The Wheel of Time‘s second season arrives on Prime Video soon. An adaptation of Robert Jordan’s sprawling fantasy book series of the same name, The Wheel of Time comes with a stack of important characters, locations, and terms. If you’ve read the books, or even only the first book, The Eye of the World, you know what you’re in for. But if you don’t know the books and want to feel more prepared for season two of the series, you might want more information. Though we know you can figure out relationships and basics from context, we’re here with a spoiler-free guide to The Wheel of Time‘s main characters.
Rather than one or two main characters, The Wheel of Time has an ensemble cast. That core group waxes and wanes over the books, and season two will add at least a few key players.
Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine is to The Wheel of Time what Gandalf is to The Lord of the Rings. A powerful Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah, Moiraine has been on a quest to find the Dragon Reborn. She follows a prophecy about this reincarnated figure from an Aes Sedai sister and wants to find him or her before the Dark One can. Moiraine is a reserved guide figure overflowing with quiet wisdom and strong talent for the One Power. She’s kind of intimidating to the youths she brings into her journey. But Moiraine always has the greater good at heart.
Played by: Rosamund Pike
Lan al’Mandragoran
A Warder to Moiraine, Lan is so much more than meets the eye. Stoic and often serious, Lan is bonded to Moiraine; he protects her and fights by her side. His skills with a sword help save the day more than once. Lan shows loyalty to his traveling companions and values anything and anyone Moiraine deems important. Their bond isn’t romantic, though that is the case with some Aes Sedai and their Warders, but it is far greater than friendship.
Lan’s past is mysterious… until it’s not. We’ll leave it at that.
Played by: Daniel Henney
Nynaeve al’Meara
Moiraine’s quest takes her to the Two Rivers, specifically the village of Emond’s Field. However, it seems like the TV series only references the Two Rivers. There she finds Nynaeve, Egwene, Perrin, Rand, and Mat. Moiraine thinks one of these youths could be the Dragon Reborn, though Nynaeve is a few years too old to fit the prophecy.
Nynaeve is the village’s Wisdom and a leader despite her young age. As such, she looks after her home and its citizens with ferocity. She can predict the weather, a valuable skill in a farming community, and heal sickness and injuries. Others look to Nynaeve for assistance and direction in times of need. Egwene in particular admires Nynaeve.
Played by: Zoë Robins
Egwene al’Vere
Seemingly a ta’veren (in the TV series) who shows promise as a potential apprentice to Nynaeve, Egwene is strong-willed and determined. We think she might be a ta’veren because Moiraine considers her a candidate to be the Dragon Reborn. She’s the innkeeper’s daughter too, so she knows all the comings and goings since The Winespring Inn is the village’s only such establishment. Of the group, Egwene may be the only one who’s okay with having to suddenly leave home with Moiraine. She wants to see more of the world, and while she won’t accept her fate if it doesn’t align with what she wants, she’s more… flexible than the others.
Played by: Madeleine Madden
Perrin Aybara
An apprentice to the village blacksmith, Perrin is constantly moving and thinking deliberately. He kind of has the temperament of an Ent, and that’s a compliment. Taller and burlier than his friends, Perrin is mindful of not abusing his strength. He constantly worries about accidentally hurting others. Averse to violence and conflict, Perrin’s gentle and honestly, just too pure to get swept up into Moiraine’s mess. But he’s also a ta’veren, someone who can affect the Wheel’s Pattern.
Played by: Marcus Rutherford
Rand al’Thor
Another ta’veren (yes, it is highly unusual to find more than a single ta’veren in the same out of the way village), Rand is the son of a farmer. He adores his father Tam, who seems to be a good single dad aside from keeping some important secrets from his son. When Rand’s not helping on the farm, which is a little outside of Emond’s Field, he spends time with Egwene. He likes his home and has a vision of staying in Two Rivers always and raising a family of his own.
Reader: as you might guess, that’s not in the cards anytime soon.
Played by: Josha Stradowski
Mat Cauthon
Part of the best bud trio with Rand and Perrin, Mat is more devil-may-care than either of his more responsible friends. Always ready to throw dice or pull a prank on some unsuspecting person, he gets himself into trouble all the time. Truly, all the time. Real Pippin from The Lord of the Rings vibes here. He’s curious and not at all worried about consequences. Also a ta’veren, Mat is not really about leaving home either. As you can imagine, Moiraine has a great time trying to keep Mat in one piece.
Played by: Barney Harris (season one), Dónal Finn (season two)
Thom Merrilin
A talented gleeman, essentially this world’s version of a fancy bard, Thom Merrilin is the living definition of someone who knows the ways of the world. He’s well-traveled, having performed as a gleeman in common rooms across the land, even playing in the odd royal court. Thom serves as a mentor to the Emond’s Field youths in the books, offering his guidance and his skill with throwing knives in moments of danger.
Played by: Alexandre Willaume
Loial
First of all, you need to know Loial is the best. A long-lived non-human being called an Ogier, Loial is a spritely young Ogier in his 80s-90s. He’s a scholar who constantly has his nose in a book. Even while he’s riding a horse. When Loial runs into Moiraine and her companions, he’s intrigued by their ta’veren status and knack for constantly finding adventure—usually dangerous adventure. Loial provides stalwart and true friendship and multiple books worth of knowledge to the group.
Played by: Hammed Animashaun
Elmindreda “Min” Farshaw
Min appeared towards the end of season one of The Wheel of Time as a bartender in Fal Dara. She can’t channel like an Aes Sedai but she does see visions of the Pattern. Min tries to keep her ability hidden. This is a world that doesn’t take super kindly to the One Power, let alone someone mysteriously being able to see the future. Her gift presents as images around the person who said images are about.
She’s moved around a lot during her life, trying different professions while keeping her ability under wraps. Though she’s only had a passing encounter with Rand and company in Fal Dara so far, she will find herself entangled with the him, the Aes Sedai—all of it. Even if she’s not thrilled about it.
Played by: Kae Alexander
Elayne Trakand
Daughter-heir of Andor, Elayne Trakand is a noble and she knows it. Growing up in the palace, Elayne has a different background than everyone from the Two Rivers. Given her perspective and the close connection the throne of Andor has to the White Tower, Elayne comes in as a power player. On top of that, she can wield the One Power to an impressive degree.
When Elayne crosses paths with the Two Rivers folks, which will play out differently than how it did in the books, she… makes an impression.
Played by: Ceara Coveney
Aviendha
Aviendha is one of the Aiel. Season one showed the Aiel briefly in the flashback of Rand’s birth on Dragonmount. They live in the Three-fold Land, a desert region separate from the rest of the world (which doesn’t have an in-universe name) and don’t often venture across the Spine of the World. But the news of the Dragon Reborn changes things. Aviendha, a powerful channeler, plays a huge role in meshing together the spheres of the Aiel and the rest of the world. She does so all while navigating her own challenging path.
Played by: Ayoola Smart
Liandrin
Liandrin is an Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah. In season one, she put her nose in Moiraine’s business whenever possible, taking great interest in the youths from the Two Rivers. Her focus, and her Ajah’s, is capturing and gentling men who can channel. She is merciless when it comes to achieving the goals of her Ajah, yet she has a secret that Moiraine exploits.
Played by: Kate Fleetwood
The Wheel of Time season two premieres on Prime Video on September 1, 2023.
Originally published on November 9, 2021.
