<i>The Wheel of Time</i>’s Season 3 Finale Is Full of Heartbreak and Death

Spoilers below.

Death is inevitable in the world of The Wheel of Time. With numerous characters and a plethora of storylines stemming from Robert Jordan’s 14 books, people are bound to die—and, in this finale, many do.

Though it has not been announced if the series will be renewed for a fourth season, the last episode has left more questions than answers that will leave many begging for more. Showrunner Rafe Judkins told SFX Magazine he hopes for six or seven seasons to tell the full story. We do too.

The episode opens with a flashback to 10 years ago, during the election for the Amyrlin Seat, the leader of the Aes Sedai, after the death of its predecessor. Red Ajah Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan was considered the favorite to win, but after second thoughts from several members of the council, Siuan Sanche was ultimately chosen.

Cut to the current timeline, Leane demands an answer from Siuan about her support for Rand as the Dragon Reborn, but she skirts around the question. Leane warns her that Elaida will use this against Siuan with the other Ajahs, who are weary of Rand. Sure enough, Elaida does just that, gathering enough support to unseat Siuan.

Sometime later, Verin alerts Siuan that several Red Ajahs left the tower, prompting Siuan to have Verin and her trusted sisters bring them back. Siuan senses Elaida has something to do with this (which she does).

When Verin and the other Ajahs confront the Red Ajahs outside, they learn it's a trap to lure them away from the White Tower. Elaida had called the council together to unanimously strip Siuan of her title, accusing her of being a Darkfriend. Elaida is appointed as the new Amyrlin Seat, and Siuan is tortured and sentenced to death.

Beaten and battered, Siuan declares her love for Moiraine, while telling the Ajahs that they must work together to fight for the light in a powerful speech defying Elaida’s ruling. Siuan is then executed.

Sophie Okonedo as Siuan Sanche.

Back at the Aiel stronghold, Rand is tending to Alsera’s garden as Egwene, still mad about his dream relationship with Lanfear, brings him to meet with the Wise Ones.

In Rand’s dream world, Lanfear appears, revealing she brought Sammael to train him. It turns out that Sammael is alive, but he’s imprisoned in the caves by Moiraine. Rand then confronts Lanfear about her treatment of Egwene. Lanfear says she was trying to make Egwene stronger, but Rand refuses to believe her. What appears to be a seductive conversation turns into confrontation as Rand calls Lanfear a “jealous, petty, cruel” liar who solely wants power. He calls her a monster, which pisses her off, leading her to attack him, but Egwene shows up just in time to protect him. Rand and Egwene wake up surrounded by the Wise Ones, Moiraine, and Lan. They begin to prepare for Lanfear’s revenge.

And she sure is looking for revenge. Lanfear visits various people to enact her plans, including Melindhra and Couladin. She tags Couladin with the Rhuidean dragon markings so he can challenge Rand. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Madeleine Madden as Egwene al’Vere and Josha Stradowski as Rand al’Thor.

Rand, Egwene, Moiraine, Lan, and the Taardad clan travel to Alcair Dal to present Rand as the Car’a’carn to the rest of the clans, including the Shaido. Rand plans to tell the Aiel the truth of the visions he saw at Rhuidean, which could break the Aiel as they follow the Way of the Leaf, refusing to believe they could be Oathbreakers.

Moiraine recognizes the location they’re traveling to as one of the places where she will die at the hands of Lanfear. She has a feeling it is going to happen that day.

As Lan is meditating alone in his tent, Melindhra, whom Lanfear tasked to kill him, alerts him of Lanfear’s plan. She reveals she made the Dark Oath in order to save Malkier, but she sees Lan is the only one capable of doing that. She then dies in his arms for breaking her vow.

Moiraine and Rand have a moment together for a heart-to-heart conversation. Though he initially confronts her about being aware of Lanfear entering his dreams and the attacks on Egwene, he understands Moiraine doing these things to help him succeed as the Dragon Reborn and Car’a’carn. He thanks her, acknowledging her help in making it this far. She begins to tear up; she knows she must die for his success.

Rosamund Pike as Moiraine.

At Alcair Dal, Couladin declares himself the Car’a’carn, showing off his fake dragon markings. Rand challenges the validity of the markings, which deter the Aiel people because, apparently, what happens at Rhuidean stays in Rhuidean. Rand then does what he was told not to do: reveal to everyone what he saw at Rhuidean. He shares that the Aiel people were Oathbreakers, which makes them even angrier, prompting some to follow Couladin. It isn’t until Rand is able to summon rain to the desert that he is declared Car’a’carn.

While all of that is happening, Moiraine battles Lanfear, which looks exactly like her prophecy. Lan attempts to rescue Moiraine, but in the end, she is stabbed by Lanfear. Just when all seems lost, Moiraine feels her connection with Siuan destroyed as Siuan is executed, and uses her pain and rage to heal herself and wound Lanfear, who just narrowly escapes. Moiraine breaks down, weeping in Lan’s arms.

As Liandrin and her Black Ajah minions, Jaine and Chesmal, search for the second of the two a’dam cuffs needed to control Rand, a disguised Moghedien hands it over to them. Now with both cuffs, Liandrin, Jaine, and Chesmal enter Panarch’s Palace to find the collar needed to finish the job.

Nynaeve, Mat, Min, Elayne, and Thom track Liandrin and the Black Ajah to the palace. They split up—Mat with Min, Elayne with Thom, and Nynaeve solo—to search for the collar.

Laia Costa as Moghedien.

As Elayne and Thom search, he recalls a story about her from her youth. He was friends with her mother, and remains a loyal subject to this day, promising to protect Elayne. When she mentions Lord Gaebril, Thom swears that Gaebril is not to be trusted as he is a Forsaken who has placed these memories in her head. They are then attacked by Jaine, who carries the ter’angreal of balefire. She attempts to use it on them, but Elayne gains the upper hand, killing Jaine with the weapon.

In another room, Mat and Min ponder about what life would be like if there was no One Power, with Mat expressing he’d like to forget these painful memories given to him by his past lives. Before Min can stop him, Mat accidentally enters the Twisted redstone doorframe to the Eelfinn. Mat is justifiably freaking out, not knowing anything about the Eelfinn and telling the creature that he wants to be left alone. Eelfinn then takes away all the memories of Mat’s past lives. Mat demands to be returned to the room with Min, which the Eelfinn grants but demands Mat’s life in return. He is transported back to the original room, hung on a noose. Chesmal watches as he struggles and suffocates, but Min knocks Chesmal out and cuts Mat down, saving his life through CPR. He then tells her he doesn’t remember anything about his past, revealing the silver foxhead medallion on his neck.

Following the voices from the cuffs, Liandrinn searches through jewelry chests, believing she’s looking for a neck collar. Little does she know, the collar can transform into any type of jewelry to remain hidden. After she leaves the room in frustration, Nynaeve finds the collar in the form of a bracelet, and immediately waits for the team outside the palace. Liandrinn finds her, demanding the collar. Nynaeve tries to reason with Liandrinn, but she is determined to become a Forsaken and magically binds Nynaeve while taking the collar, then tosses the young healer into the water to drown.

Kate Fleetwood as Liandrin Guirale and Zoë Robins as Nynaeve al’Meara.

As Nynaeve struggles underwater, she recalls a memory of her mother comforting her as a child. Through her recollection, Nynaeve is able to escape the bind and control the water around her, revealing her new power.

Liandrinn, carrying all three a’dam needed to control Rand, visits Moghedien with an offer to team up, as two women are needed in order for this to work. Moghedien seems to take a liking to Liandrinn, leaving us to wonder if Moghedien will take up her offer. I mean, who else is there to team with?

Meanwhile, Rahvin (who is pretending to be Lord Gaebril) and Lanfear discover Sammael, who was locked up in a cave, brutally murdered by Moghedien. Lanfear says they must find Callandor in order to take on Moghedien, leading Rahvin to realize the Dragon Reborn rejected Lanfear. But they ultimately agree to work together to handle Moghedien and kill Rand.

With Rand now in power as both the Dragon Reborn and Car’a’carn, many of his allies will keep a close eye on him to ensure he doesn’t turn to the Shadow. There is too much at stake as he’s become even more powerful than his predecessor, Lews Therin. It seems like Rand may be in control now, but, in The Wheel of Time, who knows what will happen next.