Miya Kiyoshi
Aes Sedai
This discussion regards the TV!verse conflict of Rand+Egwene+Perrin and why it might make sense if a theory I have about four characters who we haven't yet seen, is true. The characters involved are:
Egwene
Rand
Perrin
Berelain
Faile
Galad
Gawyn
This theory and the discussion that follows will probably call out spoilers from the beginning to the end of the book series so if you haven't read the whole story, you might want to avoid this discussion.
So there it is. Part one and two. What do you think? Am I right? Way off base? Did I forget something because it's been such a long time since I read the novels (and maybe I need to do a reread?) Maybe part of what I'm said seems logical but others not so much? Let me know!
**edited for formatting purposes!
Egwene
Rand
Perrin
Berelain
Faile
Galad
Gawyn
This theory and the discussion that follows will probably call out spoilers from the beginning to the end of the book series so if you haven't read the whole story, you might want to avoid this discussion.
I won't get into my opinions on Egwene+Perrin that is implied on the show. But, I have put a bit of thought into what might have made this a good choice (aside from making shippers happy or adding "teen-angst" which is commonly commented on by fans.)
If we're cutting stories and characters from the books to trim down the story for TV, one might consider getting rid of a spare Princeling and a certain First of Mayene. Now, as a fan I want to start by saying there's no need to defend how important both are in the books, they have stories I enjoy and I'm not saying "Well, we don't really need them so chuck them out!" This brings me to ...
Part One: Testing the Bond
A large part of Berelain's story is serving as a foil to the Perrin and Faile relationship. It's to test their bond. Can Faile overcome her insecurity and learn to trust completely in this man she loves - and will Perrin resist almost certain temptation, when no one would know better (and half the people think it's happening anyway!)
Look I know a lot of folks got mad and were all "Perrin never would have done that to Rand" and yet in the books people (even people who knew him since he was a child and what sort of person he was) did think he would cheat on Faile with Berelain. And let's face it, there was just about as much evidence of him having slept with Berelain as there is that he and Egwene hooked up. Does he think Berelain is hot? Good lord does anyone need to ask? She's arguably one of the more beautiful women in the world - that's flat-out said. So he'd have to be dead not to, but Perrin loves Faile AND Perrin is a devoted and loyal person. The story shows us the readers that often because we're in his head in the text, but on TV how might it have looked? I suspect it would look rather like what we got happening now with Egwene. AND I think it will resurface when Faile comes into the picture too.
Perrin and Egwene will continue to have powers (Dreamwalking/Wolf Dream) and experiences that tie them to each other (although not focused on in the books, it could be played up for TV) and every time her name comes up it could be a fear of Faile's. Why wouldn't Perrin want to be with this other woman? A channeler. A woman of political power. A childhood crush. A woman who literally understands some aspect of this weird power he has - able to enter the world of dreams (something Faile can't do and will never fully understand.) If there was ANYONE Faile could easily fear ... it might be Egwene and they could have set that up here.
As for whether anything happened with Egwene and Perrin - I think it's like Berelain and Perrin in the books, I think they are close (super close, maybe sometimes dangerously close hence the guilty looks and lack of denial) but NOTHING happened. Nor will it. As TV!verse Perrin insisted to Rand: "The only woman I have ever loved, is my wife." And he's not lying. He's our Perrin.
Part Two: Two Princes
So if Egwene isn't gonna be with Rand - and let's be clear: I don't think that's changing in the TV!verse. I did like that they had both basically tell each other that they would stand beside one another no matter what. Good foreshadowing there. That devotion will be tested in the extreme but both are heroes and will, in the end, hold to their word to fight the Dark One.
And if Egwene has no future with Perrin... is the easy answer she's with Gawyn and we move down the road? Maybe. While this doesn't apply to the triangle exactly, I think it speaks to Egwene's side of things. As Faile is jealous of her, Egwene has a lot going on. If TV!verse puts her and Perrin talking in the TAR from time to time (more than in the books) then they can continue the "will they won't they" tension that was Perrin and Berelain in the books. I'm not opposed but the only way to keep this from being JUST about Perrin is that Egwene's relationship with Gawyn would need to also be ante'd up a bit a think. Because TV is gonna TV, and because we specifically aged up the characters so we could do adult storylines (read: sexy times most likely) I think that's totally understandable.
Gawyn and her were apart a lot in the books and yet still managed to hold a candle for each other but that won't play so hot on the screen. We need our Princeling out in the world, able to see his channeling boo - how else do we get Egwene having relationship drama (and clearly we're planning for that based on season one.) My guess is that Gawyn/Galad will get merged. Gawyn will leave the Tower on account of his noble principles (ala Galad) and will end up with the Children of the Light (ala Galad) causing huge stress on the Egwene/Gawyn relationship. We'll get a bigger view of Galwyn (I'm going with that as the merged name lol) fighting to bring down corruption and reform the CotL from within (why else show us a CotL member advising Moraine that she should seek Aes Sedai healing if we aren't implying "not all Whitecloaks" and going to work that into the story?)
In the end though we'll get Egwene bonding Galwyn who has reformed his people into the white knights of the Light they should be. He will lead them to join the armies of the light and fight alongside Egwene and her Sisters against the armies of Darkness.
It's different, sure, but it gives us more CotL story. It gives us relationship drama and stress for Egwene and Galwyn to overcome (both feeling the other's group has fallen far from what they should be and both are right) as well as provides us a stand-up and cheer moment at the last battle as both groups are guided back to their best selves by these young heroes.
If we're cutting stories and characters from the books to trim down the story for TV, one might consider getting rid of a spare Princeling and a certain First of Mayene. Now, as a fan I want to start by saying there's no need to defend how important both are in the books, they have stories I enjoy and I'm not saying "Well, we don't really need them so chuck them out!" This brings me to ...
Part One: Testing the Bond
A large part of Berelain's story is serving as a foil to the Perrin and Faile relationship. It's to test their bond. Can Faile overcome her insecurity and learn to trust completely in this man she loves - and will Perrin resist almost certain temptation, when no one would know better (and half the people think it's happening anyway!)
Look I know a lot of folks got mad and were all "Perrin never would have done that to Rand" and yet in the books people (even people who knew him since he was a child and what sort of person he was) did think he would cheat on Faile with Berelain. And let's face it, there was just about as much evidence of him having slept with Berelain as there is that he and Egwene hooked up. Does he think Berelain is hot? Good lord does anyone need to ask? She's arguably one of the more beautiful women in the world - that's flat-out said. So he'd have to be dead not to, but Perrin loves Faile AND Perrin is a devoted and loyal person. The story shows us the readers that often because we're in his head in the text, but on TV how might it have looked? I suspect it would look rather like what we got happening now with Egwene. AND I think it will resurface when Faile comes into the picture too.
Perrin and Egwene will continue to have powers (Dreamwalking/Wolf Dream) and experiences that tie them to each other (although not focused on in the books, it could be played up for TV) and every time her name comes up it could be a fear of Faile's. Why wouldn't Perrin want to be with this other woman? A channeler. A woman of political power. A childhood crush. A woman who literally understands some aspect of this weird power he has - able to enter the world of dreams (something Faile can't do and will never fully understand.) If there was ANYONE Faile could easily fear ... it might be Egwene and they could have set that up here.
As for whether anything happened with Egwene and Perrin - I think it's like Berelain and Perrin in the books, I think they are close (super close, maybe sometimes dangerously close hence the guilty looks and lack of denial) but NOTHING happened. Nor will it. As TV!verse Perrin insisted to Rand: "The only woman I have ever loved, is my wife." And he's not lying. He's our Perrin.
Part Two: Two Princes
So if Egwene isn't gonna be with Rand - and let's be clear: I don't think that's changing in the TV!verse. I did like that they had both basically tell each other that they would stand beside one another no matter what. Good foreshadowing there. That devotion will be tested in the extreme but both are heroes and will, in the end, hold to their word to fight the Dark One.
And if Egwene has no future with Perrin... is the easy answer she's with Gawyn and we move down the road? Maybe. While this doesn't apply to the triangle exactly, I think it speaks to Egwene's side of things. As Faile is jealous of her, Egwene has a lot going on. If TV!verse puts her and Perrin talking in the TAR from time to time (more than in the books) then they can continue the "will they won't they" tension that was Perrin and Berelain in the books. I'm not opposed but the only way to keep this from being JUST about Perrin is that Egwene's relationship with Gawyn would need to also be ante'd up a bit a think. Because TV is gonna TV, and because we specifically aged up the characters so we could do adult storylines (read: sexy times most likely) I think that's totally understandable.
Gawyn and her were apart a lot in the books and yet still managed to hold a candle for each other but that won't play so hot on the screen. We need our Princeling out in the world, able to see his channeling boo - how else do we get Egwene having relationship drama (and clearly we're planning for that based on season one.) My guess is that Gawyn/Galad will get merged. Gawyn will leave the Tower on account of his noble principles (ala Galad) and will end up with the Children of the Light (ala Galad) causing huge stress on the Egwene/Gawyn relationship. We'll get a bigger view of Galwyn (I'm going with that as the merged name lol) fighting to bring down corruption and reform the CotL from within (why else show us a CotL member advising Moraine that she should seek Aes Sedai healing if we aren't implying "not all Whitecloaks" and going to work that into the story?)
In the end though we'll get Egwene bonding Galwyn who has reformed his people into the white knights of the Light they should be. He will lead them to join the armies of the light and fight alongside Egwene and her Sisters against the armies of Darkness.
It's different, sure, but it gives us more CotL story. It gives us relationship drama and stress for Egwene and Galwyn to overcome (both feeling the other's group has fallen far from what they should be and both are right) as well as provides us a stand-up and cheer moment at the last battle as both groups are guided back to their best selves by these young heroes.
So there it is. Part one and two. What do you think? Am I right? Way off base? Did I forget something because it's been such a long time since I read the novels (and maybe I need to do a reread?) Maybe part of what I'm said seems logical but others not so much? Let me know!
**edited for formatting purposes!
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