Warning: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 4
Summary
- The Wheel of Time introduces Lanfear as a powerful new villain and Rand al'Thor's love interest, Selene.
- Lanfear is one of the 13 Forsaken, ancient channelers loyal to the Dark One, and is considered the most dangerous of them.
- Lanfear's original plan was to team up with Rand and rule the world together, driven by her jealousy and possessiveness towards him. However, the show hints at a major change in her story.
A new twist revealed Rand al’Thor’s love interest as Lanfear, a powerful new villain for The Wheel of Time. Played by Natasha O’Keeffe, Selene was almost distraught when she discovered that Rand could channel – or at least, that was the impression she gave. As it turns out, Selene is so much more than she may have seemed when she was first introduced.
Different storylines clashed in a surprising way in The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 4, titled “Daughter of the Night.” After stumbling upon the poem Moiraine obtained from Bayle Domon, Alanna and her Warders reached the startling realization that a character named Lanfear has been unleashed upon the world. This reveal happening alongside Selene channeling made it abundantly clear that the show's new threat had already found the Dragon Reborn. Clearly, she’ll be a major enemy for the characters to deal with in the battles ahead.
Lanfear Is One Of The 13 Forsaken In The Wheel Of Time
As acknowledged by Alanna, her Warders, and Moiraine, Lanfear is one of the 13 Forsaken. The Forsaken are a group of ancient channelers loyal to the Dark One. Lanfear was easily among the strongest of them all. According to The Great Hunt, the only Forsaken with a greater level of command over the One Power in Wheel of Time is Ishamael himself, whereas Moiraine has called the TV version of Lanfear “the most dangerous of the Forsaken.” Renowned for her beauty, Lanfear originally went by the name “Mierin Eronaile.” During a time when men could become Aes Sedai, she and a male Aes Sedai named Beidomon were researching the True Source when they accidentally released the Dark One.
Sometime after that, she reinvented herself, becoming Lanfear and pledging herself to the Dark One. She took on the title of “Daughter of the Night” and ed with the other 12 Forsaken, who called themselves “the Chosen.” Together, they fought on the side of the Dark One during the War of Power. They battled the original Dragon and his army of Aes Sedai, the Hundred Companions. Given the number of allies at the Dragon’s disposal, the Forsaken – even with all their power - weren’t able to win. The Forsaken and their master were all sealed away at Shayol Ghul, the place known in the books as the prison of the Dark One.
Lanfear Was In Love With The Original Dragon
Aside from her extremely high power level, what sets Lanfear apart from her fellow servants of the Dark One is her relationship with the Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon. Before aligning with the Dark One, she was Lews Therin’s lover. However, their romance crumbled when Lews Therin became aware of her thirst for power. In his mind, it was his strength in the One Power – and not him – that she truly loved. He left Lanfear and fell in love with someone else, a woman named Ilyena. Lanfear deeply hated Ilyena, having falsely believed her to be the cause of their breakup. It would seem that her jealousy, resentment, and ambition are what ultimately drove Lanfear to villainy.
Selene’s interactions with Rand in the show confirm that this aspect of her backstory with Lews Therin has been carried over to the small screen. Knowing in hindsight that Selene is Lanfear, it’s apparent that Lews Therin was the unnamed lover she discussed with Rand. When reminiscing about the past, Selene talked about the love they shared before lamenting on how devastated she was when he left her. Selene’s remarks illustrate Lanfear’s reaction to Lews Therin turning his back on her 3,000 years ago. Apparently, her TV counterpart never got over the Dragon either.
Lanfear’s Original Plan For Rand Explained
Lanfear’s pre-existing feelings for the Dragon for many of her decisions in The Wheel of Time books, including the events of season 2. The fear she expressed when Rand channeled in “The Daughter of the Night” represents the exact opposite of her real attitude toward his abilities; in the books, his status as the most powerful channeler in existence had a lot to do with her attraction to him. She purposely sought Rand out and posed as Selene to win his heart, but to no avail. Unlike so many of the other Forsaken, Lanfear didn’t want to bring down the Dragon Reborn – she wanted them to be on the same side.
In the third book, The Dragon Reborn, Lanfear tried to convince Rand to team up with her so that the two of them could rule the world together in service of the Dark One. Of course, he turned her down. But though their goals didn’t align, Lanfear remained committed to getting him back. For that reason, her jealousy of the other women in his life culminated in some tense, violent encounters in the books. Her possessiveness of Rand and inability to tolerate him being involved with someone else motivated Lanfear to try to kill him in the fifth book of the series, The Fires of Heaven.
Wheel Of Time Season 2 Hints At A Major Change To Lanfear’s Story
A key detail in “Daughter of the Night” suggests Lanfear’s plans aren’t in line at all with her book counterpart. One of the lines in the poem read, “a new lover she seeks, who shall serve her and die.” This creates the impression that in the following scene, when Lanfear was sitting over Rand with his hands tied down, she was about to kill him. ittedly, Lanfear did try to kill Rand in the books, but only as a response to what she perceived as a betrayal. Killing him was never part of her initial plan.
Unless the poem is misinterpreting her intentions, it looks as if The Wheel of Time is taking her story in a completely different direction. It's at least possible that the show is purposely misconstruing Lanfear’s actions and that she wasn’t truly about to murder Rand. But if she was, such a reveal would fundamentally change her character. Trying in vain to rekindle with Rand what she had with Lews Therin thousands of years ago was a core part of her story in The Wheel of Time books, hence why Lanfear making an attempt on Rand’s life at such an early point in the saga would be a massive departure from the source material, and one that would raise new questions about her true goals.
The Wheel of Time releases new episodes on Fridays on Amazon Prime Video.