The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 4 Review: The Road to the Spear

The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 4, “The Road to the Spear,” is a phenomenal hour of television that focuses on Rand and Moiriane’s journey in Rhuidean.

While “The Road to the Spear” primarily provides us with a history lesson and some character studies, it is no less captivating than an action-packed episode, which speaks to the quality of The Wheel of Time. This is probably my favorite episode of the series so far.

In the past, the show has struggled with the pacing of its multiple storylines, oftentimes cutting away from key moments in one to jump to a less exciting part of another.

There was this fear watching “The Road to the Spear” that our time in Rhuidean would be cut short, and we’d find ourselves back in the Two Rivers or the White Tower.

Miraculously, The Wheel of Time keeps us in Rhuidean for the entire episode; we don’t shift focus to any other storyline.

Like Rand and Moiraine, we aren’t allowed to escape Rhuidean. We must endure what we’re shown in order to make it out of the trial. There’s no reprieve, except when we cut away to Lan and Egwene and wait to learn if Moiraine will survive.

There’s something so interesting in that for women, the trial involves the future, whereas men are given glimpses of their past.

Rand learning about who he is and where he comes from fits in with his journey as the Dragon Reborn. He’s been studying prophecies and the dragon’s history as he tries to figure out the next steps for him. What he learns in Rhuidean gives him even more clarity about who he is.

Josha Stradowski excels at portraying each ancestor, giving each one their distinct personalities while also showing what traits Rand shares with them. It is so cool to see the lives of his ancestors.

Not only do we get a clearer history of the Aiel people through his memories, we also get a look at pre-forsaken Lanfear, Mierin Sedai.

Rand has always been linked to her, just as he has been with Moiraine. Now we have to wait to see what Rand does with this information.

Rand and Moiraine’s relationship is highlighted during “The Road to the Spear,” and their scenes together are fantastic. They have one of my favorite dynamics on the show.

On The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episodes 1-3, Rand pushed back against Moiraine’s recommendations, choosing instead to forge his own path, and we see him even in this episode choosing to spend time and train with Lan instead of her.

He seems to want to rely on her more, as evident in the conversation they have the night before they journey to Rhuidean. He wants to trust her, but he can’t.

This isn’t new information for us, but allowing them to have that honest conversation and then follow it up with Rand waiting for Moiraine to come through her trial in Rhuidean speaks volumes about their relationship.

Rand is acknowledging that the two of them are in it together, whether he likes it or not, and that he even harbors some love for her. The Wheel of Time Season 3 has shown so much care in portraying Rand and Moiraine’s relationship so far, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the season has in store for them.

Stray Thoughts

• Lan and Aviendha’s sparring is insanely cool.
• Moiraine has a surprising amount of weapons on her, and I love her for it.
• Egwene and Lan should have more one-on-one scenes together.
• I wonder what Aviendha saw in the ring.
• Anyone else getting Star Wars vibes from some of Rand’s earlier ancestors’ memories?

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New episodes of The Wheel of Time Season 3 air on Thursdays on Prime Video.

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