Warning: this article contains spoilers for season 3, episode 7 of The Wheel of Time.The latest episode ofThe Wheel of Timewas full of some colossally significant moments, including a major character death that may have turned me off the show. Indeed, showrunner Rafe Judkins seems particularly determined this season to double down on changing details fromThe Wheel of Timebook seriesin order to tell his own version of the events leading up to Tarmon Gai’don.
While we have yet to see some of the consequences of these changes, such as how the show appears to besetting Perrin up to skip his story aheadby several books, there’s one change that I have to admit I’m happy to see. Eamon Valda, Questioner of the Children of the Light and notorious sadist, got his karmic due at the hands of Mat Cauthon’s younger sisters as repayment for his atrocities. He tortured and murdered her for supposedly being able to channel the One Power, soBode and Eldrin burned him alive with the very same Power.
How Eamon Valda’s Death Scene Compares The Books
Valda’s Book Death Is Brutal
In the original books, Eamon Valda is a much less pivotal character, and doesn’t even appear until the sixth book,Lord of Chaos. In fact, he isn’t even a Questioner in the books, but instead is a member of the Council of the Anointed, the inner circle of the Whitecloaks. Eventually,Valda rises to the rank of Lord Captain Commander of the Children, although he doesn’t keep it for long.
The fight is brutal, but ends with Galad victorious, having not only revenged himself on his mother’s torturer, but also earned the rank of Lord Captain Commander for himself.
Eamon’s death in the bookscomes at Galad Damodred’s hands, who learned that Valda was responsible for torturing, sexually assaulting, and supposedly killing his mother,Queen Morgase Trakand of Andor. Galad, himself a high-ranking Whitecloak at this point in the story, calls Valda out in front of the Children under his command and challenges him to a Trial Under the Light – an ancient and sacred form of trial by combat. The fight is brutal, but ends with Galad victorious, having not only revenged himself on his mother’s torturer, but also earned the rank of Lord Captain Commander for himself.
While Valda may no longer be alive to continue his particular brand of sadism, and while Galad has gotten relatively little screen time so far this season, there’s still plenty of time for another prominent Whitecloak to slither his way into the spotlight. Morgase being at Valda’s mercy in the books came as the culmination of months of trauma as she was firstground down by the Forsaken Rahvin, then dethroned and left destitute. Then, finally, Valda had his way with her when she was at her lowest.
Season 3 ofThe Wheel of Timeundoubtedly still has some surprises to throw at us, and those may well involve seeing more of Galad, who may even join the Children of the Light by the end. That’s his next major beat in the books, and it would make sense for him to continue onward. Whether that will still end with him becoming Lord Captain Commander and taking control of the Children of the Light in time to lead them at the Last Battle is a question that can only be answered inWheel of Timeseason 4 – if it happens.
