts to use the One Power to revive her. Even as he channels saidin into Alsera, commanding her to breathe, she remains limp and lifeless. Egwene reminds him that the One Power can’t heal death, but Rand’s cries become equally furious and heartbroken: “I can do anything! What does the Prophecy say? I bring destruction, but also creation.” Heartbreak turns to numbness, as Rand pours more saidin into Alsera’s body until Moiraine places a hand on his shoulder — and as the Dragon Reborn weeps for a young life lost, he and the Aes Sedai can only share a look, with no words left to say.
New episodes of The Wheel of Time Season 3 premiere Thursdays on Prime Video.

The Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 6 boasts a great musical number as the Tanchico plot continues, while Rand and Egwene have a hard conversation and Perrin and Faile grow closer.

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

Pros & Cons

Perrin and Faile sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
“The Hills of Tanchico” is a certified banger.
It’s so good to see Thom Merrilin again!
Josha Stradowski’s performance in the episode’s closing minutes is one of Rand’s strongest and most devastating scenes.