Wheel Of Time Season 3 Teases The Death Of A Major Character The Show Hasn't Even Introduced Yet

The Wheel of Time season 3 trailer is already signaling the death of Queen Morgase, a major character whose TV show debut hasn't even happened yet. The queen of Andor and the mother of Elayne Trakand, Morgase is one of the biggest characters in The Wheel of Time books yet to appear in Prime Video's live-action adaptation. But the further the show gets into the book story, the more likely it is that Morgase finally gets involved in the narrative.

Season 2 notably name-dropped the queen, whose role in the political landscape of The Wheel of Time's world makes her especially relevant to the bigger picture. Not only that, but she factors heavily into the storylines ahead. For that reason, it has long been speculated that The Wheel of Time season 3 will be where Morgase - and perhaps the rest of Elayne's family - finally joins the fold. But if a tease from the marketing is any indication, she won't be around for long even if she does show up.

How The Wheel Of Time Season 3 Is Hinting At Queen Morgase's Death

Morgase May Not Last Long In The Wheel Of Time's TV Show

In The Wheel of Time season 3 trailer, a sad Elayne Trakand can be seen putting on what appears to be a crown. This appears to foreshadow Elayne taking her mother's place atop the Lion Throne and becoming the queen of Andor. Obviously, it makes sense that her ascension would be a consequence of Morgase meeting an untimely end. Morgase doesn't die in the books, so her death would be a significant change to the source material if that is indeed the direction the show is taking with those characters.

The Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins has indicated that the series will take liberties when it comes to character deaths. In two seasons, it's always proven a willingness to rewrite the fates of certain characters, such as Uno and Ishamael, but what it's suggesting for Morgase's future would be a much larger departure from Robert Jordan's work. Morgase is a key supporting player across several installments in the saga, and someone with her own character arc. Killing off Morgase would take several stories off the table and change numerous others.

What Wheel Of Time's Crown Tease Could Mean If It's Not Morgase's Death

The Morgase Hint Could Be A Misdirect

Morgase dying is the most obvious - but also the most extreme - interpretation of the shot in the trailer. One that would be significantly less game-changing (and perhaps more plausible) is that it relates to the Arches in the White Tower. In The Wheel of Time season 2, Nynaeve had to step through the Arches and face an alternate reality as her Accepted test. Both Egwene and Elayne pass theirs afterward in the books. The books didn't explore Elayne's in detail, but could show it in the series. If so, it may see Elayne wrestle with becoming queen after Morgase dies in a scene that's basically a "what if" scenario.

That notion is made more believable by another scene in the trailer. Egwene can be clearly seen undertaking her Accepted test, which leads credence to the idea that Elayne's test will receive some degree of focus as well. If that's the case, Morgase may be in no real danger in The Wheel of Time's third season. Similar to the tragedies Nynaeve had to face, Elayne may have to experience what it's like to lose her mother and take on the responsibilities of being the queen.

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Wheel Of Time Season 2 Is Already Setting Up Elayne's Special Power

A key scene in The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 6 serves as subtle setup for Elayne Trakand's unique ability from Robert Jordan's books.

Another potential explanation is that Morgase is simply believed to be dead. Since Morgase does have to go on the run in the books due to a conspiracy to kill her, this too wouldn't be unfeasible. However, it is a bit early in The Wheel of Time timeline for that to happen. The Wheel of Time would be making considerable changes to the chronology of events if Morgase loses the Lion Throne in season 3. In the source material, Morgase escapes from Caemyln in The Fires of Heaven (book 5), whereas season 3 is adapting book 4, The Shadow Rising.

If It Happens, Wheel of Time Already Has A Ready-Made Explanation For Morgase's Early Death

Rahvin Could Kill Morgase (Like He Planned To In The Books)

It's worth noting that the circumstances of Morgase's escape are what open the door for the show to change her fate. Rahvin - one of the 13 Forsaken in The Wheel of Time books - plotted to kill Morgase while maintaining the disguise of Lord Gaebril within the court of Andor. His plans were discovered in book 3, The Dragon Reborn, and were fully explored in The Fires of Heaven. Thanks to the intervention of characters like Mat and Thom, Rahvin didn't succeed and Morgase managed to get away in one piece. Were the show to let this play out differently, it would have an easy way of killing off Morgase.

Letting this happen would result in a myriad of changes, one of which being the removal of the adventure that sends her off with Martyn Tallanvor, Basel Gill, and a few others loyal to her. Given the already-massive size of The Wheel of Time's cast, the show having some hesitancy to create an entire, multi-episode storyline with these characters would be understandable. After all, it already has several other branching arcs to follow. Killing off Morgase before it begins would go a long way toward condensing the narrative in The Wheel of Time.

What Morgase Dying In Season 3 Would Mean For Elayne

Elayne's Story Could Diverge From The Books Completely

Granted, Morgase dying in season 3 could tie in to events that The Wheel of Time is expected to adapt regardless. After all, a power vacuum does form in Andor, Elayne does become queen, and as previously noted, Rahvin does try to kill Morgase. Because of that, the show would be able to retain some key book arcs. It would, though, move some things up in the timeline. Among the characters that would be impacted the most would be Elayne; the events of The Shadow Rising occur far in advance of Elayne seizing the Lion Throne.

If Elayne becomes the ruler of Andor, several of her adventures alongside Nynaeve, Egwene, Thom, and the others would need to be reworked. Heading in this direction could put Elayne front-and-center of the show's political side. Elayne could find herself engaging in diplomacy and making decisions for Andor's future much sooner than anticipated in The Wheel of Time.

Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan's expansive fantasy series is brought to life in The Wheel of Time, a fantasy tv series created for Amazon Prime Video. The series follows a woman named Moiraine, a member of the all-female Aes Sedai group who can utilize a great power. Following an attack on a local village, Moiraine heads there to find a villager that may be the reincarnation of an all-powerful dragon that will either save or destroy the world.

Release Date November 19, 2021

Franchise(s) The Wheel of Time