User:TAnthony/Draft C

Lanfear is introduced as the mysterious Selene in the 1990 novel The Great Hunt, and is later revealed to be Lanfear, one of the Forsaken, ancient servants of the malevolent Dark One. In the series, Lanfear is obsessed with Rand al'Thor, the reincarnation of Lews Therin Telamon, her lover from 3,000 years prior who had ultimately spurned her, before imprisoning her with the other Forsaken for the intervening millennia.^[1]

Screen Rant called Lanfear "one of the most important villains" in the series.^[1] She is one of the most powerful of the Forsaken, ancient Aes Sedai who became servants of the Dark One during the Second Age, or the Age of Legends. In addition to the ability to channel the One Power, she possesses mastery of Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams.^[1][2] Multiple characters describe Lanfear as the most beautiful woman they have ever seen.^[3][4]

Originally known as Mierin Eronaile, Lanfear was in a romantic relationship with the Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon.^[1][2] As he learned the extent of her ambition and pursuit of power, Lews came to believe that she loved his strength in the One Power and not him.^[1] Mierin was furious, jealous and resentful when Lews fell in love with Ilyena Moerelle Dalisar and married her.^[1]

As a researcher at the Collam Daan, Mierin and her colleagues discovered a suspicious energy source unrelated to the One Power.^[5] Not realizing that it was the Dark One's dangerous True Power, in the course of their investigation, they inadvertently drilled a bore into the Dark One's prison. Though he was not freed, his influence began to seep out into the world, corrupting it.^[1][2][5] As the power of the Dark One's forces grew, Mierin reinvented herself as Lanfear, and pledged her loyalty to the Dark One in her lust for greater power.^[2] As one of his most powerful servants and unmatched within Tel'aran'rhiod, she also became known as the Daughter of the Night.^[1][5] She and the 12 most powerful of the Dark One's channelers joined as the Forsaken, and fought for the Dark One in the War of Power against Lews and his army of Aes Sedai.^[1] Lews led 99 male Aes Sedai in a surprise attack on Shayol Ghul, resealing the Dark One's prison and sealing Lanfear and the Forsaken with him in a timeless, dreamless sleep.^[1] Three thousand years later, the Seven Seals of the Dark One's prison have weakened, and the Forsaken begin to reenter the world, presenting a new threat and paving the way for their master.^[2]

In the third book, The Dragon Reborn, Lanfear tried to convince Rand to team up with her so that the two of them could rule the world together in service of the Dark One. Of course, he turned her down. But though their goals didn’t align, Lanfear remained committed to getting him back. For that reason, her jealousy of the other women in his life culminated in some tense, violent encounters in the books. Her possessiveness of Rand and inability to tolerate him being involved with someone else motivated Lanfear to try to kill him in the fifth book of the series, The Fires of Heaven.^[1]

^[6]

It’s no secret that fans of the Robert Jordan novels upon which The Wheel of Time is based are not always pleased with the adaptation’s choice of modifications to the original narrative. But in the latest episode, “Daughter of the Night,” the introduction of Lanfear, a new general in the Dark One’s army, gives added agency to an important character. As interesting as she was in the books, Lanfear was initially introduced as a woman in need of rescue with an emotional attachment to the Dragon Reborn… or more specifically, the original Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon.

It’s a subtle but important distinction! When Lanfear first appears in the novels, she immediately targets Rand al’Thor using the alias Selene, just as she does in The Wheel of Time season 2. But instead of an innkeeper with a strange knowledge of high society, she’s a damsel in distress who transports Rand to another world simply so that she can be “rescued” and ingratiate herself with her savior. It immediately sets her up as a manipulative temptress and one of the most beautiful women in history, which undermines her status as one of the most powerful channelers ever known.

Even though she eventually uses her powers of disguise to become a much more complex villain in later books, the first impression she makes in The Wheel of Time season 2 feels much stronger. Concealing her identity and her past behind the agreement with Rand not to be too serious was a great way to introduce Lanfear’s mysterious past. Her insistence that “you’ll help me remember, and I’ll help you forget” is a nod to what Rand represents to her: the reincarnation of her former lover, Lews Therin.

The Robert Jordan novels have the luxury of thousands of pages to explore the lore of the world before the Breaking, whereas The Wheel of Time has only had a few flashbacks to allow viewers to see the historical period that forged Aes Sedai like Lanfear and Lews Therin whose hubris led to the corruption of the Dark One she now serves as Forsaken. By encouraging Rand to channel, both Ishamael and Lanfear hope to awaken the Dragon in service of evil rather than as a champion for good.

In that sense, The Wheel of Time is compelled to adhere to Lanfear’s core motivation in the books: to win over Rand for herself and for the Dark One. But the means she uses to accomplish that goal communicate a lot about her depth of character in the Prime Video series. The way she infiltrated Cairhien high society to get Rand the bottle of wine, for example, showed that there were hidden depths to this simple innkeeper.

The Forsaken are long-lived channelers from thousands of years in the past, and they were imprisoned behind supposedly indestructible seals made of ivory-colored cuendillar. Rand released Ishamael in the season 1 finale of The Wheel of Time, and Ishamael used his considerable power to release Lanfear in the latest episode. As each Forsaken is released, they’ll each need a level of complexity worthy of a good villain, and while Ishamael and Lanfear both have a long way to go in that regard, at least the latter’s introduction got what is arguably a storytelling upgrade from page to screen.

^[7]

Love hurts — just ask The Wheel of Time protagonist Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski). In season 1 of the Prime Video fantasy series, Rand effectively walked out on his childhood crush, Egwene al’Vere (Madeleine Madden), after finally owning up to his destiny as the prophesized world savior/destroyer, the Dragon Reborn. The former sheep herder’s love life only gets worse in season 2, after he seeks solace in a rebound fling with Selene (Natasha O’Keeffe): an entrancing innkeeper who shows her true — and decidedly terrifying — colors in season 2’s fourth episode, “Daughter of the Night.”

Yes, it turns out that “Selene” is really Lanfear, one of the Dark One’s most powerful servants. It’s a twist that viewers familiar with Robert Jordan’s original Wheel of Time novels were waiting for, but poor Rand exits “Daughter of the Night” looking suitably flummoxed. Our hero likely isn’t the only one a little confused by the big reveal either, as episode 4 doesn’t devote much screen time to Lanfear’s backstory or wider role within The Wheel of Time’s overarching narrative.

That’s why we’ve pulled together this handy guide to all things Lanfear. It covers everything you need to know about the self-styled Daughter of the Night, including who she is, how she fits within The Wheel of Time lore, and where her story is headed in season 2’s remaining episodes.

WHO IS LANFEAR AND WHY IS SHE SO IMPORTANT TO THE WHEEL OF TIME?

Lanfear was originally Mierin Eronaile, an immensely powerful Aes Sedai who lived during the Age of Legends (thousands of years before The Wheel of Time’s Third Age setting). Back then, she was a university researcher who (as dialogue scattered through season 2 implies) dated that era’s Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon, until he broke things off. Lanfear never really got over being dumped by Lews Therin, and (like in the Prime Video adaptation) later transfers her fixation with him to his successor to the Dragon mantle, Rand.

Lanfear’s claim to fame goes beyond being the Dragon’s ex-girlfriend, though. More importantly, she spearheaded the research that unwittingly unleashed the Dark One on the world, and for an encore, publicly declared her loyalty to the demonic entity. This is when she adopted the “Lanfear” name, which translates to “Daughter of the Night” in The Wheel of Time’s Old Tongue dialect. Thanks to her considerable smarts and strength in the One Power, Lanfear quickly found herself anointed one of the “Chosen” — the Dark One’s most favored (and most evil) followers, called the “Forsaken” by everyone else.

The Wheel of Time season 2 aligns with (or doesn’t otherwise contradict) all the above aspects of Lanfear’s portrayal in Jordan’s books. It also faithfully recreates the author’s description of Lanfear’s legendary beauty, which hair and makeup supervisor Davina Lamont remarked upon during Polygon’s recent visit to the Wheel of Time set, talking through the process she went through with O’Keeffe and showrunner Rafe Judkins to find the perfect look.

“[O’Keeffe is] such an impressive actor and such a beautiful human being, so for me to be able to put [Lanfear’s look] together was easy,” Lamont says. “And as much as dark, dark hair [can be wrong] — and I was against going too, too dark with the black [wig] and then Rafe would say, ‘No, no, no, we want to go black!’ And I was like, ‘Are you sure?’ But with the costume and everything and her porcelain skin, it looks absolutely amazing.”

HOW IS LANFEAR STILL ACTIVE (AND YOUNG) IN THE THIRD AGE?

Lanfear’s striking good looks in The Wheel of Time’s season 2 are even more remarkable when you remember she was breaking hearts millennia before Rand was even born. How does that work? You can quite literally chalk up the Forsaken’s youthful appearance to beauty sleep. In both the books and the Prime Video series, Lews Therin and his allies managed to re-seal the Dark One’s prison, with the Forsaken (including Lanfear) trapped alongside their master. The upshot of this was that Lanfear spent a long time in dreamless, ageless stasis until finally breaking free to wreak havoc on The Wheel of Time’s Third Age setting.

Robert Jordan doesn’t depict the moment Lanfear emerges from her cosmic jail cell in The Great Hunt — the novel upon which The Wheel of Time’s second season is largely based. However, “Daughter of the Night” opens with a flashback to this very event. It’s a markedly more tangible affair than Jordan’s abstract approach to this aspect of the canon, and just as notably, makes the Forsakens’ de facto leader, Ishamael (Fares Fares), an active participant in the proceedings.

Executive producer Mike Weber addressed Ishamael’s hands-on role in Lanfear’s escape during Polygon’s set visit, framing this expansion on established continuity as a way of giving The Wheel of Time season 2 a worthwhile main villain. “Just to see your antagonist personified is much more effective and dramatic,” Weber explains. “You can’t just talk about ‘The Dark One is coming’ forever. You need to see it. You need to have that actor [Fares] be that representation of it. For audiences, for a fantasy series, that’s much more effective.”

Jordan also doesn’t mention anything about Lanfear’s return being an eerie, blood-soaked affair, but that’s certainly what “Daughter of the Night” delivers. It’s a dramatic scene that plays to TV’s strength as a visual medium — and capturing it on film took its toll on several members of The Wheel of Time’s cast and crew.

“That was a big day in the caves,” Lamont recalls. “And when we were shooting that, it was like, Hang on a minute: Do you actually want [O’Keeffe] to be covered completely head to toe in blood? It was literally pouring it on. And it was all day, so we shot it for, like, six hours. So, it was a massive day for her […] and they wanted to have this super-long hair as well, to kind of hit the ground, and so for us also to have time to find the length of hair was painful.”

As she laughs: “It was painful, but we did it!”

ARE RAND AND LANFEAR TOGETHER IN THE BOOKS?

Following her liberation (and in the show’s case, a very long bath), both the book and screen versions of Lanfear immediately set their sights on hooking up with Rand. Where these incarnations of the Daughter of the Night differ is in how successful they are. The Great Hunt doesn’t include any passages where “Selene” and Rand get it on, whereas The Wheel of Time season 2 devotes a not insignificant amount of screen time to intimate moments between the pair.

But then, Rand and Lanfear aren’t really a couple in Jordan’s novel — although he is very clearly attracted to her, and they do spend plenty of time together. Unlike in the Prime Video adaptation, Rand’s encounters with “Selene” aren’t limited solely to Cairhien, either, nor is it where they meet. Instead, they link up in an alternate reality (sowing the seeds for a Wheel of Time multiverse as yet unexplored in the series).

According to Thomas Napper, director of season 2’s first two episodes, the decision to omit Rand and Lanfear’s extra-dimensional jaunt had less to do with steering clear of pop culture’s current multiverse fixation and more about keeping the show’s sprawling source material digestible for audiences.

“I love that sequence in The Great Hunt where they meet. […] Wheel of Time is very special because it is so expansive,” Napper says. “It takes you not only to multiverses, to time travel, to dreamwalking, to collective consciousness in dreams and Eastern ideas and Eastern philosophy. It has Buddhism, it has Hinduism, it has Sufism, it has so many interesting philosophical and spiritual influences, and it is limitless. You know, it goes in all directions as far as you can imagine […] so it has an enormous canvas and there have to be choices in the real world around which of those worlds we go to [in the show].”

WHAT HAPPENS TO LANFEAR IN THE WHEEL OF TIME BOOKS (OR SEASON 2)?

Of course, there’s theoretically still room for Rand and Lanfear to visit another world in The Wheel of Time season 2’s four remaining episodes; however, this doesn’t seem likely. Not only is Rand now wise to “Selene” and her act, but Lanfear is seriously wounded by Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) in episode 4’s closing moments, seemingly scuttling any immediate travel plans.

Heck, being skewered and Pez dispenser-ed should have been enough to take Lanfear out of action for good, as even powerful channelers are susceptible to such injuries in the books. Subsequent comments by Moiraine — not to mention episode 4’s final shot of Lanfear regaining consciousness — indicate the same logic doesn’t apply to the Forsaken in the series. That said, the Dark One resurrects several of his followers in Jordan’s later novels, so that could be what’s happening here (although the circumstances involved are markedly different).

Regardless of exactly how Lanfear survives her brush with death, you shouldn’t expect her to give up on Rand so easily. The Daughter of the Night pursues Rand (and the dream of ruling the world by his side) until Jordan’s fifth book, The Fires of Heaven, so her screen counterpart is likely to continue trying to tempt the Dragon Reborn until the end of season 2, at least. And that means plenty of trouble on the horizon — not just for Rand, but for anyone close to him as well.

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In The Great Hunt (1990), a newly-written prophecy indicates that the Forsaken known as Lanfear walks the world again, seeking a new lover. Moiraine Damodred is concerned because 3,000 years before, Lanfear was the lover of the Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon, the male channeler of immense power responsible for the Breaking of the World. Moiraine is one of the few people aware that Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn, the reincarnation of Lews, and therefore a likely draw for Lanfear. Rand is in pursuit of the Darkfriend Padan Fain, who has stolen the Horn of Valere, when he is transported to a distorted, alternate world by a Portal Stone. He and his companions come upon the mysterious Selene and rescue her from an attack by a strange beast called a grolm. She leads Rand and his party to another Portal Stone, encouraging him to channel to activate it. He reluctantly does so, returning them to the real world. Rand retrieves the Horn, and Selene suggests he keep it for himself, and she will stay with him forever. She is annoyed when he declines, saying the Horn does not belong to him. Selene continues to praise him and encourage him to seek glory, ultimately disappearing in Cairhien. Later in Falme, Min Farshaw finds an unconscious Rand, who has killed the Forsaken Ba'alzamon but allowed himself to be grievously wounded to do so. Selene appears and says to Min, "Lews Therin was and is mine, girl. Tend him well for me until I come for him."

Lanfear is all powerful in Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams, and visits Perrin Aybara and Mat Cauthon there as Selene in The Dragon Reborn (1991). Perrin dismisses her talk of pursuing glory for himself. Later, she is surprised to see him in the dream realm, having entered on his own, but as a wolfbrother he has power there as well. Lanfear warns Mat that he is important, and that the Aes Sedai will try to use him. She assures him she is not Aes Sedai or a follower of Ba'alzamon, and he needs to trust her if he wants to survive. Lanfear impersonates Else Grinwell and appears to Egwene al'Vere, Nynaeve al'Meara and Elayne Trakand to manipulate their investigation into the Black Ajah. In Tel'aran'rhiod, Perrin witnesses a meeting of Darkfriends, summoned there by Ba'alzamon, who is annoyed with their lack of progress. Selene reveals herself as Lanfear and confirms her loyalty to the Dark One, as she and Ba'alzamon criticize each other's plans and accomplishments.

Lanfear appears to Rand as Selene at Stone of Tear in The Shadow Rising (1992), and reveals her identity as one of the Forsaken. Impressed with how he has matured, she is here to claim him. Rand shocks both of them when memories from Lews surface that tell him she loves power more than she loves him. She has shielded him from being able to channel in her presence, but lays out her plans for him. The Forsaken Asmodean has agreed to teach him, before other Forsaken can come to destroy him. They fear that the Dark One will place Rand above them. Shadowspawn attack the Stone of Tear, including deadly, eyeless Fades; humanoid monster Trollocs; and Gray Men assassins. Lanfear reminds Rand of the power of the crystal sword Callandor while mocking his lack of training. Using the sword to generate a lightning storm, Rand destroys all of the remaining Shadowspawn at once. Rand travels to declare himself the prophesied messiah of the Aiel known as Car'a'carn, the "Chief of Chiefs", unknowingly accompanied by Lanfear and Asmodean in disguise as the peddler Keille Shaogi and the gleeman Jasin Natael. Lanfear is shocked when, in a confrontation with Asmodean, Rand severs Asmodean's connection with the Dark One. Rand's memories of Lanfear's backstory as the Aes Sedai researcher Mierin Eronaile in the Age of Legends are triggered. Mierin and several other Aes Sedai attempted to access what they believed was a new, untapped source of power, which turned out to be the essence of the Dark One. They inadvertently drilled what became known as the Bore into his prison, weakening the seals and allowing his influence to begin to seep out. In the present, Asmodean, shielded by Lanfear from using his full power, commits to training Rand.

In The Fires of Heaven (1993), Lanfear meets with the Forsaken Graendal, Rahvin and Sammael to discuss what can be done to bring Rand over to the Shadow. Subsequently, the news that Rand has slept with Aviendha, an Aiel Maiden of the Spear, sends Lanfear into a murderous rage, and she destroys the Darkfriend who told her. Lanfear confronts Rand and his companions at the docks in Cairhien, killing multiple bystanders with channeled waves of fire. Rand prevents her from killing Egwene and Aviendha, but they are badly injured, as are Moiraine and her Warder, Lan Mandragoran. Face to face with Rand, Lanfear finally decides to kill him when he swears he will never love a woman sworn to the Shadow. She declares, "If you are not mine you are dead", and overwhelms him thanks to an angreal bracelet, Rand's inability to harm a woman, and her own rage. Just as Rand is about to die, Moiraine intervenes, pushing Lanfear and herself through a twisted redstone doorway, a powerful ter'angreal which leads to the world of the foxlike Eelfinn. The doorway melts immediately, and Moiraine and Lanfear are presumed dead.

In Towers of Midnight (2010), Rand sees Lanfear in a dream. She is screaming and begs him to help her escape from torture, but then vanishes.

The companion book The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time (1997) explains that Mierin and Lews had been lovers before he spurned her due to her unbridled ambition, and married Ilyena Moerelle Dalisar. All attempts to win him back failed, pushing her to join the Shadow for power, immortality and possibly another chance with Lews.^[1]

A The Wheel of Time television adaptation was announced by Sony Pictures Television in April 2017,^[2] and a series order by Amazon Prime Video was reported in October 2018.^[3][4][5] In May 2021, Amazon renewed the series for a second season ahead of the series premiere.^[6] Season one premiered in November 2021.^[7]

The casting of Natasha O'Keeffe in the role of Lanfear for season two was announced in October 2021.^[8] The second season premiered in September 2023,^[9] and O'Keeffe first appeared in the episode "Strangers and Friends".^[10]

• Moiraine has called the TV version of Lanfear “the most dangerous of the Forsaken.”^[11]

• From List: Initially posing as innkeeper Selene, Lanfear begins a romantic relationship with Rand, hoping to bind his loyalty and seduce him to the Shadow.^[12][13][14]

• Another powerful foe, Lanfear (Natasha O'Keeffe), has made her own play for Rand's loyalty.^[12]

• In The Wheel of Time, Lanfear escapes her prison and disguises herself as Selene, played by Natasha O'Keefe in the series, then attempts to seduce Rand al'Thor and turn him toward the Shadow.^[13]

^[14]

• Surprise, Selene is actually Lanfear. The broken cuendillar Master Domon brought Moiraine was from outside Cairhien, where Selene has been running an inn and hooking up with Rand. Ishamael uttered a dark poem and broke the seal on Lanfear’s prison. In the Old Tongue, her name means “daughter of the night,” another name Lanfear goes by. She is stronger than almost all other female channelers, though not as powerful as Ishamael. Moiraine calls Lanfear the most dangerous of the Forsaken. She’s known for her casual cruelty and her mastery of the World of Dreams, or Tel’Aran’Rhiod. That connects to her Daughter of the Night nickname. We see her walk in Ishamael’s and Rand’s dreams.^[14]
• Lanfear swore herself to the Dark One as part of an attempt to win back Lews Therin, the previous Dragon. She loved him and he her, until Lews Therin met his wife, leaving Lanfear heartbroken and desperate.^[14]
• In The Wheel of Time TV series, Lanfear tries to betray Ishamael, perhaps to take all the power for herself or perhaps to endear herself to Rand.^[14]

A new twist revealed Rand al’Thor’s love interest as Lanfear, a powerful new villain for The Wheel of Time. Played by Natasha O’Keeffe, Selene was almost distraught when she discovered that Rand could channel – or at least, that was the impression she gave. As it turns out, Selene is so much more than she may have seemed when she was first introduced.^[11]

Different storylines clashed in a surprising way in The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 4, titled “Daughter of the Night.” After stumbling upon the poem Moiraine obtained from Bayle Domon, Alanna and her Warders reached the startling realization that a character named Lanfear has been unleashed upon the world. This reveal happening alongside Selene channeling made it abundantly clear that the show's new threat had already found the Dragon Reborn. Clearly, she’ll be a major enemy for the characters to deal with in the battles ahead.^[11]

As acknowledged by Alanna, her Warders, and Moiraine, Lanfear is one of the 13 Forsaken.^[11]

Selene’s interactions with Rand in the show confirm that this aspect of her backstory with Lews Therin has been carried over to the small screen. Knowing in hindsight that Selene is Lanfear, it’s apparent that Lews Therin was the unnamed lover she discussed with Rand. When reminiscing about the past, Selene talked about the love they shared before lamenting on how devastated she was when he left her. Selene’s remarks illustrate Lanfear’s reaction to Lews Therin turning his back on her 3,000 years ago. Apparently, her TV counterpart never got over the Dragon either.^[11]

Lanfear’s pre-existing feelings for the Dragon account for many of her decisions in The Wheel of Time books, including the events of season 2. The fear she expressed when Rand channeled in “The Daughter of the Night” represents the exact opposite of her real attitude toward his abilities; in the books, his status as the most powerful channeler in existence had a lot to do with her attraction to him. She purposely sought Rand out and posed as Selene to win his heart, but to no avail. Unlike so many of the other Forsaken, Lanfear didn’t want to bring down the Dragon Reborn – she wanted them to be on the same side.^[11]

A key detail in “Daughter of the Night” suggests Lanfear’s plans aren’t in line at all with her book counterpart. One of the lines in the poem read, “a new lover she seeks, who shall serve her and die.” This creates the impression that in the following scene, when Lanfear was sitting over Rand with his hands tied down, she was about to kill him. Admittedly, Lanfear did try to kill Rand in the books, but only as a response to what she perceived as a betrayal. Killing him was never part of her initial plan.^[11]

Unless the poem is misinterpreting her intentions, it looks as if The Wheel of Time is taking her story in a completely different direction. It's at least possible that the show is purposely misconstruing Lanfear’s actions and that she wasn’t truly about to murder Rand. But if she was, such a reveal would fundamentally change her character. Trying in vain to rekindle with Rand what she had with Lews Therin thousands of years ago was a core part of her story in The Wheel of Time books, hence why Lanfear making an attempt on Rand’s life at such an early point in the saga would be a massive departure from the source material, and one that would raise new questions about her true goals.^[11]

^[15]

The Wheel of Time Season 2 is well underway and fans are deeply invested into the evolving world of Aes Sedai and the Dragon Reborn. Both fans of the books and newcomers to the series were given a delightful surprise when the Forsaken character of Lanfear was introduced in Season 2, Episode 4 "Daughter of the Night." She was not only a lover for the original Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon, she is also a dangerous adversary for Rand Al'Thor and Moiraine Sedai. Her presence on The Wheel of Time can only mean that the Last Battle is drawing closer for the Dragon Reborn.

During the Breaking of the World, the Dark One had many servants in his war against the Dragon. Among his greatest servants were the Forsaken. These were powerful beings who were sworn to the Dark and fought against Lews Telamon. One of these Forsaken was Lanfear. She was one of the most powerful channelers in the Forsaken and more powerful than many of the current Aes Sedai who are alive. Her presence in the life of Rand will only complicate matters as she manipulates and controls him to bring him over to the side of the darkness.

Lanfear, formerly known as Mierin Eronaile, has a complicated history with the Dragon Reborn. In the years leading up to the War of Power in the Age of Legends, Lanfear was a lover of Lews Therin. She adored him and the prestige that being with him brought her. He eventually left her for his the woman who would become his wife. This was because Lews sensed that Lanfear cared only for the power and influence that being with him brought, rather than actually caring about him. Lanfear was bitter at the breakup and continued to try to seduce Lews, but she never succeeded in pulling him away from his wife. In return, she poured herself into her research, which lead to the War of Power beginning.

During her research, Lanfear thought that she had uncovered a new Source that was outside the One Power. While the One Power is divided between male and female channelers, this new Source was not. What she didn't know was that she had actually just rediscovered the True Source, the power that was directly connected to the Dark One's prison. Lanfear bore a hole into the Dark One's prison and released him onto the world. This started the War of Power and lead to the Breaking of the World. While Lanfear was already one of the most powerful channelers of her time, pledging herself to the Dark One gave her even more power and brought her closer to getting Lews back for herself.

Lanfear was most known for psychological torture. She would enter people's dreams and torment them. She was an expert Dreamwalker and very much considered the realm of dreams to be her domain. She and Ishmael were constantly at odds and vying for the honor of being the Dark One's favorite. While Ishmael seemed to always win, Lanfear didn't stop from putting countless plots into action to bring her lover Lews to the side of the Dark One. When Lews finally sealed the Dark One away again, he also sealed Lanfear and the rest of the Forsaken away also. It wasn't until Rand released Ishmael, that Lanfear and the other Forsaken were released to walk the world and serve the Dark One again.

In The Wheel of Time on Prime Video, Lanfear is shown to be hiding behind an alias of Selene. She has been manipulating Rand and starting a romantic relationship with him. Lanfear is hoping to draw the Dragon Reborn back to the darkness by seducing Rand when he is alone and weak. She even fakes surprise and outrage when Rand reveals that he can channel when he attacks a Fade. Of course Lanfear must have summoned the Fade to force Rand to reveal himself to her. Lanfear is desperate to succeed in this life where she failed and lost in her previous life.

While Ishmael is steering the Seanchan into conflict with the Aes Sedai and Perrin Aybara, Lanfear is hoping to win favor by bringing in the Dragon Reborn early. Ishmael may have been the one that freed Lanfear, but the two are likely still fierce competitors. When the Last Battle comes, the Dark One will choose a Forsaken to be the new commander of his forces. While Ishmael had that "honor" in the first war, Lanfear desperately wants to be the leader this time. Yet, just as Lanfear almost had Rand under her control, Moiraine interfered and stopped Lanfear, even if only temporarily. In the books, Moiraine frequently stands between Lanfear and Rand. Moiraine knows how powerful Lanfear and her influence is on the Dragon and knows that Rand will have a hard time resisting her attempts. In the series, Moiraine will have an even harder time defending Rand from Lanfear since Lanfear has already established a deep connection with him.

The Wheel of Time will be building up the tenuous relationship of Moiraine and Rand as she continues to protect him from Lanfear. Lanfear will not want to disappoint the Dark One again. She was responsible for freeing him and starting the first War of Power, yet she was not valued by the Dark One. Now she has a second chance and she will not waste it. Rand a.k.a the Dragon Reborn will belong to her, what she always wanted with Lews Therin but never got. The forces of darkness will never stop hunting Rand and the Forsaken are some of the most dangerous people that Rand has to look out for.

In the season two episode "Strangers and Friends", Rand al'Thor (Josha Stradowski) is living in obscurity in Cairhien, knowing that as the Dragon Reborn, hunted by minions of the Dark One, his presence endangers his loved ones. He is romantically involved with the beautiful innkeeper Selene (O'Keeffe), from whom he hides his ability to channel the One Power.^[10][16]

Rand and Selene sneak into a high society party in "What Might Be" and inadvertently meet Anvaere Damodred (Lindsay Duncan), the aristocrat sister of Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike), the Aes Sedai who picked Rand out of obscurity. Struggling to control the flow of the One Power through him, he accidentally burns down Selene's inn during the night.^[17][18]

In "Daughter of the Night", Moiraine has become aware that Ishamael (Fares Fares) and Lanfear, two of the most powerful of the Dark One's Forsaken, have been freed from their magical captivity. Rand and Selene are attacked by a Fade, a horrifying, eyeless and deadly creature who serves the Dark One. Rand kills it with the One Power, and confesses his love for Selene. She chooses to stay with him despite his ability to channel, which is taboo for men. Just as Selene begins to reveal her own channeling abilities to Rand in bed, Moiraine arrives, given Rand's location by her sister Anvaere. She impales Selene and slits her throat, revealing to a shocked Rand that Selene is Lanfear. Rand and Moiraine flee as Lanfear begins to stir.^[19][20]

Rand and Moiraine evade Lanfear in "Damane", and take refuge with Anvaere. Ishamael, who is spearheading the efforts to free the Dark One from his prison, asks Lanfear if she will betray him, and she admits she probably will. Moiraine knows that Lanfear was in love with Lews Therin Telamon, the original incarnation of the Dragon, and considering she has not killed him during the months they have been together, Rand believes that the connection between him and Lanfear is real. Rand falls asleep and enters Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams, where Lanfear is all powerful, hoping to learn what she and Ishamael are planning. Upon entering, Rand finds himself immediately captured by a waiting Lanfear.^[21][22]

• "Eyes Without Pity" - In Tel'aran'rhiod, Lanfear tries to convince Rand to join her by promising to protect him from Ishamael and showing him that Egwene is a captive of the Seanchan in Falme. She also tells Rand that she will kill Moiraine if she sees them together. Before Rand can leave to attempt a rescue mission, he is intercepted by Lan, Alanna, and her warders, who tell him they can't let him leave. ^[23][24]

• "Daes Dae'mar" - Mat is abducted from Cairhien by Lanfear and brought to Ishamael in Falme, who gives him a tea that shows him visions of himself as a murderer. In Cairhien, Rand is brought to Siuan Sanche, who takes him captive, intending to use him as a weapon against the Dark One. Rand persuades Lanfear to help him get to Falme, and she assaults the Foregate to distract Siuan, allowing Moiraine and Lan to escape with Rand. Siuan finds them as they are about to leave Cairhien through a Waygate, but she is ambushed by Lanfear, who easily defeats her and opens the gate, allowing Rand, Moiraine and Lan to leave for Falme.^[25][26]

• "What Was Meant to Be" - Lanfear throws Moiraine and Lan out of the Ways outside of Falme. She then transports herself and Rand into the city, where Rand confronts and kills Turak and his men. This causes Ishamael to learn of Rand's presence and realize that Lanfear has betrayed him. After Rand destroys Ishamael, Lanfear is confronted by Moghedien, another of the Forsaken. She learns that all the Forsaken have been set free.^[27][28]

After Ishamael's defeat by Rand al'Thor, Lanfear plans to be rid of the other Forsaken by dropping the Seals they are bound to into the ocean. Lanfear is shocked to come face to face with Moghedian, who reveals that Ishamael has anticipated her betrayal, and freed her and the remaining Forsaken.^[14][27][28]

Lanfear is one of the most powerful of the Forsaken, and the most powerful female channeler among them. Originally known as Mierin Eronaile, she was in a romantic relationship with the Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon, but was eventually spurned by him for her unbridled ambition.^[1][2] She was imprisoned with the Dark One and the other Forsaken, but eventually escapes at the end of the Third Age and seeks out Rand al'Thor, the reincarnation of Lews.^[2]

Introduced in The Great Hunt as the mysterious Selene, she stages her rescue by Rand al'Thor, the reincarnation of Lews, from an attack by strange beasts called grolm in a distorted, alternate world. She then leads Rand and his party back to a Portal Stone that he uses to return to the real world. Lanfear is all powerful in Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams, and visits Rand and Mat Cauthon there as Selene in The Dragon Reborn. She is surprised to see Perrin Aybara in the dream realm, but as a wolfbrother he has power there as well, and eventually recognizes her as Lanfear. She impersonates Else Grinwell and appears to Egwene al'Vere, Nynaeve al'Meara and Elayne Trakand to manipulate their investigation into the Black Ajah. Lanfear appears to Rand as Selene in The Shadow Rising, and reveals her identity as one of the Forsaken.

Lanfear is portrayed by Natasha O'Keeffe in the Wheel of Time television series adaptation,^[1][3] first appearing in the 2023 episode "Strangers and Friends".^[4] Initially posing as innkeeper Selene, Lanfear begins a romantic relationship with Rand, hoping to bind his loyalty and seduce him to the Shadow.^[5][1][6]

[1] [2] [3]

== Licensing == {{Non-free television screenshot|image has rationale=yes}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Lanfear}} [[Category:The Wheel of Time]]