Warning: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time Season 3, Episode 6
Thom Merrilin has finally returned to The Wheel of Time, a moment eagerly anticipated by fans. Portrayed by Alexandre Willaume, the Andorian gleeman was last seen in Season 1 during a brief encounter with Mat Cauthon in Tanchico. His reappearance in Season 3, Episode 6, raises questions about the duration of his presence, especially given his significant role in Robert Jordan’s literary universe. Fans can be optimistic, as Thom proves to be an invaluable ally to both Rand and Mat.
In Season 1, Thom’s exit came after a fierce confrontation with a Fade, allowing Rand and Mat to escape. This conflict was revisited in Season 3’s “Shadow of the Night,”where he admonished Mat for leaving him behind. Details surrounding Thom’s fate after that incident remain somewhat mysterious, but his acknowledgment of a “cost”associated with aiding Rand and Mat suggests the events of the books are being mirrored in the television adaptation.
Thom’s Severe Injury from the Fade Fight
The Fade Inflicted Serious Wounds on Thom
During his encounter with Mat in the latest episode, Thom recounted the repercussions of his previous assistance to Rand and Mat. In the original novel series, particularly in The Great Hunt, Thom’s injury sustained at Whitebridge during his battle with the Fade is pivotal. Following this conflict, it was revealed that while he managed to heal, he was left with a lasting limp.
This mirrors Thom’s in-show experience; although Willaume’s portrayal doesn’t visually depict a limp, his dialogue suggests he endured substantial harm during his confrontation with the Fade.
Thom’s Journey Post-Fade Encounter in the Books
Thom’s Travels Through Cairhein, Tear, and Caemlyn
The narrative of The Wheel of Time does not immediately explore Thom’s activities following the Whitebridge incident; however, subsequent books like The Great Hunt and The Dragon Reborn elaborate on his path. After his injury, Thom made his way to Cairhein, where he is confirmed to have survived the Fade encounter. Notably, it was here that he supposedly assassinated King Galldrian, although the show has yet to verify this event.
Following his time in Cairhein, Thom traveled to Caemlyn, where he reunited with Mat. This portion of the story connects Thom to Queen Morgase Trakand and references his earlier role as a bard in her court, a detail acknowledged in “Shadow of the Night.”Their adventures continued as they progressed to Tear, culminating at the dramatic moment when Rand claimed Callandor from the Stone of Tear.
Throughout the 14 books in the series, Thom Merrilin is notably absent in only two: A Crown of Swords and The Path of Daggers. This timeline suggests the potential for Thom’s plotline to intersect with the show’s adaptations as Rand’s journey to Tear has been suggested multiple times within the series.
The Absence of Thom in Season 2
Thom’s Role in Season 2 Adaptation
Thom Merrilin’s absence during Season 2 can be attributed to the narrative’s direction and character scheduling conflicts. While the character remained influential in the books, his absence didn’t hinder the Season 2 storyline, given that his contributions during this period weren’t critical to the plot’s advancement. Willaume’s filming commitments for Netflix’s series 1899 coincided with the production of Season 2, creating a notable gap in Thom’s appearances.
However, as seen in the books, Thom’s character reemerges, lending support to Rand during his encounters in Cairhein, before vanishing from the story until The Dragon Reborn—an adaptation yet to be depicted in the current series.
Thom’s Return: Diverging from the Books
Thom’s Planned Journey to Tanchico
With Thom’s earlier absence from the series, the adaptation had to craft a new entry point for his character in Season 3, moving beyond the original source material. In the books, Thom joins Nynaeve and Elayne in their investigation against the Black Ajah in Tanchico, departing from Tear at the behest of Queen Morgase Trakand. However, the TV show depicts him differently, introducing him alongside characters that parallel the book’s ensemble.
The series is yet to portray Juilin Sandar, one of Thom’s notable allies in the Tanchico plotline, while Mat’s character initially journeys with Rand into the Aiel Waste and does not reunite with Thom until much later in the narrative of the book series. Given their strong partnership in the source material, this alteration could lead to a richer and potentially more immediate exploration of their dynamics on screen.