Summary
At the beginning of the penultimate episode ofThe Wheel of TimeSeason 3, it is quite evident that the people of Two Rivers would have to fight out of their skins to save themselves and their homes. Luckily, Perrin and his team are there to help them, and they finally stand a chance against their enemies. For viewers, this was just a war — a thrilling battle sequence filled with sword fights, strategic moves, and emotional stakes. But for showrunnerRafe Judkins, it was more than that. This was a culmination of identity, belonging, and growth. The clash in Two Rivers wasn’t merely about survival; it was about reclaiming one’s roots, facing the ghost of the past, and sacrifice.
Game Rant caught up with Judkins to ask what made the penultimate episode ofThe Wheel of TimeSeason 3 so emotionally charged and how he saw this war as a symbol of how people grow and change, how home is never quite the same when you return, and how true courage is built through pain, love, and the hard choices we make. Moreover, he opened up about the big sacrifice made by one of the most important characters and how that particular moment showcases the importance of hope and selflessness.
Game Rant: Perrin’s fear of what comes before death, not death itself, is profound—how important was that line to understanding his inner conflict? How did you ensure the emotional weight of seeing “the faces of people about to die” came across thematically?
Rafe Judkins:I think Perrin is such an interesting character to me, because he’s very unlike traditional heroes that we see in shows like this. You know, a lot of who he is—his emotions and his thoughts about the world—come a little bit out of the author Robert Jordan’s experience in Vietnam. In a big fantasy show, we’re used to everyone rushing into battle and going, “Hurrah! We’re heroes! We’re going to fight the bad guys. This is what we do. This is how we win.” And Perrin is much more thoughtful than that. He’s a character who questions: Should they be fighting?Isit right to be fighting? Is it worth it if people he loves are dying? I think that that line—and this episode as a whole—is really about doing a traditional battle episode that fantasy fans love, but also, within it, putting in these little points of puncture and question: around battle, around war, around fighting, and around violence. So, I think that’s something we can really only do onThe Wheel of Time. We can do it because of what Robert Jordan gave this character, Perrin.
Game Rant: One of the most powerful moments in ‘Goldeneyes’ happens when two young girls use their channeling abilities to save Alanna. How does this scene challenge the traditional notions of innocence and power in the Wheel of Time universe?
Rafe Judkins:I think it’s interesting—so many moments in, you know,Episode Seven are about non-violence. Perrin wins the battle because he doesn’t kill Padan Fain. Loial doesn’t go out in a blaze of glory, like, you know, taking people down with his hammer. He sacrifices himself in a way that’s kind of more intelligent and actually saves the day. This moment with the girls is, you know, sort of this moment to show that also in our world, there are characters who believe that violence is justified. Alanna is almost laughing at the karmic retribution—that a man who has burned many women on this show is now receiving at the hands of two young girls. There is, you know, there’s a multiplicity of ideas that our characters have inThe Wheel of Timethat is matching to the world that we live in. Alanna’s idea of what battle and war, and violence mean is totally different than Perrin’s, which is totally different than Loial’s. So, I think it’s quite beautiful to see each of them be able to have their moment of victory. Alanna believed that there were channelers in these mountains and that, you know, this was worth—almost like teaching and gathering an army—was worth giving her life for, and she’s seeing that pay off karmically in a huge way at this moment.
Game Rant: Loial’s final act carries deep emotional weight, serving as a powerful symbol of unity, peace, and selflessness. How did you approach crafting this moment to reflect not only his journey but also the broader themes of the series?
Rafe Judkins:Loial is such a wonderful character in the books because, of all the characters, he sort of has this sense of innate goodness about him. And, you know, one of his biggest, most important moments in the book series is closing this Waygate to protect the Two Rivers in this battle. So we really wanted to highlight that moment and let Loial’s sacrifice, to close this Waygate, be even bigger than what it was in the books. Like, he’s willing to give his life for this. That, you know, I think people can really connect with—that even in this world of violence and war and battle, this character is willing to do anything to protect the people he cares about. That is quite beautiful to see, and hopeful.
All seven episodes ofThe Wheel of TimeSeason 3 are premiering exclusively on Prime Video.
