If there’s one thing you need to know about Prime Video’s fantasy epic The Wheel of Time, it’s that lead character Moiraine, played by Rosamund Pike, isn’t one to be messed with.
Throughout the beloved series’ entire first season, Moiraine exhibits the typical poise and dignity of the Aes Sedai — an elite group of women who have mastered magic known as the One Power. They have all trained rigorously to be expert channelers and swore unbreakable oaths to the Aes Sedai sisterhood.
But with a distinctive edge that fills her with courage and fierceness, Moiraine is a bit of a rebel. That’s what made her the perfect character to introduce us to The Wheel of Time world, and why she serves as the perfect connection to the five villagers — Rand, Mat, Perrin, Nynaeve and Egwene—who are destined for more than life in the Two Rivers, the region they’re from.
Last we saw Moiraine — Season 1 spoilers ahead! — she led Rand through to the Eye of the World, a mysterious location where the cosmological force known as the Dark One is believed to be confined. Why Rand? Well, Moiraine suspects that he is the Dragon Reborn, the champion of Light who is prophesied to defeat the Dark One. If true, it means he’s one of the rare examples of men in this universe that can channel — use the One Power — and not be driven to madness.
While they were ultimately able to defeat the thousands-strong army of Trollocs — terrifying human/animal hybrids created by the Dark One — at the Eye of the World, Moiraine’s words in the Season 1 finale echo loudly, “this is not the Last Battle.” Now, with Season 2 of The Wheel of Time finally here on Prime Video, we’re able to see what treachery awaits the Aes Sedai, the Rand, and all of our heroes.
Trust us: Season 2’s villains are nothing like what we’ve seen on TV for years.
Who are the Villains in Wheel of Time S2?
Now it can’t be stressed enough that The Dark One is still the big baddie in this universe. As Moiraine says in the first trailer for the new season, “We didn’t defeat The Dark One; we set him free.”
We see glimpses of The Dark One’s human embodiment in the trailer, but who are those people, cloaked in ornate gold, that he’s accompanied by? Those are the Seanchan, and they mean business.
To put it simply, the Seanchan are a ruthless and potent empire, set on reclaiming the continent of their ancestors. In Robert Jordan’s original novel series, they spent years building resources to help them in their quest, which they dub “The Return”.
They’re characterized by their disciplined social hierarchy and their brutal methods of manipulating and enslaving women who can channel. Their formidable military, advanced naval tactics (we all saw that huge tidal wave in the Season 1 finale), and the imposing Deathwatch Guard – a faction of their military that is exceptionally ruthless — mean they’re an offensive force that will be hard to conquer.
What Sets the Seanchan Apart?
When it comes to fantasy villains in media, we’re met with a lot of darkness. Black cloaks shrouding pale skin, foggy and eerie lairs keeping age-old secrets, and spooky figures creeping through the night. Even in The Wheel of Time, the biggest villain of them all is literally called “The Dark One.”
But, even with our first glimpse of the Seanchan in Season 2 of The Wheel of Time, we’ve got an immediate point of difference – their look. Covered in ornate golden headpieces, there’s something almost royal about this empire. They don’t look stereotypically villainous at first glance. Offputting? Maybe, but hardly evil-looking. Straight away, we have antagonists that are more intriguing and, to be honest, alluring.
On top of that, the Seanchan society is meticulously structured, with a rigid social hierarchy that emphasizes honor, duty, and obedience. Governed by a code of strict rules and traditions, the Seanchan society functions with unparalleled discipline and unity. Those in power are unlikely to act rashly or on impulse – every last move will be calculated. They sound quietly confident, with one Seanchan uttering in the trailer, “The whole world will be ours.” Rage doesn’t impact their decision-making, and their stoicism makes them all the more unique, and all the more threatening.
With the Seanchan empire’s adherence to their hierarchy, we’ve got an entire group of villains who don’t subscribe to what we’re used to seeing from fantasy’s biggest baddies. They’re not shrouded in darkness and they will fight proudly and with grandeur because that’s the Seanchan way. The Seanchan believe that their mission of reclaiming land that they think belongs to them is the right thing to do. They’re not one-dimensional villains set on evil for the sake of it — they’ve got a rich history and are set on righting perceived wrongs.
In the quest to right these wrongs, the Seanchan will have to defeat the Aes Sedai to complete their mission. Moiraine and her sisters at the White Tower aren’t going to politely bow down, especially if the Seanchan have teamed up with the Dark One. Expect an all-out war that’ll see the best channelers go head-to-head.
To see how the Seanchan will change up everything for Moiraine, Rand and the entire universe, tune into The Wheel of Time S2, now streaming on Prime Video. Sign up to start your 30-day free trial today.