Includes SPOILERS for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 7, and minor SPOILERS for the book series.
A piece of dialogue fromThe Wheel of Timesignified how a critical character can return after their unexpected death.The Wheel of Timeseason 3, episode 7, saw the Battle of the Two Rivers, a conflict between the village folk, the Children of the Light, and a force of Trollocs, one of the key storylines fromThe Shadow Rising. However,the TV series took a major turn with the death of Loial, the lovable ogierwho joined the company of our protagonists toward the end of season 1.
The primary component of Loial’s character is that, while his species resembles the Trollocs in some ways, he’s fully sentient and is deeply fascinated byThe Wheel of Time’sworld and lore. This allowed Loial to constantly be a source of exposition, which will be missed after hisdeath defending The Ways, preventing Padan Fain’s reinforcements from arriving. He destroys the Waygate in the book, but he doesn’t die in the process, marking a notable shift from Robert Jordan’s original story.
Loial Joining The Heroes Of The Horn Was Set Up In The Wheel Of Time Season 2
Loial Is One Of The Heroes Of This Age
InThe Wheel of Timeseason 2’s ending, Mat Cauthon blew the Horn of Valere and summonedthe Heroes of the Horn, allowing the protagonists to defeat Ishamael and the Seanchan at the Battle of Falme. Perrin and Loial discussed the possibility of the Heroes from previous ages returning, andLoial responded by stating that they are the heroes of their own age. With all five of our main characters from the Two Rivers being ta’veren, he’s certainly right, but Loial could be one of the Heroes too.
Loial could be one of the Heroes too.
Killing off such a beloved character this early on is bound to be a controversial choice among book lovers, but it could be for multiple reasons. The TV series only has enough time for a certain number of cast members each season, and Loial’s prosthetics likely make him an easy target for an early death. That said,it seems like the show has set up his return as one of the Heroes of the Horn, who will likely return before the Prime Video adaptation comes to a close.
Where Rand’s Father Is During The Trolloc Battle In The Wheel Of Time Season 3
Tam al’Thor returns to the forefront of The Wheel of Time in The Shadow Rising, yet he’s absent in the TV show’s depiction. Here’s where he is.
When The Heroes Of The Horn Could Return
They’ll Be Back For The Last Battle (& Possibly Sooner)
The Heroes of the Horn aren’t just a one-time trick; they do return throughout the book series. Most notably,they help fight against the Dark One’s forces in the Last Battle, but they also appear in Tel’aran’rhiod, which the show has begun to explore through Egwene’s Dreamwalker powers.The Wheel of Timecould bring back Loial sooner than later, but it’s more than likely he’ll be fighting beside our heroes in the Last Battle.
