[Major Book Spoilers] Elaida Merged with Liandrin fan theory.....(book!verse versus tv!verse)

Catt Heckathorne

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So I've been seeing this being discussed A TON both here and elsewhere that Elaida is being merged with Liandrin.

Why? Let's logic this out.

There are more than one Red sister who are villains. One that we know of (Liandrin) is Black Ajah, while one (Elaida) is the Umbridge of the series.

So, what parts do these two play?

Liandrin
  • Responsible for taking Egwene, Elayne, and Nynaeve to Falme.
  • Largely responsible for Egwene being damane for most of TGH, and the Seanchan showed up in Episode 8.
  • Doesn't show up until TGH and tells EEN basically to shut up and follow her blindly......the way she's being developed now gives more basis to that happening, if it happens. It gives Nynaeve more of a basis for going with her because she's not Moiraine.
  • TV!Liandrin has more of a backstory.
  • TV!verse has been expanding the backstories of some of the villian characters.
  • TV!Liandrin is being developed as a leader...............for the Logain contingent. Nothing else. If we use the book structure of Aes Sedai heirarchies, that would peg TV!Liandrin as the most powerful shawled channeler in that camp.

Elaida
  • Main reason she's not in EOTW at all is because she's still in Caemlyn with Elayne. Elayne technically doesn't really become a major character until TGH, same with Elaida.
  • Moiraine mentioned Elaida in Episode 8. Not by name, but by deeds taken directly out of New Spring (Chapter 8: Shreds of Serenity).
  • Elaida doesn't become a major player until TSR when Siuan and Leane are disposed and Stilled.
  • Elaida plays a huge role with the Tower after TSR.
  • Theoretically Elaida shouldn't be a major player until Siuan is disposed but they need to establish her first. I'm suspecting we'll meet her in season 2 episode 1 when we meet Elayne. Good money on Elaida being the one to bring Elayne to the Tower. Otherwise, she literally has no reason to be in the story until that point.

Facts:
  • So far, we have two unnamed characters casted for Season Two. RJ2 specifically has not stated who they are playing yet (clicky: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt14687506/?ref_=tt_eps_nxt) but that they were major characters.
  • We also know that RJ2 has a huge track record of being super vague via Sedai-ing his words around the series and being super misleading.
  • Additionally, the only places we've seen the Liandrin is merged with Elaida theory is via theory articles and theories put forth by other fans. RJ2 has not once confirmed that.
  • RJ2, however, HAS confirmed that they wouldn't merge the characters of Min, Elayne, and Aviendha because they were such major characters. It can stand to reason the same will be said of Liandrin and Elaida.
 

Elania al'Manir

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1) Are you able to edit your title to make it more obvious that this thread contains major book spoilers?
2) Somehow I never really connected the idea that Rafe Judkins also = RJ :laugh: So I love the RJ2 notation!
3) I've also seen a theory that they'll merge Liandrin with Alviarin.
 

Catt Heckathorne

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Are you able to edit your title to make it more obvious that this thread contains major book spoilers?

Unfortunately no, I felt that was the book!verse versus tv!verse purpose.
 

Catt Heckathorne

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Thanks! :)
 

Aduiavas Ida

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I think that merging Liandrin and Alviarin is much more feasible, but remember that the whole reason Egwene et al end up in Tear, and later Tanchico (if they keep that part, which may not happen) is that Liandrin leads a group of 13 Black Sisters. Alviarin steps in as the "leading Black in the Tower" after that.

I really hope they won't merge any of those three. If they do, I hope that Liandrin will then not be Black. I like the fact that Elaida is not Black, and yet is just as bad as some of them. (Comparing her to Umbridge is a very good metaphor. Though I suppose Elaida came first :P )
 

Imzadi Hopewind

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I hope they won't merge any of them, but if they will, then hope they merge Liandrin and Alviarin. Elaida is not black and important role as well. :cheeseeni:
 

Elucia Nileran

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When I watched the season for the second time, I got the bad feeling that they were going to merge characters. I mainly felt this way because of how many characters they cut out. I understand that was probably casting and COVID though.
 

Teavin Calayna

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I don't like the idea of them being merged at all since both have such diverging paths within the books and I also really, really want to see Elaida in the show. If they really had to merge Liandrin with anyone I'd agree that it would be Alviarin though I don't find that appealing either
 

Ilverin Matriam

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So, I saw the Elayne actress being added to the Season 2 Episode 1 cast on IMDB, so my thinking is that, now that Rand has gone off alone, he might end up in Caemlyn, where he will meet Elayne and possibly there we will have the Elaida scenes too?

However, at several times during the Aes Sedai scenes, it was mentioned that Liandrin 1) Doesn't like Moiraine and Siuan and 2) she is gaining supporters inside the Tower even amongst non-Red Sisters. Which leads me to believe Liandrin might play the role of the overthrower of Siuan, etc. :cheeseeni:
 

Catt Heckathorne

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Even in the early books there were warnings to Moiraine that the Hall was talking about making her pay penance, and making the Reds in charge of her for that.

Moiraine's tv!oath rod swear to Siuane is super specific in naming Siuane as the only one who can call her back to the Tower. It's literally foreshadowing the coup. Why else would she have worded it exactly like that unless she knew that there was something in the works to dispose of Siuane?
 

Dovienya el'Korim

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I think I remember in the TV show where they hinted that Liandrin liked to take promising initiates under her wing. That sounds a lot to me like the past story arc of Elaida and Moiraine from the books. Honestly, I'm hoping they DO conflate Liandrin and Elaida. I really like the actress playing Liandrin and I'm hoping she sticks around.
 
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Liandrin and Alviarin merge seems like the most likely. With her being Black Ajah (and the head of the Supreme Council no less) it wouldn't be a problem for her to use compulsion to get EEN to follow her into The Ways. TV!Nynaeve already dislikes her, so a whip crack of compulsion makes sense to get her to go.

Plus we'll get to keep Kate Fleetwood until the end of the series
 

Merena Orithana

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I really hope they won't merge any of those three. If they do, I hope that Liandrin will then not be Black. I like the fact that Elaida is not Black, and yet is just as bad as some of them. (Comparing her to Umbridge is a very good metaphor. Though I suppose Elaida came first :p )
Yes! I love that implication that the other Ajahs are just as much to blame for the Tower's troubles as the Black Ajah. Really makes you think about longstanding systems headed up by people with tons of power.
Liandrin and Alviarin merge seems like the most likely. With her being Black Ajah (and the head of the Supreme Council no less) it wouldn't be a problem for her to use compulsion to get EEN to follow her into The Ways. TV!Nynaeve already dislikes her, so a whip crack of compulsion makes sense to get her to go.

Plus we'll get to keep Kate Fleetwood until the end of the series

I hope this happens, as well. I think their two storylines would merge well. However, we would need a replacement for all the happenings in Tear.
 
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