Season 3, Episode 1, titled To Race the Shadow, directed by Ciaran Donnelly and written by Justine Juel Gillmer, marks the beginning of the third season of The Wheel of Time on Prime Video. With the Last Battle against the Dark One drawing closer, the heroes must do everything in their power to ensure the Dragon Reborn is prepared to face the Forsaken and the Darkfriends who serve Shai’tan. This episode serves as a powerful introduction to Season 3, significantly raising the stakes for the war to come.

The central theme of this episode is betrayal. Many Aes Sedai sisters are revealed to be Darkfriends, belonging to the most secretive and organized faction among them—the Black Ajah. Their treachery is devastating to the Aes Sedai protagonists and the White Tower as a whole, as these were women they had trained with, fought alongside, and trusted for decades. Given the long lifespans of Aes Sedai, this betrayal cuts even deeper. The revelation fractures the Tower and breeds paranoia, as the heroes struggle to determine whom they can trust—especially since the Aes Sedai are meant to be the Dragon Reborn’s staunchest allies. As a result, the fight against the Shadow and its nihilistic or power-hungry servants becomes even more desperate.

The Black Ajah Attacks

The Hall of the Tower convenes under the leadership of Siuan Sanche (Sophie Okonedo) to put Liandrin Sedai (Kate Fleetwood) on trial for being a Darkfriend and a high-ranking member of the Black Ajah. To support the charges, Siuan calls Nynaeve al’Meara (Zoë Robins) as a witness to Liandrin’s crimes, relying on the Three Oaths that bind all Aes Sedai and prevent them from outright deception and excessive violence against other humans:

1. To speak no word that is not true.
2. To make no weapon with which one man may kill another.
3. Never to use the One Power as a weapon except against Darkfriends or Shadowspawn, or in the last extreme defense of her life, her Warder’s life, or another Aes Sedai’s life.

However, the problem is that Liandrin, like all members of the Black Ajah, has un-sworn the Three Oaths and replaced them with the Black Oaths, sworn upon the Oath Rod in service to the Dark One:

1. I shall obey all commands given by those placed above me in service to the Great Lord.
2. I shall prepare for the day of the Great Lord’s return.
3. I shall hold close the secrets of the Black Ajah, unto the hour of my death.

Siuan attempts to torture Liandrin into revealing the identities of her fellow Black Ajah members, but Liandrin has already prepared for this eventuality. At her signal, numerous hidden Black Ajah sisters reveal themselves and launch a coordinated assault on the Hall, accomplishing three key objectives:

1. Rescue Liandrin.
2. Steal the Domination Band Bracelet from the 13th Depository (with Nyomi taking more than she could carry).
3. Escape Tar Valon and rendezvous in Tanchico.

Despite suffering casualties and leaving some members behind, the Black Ajah successfully completes their mission. The battle, however, allows the White Tower to identify some of its enemies, as these Black Ajah members revealed themselves in the attack:

• Liandrin Guirale (Kate Fleetwood) – Sister of the Red Ajah
• Joiya Byir (Joelle) – Sitter of the Gray Ajah
• Ispan Shefar (Olumide Olorunfemi) – Sitter of the Blue Ajah
• Unnamed Sister – Sitter of the Yellow Ajah
• Unnamed Sister – Sitter of the White Ajah
• Jeaine Caide (Olivia Popica) – Sister of the Green Ajah
• Chesmal Emry (Mi Hae Lee) – Sister of the Yellow Ajah
• Nyomi (Rachel Denning) – Sister of the Brown Ajah
• Amico Nagoyin (Zenobia Kloppers) – Sister of the Yellow Ajah

The Aes Sedai suffered significant losses, including many Sitters, Warders, and other sisters. One particularly devastating loss is Alanna Mosvani’s (Priyanka Bose) Warder, Ihvon (Anthony Kaye), whose death leaves her and Maksim (Taylor Napier) grief-stricken. Additionally, Verin Mathwin (Meera Syal) loses her sister Adeleas (Nila Aalia) to an unknown weave from Nyomi, which shatters her mind.

The Black Ajah also faces losses, including a White Ajah Sitter and several sisters. However, the Aes Sedai manage to capture Joiya Byir and Amico Nagoyin, who are taken into confinement.

The Heroes of the Story

Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike) gathers the heroes to discuss retrieving Callandor, the “sword that is not a sword,” from the Stone of Tear—a powerful sa’angreal that Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski) will need to face the Forsaken. The group plans to set sail for Tear by dawn, though they must remain hidden until then.

The twelve members of the group are:

1. Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike) – Sister of the Blue Ajah
2. Lan Mandragoran (Daniel Henney) – Moiraine’s Warder
3. Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski) – The Dragon Reborn
4. Nynaeve al’Meara (Zoë Robins) – Accepted Aes Sedai
5. Egwene al’Vere (Madeleine Madden) – Accepted Aes Sedai
6. Perrin Aybara (Marcus Rutherford) – A Wolfbrother
7. Mat Cauthon (Dónal Finn) – A thief and gambler
8. Loial (Hammed Animashaun) – Ogier wanderer and scholar
9. Elayne Trakand (Ceara Coveney) – Daughter-Heir of Andor
10. Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) – Aiel Maiden of the Spear
11. Bain (Ragga Ragnars) – Aiel Maiden of the Spear
12. Chiad (Maja Simonsen) – Aiel Maiden of the Spear

Moiraine and Lanfear

Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe), the most powerful female channeler among the Forsaken, arrives in Tar Valon to meet with Moiraine and Lan. She warns them that she and Ishamael are lenient compared to the other Forsaken, who are determined to kill Rand one way or another. Lanfear wants Rand to claim Callandor, ensuring that none of the other Forsaken will pose a threat to him. However, her motives are far from altruistic—she desires Rand for herself, coveting the power and status he represents.

The three form a temporary alliance, devising a strategy to force Rand to Tear. Lanfear plans to orchestrate an attack using the Bubbles of Evil, a dark force that sows chaos. However, their plan is unexpectedly interrupted when a Gray Man, a Darkfriend assassin sent by Moghedien (Laia Costa), attempts to kill Rand and his group. In the aftermath, all survive, but the incident solidifies their decision to split up:

• Rand, Moiraine, Lan, Egwene, and Aviendha will travel to the Aiel Waste, where Rand hopes to raise an army of Aiel before heading to Tear for Callandor.
• Nynaeve and Elayne remain in Tar Valon to continue their Aes Sedai training, with Mat staying to watch over them.
• Perrin, Loial, Bain, and Chiad head to the Two Rivers, with Bain following because she goes wherever Chiad goes.

With the factions divided and the stakes higher than ever, Season 3 begins with an explosive and thrilling start.

Rating: 9/10