In Review: The Wheel of Time (S3 – EP8) He Who Comes With The Dawn

Synopsis: In He Who Comes With The Dawn, Nynaeve, Elayne, Mat, and Min confront the Black Ajah and their futures. Moiraine and Lan prepare to face their fate. Rand and Egwene set their destinies in motion.

The Story

It all kicks off in this season finale with the powerful convergence of character arcs, political upheaval, and escalating cosmic stakes, setting the stage for Season 4.

A Final Twist of the Knife in Tar Valan

The power struggle in Tar Valan escalates as Elaida continues her campaign against Siuan Sanche. The episode opens with a flashback to Elaida’s visit to the Aelfinn through a redstone doorway, where she sought confirmation of her destiny. Despite her ambitions, it’s Siuan who is elected Amyrlin Seat.

In the present, Elaida has everything in place and orchestrates a coup by tricking Verin and other supporters into leaving the White Tower. With the opposition out of the way, she stages a clandestine meeting to depose Siuan. Labeling her a Darkfriend, Elaida has Siuan stilled—severed from the One Power—before she can even defend herself.

Rand’s Ascension

Rand al’Thor steps into his destiny as the Car’a’carn, fulfilling the ancient Aiel prophecy. At Alcair Dal, both Rand and Couladin lay claim to the title, creating tension between the clans. When Rand makes his declaration, the skies darken ominously, unsettling allies like Egwene and hinting at the greater turmoil to come.

All of this is juxtaposed with Moiraine doing battle with Lanfear in a desperate effort to protect Rand.

Forsaken Intrigue and Betrayals

Moghedien’s ambition knows no bounds as the internal power struggles among the Forsaken heat up. She kills Sammael, removing a rival and underscoring the deadly dynamics among the Chosen. Meanwhile, Liandrin—now fully committed to the Shadow—aligns herself with Moghedien, forming a dangerous alliance that threatens the fragile balance of power.

Mat’s Otherworldly Encounter

Mat’s journey takes a strange turn when he accidentally crosses into another dimension and encounters the Eelfinn—fox-like creatures who grant wishes, but always at a price. It’s a pivotal moment for book fans and an intriguing development for newcomers. The Eelfinn’s debut is cleverly designed to emphasize their alien, otherworldly nature, marking the show’s bold shift into more cosmic territory.

The Acting

He Who Comes With The Dawn is packed with some brilliant acting from the entire cast. A highlight for me is the stirring speech of defiance that Siuan Sanche (Sophie Okonedo) makes before Elaida (Shohreh Aghdashloo) sees her off once and for all. This scene is brilliantly juxtaposed with Moiraine’s battle with Lanfear. 

Josha Stradowski also rises to the occasion as we see Rand take his power and give a rousing speech to the clans in the hopes of uniting them all under him for the forthcoming battles.

Overall

“He Who Comes With The Dawn” is a compelling season finale that’s bound to keep fans talking for months. With its bold choices—including some major deviations from the source material—the episode has already sparked plenty of discussion and paves the way for an expansive and unpredictable Season 4.

Our previous reviews of The Wheel of Time can be found here.