Why Egwene's Path in The Wheel of Time Season 3 Needs a Major Turn to the White Tower?
The TV adaptation of Robert Jordan's epic fantasy series, "The Wheel Of Time," must make a major change to Egwene's storyline in Season 3 if it is to preserve the integrity of the work. Although the show has faithfully reflected the books in many respects, the next season offers a crucial junction for Egwene's character growth.
Egwene's Time in the Aiel Waste: a Critical Path but Not the Only One
After "The Shadow Rising," the fourth book in the series, Season 3 will probably follow Egwene's path emphasizing the growth of her unique talent: Dreaming. Home to the Wise Ones, the Aiel Waste would seem to be the perfect place for Egwene to acquire this great talent.
Still, Egwene's path was much shaped by "The Dragon Reborn," the book before "The Shadow Rising." The adaptation of the show has apparently omitted this significant chapter. Therefore, putting Egwene just in the Aiel Waste during Season 3 would ignore her vital training inside the White Tower, a pillar of her character development.
The Value of Egwene's White Tower Training for Her Destiny as the Amyrlin Seat
Early in the show, Egwene's fate as the Amyrlin Seat—the head of the Aes Sedai—was decided upon. Egwene's training inside the White Tower has to be given top priority if she is to rise to this post. She cannot skip or fast forward from a novice to an Accepted and finally a full-fledged Aes Sedai; this is a process.
The show runs the danger of undercutting her ultimate ascent to power by keeping her far from the White Tower for a long time. All of Egwene's path in the books—challenges, political intrigue, personal development—were refined within the White Tower. Her ultimate leadership would seem unearned and unminspired without this experience.
Including Egwene's Dreaming Journey Without Neglecting Her White Tower Training
The conundrum of juggling Egwene's training with her Dreaming path is not quite insurmount. Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams, offers Egwene a special chance to engage with the Wise Ones without personally traversing the Aiel Waste.
Previous seasons have shown that in the World of Dreams distance is not a barrier. Egwene might run across the Wise Ones by means of deliberate or inadvertent contacts. This would let her keep her training at the White Tower during the day while also learning about Dreaming at night.
Egwene's Part in the White Tower Aes Sedai Coup
Returning to the White Tower lets Egwene become a major player in one of the most powerful storylines in "The Shadow Rising." It's not only about training. The Aes Sedai coup headed by Elaida results in Siuan's exile offers Egwene the ideal chance to highlight her leadership abilities.
With her ultimate fate as the Amyrlin Seat, Season 3 could establish Egwene's relationships with powerful people in Tar Valon, show her ascent inside the Aes Sedai hierarchy, and confirm her awareness of the political machinations of the White Tower. This prepares her for her final leadership post in the White Tower, a conflict she will ultimately come to symbolize.
Egwene's bond with Gawyn Trakand
An important part of Egwene's book narrative is her romantic relationship with Elayne's brother, Gawyn Trakand. Returning Egwene back to the White Tower lets Gawyn—who is deeply engaged in the Aes Sedai coup—be naturally introduced. His presence at the White Tower would offer their relationship an organic chance for growth.
Sending Egwene to the Aiel Waste would impede this growth since Gawyn seems to have no apparent motivation for that path. But by going back to the White Tower, their exchanges would be natural and add to the whole story.
In essence, a necessary shift for a faithful and compelling adaptation.
Returning Egwene to the White Tower for Season 3 is not only a question of staying true to the books; it's also necessary for building a compelling and complex character arc. It lets her training, final ascent to power, and relationship with Gawyn to develop naturally, so augmenting the whole story.
"The Wheel Of Time" can guarantee that Egwene's path stays true to the source material by giving her training at the White Tower top priority, so providing viewers with an engaging and powerful narrative as well.
