This article contains spoilers for Wheel of Time episode 6.
Wheel of Time episode 6 rewrote the relationship between Moiraine and Siuan Sanche, the current Amyrlin Seat – and it’s a dramatic improvement on Robert Jordan’s books. The Aes Sedai are essentially the sorceresses of Wheel of Time, women who wield the One Power to achieve great feats. Although the Aes Sedai have sworn a magically binding oath to tell the truth at all times, they have learned to choose their words with care. Wheel of Time episode 6 dove into the politics of the Aes Sedai, with Moiraine confronted by the Amyrlin Seat.
The Amyrlin Seat is the elected ruler of the Aes Sedai, and the current incumbent is Siuan Sanche – a fisherman’s daughter of tremendous power, whose position at the White Tower is currently troubled due to the plotting of Liandrin, a member of Red Ajah. At first, the two seemed antagonistic, but then – in a stunning twist – Wheel of Time episode 4 revealed Moiraine and Siuan Sanche are secretly lovers, and Moiraine is more open to telling Siuan Sanche all about her experiences than anyone else – even her Warder, Lan. Sadly, Aes Sedai politics force the two to arrange Moiraine’s exile, but Moiraine subtly rewords the oath of exile as a declaration of love and unbinding loyalty.
This is a radical departure from Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time books – and a significant improvement, too. In the books, Moiraine and Siuan Sanche are indeed co-conspirators, aware of the Dragon Reborn’s reincarnation and working to prepare for the Last Battle. But Amazon’s Wheel of Time introduces an additional emotional bond between the two, one that makes both Moiraine and Siuan Sanche more than mere sorceresses, but rather complex characters in their own right. They have clearly been lovers for years, with both growing up in Blue Ajah, and they’ve kept their relationship a secret from the White Tower all this time. The love story adds another element of risk to Siuan Sanche’s story as well, because the Amyrlin Seat is supposed to show no favor – meaning she cannot love.
It will be fascinating to see where Wheel of Time takes this plot. Moiraine’s oath secretly swore her allegiance to Siuan Sanche over and above the Aes Sedai and even any successor to Siuan Sanche as Amyrlin Seat; in the books, Siuan Sanche is deposed by Black Ajah, members of the Aes Sedai who have secretly forsaken their oaths and sworn service to the Dark One. This leads to an Aes Sedai civil war at the White Tower, as sister turns against sister, and this has technically been foreshadowed in Wheel of Time episode 6. The Amazon TV series seems to be setting up the same arc.
The Wheel of Time TV show’s approach to Siuan Sanche doesn’t only add a lot more complexity to the character; it also improves representation in the story, which doesn’t exactly have a reputation for diversity. There is now a love story woven into the very heart of Wheel of Time, albeit a forbidden one, and it is a romance that will transform the world. Some viewers have complained that Wheel of Time has rewritten the books quite dramatically, but this particular change is a dramatic improvement.
The Wheel of Time releases new episodes Fridays on Amazon Prime Video.