To Race the Shadow is the first episode of season 3 of The Wheel of Time television series, and the seventeenth episode overall. It was written by Justine Juel Gillmer and directed by Ciaran Donnelly. It premiered on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Synopsis[]
Official episode synopsis for To Race the Shadow from Prime Video:
Chaos erupts within the White Tower as our heroes become targets of a new evil.
Official episode synopsis from the studio's press episode guide:
In the Season Three premiere of The Wheel of Time, Siuan confronts Liandrin at the White Tower. Meanwhile, Moiraine, Lan, Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne are strategizing their next move as they attempt to stay one step ahead of the Dark One’s allies. Lanfear and the other Forsaken are secretly plotting, while Egwene gains a revealing glimpse into the future.
Plot summary[]
In the White Tower, Liandrin is brought before the Hall and exposed as a Darkfriend, sparking a massive battle between the Aes Sedai and other Black Ajah who are exposed to defend her. Elsewhere in the Tower, Verin has taken Adeleas and Nyomi to protect the 13th Depository, but Nyomi knocks them out and steals the artifacts. On the streets of Tar Valon, Alanna and her Warders intercept Liandrin and the Black Ajah, but the Black Ajah get away and her Warder Ihvon is killed. Siuan is attacked but saved by Moiraine, and Siuan overcomes Joiya and Amico. Lan arrives at the Hall, finding Nynaeve unconscious, but alive.
Nynaeve later goes to the inn where the others are staying. Rand shares that Moiraine wants him to go to Tear to claim Callandor. Moiraine speaks to them and asks them to keep a low profile in the city. Mat convinces Rand and Perrin to visit a bar with him, where Mat commissions an artist to draw him with the Horn of Valere. Egwene confides in Nynaeve and Elayne about her lingering trauma from being held captive by Renna.
Verin warns Moiraine about the stolen artifacts and questions Moiraine's control of and faith in Rand. Later, Lanfear pushes Moiraine to get Rand to separate from his friends and go to Tear. Moiraine and Lan don't trust her, so Moiraine has Lan retrieve his Malkieri blade.
Siuan visits the inn and tells Elayne to be back in the Tower by morning. She speaks with Egwene and Nynaeve, and Egwene demands to take the Accepted test that day. During the test, she experiences a vision of herself as Amyrlin facing a Rand who's gone mad. She emerges shaken and covered in blood, but she earns her Accepted ring.
That night, Elayne drinks with Mat, Perrin, and Loial. Bain and Chiad join them and play Maiden's Kiss with Mat. Elayne goes upstairs and shares a drink with Aviendha, and they kiss.
That night, the group faces a series of attacks: Rand and Egwene are attacked by doppelgängers emerging from mirrors, Perrin and Loial are attacked by Perrin's animated axe, Mat is entranced by playing cards, and an assassin attacks Nynaeve. Egwene realizes the mirrors must be destroyed to kill the doppelgängers, and Rand does so but briefly struggles to let go of the One Power. Loial saves Chiad from the axe and breaks it. Lan kills the assassin, and Mat snaps out of his trance with the cards. Moiraine heals Nynaeve.
The next morning, Moiraine and Lan confront Lanfear for going too far and nearly killing Nynaeve, but the assassin wasn't Lanfear's doing, and they realize another Forsaken has found them. The group parts ways: Rand heads for the Aiel Waste with Egwene, Moiraine, Lan, and Aviendha; Elayne returns to the Tower, as does Nynaeve to get through her block, and Mat stays with Nynaeve for help with his memories; Perrin heads back to the Two Rivers with Loial, and Bain and Chiad go with Loial because Chiad owes him toh for saving her life. Before leaving, Lan gives Nynaeve his mother's ring.
Elsewhere, the Forsaken Moghedien tortures a Child of the Light, Jaichim, turning him into another Gray Man assassin. She tells him there's someone she needs him to find.
Appearances[]
Cast and characters[]
Starring:
- Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred
- Daniel Henney as Lan Mandragoran
- Zoë Robins as Nynaeve al'Meara
- Madeleine Madden as Egwene al'Vere
- Josha Stradowski as Rand al'Thor
- Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara
- Dónal Finn as Mat Cauthon
- Ceara Coveney as Elayne Trakand
- Sophie Okonedo as Siuan Sanche
- Kate Fleetwood as Liandrin Guirale
- Natasha O'Keeffe as Lanfear
- Priyanka Bose as Alanna Mosvani
- Taylor Napier as Maksim
- Ayoola Smart as Aviendha
- Hammed Animashaun as Loial
- Laia Costa as Moghedien
- Jennifer Cheon Garcia as Leane Sharif
- Meera Syal as Verin Mathwin
Co-starring:
- Ragga Ragnars as Bain
- Maja Simonsen as Chiad
- Clare Dunne as Galina Casban
- Clare-Hope Ashitey as Alviarin Freidhen
- Olivia Popica as Jeaine Caide
- Rachel Denning as Nyomi
- Nila Aalia as Adeleas Mathwin
- Olumide Olorunfemi as Ispan Shefar
- Diêm Camille as Tsutama Rath
- Anthony Kaye as Ihvon
- Mi Hae Lee as Chesmal Emry
- Zenobia Kloppers as Amico Nagoyin
- Joelle as Joiya Byir
- Gulzan Dossanova as Amira Sedai
- Jared Doreck as Jaichim Carridin
Other:
- Jonas, the street artist Mat commissions
Mentioned or referenced characters:
- Renna
- Elnore Jr.
- Queen Morgase Trakand
- Elayne's unnamed ally in Tear
- Lews Therin Telamon
- Ishamael
- Geofram Bornhald (archive footage)
- Previous Wisdom
- Lan's mother
Heroes of the Horn on playing cards
For all characters appearing in season 3, see Season 3/Characters.
Groups[]
- Aes Sedai
- Seven Ajahs
- Black Ajah
- Warders
- Forsaken (mentioned)
Locations[]
Mentioned:
Objects[]
- Horn of Valere
- Arches
- Various objects of power
- Red door frame
- Bracelet
- Dice
- Disc
- Woman figurine
- Callandor (mentioned)
- Rand's heron-mark sword (mentioned)
Events[]
Concepts and Powers[]
- Channeling the One Power
- Prophecies of the Dragon Reborn
- Mat's memories
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- The episode title To Race the Shadow with writer Justine Juel Gillmer were first revealed in October 2023.[1][2]
- Director Ciaran Donnelly was revealed to be returning to direct the episode in February 2023.[3] Donnelly previously directed the last two episodes of season 1.
- The episode takes place one month after the events in the previous episode What Was Meant to Be.
Gallery[]
Promotional stills[]
Videos[]
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| Episodes |
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| Season 1 |
External links[]
To Race the Shadow at the Internet Movie Database
References[]
- ↑ WGA West database, search under Signatory Project Confirmation. Episode title update retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ↑ WGA West Directory: The Wheel of Time. Episode writer update retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ↑ Ciaran Donnelly's CV (archived). Retrieved February 6, 2023.