The Wheel Of Time: The 10 Best Characters, Ranked By Likability

The appeal of a fantasy series like The Wheel of Time stems, in large part, from its large action set pieces, fully-detailed world, and cosmological conflicts.

At the same time, it is also very much invested in its many characters, all of whom have to contend with the reality of a rapidly-shifting world, a world that is always threatening to collapse around them. As they show throughout the first season of the show, these characters also vary quite widely in terms of how likable they are.

10 Liandrin

Of all of the characters that appear in the first season, Liandrin is the one that most fully occupies the position of the villain (she could very well become a very powerful villain character).

From the moment that she comes onto the screen, she makes it clear that she has a deep enmity for Moiraine (and for the Blue Ajah in general), and that she is willing to do almost anything for what she believes to be right. She has an indomitable will, but she doesn’t seem especially interested in getting anyone to like her.

9 Mat

One of the things that The Wheel of Time does very well is to show its characters in all of their moral complexity, and one of the most ambiguous is Mat Cauthon.

Though he has a fierce loyalty to his sisters, he nevertheless also shows that he is not an especially likable person, particularly once he steals the dagger from Shadar Logoth and its poisonous energies start to take over his personality. He slowly becomes even more unpleasant, willing to turn against even his closest friends.

8 Siuan

To survive in a toxic and dangerous place like the White Tower takes quite a strong personality, and it’s clear that Siuan Sanche is one of the most formidable Aes Sedai to appear in the first season of the series. As strong as she is, however, she shows that she is likable to a certain degree, so long as someone is on her good side (as Moiraine certainly is).

At the same time, there is a harshness to her – engendered by her position – which means that she will always be slightly aloof and out of bounds to others.

7 Nynaeve

Of all of the people that come from the Two Rivers, Nynaeve is arguably the most prickly and most stubborn (even if she is a fan-favorite character in Wheel of Time). As a result, she can sometimes come across as somewhat unlikeable, particularly when it comes to her relationships with the Aes Sedai (who she steadfastly does not like and of whom she remains intensely distrustful).

While this is all understandable, especially given her commitment to protecting the young people under her charge, she does, at times, come across as being rather unlikeable or at least somewhat frustrating.

6 Perrin

Of all of the young men that come from the Two Rivers, Perrin is definitely one of the most likable because he is deeply and passionately sensitive and does everything he can to protect those physically weaker than him.

In particular, his devotion to Egwene and his willingness to stand up for her against the Whitecloaks – despite their military superiority and the fact that they have it in their power to kill them both – shows just how kind and good of a character he is.

5 Egwene

While Nynaeve has a stubborn streak that keeps her from being likable at times, Egwene is a softer, more sympathetic character. Unlike Nynaeve, she doesn’t have the same level of hostility toward the Aes Sedai, and she even begins to seem like she wants to become one of them.

What’s more, she also shows that she clearly loves and cares about Rand and the others and that she will go to the Eye of the World, even if it means that her own life might be forfeited.

4 Rand

The revelation that Rand was in fact the Dragon Reborn was one of the most important moments in the first season of The Wheel of Time. While he is clearly a very important character, he is also one of the series most likable.

He has a charm and a kindness that is all his own, and he clearly wants to do what is best, not for himself, but also for others. In particular, his willingness to accompany Moiraine into the Blight to challenge the Dark One allows the viewer to really identify and sympathize with him. In that sense, he is very much like his Lord of the Rings counterpart, Frodo Baggins.

3 Moiraine

Moiraine Sedai is sure to become one of Rosamund Pike’s best roles and, as taciturn and enigmatic as she can be, she is also one of the series’ most likable characters.

In particular, her relationship with Siuan – which is rich and textured and passionate – suggests that there is a softer side to her that is worthy of appreciation. Most importantly, she cares deeply about the fate of the world and even, in her own way, for the young people under her charge.

2 Lan

As likable as Moiraine is, Lan is even more so, for all that he can at times be a bit taciturn. It’s quite refreshing to see the profoundly emotional relationship that he has with Moiraine, and it reveals a more human aspect to his personality than he often shows in the novels.

Even more potent is his burgeoning relationship with Nynaeve, which shows that, beneath his militaristic exterior, he really does have the capacity to love fiercely and deeply and that he will protect her, no matter what happens.

1 Loial

The appearance of Loial is one of the most important moments in the entire first season, both because he is a fan-favorite character and because he helps the company in their effort to make it through the Ways.

As vital as he is to the success of the mission to get to the Eye of the World, it is also worth pointing out that he is also one of the most likable characters to appear in the first season. He has a warmth and a generosity of spirit that is very different than almost all of the other characters on the show, and that will become ever clearer in the seasons to come.

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