This Wheel of Time theory changed how I see Elaida - Here's why

While The Wheel of Time wrapped up its third season, it made me see Elaida differently. Imagine thinking Elaida became a prominent Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah because she has the power of Foretelling, only to be confused as to why she goes to the Aelfinn to learn about her future instead of having the answer herself. That's enough reason to change the way I look at Elaida after Wheel of Time season three.

The Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah in the Wheel of Time are known for their power of fortelling. Elaida saw in a Foretelling that Morgase Trakand would win the War of Succession, which led her to become an advisor to her. Eaida's entire career is built on her ability to tell the future. Hence, it is extremely out of character for her to visit the Aelfinns.

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The Wheel of Time detail that changed how I see Elaida

In season three of The Wheel of Time, we see Elaida, played by Shohreh Aghdashloo, in episode 5, and she instantly establishes herself as a strong character. Even before we get to the season finale, one can tell that Elaida has a much deeper past. However, most did not anticipate seeing her visit the Aelfinn.

In the season finale of Wheel of Time season three, Nynaeve, Mat, Elayne, Min, and Thom search for the artifact, Sakarnen, in the Tanchico palace. Elayne kills a Black Ajah attacker, while Mat is taken to a strange realm by an Eelfinn that grants him wishes but hangs him from an arch, which is not fatal but leaves him with memory loss. After Liandrin almost kills Nynaeve in a fight, Nynaeve overcomes her block in the One Power, but Liandrin escapes with the artifact and allies with Moghedien to target Rand.

Meanwhile, in the Aiel Waste, Moiraine fails to use Sammael to train Rand when Moghedien kills Sammael. Rand rejects Lanfear, who then goes against him, joins Rhavin, and manipulates Couladin into claiming to be the Car'a'carn even though he is not.

Moiraine and Lan battle Lanfear, injuring her badly and forcing her to flee. Rand earns the loyalty of the Aiel by revealing their hidden past and summoning rain in the desert, proving himself as the true Car’a’carn and uniting them under his leadership.

In the White Tower, Elaida overthrows Siuan and becomes the new Amyrlin Seat, falsely accusing Siuan of being a Darkfriend and then having her executed. While viewers might not have seen this coming, Elaida did. We are also shown that Elaida went to the Aelfinns a decade before she actually sat on the Amyrlin Seat.

The Wheel of Time shows that Elaida had gone to the Aelfinn and asked if she would sit on the Amyrlin Seat, and the Aelfinn had confirmed it. That also confirms that Elaida has been after the Amyrlin Seat for a long time. But that isn't surprising. What is surprising is that she had to go to the Aelfinns to know her future. That raises a much bigger question about her authenticity as an Aes Sedai with the power of Foretelling.

It made me wonder if Elaida has been going to the Aelfinns all this time. I mean, in Wheel of Time, visiting the Aelfinns is not like a walk in the park. Elaida had to go through a red doorway ter'angreal in the White Tower to visit the Finns. Why would she do that unless she desperately had to find out what's in her fate? Why did she just not wait for a Foretelling? That is what is intriguing and made me see her differently.

The Wheel of Time has not confirmed Elaida to be a fraud, but if she is confirmed to be one, it changes her character completely. Not only will she be a fraud then, but also someone who can be easily removed from power by revealing her true self. If the Wheel of Time gets renewed for a fourth season, we will hopefully get an answer to these questions.

All three seasons of The Wheel of Time are streaming on Prime Video.

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