The Wheel of time twist: The show might be setting up a forsaken reveal no one saw coming 

Season 2 of The Wheel of Time has created huge buzz—not just for epic wars and character arcs, but also for what is happening behind the scenes in the White Tower.

As political tensions build and Aes Sedai loyalties shift, fans are already monitoring every subtle moment, every sidelong look, with rapt attention. And while Liandrin’s secret double life as a Darkfriend has been exposed, it’s other Sitters’ mysterious actions that are turning heads in the fandom.

Certain fans are now wondering if the White Tower itself might be breached from within—namely, if there is “a secret Forsaken lurking in the White Tower.” While there’s no definite word from the show itself, this theory builds upon established book history and strange exclusions from the adaptation.

Might Alviarin, an important character from the novels, be cut from the show for more than just narrative streamlining? And might her absence be paving the way for a Forsaken such as Mesaana to quietly manipulate events from behind the scenes?

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Mesaana's role in the The Wheel of Time books

In Robert Jordan’s original book series, Mesaana is one of the thirteen Forsaken—strong channelers who allied themselves with the Dark One during the Age of Legends. Whereas her more overt counterparts utilized obvious shows of power and dominion, Mesaana used stealth and manipulation from within institutions.

She covertly infiltrated the White Tower, adopting a false identity and manipulating the leadership of the Aes Sedai behind the scenes. Her methods were all about seeding discord and working to create instability at the very center of the Tower’s political underpinnings.

This part of the lore has yet to appear in the television adaptation. However, with several Forsaken already introduced in Season 2 and with the Tower descending into internal chaos, the groundwork could be forming for a similar storyline—though it remains unconfirmed.

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What's actually happening in The Wheel of Time show?

Season 2 of The Wheel of Time gives us a White Tower that is clearly under pressure. The Amyrlin Seat, Siuan Sanche, is overthrown in a political coup, and Liandrin’s treachery indicates a rising fear of internal threats. But what’s particularly remarkable is the way the Sitters seem so removed, routinely sidestepping trouble or inquiry—even when faced with clear bad behavior.

This is in direct contradiction to the Tower’s characterization in the books, where internal vigilance and suspicion were standard. The Sitters’ inaction regarding Liandrin and other pivotal events has left audiences questioning whether there’s some underlying reason. While some attribute it to creative choice, others view it as potential foreshadowing—particularly considering how closely the books correlate Mesaana’s actions with internal rot at the Tower.

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The lack of Alviarin and the emergence of theories in The Wheel of Time

Alviarin is a Sitter of the White Ajah and a key player in the Tower’s politics, as well as a directly involved party in the Black Ajah conspiracy in the book series. Surprisingly, she is yet to be introduced in the television series. Her lack of inclusion has been the subject of fan theories speculating whether her character is being redeveloped—or discreetly taken out, perhaps by a Forsaken character.

There is as yet no proof in the show to verify Mesaana’s presence, nor any indication that a Forsaken is in disguise as a Sitter. But the mix of narrative holes, inexplicable character motivations, and the larger thematic tension within the Tower has kept this theory not just alive but thriving in online forums. It’s the show leaving us with just enough room to interpret that lets book-aware fans imagine it in for themselves.

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Why it matters to the story?

If a Forsaken were to be shown as a secret player at the White Tower, it would mark an enormous escalation of the Shadow’s influence. The long-established bastion of order and learning in the world would suddenly be tainted. Such a twist wouldn’t merely add depth to the war—it would render previous choices, struggles for dominance, and affiliations look entirely different.

This type of narrative decision would also be in line with The Wheel of Time’s long-running themes: that evil can masquerade as good, and that the conflict between Light and Shadow is as much about manipulation and faith as it is about power and destiny.

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At the time of Season 2, The Wheel of Time had not established any Forsaken in disguise as Sitters in the White Tower. But based on the sinister tone, the actions of the Aes Sedai leadership, and the conspicuous lack of important book characters such as Alviarin, the hypothesis that Mesaana—or some other Forsaken—is already in the Tower keeps building momentum with fans.

Whether or not this comes to pass as a plot development slowly teased out, or is simply something fans are speculating over, only time will tell. But the potential it presents for the narrative is certainly tantalizing.

Also read: The Wheel of Time Season 3 introduced a new channeler and she is more than meets the eye