Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5.
There are a lot of romantic pairings inThe Wheel of TimeSeason 3, but not all of them are on strong footing at the moment. Rand (Josha Stradowski) and Egwene (Madeleine Madden) are tentatively reunited, while Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) and Lan (Daniel Henney) have a complicated romance.Elayne (Ceara Coveney) and Aviendha (Ayoola Smart)have developed a connection, and even Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) has met someone new in Faile (Isabella Bucceri). However, when it comes toThe Wheel of Time’s love stories, Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) and Siuan (Sophie Okonedo) still have the longest-standing and most developed relationship, even if it mostly remains a secret. Though their relationship was first explored in Season 1, it is also developed further than what is depicted in the books. This addition gives their romance more stakes, since Moiraine and Siuan have sacrificed their own well-being in pursuit of a larger purpose,butthe tragedy of their love story becomes heartbreakingly clear inSeason 3’s latest episode.
The Wheel of TimeSeason 3 Episode 5, “Tel’aran’rhiod,” emphasizes the emotional division that has grown between Moiraine and Siuan because of their bigger priorities. Throughout the series, they have been working together to both find the Dragon Reborn and prepare the White Tower to support him, dividing those tasks between them, but neither woman has been entirely successful on her end. After years of dedication to theat cause, Moiraine and Siuan had a falling out inSeason 2and have never quite recovered. Throughout Season 3, they have barely interacted, but in Season 3, Episode 5, Moiraine seeks out Siuan, andthey share an emotionally charged scene that highlights everything they’ve sacrificed, especially now that Moiraine expects to die for their cause.
Moiraine and Siuan Share an Emotional Goodbye in ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3
By Season 3, Moiraine has been banished from the White Tower and is forced to remain at a physical distance from Siuan, but covertly arranges a meeting with her inTel’aran’rhiod(thanks to help from Egwene). Over the last two seasons, resentment has built between them; Siuan believes Moiraine has failed in her ability to protect and train Randwhile “stilled,“but Siuan also struggles with feelings of failure herself after it becomes clear that the White Tower is not only still unwilling to follow Rand but has actively split.Things are falling apart for both Siuan and Moiraine, and Moiraine is already aware that they will only get worse.
Having glimpsed many possible futuresin Rhuidean, Moiraine is more insistent than ever that the White Tower must follow Rand or the Light will lose the Last Battle. Yet she’s also aware of the increasing likelihood that in order for Rand to live, she must die. With that knowledge,Moiraine struggles to say goodbye to Siuan. Though there is plenty of history between them, and though they still love each other, their relationship is no longer simple, and both women know that. Not only have they lost the future they once dreamed for themselves, but Moiraine knows that more loss is heading for them. In a meeting that may very well be their last, Siuan admits that she wishes they had run off and had never heard the Dragon Reborn prophecy, which has defined the last 20 years of their lives, but it is far too late to turn back. Instead,the two women promise to meet in the next life, which is their only remaining chance of finding happiness together.
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Moiraine and Siuan Sacrificed Their Future for a Greater Purpose in ‘The Wheel of Time’
Even as she prepares to say goodbye to Siuan, Moiraine acknowledges thatthe relationship they hadis now broken, acknowledging what they sacrificed in pursuit of the Dragon Reborn. As young Aes Sedai, these two were the only ones present when they heard Gitara Sedai’s (Hayley Mills)prophecy, and, not knowing who to trust, chose to dedicate all their efforts to both finding the Dragon Reborn and preparing the Aes Sedai for his arrival. Though they haven’t had perfect success, it is not for lack of trying. Moiraine has found Rand and is coming to terms with the fact that she will have to die for him. Meanwhile, Siuan played the game of politics, rising to become the Amyrlin Seat. Both pursuits had an adverse effect on their relationship.
To ensure that no one caught on to their plot, Moiraine and Siuan established distance between themselves, effectively giving up on their dream of a real future together. After 20 years ofprioritizing their mission to save the world over their feelings for each other, they’ve also resigned themselves to the knowledge that they have to continue putting duty ahead of love. Despite Siuan’s regrets, neither considers ignoring the Dragon Reborn prophecy to have been an option, and they still don’t. Even as Siuan struggles to controla broken White Tower, and Moiraine tries to guide an unwilling Rand, they are still positioning themselves on the front lines of the battle against the Dark One, knowing the potential risks.
Moiraine and Siuan Deserve To Be Happy in ‘The Wheel of Time’
While Siuan and Moiraine work as allies inthe books, much like in the show, they are not in a romantic relationship and actually have separate romantic relationships with other characters. Though the book term “pillow-friends” implies a certain connection between them in their youth, they both move on and become close friends who follow a similar path to their on-screen counterparts. Yet,of the many changes to the show, giving Moiraine and Siuan a romance is a particularly strong one. Not only does it raise the stakes for the characters, as they hide their love for each other while committing themselves to the greater good, butit adds a layer of tragedy to their story.
Seeing what Moiraine and Siuan are willing to sacrifice raises the stakes as they try to increase the odds of the Light winning the Last Battle. Their actions show how desperate they are to protect the world in which they live. InSeason 3, the tragedy of their story has taken over to the point that even they acknowledge it, but they don’t back down. These women demonstrate their dedication and courage by giving everything for their cause. Givenhow much Moiraine and Siuan have sacrificed, it’s clear that they deserved to be happy,despite Moiraine’s discovery in the rings now making it an impossible outcome.
New episodes ofThe Wheel of TimeSeason 3 premiere Thursdays on Prime Video.
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