Wheel Of Time Season 2 Finale’s 6 Character Deaths Explained – Armessa Movie News

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Wheel of Time season 2 finale.

The Wheel of Time‘s season 2 finale features the deaths of six major characters, prompting questions about how those deaths line up with the books. The Wheel of Time is based on Robert Jordan’s iconic fantasy series of the same name, which contains a whopping 14 volumes. Naturally, such a massive series of books cannot be adapted scene-for-scene as some fans may wish, but Prime Video’s creative decisions concerning the adaptation have still come under fire from The Wheel of Time‘s dedicated fan base.

The Wheel of Time season 2’s ending places the show in a relatively similar position to the end of The Great Hunt, the second Wheel of Time book, but not everything happens as it does in the source material. Rand is officially declared the Dragon Reborn in Falme, albeit not in the same way as his book counterpart. Additionally, several key characters die in the conflict there. Some of these characters perish in ways that are faithful to the source material, while others have much difference deaths that make significant deviations from The Wheel of Time book series.

Related: How Powerful Rand Al’Thor Is In Wheel Of Time (Books & TV Show)

6 Ingtar Shinowa

Although the expected big twist for Ingtar in The Wheel of Time — that he is a darkfriend — does not end up happening in season 2, Ingtar’s death in the show is fairly similar to the books. In The Wheel of Time season 2 finale, Ingtar dies after leaping into a crowd of Seanchan soldiers, giving his companions time to escape with the Horn of Valere. Ingtar puts up a good fight, killing an impressive number of Seanchan fighters before being cut down from behind. However, it’s clear that Ingtar knows he’s going die against such great odds.

The major difference between this event in the show and the books is that, just before riding into the heart of the Seanchan forces near the end of The Great Hunt, Ingtar reveals to Rand that he is a darkfriend. He regrets his decision to pledge himself to the Dark One, seeking redemption by sacrificing himself to buy time for the others. While this changes the overall direction of his arc, the ultimate manner of his death ends up being virtually the same.

5 High Lord Turak

High Lord Turak’s death in The Wheel of Time season 2 finale is similar to the books in a couple of ways, but ultimately, it’s anti-climactic when compared to the source material. High Lord Turak is the leader of The Wheel of Time season 2’s Seanchan villains, and he dies in the finale, when Rand uses the One Power to brutally kill him and all of his soldiers. Rand uses the Power to slit all of their throats at once, wiping them out in a matter of seconds. While this display of power by Rand is impressive, it’s somewhat underwhelming compared to the books.

In The Great Hunt, Rand duels High Lord Turak with his heron-marked blade in a truly epic confrontation. Turak is a blademaster, unlike Rand, but Rand manages to defeat him after a lengthy duel, which technically makes Rand a blademaster as well. Turak’s death comes at the hands of Rand in both continuities, and it happens in Falme in both instances. However, the manner of his death is vastly different. It’s likely The Wheel of Time did not want to take the time to set up this showdown — but since Rand doesn’t duel Ishamael either, it’s somewhat disappointing the fight with Turak doesn’t happen how it should.

4 Geofram Bornhald

Geofram Bornhald is another character who dies at Falme in the Wheel of Time books and the show. Bornhald is a Lord Captain in The Wheel of Time‘s Children of the Light, and he is killed by Perrin in the season 2 finale. Perrin kills him in a fit of rage after Bornhald kills his wolf friend, Hopper. Perrin’s murder of Bornhald is witnessed by his son, Dain, who is now set to take up his book rivalry with Perrin. While Bornhald dies at Falme in the books, his death does not come at the hands of Perrin.

Bornhald dies in battle with the Seanchan in The Great Hunt. Although Perrin is present at the battle, he plays no part in Bornhald’s death. Even so, Dain ends up blaming Perrin for it and becomes obsessed with getting retribution. The Wheel of Time set this rivalry up for future seasons by changing the manner of Geofram’s death, making this a sensible deviation from the source material.

3 Renna

Renna, the sul’dam who holds Egwene’s leash in The Wheel of Time, is killed by Egwene during the battle at Falme. Renna dies when Egwene collars her with an a’dam — proving that sul’dam can channel too — and hangs her from a wall to die of suffocation. Her death releases Egwene from her a’dam, freeing her to hold off Ishamael while Rand is healed by Elayne. In the books, Renna is collared with an a’dam and left in the kennels, dying several books later from a crossbow bolt in the back. She is a minor character after Falme, however, so it makes sense to have Egwene finish her off.

2 Ishamael

Ishamael dies in The Wheel of Time season 2 when Rand stabs him in the chest with his sword, giving him the release from life he has always been after. Ishamael nearly kills Rand before this, but after Elayne arrives and heals Rand of his wound from the ruby-hilted dagger, he channels the Power into his sword and plunges it into Ishamael’s chest, melting the blade. While this is similar to the Wheel of Time books in many ways, there are some key differences.

In The Great Hunt, Rand and Ishamael duel, sword against quarterstaff, and the fight is projected above Falme so that all present can see it. Rand defeats Ishamael by allowing him to stab him in the side with his quarterstaff and swinging his own sword at Ishamael while the quarterstaff is stuck in Rand’s side. The big difference here is that Rand does not manage to kill Ishamael in this fight. He does kill him in the next book at the Stone of Tear, but the Dark One resurrects him as Moridin, refusing to let his best general die permanently.

1 Hopper

Hopper is Perrin’s wolf companion who is killed by Geofram Bornhald in The Wheel of Time season 2 finale after Hopper attacks Eamon Valda and saves Perrin’s life. Hopper is killed by White Cloaks in the book series as well, but it happens long before the story reaches Falme, and it is not done by Bornhald. Hopper’s death is important to Perrin, however, because Hopper becomes his guide in Tel’aran’rhiod after dying. Hopper will likely pick up this role in the show as well, though it’s possible Elyas will teach him instead.