- Warning: Major spoilers for "The Wheel of Time" season two episode four, "Daughter of the Night."
- The latest episode has a major twist at the end of the episode.
- Lanfear — who is another one of the Dark One's minions, the Forsaken — is introduced.
The latest episode of "The Wheel of Time" finally introduces a key villain of the series: Lanfear.
One of the major plot threads in the second season of the hit fantasy series follows the prophesied Dragon Reborn hero, Rand al'Thor (Josha Stradowski), after he believes he has defeated the main villain, the Dark One, as shown as the end of season 1. Episode 2, which aired on September 1, shows Rand decide to settle down in the city of Cairhien and start a relationship with a mysterious woman named Selene (Natasha O'Keefe).
However, early in episode 4, which was released Friday on Prime Video, the Dark One's chief warrior Ishamael (Fares Fares) frees someone from a prison to go after Rand. This is later revealed to be Lanfear, who has been posing as Selene throughout the season. As she unveils herself to Rand, Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike) arrives and kills Selene/Lanfear with a dagger, pulling Rand to safety.
However, the episode ends with Selene, aka Lanfear, resurrecting from the dead.
Here's what you need to know about the new character.
Who is Lanfear? Natasha O'Keeffe plays the new 'Wheel of Time' season 2 character
Although the Dark One has many minions, the biggest threats to our heroes are 13 sorcerers called the Forsaken. Each of them are extremely powerful users of the One Power (magic in "The Wheel of Time" world). In the book series the show is based on, Rand and his friends have to fight all of the Forsaken before they defeat the Dark One.
Fans have already met the first Forsaken, Ishamael, in the season one finale. Ishamael was able to remove Moiraine's ability to use the One Power, with the drop of a hand. Lanfear is another of these Forsaken.
In the book series, Lanfear, who also goes by the title "Daughter of the Night," is first introduced in the second novel "The Great Hunt." Like in the show, she pretends to be a woman named Selene to manipulate Rand, and her reemergence is also prophesied to the Aes Sedai — so book readers are hardly surprised by this twist.
In the novels, Lanfear is tied to Rand through Rand's past lives as the Dragon. When she was born thousands of years before the current timeline of the books, Lanfear was an Aes Sedai (a witch) who was once a lover of the previous Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon. However, Lews eventually breaks up with her when he realizes Lanfear only cares about power.
Lanfear is one of the Aes Sedai who first released the Dark One by accident in the Age of Power and thus started his influence on the world as he tried to break free. She is also one of the first channelers to submit to the Dark One's authority and become Forsaken.
After being freed in the present timeline, she spends most of the novel series trying to make Rand powerful and fall in love with her so they can rule the world together.
What does the Lanfear reveal mean for the rest of 'The Wheel of Time' season two?
While the book series never showed that the Forsaken were immortal, the Dark One was able to resurrect them multiple times, which is likely how Lanfear survives Moiraine's assassination in episode 4.
It is likely the character will now chase Rand and continue to manipulate him for the rest of the season, taking over Ishamael's role from season one.
In an interview ahead of the season premiere, "The Wheel of Time" executive producer and director Sanaa Hamri told Insider the writers had chosen move up the reveal of Lanfear's real identity, which happens earlier than in the books, because they wanted to highlight another part of their story arc.
"I believe that art is about freedom of expression and of choosing where we land those things," She said. "I think Natasha O'Keefe does a tremendous job with Selene. It's really, really strong and I think she's such a great addition to the ensemble cast, so I feel like everything fits where it needs to fit and one has to watch the rest of the season too."
The director also teased that there's even more to come now that Selene's true identity has been revealed.
"There are a lot more surprises," Hamri told Insider.
"The Wheel of Time" season two airs weekly on Prime Video.