Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 5.
The Wheel of Timebegins with five seemingly ordinary characters leaving their home, but three seasons later,all have turned out to be exceptionally and uniquely powerful. Rand (Josha Stradowski) is the Dragon Reborn and the Car’a’carn, Mat (Dónal Finn) sounded theHorn of Valere, Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) isa wolfbrother, Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) is the most powerful channeler in the White Tower (despite her current block), and Egwene (Madeleine Madden), as she has recently discovered, is a Dreamwalker.
Dreamwalkers have an awareness and control ofTel’aran’rhiod, the dream world, that most don’t.Originally unaware of her power, Egwene has been struggling with dreams that are all too real and often leave their mark on her when she wakes. Because of the rarity of Dreamwalkers, the Aes Sedai have largely forgotten the ability, making Egwene’s strange dreams a mystery to be solved. InSeason 3, Episode 5, “Tel’aran’rhiod,“Egwene begins training with the Aiel Wise Ones to understand her newfound ability.
Although Egwene’s experience highlights Dreamwalking more extensively, it isn’t entirely new to the series. The show previously introduced Tel’aran’rhiod by showing the Forsaken meeting there and, of course,Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe)has used her mastery of it to her advantage as she manipulates Rand. Throughout Season 3, she has continued to appear to him in his dreams, but Egwene’s experience is less smooth. Having learned to navigate Tel’aran’rhiod in the Age of Legends, when such things were less mysterious, Lanfear is proficient in Dreamwalking, while Egwene is still figuring out what she can do. Yet, as Egwene learns to control her rare ability,The Wheel of Timeshows how it can be a useful, if dangerous, tool.
What is Dreamwalking in ‘The Wheel of Time’?
Dreamwalking incorporates several abilities, includinga person controlling their own dreams, entering Tel’aran’rhiod at will, and visiting the dreams of others. When Egwene intentionally enters Tel’aran’rhiod for the first time, she is surprised at how much it looks like the real world, only quiet and empty. She can go anywhere she wants, simply by willing it, and she can change her appearance, controlling her clothing with a simple thought.While not all dreams are in Tel’aran’rhiod, anyone can slip into the dream world briefly as they sleep. Dreamwalkers witness this, as ghost-like figures constantly appear and disappear in Tel’aran’rhiod, yet Dreamwalkers are fully present and solid. This, and their ability to watch the dreams of others, makes Dreamwalkers unique.
However, Dreamwalking also has its risks. What a Dreamwalker experiences in their dreams, they also feel in life. Egwene’s dreams are invaded by Lanfear, who torments her with the memories ofher time as a Seanchan damane.Season 3, Episode 2, “A Question of Crimson,“shows that these encounters leave bruises. Likewise,if a person dies in their dream, they will die in real life.Because the dangers in Tel’aran’rhiod are real, Egwene must be careful.
Egwene’s training involves her lying on the ground and entering the dreamworld under the watchful eyes of her teachers, who press a pin into a candle that will drop when the wax melts down, its sound pulling Egwene out of Tel’aran’rhiod. While Egwene eagerly takes to her instruction, the Wise Ones discover that she is being chased byone of the Forsakenwho has better control of Tel’aran’rhiod,making Egwene’s ability especially unsafe until she can master it.
Which Characters Are Also Dreamwalkers in ‘The Wheel of Time’?
Dreamwalking is not part of theOne Power,which is a common misconception because they can overlap — Egwene, for instance, is both a powerful channeler and a Dreamwalker. The Aiel Wise One Melaine (Salóme Gunnarsdóttir), on the other hand, cannot channel but is a talented Dreamwalker. While Dreamwalking is rare, it is not unheard of. Like many such abilities, Dreamwalking was more common in the Age of Legends, which explains Lanfear’s skill for it. Other members of the Forsaken have appeared in Tel’aran’hiod, however — like Ishamael (Fares Fares), which proves that Dreamwalking is not limited to women. However, Lanfear has much more control over it than her male counterpart.
In the thousands of years since the Breaking of the World,the Aes Sedaihave largely lost their knowledge of Dreamwalking, but the Aiel are well aware of it. Dreamwalking is not limited tothe Aiel, though they are Egwene’s best hope of understanding her new ability. Dreamwalking is also common enough among Aiel that they have a rule thatall Dreamwalkers must train to become Wise Ones, along with all Aiel women who can channel.
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What Can Dreamwalking Be Used For in ‘The Wheel of Time’?
So far, Egwene’s Dreamwalking has proven more dangerous than helpful, as it gives Lanfear a way to hurt her without anyone else realizing what she is doing. But Tel’aran’rhiod is more than a weapon of hurt and manipulation that Lanfear takes advantage of. Now that Egwene has a better understanding of it, Dreamwalking has the potential to be useful. Not only could she attempt to use Lanfear’s own tricks as they fight her, but there are several applications for Dreamwalking.Egwene could be used to gather information. At the end of Season 3, Episode 5, Egwene visits the dreams of her friends, and while she doesn’t do so to pry into their minds, it does reveal several things about them, showing how much people unconsciously reveal.
Additionally,Tel’aran’rhiod is often used as a form of communication,which is especially useful when characters are either separated or trying to meet in secret. Lanfear and Ishamael meet there inSeason 2, and Lanfear speaks to Rand in the dream world even when she has been warned by Moghedien (Laia Costa) to stay away from him in the real world. Bair (Nukâka Coster-Waldau) also tells Egwene that they regularly pass messages to Wise Ones in other clans via Tel’aran’rhiod. Similarly, in Season 3, Episode 5, Egwene uses her ability to escort Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) toSiuan (Sophie Okonedo), allowing them to meet despite their distance. This becomes increasingly common inthe bookson which the series is based, allowing characters to interact while far away, especially after they find ater’angrealthat allows non-Dreamwalkers into Tel’aran’rhiod. Despite its dangers, Dreamwalking can be extremely useful, making Egwene’s new ability all the more important.
New episodes ofThe Wheel of TimeSeason 3 premiere Thursdays on Prime Video.
