Ishamael (Old Tongue for Betrayer of Hope) is a character in The Wheel of Time television series portrayed by Fares Fares.
Ishamael is one of the Forsaken, a legendary channeler from the Age of Legends who is revered by the Shadow, and is considered the strongest lieutenant of the Dark One.[1]
When he first influences events in the Third Age, he appears as a mysterious scarred figure with burning eyes who visits the dreams of Rand al'Thor, Egwene al'Vere, Perrin Aybara, and Mat Cauthon.[2] He later appears to Rand and Moiraine in the Blight, and they perceive him as the human embodiment of the Dark One.[3] However, after his apparent defeat at the Eye of the World, Moiraine comes to understand that she and Rand did not in fact defeat the Dark One, but instead set free the most infamous of the Forsaken.[1]
History[]
Age of Legends[]
In the Age of Legends, Ishamael fought Lews Therin Telamon at what is now known as the Eye of the World. Lews Therin defeated him and sealed him away.[4]
Season 1[]
Ishamael appears as a scarred, burning figure in nightmares.
Shortly after leaving the Two Rivers, Ishamael begins to appear in some of the characters' dreams. Rand al'Thor, Mat Cauthon, Perrin Aybara, and Egwene al'Vere all see him in a dream with bats. His skin appears deeply burned and there's fire where his eyes would be.[5] Perrin has a dream that he's back at the Forge and he goes looking for Laila, and Ishamael is behind him.[6] Rand has a dream that he's walking through the Two Rivers; he sees Perrin hammering at Laila's body, Mat walking with blood on his hands, and Egwene calling to him. As Egwene screams for him, Ishamael grabs her from behind, and Rand wakes up.[7]
When Rand and Moiraine enter the Blight heading for the Eye of the World, Rand briefly falls asleep when they stop to rest, and Ishamael visits him. In the dream, Ishamael stabs Moiraine, killing her. Rand shoots Ishamael in the eye with an arrow, and Ishamael pushes the arrow deeper into his skull, pulling his burned skin along with it, revealing his more normal appearance. He tries to have a conversation with Rand, calling him Lews Therin, and asking him to sit down. Rand pulls his sword on him, and Ishamael comments on the heron on the blade, possibly impressed. Rand realizes they're in a dream, and to get out of it, he stabs himself through the stomach with his sword, waking. Rand tells Moiraine that the Dark One appeared to him, but he doesn't believe a word the Dark One said.[8]
Rand remembers fighting "The Dark One" in his past life
When Rand and Moiraine reach the Eye, Rand has vague memories of the place. He tells Moiraine that he fought the Dark One here, but that the Dark One looked like a man, and in his memory he sees Ishamael. When Rand touches a stone seal on the floor, Ishamael pulls him into a dream fantasy, showing him an ideal life that Rand could have. In the waking world, Ishamael appears before Moiraine. He shields her, and ties a knot with the one power in his hand,[9] leaving her unable to touch the One Power. He continues to speak with Moiraine in the waking world while speaking with Rand in the fantasy. He tells Rand that the ideal life with Egwene and a child could be real, and Rand has the ability to make it happen. Rand asks him how, and Ishamael explains. Rand begins to channel, but instead of channeling to make the fantasy a reality, he wakes and channels to defeat Ishamael. He apparently does so, with Ishamael disappearing with Rand's channeling.[8]
Season 2[]
Despite his apparent defeat at the Eye of the World, Ishamael has in fact now been set free.
Ishamael meets with several servants of the Shadow in Tel'aran'rhiod, including Padan Fain. The group begins discussing Rand being the Dragon Reborn, but are interrupted by Niko, the daughter of a Tuatha'an Darkfriend. Ishamael notices that the girl is likely scared of a "monster," and states that he too has been called names by many people. He lets the girl pet a Trolloc, and tells her that she has nothing to fear about Shadowspawn.[10]
Legacy[]
In Breen's Spring, Dana mentions Ishamael, noting that his name endures as a man who brought the Dragon to the Shadow 3000 years earlier, and believing that she will receive the same glory after finding Rand al'Thor and Mat Cauthon.[11]
When Stepin is struggling after Kerene Nagashi's death, he makes offerings to ward off the Forsaken, specifically Ishamael, the "father of lies", because he needs to see clearly. Lan comments that not many people still make such offerings, indicating that this has been a regular practice in the Westlands.[12]
Physical appearance[]
When Ishamael first appears in dreams, he is heavily scarred. His eyes are missing, and instead fire burns there, which is also seen when he opens his mouth.
As a man, Ishamael is a tall middle-aged man with fair skin, dark brown hair, and brown eyes. He wears a black jacket, a white shirt, and black pants in a style from the Age of Legends.
Appearances[]
Ishamael appears in the following episodes:
| The Wheel of Time appearances | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 episodes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | m | m | ✔ | ||
| Season 2 episodes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Quotes[]
The last time someone brought the Dragon to the Dark One, we still remember his name three thousand years on. Ishamael.
I fought someone here. The Dark One. But it looked like a man.
Rand recalling memories from his previous life[8]
Gallery[]
Season 1 images[]
Season 2 images[]
Changes from the book series[]
Ishamael is an adaptation of the character of the same name 
(book spoilers!) from the book series.
Trivia[]
- The short film Winter Dragon by Red Eagle Entertainment (considered non-canonical for the television series) introduced Ishamael. He was portrayed by Billy Zane.
[]
| Characters |
|---|
        Padan Fain • Liandrin Guirale • Alanna Mosvani • Logain Ablar • Maksim • Ihvon • Min Farshaw • Loial • Siuan Sanche • Leane Sharif • Ishamael • Verin Mathwin • Selene • Anvaere Damodred • Dain Bornhald • Aviendha • Gitara Moroso • Moghedien • Season 1 characters • Season 2 characters • see all |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Wheel of Time, season 2 episode 2: Strangers and Friends.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 1 episode 2: Shadow's Waiting.
- ↑ Rand and Moiraine both refer to him as the Dark One in The Wheel of Time, season 1 episode 8: The Eye of the World.
- ↑ Rand has a vague memory of fighting him there, believing him to be the Dark One, in The Wheel of Time, season 1 episode 8: The Eye of the World.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 1 episode 2: Shadow's Waiting.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 1 episode 3: A Place of Safety.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 1 episode 4: The Dragon Reborn.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The Wheel of Time, season 1 episode 8: The Eye of the World.
- ↑ Official audio description for episode 8 describes it this way.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 2 episode 1: A Taste of Solitude.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 1 episode 3: A Place of Safety.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 1 episode 5: Blood Calls Blood.