| Lanfear | |
|---|---|
| The Wheel of Time character | |
| First appearance |
|
| Created by | Robert Jordan |
| Adapted by | Rafe Judkins |
| Portrayed by | Natasha O'Keeffe |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias |
|
| Gender | Female |
| Affiliation | Forsaken |
Lanfear is a fictional character in the Wheel of Time fantasy novel series by American author Robert Jordan, and its television adaptation. She 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.
Lanfear is portrayed by Natasha O'Keeffe in the Wheel of Time television series adaptation, first appearing in the September 2023 episode "Strangers and Friends".
Screen Rant called Lanfear "one of the most important villains" in the series.[1]
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.
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.
Lanfear Is One Of The 13 Forsaken In The Wheel Of Time
As acknowledged by Alanna, her Warders, and Moiraine, Lanfear is one of the 13 Forsaken. The Forsaken are a group of ancient channelers loyal to the Dark One. Lanfear was easily among the strongest of them all. According to The Great Hunt, the only Forsaken with a greater level of command over the One Power in Wheel of Time is Ishamael himself, whereas Moiraine has called the TV version of Lanfear “the most dangerous of the Forsaken.”Renowned for her beauty, Lanfear originally went by the name “Mierin Eronaile.” During a time when men could become Aes Sedai, she and a male Aes Sedai named Beidomon were researching the True Source when they accidentally released the Dark One.
Sometime after that, she reinvented herself, becoming Lanfear and pledging herself to the Dark One. She took on the title of “Daughter of the Night” and joined with the other 12 Forsaken, who called themselves “the Chosen.” Together, they fought on the side of the Dark One during the War of Power. They battled the original Dragon and his army of Aes Sedai, the Hundred Companions. Given the number of allies at the Dragon’s disposal, the Forsaken – even with all their power - weren’t able to win. The Forsaken and their master were all sealed away at Shayol Ghul, the place known in the books as the prison of the Dark One.
Lanfear Was In Love With The Original Dragon
Aside from her extremely high power level, what sets Lanfear apart from her fellow servants of the Dark One is her relationship with the Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon. Before aligning with the Dark One, she was Lews Therin’s lover. However, their romance crumbled when Lews Therin became aware of her thirst for power. In his mind, it was his strength in the One Power – and not him – that she truly loved. He left Lanfear and fell in love with someone else, a woman named Ilyena. Lanfear deeply hated Ilyena, having falsely believed her to be the cause of their breakup. It would seem that her jealousy, resentment, and ambition are what ultimately drove Lanfear to villainy.
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.
Lanfear’s Original Plan For Rand Explained
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.
RELATED: The Wheel Of Time Season 2 Changes A Major Book Romance With Elayne's Introduction
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.
Wheel Of Time Season 2 Hints At A Major Change To Lanfear’s Story
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.
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.
[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
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Lanfear 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.
Multiple characters describe Lanfear as the most beautiful woman they have ever seen.[1][2]
She 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.
Her ambition ultimately prompts her to pledge herself to the Dark One, and take the name Lanfear. She is one of the Forsaken caught by surprise by Lews Therin Telamon's attack on Shayol Ghul and sealed deep within in a timeless, dreamless sleep.
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.[3]
A The Wheel of Time television adaptation was announced by Sony Pictures Television in April 2017,[4] and a series order by Amazon Prime Video was reported in October 2018.[5][6][7] In May 2021, Amazon renewed the series for a second season ahead of the series premiere.[8] Season one premiered in November 2021.[9]
The casting of Natasha O'Keeffe in the role of Lanfear for season two was announced in October 2021.[10] The second season premiered in September 2023,[11] and O'Keeffe first appeared in the episode "Strangers and Friends".[12]
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.[12][13]
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.[14][15]
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.[16][17]
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.[18][19]