Wheel Of Time’s Forsaken Are So Good They’ve Caused A Massive Villain Problem

Amazon Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time is bursting with interesting characters, so much so that even the show’s villains, the Forsaken, are especially dynamic and engaging, which actually causes a major problem for the big villain that the series has been leading up to all along. The Wheel of Time is a high fantasy television series currently streaming two seasons on Anazom Prime Video. The show is based on a series of books of the same name by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. The Wheel of Time is about the search for the reincarnation of the Dragon, who will either save the world or destroy it.

By now, The Wheel of Time has made it abundantly clear that the show’s ultimate villain is the Dark One. This mysterious figure is not a man but a cosmic force and the very definition of evil. It influences any sentient beings it can to cause the greatest amount of chaos and evil possible. Although the Creator imprisoned the Dark One at the beginning of time, it still works towards its ultimate goal: to recreate the world in its own image. Though The Wheel of Time’s the Dark One clearly poses a major threat, his power may be threatened by the show’s current villains, his followers, the Forsaken.

Wheel Of Time Season 2’s Forsaken Are Tremendous Fantasy Villains

The Forsaken may be the opening act to the Dark One’s world-ending performance, but as it turns out, The Wheel of Time’s Forsaken characters are amazing fantasy villains all on their own. The Forsaken are 13 channelers who are the most powerful and loyal of the Dark One’s followers. During the War of Power, they lead the Shadow Side, and were often referred to as the Chosen because of their immense strength and closeness to the Dark One. While the Forsaken were sealed away with the Dark One, in The Wheel of Time they are beginning to be set free, leaving Rand with many incredibly dangerous enemies to defeat.

What makes the Forsaken such an interesting enemy is their numbers. While villains often have henchmen, the Forsaken are not just a couple of lackeys. There are eight Forsaken in The Wheel of Time, and each one has their own strengths and methods of getting to Rand. Take Lanfear as an example. Although her goal is to kill Rand, she does it in an unexpected way. Lanfear disguises herself and gets close to Rand, going so far as to make him fall in love with her. This move shows that the Forsaken are not simple soldiers or clueless henchmen, but instead, are actual, individual threats.

There is also the mystery of the Forsaken that makes them especially intriguing. So far, The Wheel of Time has only introduced three Forsaken: Ishamael, Lanfear, and Moghedien. This leaves five more that have yet to be revealed. Furthermore, at the end of The Wheel of Time season 2, Ishamael is killed by Rand. In this way, audiences see that it is possible to kill a Forsaken at the same time as realizing that there are a handful of them left, and no two will be the same. Both Rand and the audience are left clueless about what will come next, which increases the show’s tension, anticipation, and therefore, excitement.

Why Wheel Of Time’s Forsaken Are So Compelling

Aside from being dangerous and unexpected, the Forsaken are also great villains because they are compelling. The reason for this is because, in most ways, they are just humans. While the Dark One is a vast, cosmic force that is more god than man, the Forsaken are just channelers with regular bodies and personalities and lives. In turn, this makes them much more relatable to an audience than the Dark One. The Forsaken may be evil, but their individual backstories and desires make them as engaging as any hero The Wheel of Time introduces. Unlike the Dark One, their powers do not keep them from their humanity.

Once again, Lanfear is a prime example of this. Although she is introduced as a threat to Rand, by the end of The Wheel of Time season 2, she is helping him. She betrays her dark origins and chooses to fight for the good side instead. This simple fact proves that the Forsaken are not set in their ways. Lanfear shows that a Forsaken can change their mind and has the free will to do whatever they want, including become good. In this way, the Forsaken are just as susceptible to emotions as any other character, making them an enemy that is dynamic and even more unpredictable than before.

This added aspect of the Forsaken only increases the intrigue around them. If the Forsaken were nothing more than soldiers waiting to be cut down by Rand, they wouldn’t be nearly as exciting. The fact that they have their own minds and desires makes them more unpredictable, but also, more easily persuaded. Lanfear’s switch to the good side means that another Forsaken could also be turned as well, just as Ishamael’s death proves that Rand can in fact kill the Forsaken. All in all, the Forsaken’s humanity makes them more relatable, unexpected, and as a result, very exciting villains.

Can The Dark One Himself Ever Feel As Dangerous As The Forsaken?

It is amazing that the Forsaken have become amazing villains for The Wheel of Time, but what does that mean for the Dark One? The Dark One is supposed to be the end-all-be-all of The Wheel of Time, but if the Forsaken are so unique, they could possibly overshadow it. In some respects, the Forsaken even seem more dangerous than the Dark One because of their aforementioned unpredictability. Whereas the Dark One is evil through and through, the Forsaken are more pliable, more inventive, and therefore, more exciting. In the end, the key to making the Dark One stand out against the Forsaken is boosting its unpredictability as well.

The Dark One will be able to become the ultimate villain of The Wheel of Time if the show proves the villain’s immense power and decision-making. The Dark One is a cosmic force and if the show makes this clear, then it will be even scarier than the Forsaken. For example, if the Dark One takes out entire forces against it, uses human emotions to its advantage, and manipulates individuals with unerring power, then the audience will see that it isn’t as easy to beat as a Forsaken might be. In the end, this is the key to proving the Dark One’s villainy: making it unstoppable.