Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 7.
The Wheel of TimeSeason 3 previously revealed the connection between the Aiel and the Tuatha’an as Rand (Josha Stradowski) learnedthe little-known history of the Aielin Rhuidean. Despite their connection, the Aiel have played a substantial role in the season, while the Tuatha’an have not appeared since Season 1 — that is, untilSeason 3, Episode 7, “Goldeneyes,“when the Tinkers seek refuge from the trollocs in the Two Rivers. Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) allows them in, reuniting with Ila (Maria Doyle Kennedy) and Aram (Daryl McCormack), whom he met shortly after he first left home. They reveal that before they reached relative safety inside the walls, they encountered the trolloc army. Yet, even in the escalating conflict, the Tuatha’an stay true to their beliefs,keeping the Way of the Leaf rather than fighting alongside the villagers. However, not every member of the group feels the same way.
Aram has been having a particularly hard time after the recent death of his grandfather, and when he reaches the Two Rivers, he seems to be doubting his convictions. Despite being raised to follow the Way of the Leaf, Aram harbors a growing anger as he sees people he cares about getting killed. Yet, true to his lifestyle, Aram stays out of the battle with the rest of the Tuatha’an, caring for the children instead of fighting. However, when it comes down to a life-or-death decision, Aram abandons the Way of the Leaf. Ironically and tragically,Aram’s story echoes the history of the Aiel, whichRand saw through the eyes of his ancestors, and Aram’s life will never be the same because of this single choice.
Aram Makes the Same Choice as Rand’s Ancestor Lewin in ‘The Wheel of Time’
Despite his frustration, Aram stays with his people, hiding until the enemy, disguised asWhitecloaks, makes it inside the Two Rivers. Then, the children and the Tuatha’an flee. Aram carries a baby with him as he runs, only to be followed by a trolloc. Cornered, Aram grabs a weapon and kills the trolloc before it can kill them.This one action goes against everything he once believed and uproots his life, as he has broken the Way of the Leaf, despite saving himself and the baby in the process. For Aram, the Way of the Leaf is the only life he has known, and rejecting that peace is no simple choice. After the death of his grandfather, he is the only family Ila has left, and though he survived this encounter, he is no longer part of the Tuatha’an, as her disapproval makes very clear.
Aram’s choice is reminiscent of a scene in thebest episode of the seriesto date. InSeason 3, Episode 4, “The Road to the Spear,“one of Rand’s ancestors, Lewin (Josha Stradowski), made a similar choice. Despite having grown up following the Way of the Leaf, Lewin and his friends find the raiders who abducted Lewin’s sister, planning to free her and run. However, they are discovered and attacked. In the end, they choose to fight back, killing the raiders and forgoing the Way of the Leaf. When they return home, the Jenn Aiel reject them, with Lewin’s own mother refusing to look at his face. Lewin and Aram may be separated by many years, butthey have very similar stories as both made a desperate decision in a dangerous situationand will spend the rest of their lives cast out because of it.
“It Was Weeks of Night Shoots and Just Absolute Chaos”: ‘The Wheel of Time’s Marcus Rutherford Breaks Down Season 3’s Epic Two Rivers Battle and Which Book Scenes He Fought For
Rutherford also discusses Perrin’s relationships with Faile and Dain, which actor is the show’s “unsung hero,” and more.
Aram’s Future May Follow Lewin’s Story in ‘The Wheel of Time’
Aram’s decision has a major fallout for him as he is cast out of his society and sent away from everything he knows, having to start a new life. It’s a harsh consequence of an action that, in any other society, would be considered heroic. After all, Aram not only saved his own life but that of a child as well. Similarly to Aram, Lewin did what he did to rescue his sister, but even so, became an outcast, leading to a division within the Aiel. However,Aram does not need to start a new society because he has allies who will accept himregardless of his choice.Egwene’s (Madeleine Madden)mother, Marin al’Vere (Rina Mahoney), offers Aram a place in the Two Rivers, which is in need of a blacksmith, considering Perrin has moved on to other things. This gives Aram a place to start over, but that doesn’t mean his life won’t continue to reflect Lewin’s.
What’s interesting about the Aiel descending from the Jenn Aiel is the fact thatAiel cultureis so unlike the Way of the Leaf. Though Lewin rejects the sword as a weapon, the Aiel become well-known for their spears and skill at warfare. In this way, Aram’s future will be similar, at least if he follows his character arcfrom the booksin which he becomes an enthusiastic swordsman. Despite their past,the Aiel devote themselves to weapons and war, and now that he no longer follows the Way of the Leaf, Aram could do the same.
Lewin and Aram’s Tragic Stories Reflect How Difficult It Is To Live by the Way of the Leaf
The tragic twistin both Lewin’s and Aram’s stories showsthe extreme nature of living by the Way of the Leaf. Neither set out to commit acts of violence for fun, but chose fighting back over death. While peace is admirable, self-defense (against a monster in Aram’s case) is more than justifiable. However, like Lewin, Aram’s family rejects him quickly. His experience shows both the struggle of the Tuatha’an as they cling to peace and the danger that their ways represent. Aram may have lost his way of life, but his choice to fight back is the only reason he is alive, and whether the Tuatha’an acknowledges it or not, it was a brave choice to save a life. Aram doesn’t deserve to be an outcast for that. However, due to their rigid expectations, Aram did break the Way of the Leaf.
As history repeats itself in Aram, the implication is thatthe Way of the Leaf is too hard to follow in a world that doesn’t respect it.Both Aram and Lewin don’t intend to fight back but do so in hopes of saving their lives and someone else’s. The fact is that the world is a violent place, and it is impossible to remain dedicated to peace and still survive.
The Season 3 finale ofThe Wheel of Timepremieres Thursday on Prime Video.
The Wheel of Time
