Summary
It’s an epic episode that ties up the season’s major plotlines and brings the leads together for a final battle with the strongest Forsaken.
Aptly titled “What Was Meant to Be,” The Wheel of Time Season 2 finale reunites all five friends from the Two Rivers as they face off against Ishamael. Episode 8 offers a satisfying end to what’s been a brilliant second season of the high fantasy series. It’s no wonder Prime Video chose to renew the show. We detail as much as possible in this recap, which contains major spoilers for the ending of The Wheel of Time Season 2.
Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) and Lan (Daniel Henney) spend most of the episode on a long walk on the beach while Rand (Josha Stradowski) goes after Egwene’s (Madeleine Madden) captors. As White Cloaks attack Falme, Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) and Elayne’s (Ceara Coveney) plan to save Egwene fails miserably, Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) loses his best friend, and Mat (Dónal Finn) discovers new strength from within. Speaking of Egwene, she didn’t need anyone to save her. But she does make a decision sure to haunt her in the future.
It’s an epic episode that ties up the season’s major plotlines and brings the leads together for a final battle with the strongest Forsaken. It will be interesting to see where the show goes from here.
The Wheel of Time Season 2 Episode 8 Recap and Breakdown
The season finale starts with a glimpse into 3,000 years prior when then-Dragon Lews sealed off poor Ishmael. All the charismatic Forsaken ever wanted was to stop the Wheel from turning and end the world for good. It’s not that unreasonable, is it?
In the present-day The Wheel of Time, the White Cloaks, including Dain Bornhald and Eamon Valda, are planning an attack on Falme to help overthrow the Seanchan invaders.
Through the Ways, Lanfear leads Moiraine and Lan to the Waysgate to Falme and throws them out while keeping Rand behind. Moiraine and Lan have to take the long way into the city across a beautiful beach.
Lanfear claims she knows of a faster route into the city but doesn’t want Moiraine and Lan as “dead weight.” Outraged at first, Rand agrees to follow Lanfear after she gives him a touching speech where she states she’s the only one who truly cares for him.
Perrin and his three warrior friends arrive in Falme. Out of all the five from the Two Rivers, Perrin is the only one showing up for the finale with highly skilled fighters to take on the Seanchan and Ishamael.
Ishamael is surprised by Lanfear in his bedroom. She claims she’s about to betray Rand and get him to join the dark. But Ishamael doesn’t believe her.
The White Cloaks commence their attack. As Nyneave and Elayne are planning to use their captive to sneak into the kennels, Renna prepares Egwene for battle against the White Cloaks. She threatens to cut off Egwene’s tongue if she fails to obey in battle, instead, she takes something even more valuable; her braid.
Convinced Lanfear betrayed him (she is duplicitous), Ishamael orders Padan Fain to offer Mat the cursed dagger he’s supposed to murder Rand with. Ishamael doesn’t think Rand is ready to turn to the Dark, so he plans on waiting until the next life to achieve his goals.
Instead of directly touching the dagger, Mat cleverly ties it to a cane and uses it to escape his captors.
Nynaeve tortures the captured sul’dam for information on Egwene’s whereabouts. However, Nynaeve and Elayne don’t make it far; a stray arrow kills their captive.
Elayne is hit in the leg, and Nynaeve spends most of the episode trying and failing to use the One Power to heal her.
Moiraine and Lan restoring their bond
While stuck on the scenic route to Falme, Moiraine and Lan share a touching moment, and he convinces her to finally reinstate their bond.
In the chaos, Perrin reunites with Loial (who has retrieved the Horn). They all head towards the tower to save Egwene. On the way, they’re intercepted by Seanchan warriors and Ingtar bravely dies during battle.
Rand also makes his way to the tower and effortlessly kills the High Lord Turak and his guards.
During the battle, Egwene refuses to continue using her powers against the attackers. As Renna is about to instill some discipline in Egwene, a catapult projectile hits the tower.
Most of the sul’dam and damane are either dead or gravely injured, apart from Renna and Egwene.
Who rescues Egwene?
Egwene rescues herself by placing the collar on Renna and gaining her freedom after torturing her captor. It turns out that the sul’dam are also women who can channel, but their link to the One Power is too weak for them to become damane.
She then makes good on her promise and kills Renna as she begs for mercy.
There’s little time to contemplate the murder as Rand appears and he and Egwene are briefly reunited. Then Ishamael shows up, and neither Egwene nor Rand is a match for him.
The damane on the boat led by Suroth shield Rand’s powers and prepare to gentle him. But Ishamael gives turning the Dragon to the Dark one last shot as he doesn’t want to wait for the next life.
On the battleground, Mat heads to find Rand and give him the Horn, while Perrin continues fighting the Seanchan.
In this season’s most gut-wrenching death, Hopper the wolf dies protecting Perrin from the deranged While Cloak Eamon. Dain’s father murders Hopper, so an enraged Perrin kills him in retaliation.
Why does Mat blow the Horn?
Surrounded by Seanchan warriors, Mat has no choice but to blow the Horn. It briefly slows down time and summons the heroes of the Horn, including Shienaran soldier Uno Nomesta. Mat leads them into battle. He also claims to remember having done so many times in his past lives.
Up on the tower, Mat tries to hit Ishamael with the dagger from behind. But Ishamael was using an illusion, and Mat accidentally stabs Rand.
The Wheel of Time Season 2 Ending Explained
Ishamael apologizes to Rand for having to kill him, but Egwene shows up stronger than ever, shielding her friends from the Forsaken. Perrin and Nynaeve arrive with Elayne, who heals Rand’s wound.
Moiraine uses her weaves to blow up Suroth’s ship, releasing Rand from his shield.
Fully restored to power, Rand kills Ishamael. As he’s dying, the Forsaken seems happy to finally see “nothing at all.”
As the prophecy foretold, Moiraine uses her powers and proclaims Rand as the Dragon. Everyone in the city of Falme rejoices, including Lanfear.
Where are the other Forsaken?
Lanfear was planning on placing all the sealed Forsaken at the bottom of the ocean. Unfortunately for her, Ishamael decided to release them all instead.
We meet the Forsaken Moghedien, who warns Lanfear to stay away from Rand and the Two Rivers friends as they have plans for them.
The season ends with Lanfear vowing to protect Rand against this new threat.
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