The Wheel of Time co-author Brandon Sanderson revealed the name of the major antagonist who showed up in the final episode of the premiere season of Prime Video's TV adaptation, spoiling a hidden detail but confirming the series is remaining faithful to a significant plot point.
Speaking on his podcast Intentionally Blank, Sanderson blithely referred to Season 1's final boss, depicted by Fares Fares, as Ishamael, a hugely important character from the original story. Ishamael, in the books, is one of the Forsaken, the Dark One's most powerful lieutenants and henchmen. As the Dark One cannot directly influence the mortal world, the Forsaken serve as his proxies and Ishamael, their leader, is frequently portrayed as something of an avatar for the great, otherworldly evil.
The Wheel of Time television series never names Ishamael, while the script and showrunner Rafe Judkins only refer to the character as "The Man." This anonymity left open the possibility that the show might retool the Forsaken, or even tweak the nature of the Dark One such that he could directly interact with the world to battle lead protagonist Rand al'Thor. Sanderson naming Ishamael, and then expanding on the character's importance to the story, closes the door on these rumored changes.
The original series consists of fourteen books, and amassed a devoted fan following despite persistent criticism over its pacing and structure. Film adaptations of beloved books already face intense, nit-picking scrutiny, and the inevitable changes to such a massive story have left fans especially wary of Judkins' purported eight-season vision.
One major change in the show is that Rand's identity as the reincarnation of the Dragon Reborn, a prophesied hero, was kept a mystery for most of the first season. The previous Dragon Reborn, an incredibly powerful channeler named Lews Therin Telamon, shattered the world in a botched attempt to destroy the Dark One and subsequently murdered his family in madness. The prologue to the first book is set 3000 years before the main story, with a conversation between a broken Lews Therin and his friend-turned-betrayer, Ishamael.
Sanderson, who co-wrote the final three Wheel of Time books after original author Robert Jordan passed away, spoke of his fondness for Ishamael, as the character plays an important role in the endgame that Sanderson penned. Whether or not the television Ishamael will have the same importance as his book version remains to be seen, but Sanderson's comments at least imply the character has not been so drastically changed as to require a new name.
Wheel of Time Season 1 is currently streaming on Prime Video. Season 2 does not yet have a release window.
Source: YouTube