Sammael’s surprise death reignites speculation that Asmodean will take the final spot in The Wheel of Time’s Forsaken lineup. In an unexpected turn of events, Sammael launched an attack on Rand in the Aiel Waste, upending his entire storyline in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time books. As a result of his defeat, Sammael was abruptly murdered by one of his fellow Chosen, Moghedien.
Sammael’s death in The Wheel of Time season 3 finale ran contrary to his fate in the source material. After conquering Illian, Sammael had a dramatic showdown with Rand at Shadar Logoth in the pages of A Crown of Swords, the seventh book in the series. That battle has since been taken off the table, but in killing off Sammael, the series has revived a theory pertaining to a different member of the Forsaken. Asmodean has yet to be mentioned, so there was good reason to suspect he’d been cut, but after the events of the finale, it’s clear that his role in the books is still relevant.
The Wheel Of Time Pretended To Replace Asmodean With Sammael
The Show Made Sammael’s Death More Shocking By Suggesting He Would Get Asmodean’s Story
The Shadow Rising, the book season 3 is primarily based on, concludes with a battle between Rand and the Forsaken known as Asmodean in the Aiel city of Rhudiean. Rand’s victory results in Asmodean’s capture and shielding. At Lanfear’s suggestion, Rand opted against killing him, choosing instead to force Asmodean to be his instructor in the One Power. Although it was his duty as a member of the Chosen to fight Rand to the end, he had no choice but to relent, allowing him to fill the role of Rand’s teacher in the book’s sequel, The Fires of Heaven.
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The Wheel of Time appeared to be positioning Sammael to take his place in the season finale. The first hint of that emerged when The Wheel of Time pitted Sammael against Rand, even though the former’s book counterpart never attacked him personally until A Crown of Swords. The show made the setup all the more obvious when Moiraine Damodred gave voice to the possibility of Sammael teaching Rand. This was the clearest sign yet that the series had tapped Sammael to replace Asmodean as the Forsaken prisoner who becomes a reluctant guide to the Dragon Reborn.
While The Wheel of Time didn’t give Asmodean’s arc to Sammael, it did give a small portion of his story to Lanfear. In The Shadow Rising, it was Asmodean – and not Lanfear – that branded Couladin with the golden dragon tattoos on his arms.
Of course, it turned out to be a massive fakeout. Just when it seemed that Sammael would survive and, in turn, become a major part of The Wheel of Time’s fourth season, the show revealed that it had no intention of keeping Sammael around. In fact, it killed him off rather unceremoniously, not only proving that Sammael won’t be getting his book story, but he won’t be getting Asmodean’s either.
Moiraine’s Plan For Rand Makes Asmodean More Likely For Season 4
It’s Confirmed That A Suitable Teacher Is Being Sought For Rand
Instead of writing out Asmodean as the show had previously implied would happen, The Wheel of Time actually supported theories of his inclusion. With Moiraine expressing interest in Sammael becoming Rand’s teacher, the show has acknowledged the need for Rand to find a mentor in The Wheel of Time that’s not Moiraine. She can always provide counsel, but there’s a limit to how much she can help him grow, considering that women can’t teach men how to channel in The Wheel of Time, and vice versa.
Moghedhien threw cold water on Moiraine’s plan, but it’s unlikely this is the last time such an idea will be discussed in the series. It makes sense that they’ll circle back to it when another opportunity arises, which may very well occur if Asmodean appears in The Wheel of Time’s fourth season. This could give Moiraine another chance to ensure Rand receives proper guidance in wielding saidin.
“Saidin” is the name given to the male of the One Power in The Wheel of Time’s lore. The female half is referred to as “saidar.“
The Wheel of Time toyed with the idea of Logain filling this role in season 2, but ultimately went in another direction there as well. And now, after doing something similar with Sammael, it’s worth wondering if the show’s grand plan from the beginning was for Rand and Moiraine to turn to the very person who served this purpose in the books. If the show did indeed use Sammael and Logain as red herrings, that would help keep the twist of Asmodean teaching Rand from being too predictable.
How Rand Could Meet Asmodean In The Wheel Of Time Season 4
Asmodean Could Attack Rand On His Way To Tear
If Asmodean is the last unidentified member of the Forsaken in The Wheel of Time, season 4 would be the ideal time to introduce him. After all, the series is inching closer and closer to the point in the timeline where Rand creates the Black Tower for the purpose of training other male channelers. Before that can happen, Rand will need to develop a strong grasp on a long list of One Power weaves. One way this can happen is through the plan Lanfear was shown hatching with Rahvin. The two discussed the idea of Rahvin laying a trap for Rand at the Stone of Tear, which could be where Asmodean comes into play.
The first nod to Asmodean’s potential inclusion in The Wheel of Time came when the show featured statues of the Forsaken in season 1’s fifth episode. One of the statues was holding a guitar, which is a clear homage to Asmodean’s appreciation for music in the books.
The Forsaken meeting in the third episode confirmed that Rahvin has been in contact with at least two other Chosen, Semirhage and Graendal. If this includes Asmodean, Rahvin could convince him to go to Tear and battle Rand. Rahvin himself going seems unlikely, considering that he prepares to manipulate events from behind-the-scenes and avoid putting himself in harm’s way. But at the time, a Forsaken ambushing Rand at the Stone of Tear has a good chance of happening, since Ishamael and Be’lal fighting him over Callandor is a key part of The Dragon Reborn.
The series could see Rand meet “Jasin Natael” and the other peddlers on the way to his next destination
Alternatively, The Wheel of Time could pull from a key event in The Shadow Rising that the TV series skipped over. On their way to Alcair Dal where Rand proclaimed himself the Car’a’carn, the main characters crossed paths with a traveling group of peddlers that included Asmodean, who had disguised himself as a gleeman named Jasin Natael. The series could see Rand meet “Jasin Natael” and the other peddlers on the way to his next destination, or perhaps drop Asmodean into the story in a more surprising fashion by giving him a completely new alter ego that the characters and viewers alike won’t see coming.
