Hey folks this is my The Wheel of Time adaptation theory. In other words I’m going to predict how the show is going to reduce some content by going through one of the characters arcs much quicker. That means this article is for book fans, not show only fans. Unless you want to be heavily spoiled. If that is you, I absolutely suggest you check out our non-book spoiler review show The Dragon Reviewed instead.

For fans of the books, this is the kind of thing I’m sure many of you have been considering yourselves. I’ll get into the thick of my theory after the SPOILER jump below.

Warning The Wheel of Time Book SPOILERS Below!

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I’ve been thinking about the arc of Matt Cauthon, certainly one of the books most popular characters. Yet, I think most books fans will also admit they didn’t start to love Matt until probably book 3 or even book 4. Given a few little things we already know about changes to the story in Season 1, I have a theory on how Matt will go through his ‘Moody Mordeth’ phase more quickly.

So far I think the show has done a great job of condensing some of the story from book 1. However showrunner Rafe Judkins has hinted that there are also book 2 moments that come into Season 1 and even book 3. My guess is that here Rafe is talking about the Matt Cauthon early story arc. It makes sense for Amazon to want to get to popular Matt as quickly as possible in the show.

So here is how and why I think they are going to do it.

A Foretelling

Look I won’t get too much into the whole, the books text is sacred and should not be changed argument. If that’s you, you’ll always have the books. I felt like that about some things in The Lord of the Rings movies. However, I always head the books as the true bible of fandom. The simple truth is, that I agree with Judkins on this point. The Wheel of Time often has characters have a significant input and the disappear for several books. Hell, there are entire books without hardly any Rand. Perrin is completely absent from a book as is Matt. Add this to the fact we can’t hear what is in people’s head, which I think book fans will agree is a lot of content, then changes HAVE to be made.

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We are going to see some storylines merged with others and certainly there will be less characters who show up and disappear again.

With tat in mind I think that Matt is going to be cured of the Ruby Dagger’s influence in Season 1, or early Season 2 of the show. Whereas, in the books, Matt isn’t cured until the beginning of book 3, after he has blown the Horn of Valere. Can we really have ‘Moody Mordeth’ for two full seasons?

Evidence

Ok, I don’t have much here, but we know that Caemlyn has been cut from Season 1. And yet some of that story seems instead set to happen in Tar Valon. Matt was reluctant to go anywhere near Tar Valon in the books and didn’t get there till he was cured. After Matt is cured we have that famous scene where he kicks Galad and Gawyn’s butt with a quarterstaff.

I therefore think those scenes set in Tar Valon mean that Matt will be cured and have his battle against Galad and Gawyn much earlier. It’s after this Matt starts winning at Gambling, and all his unbelievable Ta’veren luck starts to materialize. This would be a better version of Matt to see developing in Season 2. Especially with the forced change of actor.

The Wheel of Time Adaptation Theory

I think Matt will be cured of his ailment in Season 1. I also think it’s possible we could be introduced to all three of Elayne, Galad and Gawyn. However instead of being introduced to them at Caemlyn, I think all three will already be in Tar Valon. If the show pushes all three to Tar Valon and takes Matt there in Season 1, then they can shorted that plotline a lot before we even get to Season 2.

Given the way Season 1 has gone, I feel like we will spend a lot more time with Rand as the focus in Season 2 and I’m not sure we need ‘Moody Mordeth’ along for the full ride.

This is not a rumor, it’s simply a theory. I could be wrong and the Matt/Dagger plot line runs into Season 2 somewhere. However Matt having to go back to the White Tower again at the end of Season 2 just doesn’t feel like it’s going to fit for me. It’s possible we could even get the coup against Siuan Sanche much earlier as well. After all, there’s 14 books and so far Rafe has planned for 8 Seasons. Something has to give?

What do you think of this The Wheel of Time adaptation theory book fans? Can you see things playing out differently? Leave any thoughts you have below.

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