{"id":36313,"date":"2023-08-29T16:21:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T14:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1880502"},"modified":"2023-08-30T03:54:30","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T01:54:30","slug":"how-did-the-wheel-of-time-season-1-end-full-recap","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/how-did-the-wheel-of-time-season-1-end-full-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"How did The Wheel of Time season 1 end? Full recap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s everything you need to know before delving into season 2! <\/p>

By Louise Griffin\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 29 August 2023 at 14:21 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Get ready for The Wheel of Time season 2<\/a> as the popular Prime Video<\/a> show is on its way back!<\/p>\n

We\u2019re about to catch up with our heroes following the dramatic events of season 1 \u2013 and the stakes have only got higher.<\/p>\n

There will be new cast<\/a> members to meet, including Donal Finn, who\u2019s taking over from Barney Harris as Mat Cauthon<\/a>, and returning stars continuing their characters\u2019 journeys, including the likes of Rosamund Pike as Moiraine.<\/p>\n

But, before all that, here\u2019s everything you need to know about how season 1 ended.<\/p>

The Wheel of Time season 1 ending explained: Rand faces Ishmael<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Season 1 saw Moiraine (Pike) escort five young people from their village in the belief that one of them is the Dragon Reborn \u2013 the one prophesied to defeat the Dark One and save the world.<\/p>\n

Following various struggles, with our heroes torn apart, it\u2019s revealed that she was right and that Rand al\u2019Thor (Josha Stradowski) is the Dragon Reborn. After that reveal, he heads out with Moiraine to face the Dark One head-on at the eye of the world.<\/p>\n

\"Rand\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Rand al\u2019Thor played by Josha Stradowski in The Wheel of Time season 2.<\/span><\/figcaption> an Thijs\/Prime Video<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

As it turns out, the enemy he\u2019s set to face isn\u2019t actually the Dark One, but one of his right hand men \u2013 Ishamael. He attempts to get inside Rand\u2019s head by offering him everything he desires, including to rewrite the world as he would like it \u2013 but Rand proves himself by putting the needs of his loved ones, including Egwene (Madeleine Madden) before his own. He rejects the false reality, in which Egwene decides to settle down with him because he knows it\u2019s not what she wants, ultimately proving his love for her.<\/p>\n

Following the battle, Rand asks Moraine to tell everyone that he died, wanting to spare them from his inevitable madness.<\/p>\n

Moiraine is cut off from the One Power<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Rosamund\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Moiraine Damodred is played by Rosamund Pike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Prime Video<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Moiraine joins Rand at the final fight to take on Ishmael but while he attempts to get inside Rand\u2019s head, he also manages to cut Moiraine off from the One Power, stopping her from channeling.<\/p>\n

By the end of the episode, it appears she\u2019s been cut off from the One Power all together, a process known as \u201cstilling\u201d and she\u2019s discovered in a distressed state by her warder, al\u2019Lan Mandragoran (Daniel Henney). No doubt it\u2019ll be something she\u2019ll be forced to grapple with in season 2.<\/p>\n

To make matters worse, Moiraine realises that the fight they\u2019ve just faced isn\u2019t the final battle after all \u2013 in fact, it\u2019s only the first.<\/p>\n

Egwene brings Nynaeve back from the brink of death<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Zoe\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Zoe Robins in The Wheel of Time.<\/span><\/figcaption> Amazon<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Nynaeve was essential in the final fight, joining forces with Egwene to defeat an army of Trollocs. Lady Amalisa taps into the power created by the pair of them and successfully defeats the creatures \u2013 proving just how powerful the two of them are.<\/p>\n

Nynaeve seems close to death but Egwene is able to heal her, making it clear that the two of them will need to learn how to harness their powers on their own.<\/p>\n

Rand\u2019s sacrifice also ties up a series-long conflict between Rand and Egwene, which began in episode 1 when she revealed her wishes to become a Wisdom.<\/p>\n

In fact, it becomes clear that she\u2019s destined for much more than that and season 2 begins with her journey to become an Aes Sedai.<\/p>\n

Mat is nowhere to be seen \u2013 but his dagger has a new owner<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Barney\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Barney Harris as Mat Cauthon in The Wheel of Time season 1.<\/span><\/figcaption> Amazon Studios<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The final episodes of The Wheel of Time season 1 are light on Mat as actor Barney Harris departed the show following episode 6. Earlier in the season, Mat declined to join his friends in The Ways and we later see him returning to Tar Valon.<\/p>\n

However, there is a small reference to Mat when we see Padan Fain in possession of his ruby dagger \u2013 and we\u2019re expecting more to be revealed there.<\/p>\n

Finn has opened up about the experience of replacing Harris, telling TV Line<\/a>: \u201cI kind of put my head in the sand, because I knew that if I allowed myself some time to stop and think about it, I could get very overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut ultimately, knowing how much the fans love this character motivated me to make sure that I was starting it in the right place, and that process involved kind of gathering up all of the written work of season 1 and taking all those scripts and mining them to create a backstory for Mat.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Seanchan arrive<\/strong><\/h2>\n

That\u2019s not all though \u2013 the episode ends with a view of the Western Shore with the sudden arrival of the Seanchan, a people from across the world who believe they have the right to rule.<\/p>\n

In the final scene of the season, they arrive on warships, creating a giant wave to tower above an unsuspecting young girl on the shore.<\/p>\n

As for what their fate will be in season 2, only time will tell\u2026<\/p>