The Wheel of Time season 3 is on the horizon, with new episodes confirmed to be released on Prime Video on March 13th, 2025. This epic fantasy drama has been a mainstay of Prime’s speculative fiction content since it premiered in 2021, and a large part of this is thanks to the source material. Robert Jordan’s original books, which span fourteen total novels and one prequel, have been highly influential within fantasy spheres, and it’s been important for the show to be as book-accurate as possible to please both critics and fans.

The book events in The Wheel of Time season 3 were teased in the recently released trailer, and it looks like some big changes have been made. Change is necessary for a book-to-screen adaptation, especially when there’s so much ground to cover, especially in an epic saga like The Wheel of Time. Though the television format allows for more individual storylines to be brought to life and helps mitigate character omissions, it’s not always perfect. Since The Wheel of Time seems to be speeding up the adaptation, there will be some cuts in the coming season.

Wheel Of Time’s Season 3 Story Is Bad News For Juilin Sandar & Berelain’s TV Show Debuts

These two characters might not appear in season 3

The Wheel of Time season 3 will focus primarily on the events of The Shadow Rising, the fourth book in the series, skipping over book three, The Dragon Reborn. One of the biggest thrusts of The Dragon Reborn involves the characters traveling to Tear, a period in which Rand travels alone, and many of the younger Aes Sedai return to Tar Valon at first, and Juilin Carridin and Berelain are introduced. There are many big beats in The Dragon Reborn that the show would have to retool to fit into the upcoming season.

Already, The Wheel of Time is an enormous ensemble show, and it’s conceivable that the series could get away with cutting these characters without losing plot points to include them in the story.

There are other missing Wheel of Time book characters confirmed to be joining the series later on, like Cadsuane Melaidhrin and Jaichim Carridin. However, it’s still uncertain how Juilin or Berelain could be part of the series without the characters journeying to Tear. Already, The Wheel of Time is an enormous ensemble show, and it’s conceivable that the series could get away with cutting these characters without losing plot points to include them in the story. However, there are some great moments that would be lost.

Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Wheel of Time (2021–Present)
83%
70%

How The Wheel Of Time Can Easily Keep Juilin Sandar (Without Going To Tear)

He’s a character that can translate to other settings

Of the two characters that make their mark on the protagonists in Tear, Juilin could easily be kept in the show. While he’s canonically from Tear, he doesn’t have too many important ties to the setting that would make it impossible for him to be from somewhere else instead. If the series kept him in and made him originate from Tanchico​​​​​​, this wouldn’t alter much about his backstory and allow him to be in the show. Since Juilin is supposed to meet Elayne and Nynaeve separately, it follows that he could be from there within the series canon.

Since it seems that the quest to Tear is going to be cut out completely, it would be a shame to lose Juilin just because that arc is when he’s first introduced to the characters and audiences. In the series, Juilin doesn’t have the biggest role in The Dragon Reborn, but there are a few moments of character development that couldn’t happen without him. Finding a way to keep Juilin in without complicating the timeline too much would allow The Wheel of Time to hit all its marks and incorporate a fun new character into the story.

Why Berelain Is More Likely To Be Cut Than Juilin Sandar

She doesn’t fulfill as important a role

Unlike Juilin, a thief-catcher who ends up betraying Elayne and Nynaeve and then redeeming himself, Berelain doesn’t spark as much empathy or interest in the viewer. A large portion of her characterization is the fact that she’s from Mayene, which borders Tear, so having her be from somewhere else wouldn’t make sense for her character. Additionally, most of Berelain’s actions in the narrative revolve around her attempts to seduce Perrin, resulting in the development of a love triangle between her, Perrin, and Faile. Overall, this dramatic angle is a bit pointless and doesn’t elevate any plot points.

Though ​​​​​​​The Wheel of Time season 3 could’ve taken its time and included both Berelain and Juilin, if the series has to pick one character, they should bring Juilin to life. He’s given more rich development and has an interesting dynamic with the main characters. Conversely, Berelain is treated as something of an afterthought by both the book and the other characters. Even if The Wheel of Time was adapting The Dragon Reborn, the TV show would have to think of additional plot lines for Berelain.