Despite how good the storytelling has been on The Wheel of Time this season, most of the various plots are not in a positive place right now. That’s not usually what I prefer. But The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 6 is another example of how heavy storytelling can excel with a bit of balance. In that way, “The Shadow in the Night” fits right in with the rest of season three.
Rand (Josha Stradowski) can now prove he is the Car’a’carn to the Aiel people after completing the trial of Rhuidean. That’s the best thing going for those fighting for the Light right now. Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) is injured after rescuing Mat’s (Donal Finn) sisters from the White Cloaks, Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) now knows she has to die for Rand to win the Last Battle, and both the Black Ajah and some of the Aes Sedai want to collar Rand to control his magical abilities. Rand has accepted he is the Dragon Reborn, but I have to wonder how he would feel if he knew all of these other obstacles. His personal life is about to get messy as well. His girlfriend Egwene (Madeleine Madden) realized at the end of the last episode that Rand is romantically entangled with a Forsaken, Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe). The drama is not letting up.
Somehow, The Wheel of Time manages to make satisfying storytelling out of plotting that is mostly downbeat, and season 3, episode 6 continues that success. Even the roughest moments to watch in “The Shadow in the Night” keep the narrative or character development moving forward.
MORE: If you forgot what happened in the previous episode, we have you covered with our review of The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5!
“Don’t submit.”
After an episode of traveling, Nynaeve (Zoe Robins), Elayne (Ceara Coveney), Mat, and Min (Kae Alexander) have arrived in Tanchico to find the Black Ajah. This port city is a colorful and gaudy place. Just like the Sea Folk in the previous episode, expanding this created world is a good thing. It creates depth that the fantasy genre relies on.
This group has their work cut out for them, however. I feel like it was a bit irresponsible of Siuan (Sophie Okenedo) to send two Accepteds, one of whom still can’t channel on command, to find the Black Ajah. They don’t even have a fully trained Aes Sedai with them. They are on Liandrin’s (Kate Fleetwood) home turf now, too. And the flashback that opens this episode proves she has been a Dark Friend from the beginning. They can’t underestimate her, especially because she has no loyalty to those who are on her side if she thinks they are working against her.
There is another threat in Tanchico that Nyneave and the others don’t even know about. The Forsaken Moghadien (Laia Costa), the one who even scares Lanfear, is posing as a servant in Liandrin’s house. Nyneave and Elayne manage to find one of the bracelets that will control the collar the Black Ajah wants to put on Rand, but Moghadien enchants them and takes it, wiping their memories of her for good measure. Moghadien may be small and avoid confrontation, but this episode proves she needs to be a factor in the Light’s plans against the Dark.
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“There was always something you wanted more.”
Elsewhere, Perrin isn’t the only one in need of medical attention after saving Mat’s sisters from the White Cloaks’ camp. Alanna (Priyanka Bose) is clinging to life after being shot with arrows repeatedly. Aes Sedai can heal others, but they can’t heal themselves. Luckily, it turns out that Mat’s twin sisters can channel magic. Alanna expressed her belief that the Two Rivers is a special place because it produced Rand and his friends, with their various abilities, and here is more evidence that she is right. I sense a mentoring relationship developing between Alanna and Mat’s sisters after they heal her.
At the same time, Perrin gets a chance to interact more with Faile (Isabella Bucceri) as he rests to heal from his wound. Faile has come to the Two Rivers looking for the Horn of Valere, and she and Perrin have obviously enjoyed their conversations. Now, this ship moves to the next level. Rutherford and Bucceri have good chemistry. Plus, as a short girl myself, I always love a ship with a good height difference!
On the other end of the spectrum, Rand and Egwene finally clear the air between them about Lanfear. It brings up things they hadn’t confronted before. Whether you like angst when it comes to ships or not (and I don’t), this episode has something for you. I suppose that indicates why “The Shadow in the Night” is consistent with the rest of this season. The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 6 is strong and somber storytelling.
MORE: Check out our review of The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 3!
The Wheel of Time is streaming on Prime Video.
