My Top 10 Characters In Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time Series
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ค. 2024
- Mike talks about, and ranks, his top 10 characters in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time.
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0:00 Introduction & Rules
2:46 Honorable Mentions
6:06 Top 10 Characters
18:30 Final Thoughts
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#MikesBookReviews #WheelOfTime #RobertJordan - บันเทิง
Rand is easily my favorite character. His arc is a masterpiece.
Rand is for sure my favorite character, he has the best arc of any character in literature in my opinion
verin's arc is heartbreaking, she is an absolute badass.
She is agreat double agent. For me she sacrifices herself for Rand at the point to forfeit the light for herself, to spy for the light inside the rows of the dark.
If the "Band of the Red Hand" was a character it would be one of the top 10 for me.
the band of the red hand is kind of like the bridge 4 of wheel of time
@ dan. I agree. Great point
Rand is my favorite due to that incredible character arc from book 1 to 14.
Rand is my favorite character for sure, love his POVs and all the crazy/memories of LTT. This may be an unpopular opinion I know.
Rand is my favorite character too . What do you think of the taint madness in the show ?
mine as well, no 1. Close second is Nynaeve
@@saldeanfarmgirl7224 am glad someone else likes rand as much as me. I did like the taint puppets with logain. But I think the Madness with Rand will be portrayed in another way. I hope they dont make it seem too crazy though. I always felt that Rand was not really crazy, LTT felt so real to me ans I liked him too.
What did you think about it?
@@sniizzer0 for me Eggi is second for me. Although I love nyneve's cleaning of the taint and healing the madness, she is awesome too
Rand is my favorite character too, his development is the best.
Dude I am collecting and reading Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, and Joh Gwynne, ands Robert Jordan because of your content. You're the man!
Enjoy!
Sounds like you will need some Steven Erikson in the near future…..
Rand is my favorite, the character growth of Rand is unmatched.
I would love a top 10 Wheel of Time moments from you. I am the type of reader who likes to re-read my favorite moments every now and then, and Wheel of Time has SO MANY of them.
I hope Flicker Flicker Flicker is on it, I'm at book four and so far that's my favourite
I could probably do that in the future. I did one at the halfway point.
Yes, a Top Ten moments of WoT would be a good video.
The ending to Lord of Chaos
@@mikesbookreviews Perhaps when Egwene serves soup to Elaida? LOLOLOL
I'm one of the weirdos that my favorite character is Rand. I like seeing the hero not always make the right choice and be better for it. Without all the missteps he needed to balance the good we would have had a very different ending.
It's not weird. He's my favourite too.
Had Mat been more of a positive presence in book 1-2, and not suffered a bit due to writer shift in book 12, he would have been #1, but as it stands, Rand #1, Mat #2, Nyn #3.
My top 3 are
Rand
Mat
Nynaeve
Rand first tho. Best character arc in fantasy. The amount of growth he goes through and the pain he endures both psychological and physical is just insane. I cant describe how many times i just wanted to give him a hug since noone else did🤣
I'm so glad you mentioned Verin. I just finished the series for the first time, and I think she might be my number 1.
1.Rand
2.Mat
3.Nynaeve
4.Lan
5.Perrin
6.Moiraine
7.Egwene
8.Lanfear
9.Thom
10.Loial
Honorable mentions: Verin, Min, Aviendha, Tam, Demandred and Talmanes
Not knowing what my friends thought beforehand, Mat was my favorite. I just loved how he was constantly put out over things that he had to do because no one else could or would do them. He was kind of like Destiny's cosmic punching bag and it was frequently funny.
I felt the same way with Nynaeve. Probably one of the best character arcs in all of fantasy. I think it was like book 11 or so when I suddenly realized she was possibly my favorite character. It’s a hard pick between her and Mat for me, mostly because Mat is very much so like the person I consider my best friend, even down to the dice playing and odd luck. I only realized that upon a recent reread. lol
It would definitely be interesting to see a “top 10 moments” video from you about WoT. Another great video would be “top 10 fighters” or “top 10 heroic fighters” because there are so many good characters in the series. It’s always nice to watch videos about this. Great video Mike. 👍
Really like your top ten. Nynaeve really shined towards the end of the series when we figure out what makes her tick.
I’d go:
1. Matt
2. Rand
3. Nynaeve
4. Moraine
5. Perrin
6. Ishmael
6. Lan
7. Aviendha
8. Thom
9. Lanfear
10. Siaun
Rand has been my favorite fantasy character for years. We do exist. Lol
Great list! As always, crushing it Mike!
Loved the books. Started reading in 1996. Your list is almost identical to mine! Great job, and I loved these characters. I felt Perrin peaked early and was sad he didn't have more glory. Nynaeve and Matt were my favorite 2 as well--but I had Nynaeve on top too. So many AWESOME story points with her. Had tiers when she went out to help Lan and gather his army! Wow.
Wheel of Time is still my favorite series of all time--I just loved the characters, journey and I had my biggest book hangover when over. Thanks to Brandon Sanderson for finishing them as well as he did.
Glad to see some more wheelies content from you Mike 👍
I LOVE that you mentioned the Joseph Campbell themes ... There's so many things to pull from his study... I feel like the tv show really hits the learning your hero/parent is human .. with Moraine as the parent and the book readers the protagonist in a weird way
Wonderful as always. I do raise my hand for Rand as my fav. From day one, and starting reading at a young age, but enjoy your list!
I will say this , I doubt any wheel of time fan thinks a video about wheel of time is milking it :) we'll all generally happy that others like what we like and happy ppl are making videos about the series :)
Honestly getting tempted to listen to this series again. Only finished it like a year ago lol
Here to leave a like and say hi so as to dive out of potential spoilers in my case! Excited to dive in after reading the complete series!
Thanks for the video!
Mike you should definitely do favorite characters in LOTR!!!!
"One step away from slipping on banana peels" LMAO 🤣😂☠️
Hahahahahaha Hahahahahahaha
My top 10
1) Rand
2) Matt
3) Nyneave
4) Moiraine
5) Aviendha
6) Thom
7) Lan
8) Logain
9) Tam
10) Verin
I'm only on book 8 right now, but here's my list, so far!
#1 Thom
#2 Moiraine
#3 Nyneave
#4 Loial
#5 Lan
#6 Berelain
#7 Juilin
#8 Sulin / basically all maidens except Aviendha
#9 Mat
#10 Perrin
Great list. Your #1 is also my #1. I bet Jordan meant for a lot of Nynaeve’s contradictory moments to be humor and some people didn’t get that. I for one was laughing most of the time because she doesn’t mean to be funny, but just is. I also adore the book 11 moment and her relationship with Rand.
I think my list is more or less the same. Nynaeve was annoying in the beginning and she was my favourite at the end. I will always feel that she should have gotten to do more. Aviendha fell short of my expectations on every read. I loved the badass image of her in my head but her character in the book never matched up. Like you, I do not like Egwene (I see a bit of my younger self in her, which I am glad I outgrew.) I still shed a tear for her. Unpopular opinion though, Elayne is in my top 5. I like the way she handles politicking and with her sheltered upbringing, I like her character growth. I know a majority of people hate the menagerie plot line, I did not care for it on my first read either, bolstered only by Nynaeve and Elayne… but on my subsequent reads I loved it and them. The same with the Perrin-Shaido plot line. On my first read, I felt it drag but on my multiple rereads I actually enjoyed them. I enjoyed the series most when I last did a read along with the audiobooks prepping for the show. And every time the series ends I bawl like a baby. One would think it’s a tragedy from my reaction.
I would love to hear a full spoiler version of this list, with favorite scenes, arcs, and relationships of each of these characters
Just glad you came around on Matt as you took the journey. LOL
What I love about WoT, is that everyone has a completely different Top 10, and they're all valid!
100 percent
as long as Eggy isn't in your top 10 =D
My top 10 is pretty similar if I had to pick it would go:
1.Mat
2.Rand
3.Lan
4.Nynaeve
5. Perrin
6.Logain
7. Moirane
8.Verin
9.Galad
10. Demandred
Solid list. Galad and Logain are two of my favorite characters even with their little page time.
@@JamesI88 ya I wish they had more page time but they stole every scene they were in and had some of my favorite moments in the series
I have a couple secondary characters I really liked, Gaul and Talmanes...not top tens but definitely honorable mentions. I also called your top two before the video started.
I'm in agreeance with your pick of Nyneave. The reason she became my favorite is that she always did the right thing, and she was always loyal to Rand when so many others doubted. Verin is another great pick. I remember having to put the book down and walk away at the end of her arc it was that good. I would love to see a top 10 secondary character list to see what you think. So may wonderful characters that made this story what it is. For example my favorite is Davram Bashere, just well written combat commander.
I love Mat! He is awsome
Perrin is mine, hands down. Quiet, grounded and has a strong moral compass, but yet, he wrestles constantly between what is right and wrong according to that compass. And even then, he often finds that he must do what is necessary, even when what he feels would be right isn't even an option to take. He is a classic take on the individual who struggles with the necessities of war and reconciling it. Plus... come on, man... that forge scene! Forever burned into my memory as one of the greatest scenes in all of fantasy.
id love to see a top 10 moments in WoT video. i know it would be spoiler filled but it would be cool to see what others were. Dumai's Wells is my favorite. I hope the show makes it that far just for me to see it on the screen
That would be cool.
Think the reason why Dumai's Wells works so well isn't because of the iconic line but more because of the build up to it that makes it SOOOOO satisfying?
Thanks Mike
I know this isn't relevant to this video. But I ordered the Faithful and the Fallen books on your recommendation. Can't wait to get stuck into them, it'll be my first John Gwynne experience
I’d like to see that other video where Egwene is number 1😅
My Top 10 (today):
1. Loial
2. Nynaeve
3. Lanfear
4. Avienda
5. Thom
6. Rand
7. Perrin
8. Verrin
9. Gaul
10. Siuan
Honorable mention: Min (not my fav of the 3, that's Avi, but the girl I think is best for Rand) & Davram Bashere
Can you do another list (I can't get enough WoT!): Top 10 secondary characters (and why Talmanes is #1) 😉
Ha ha we will see how this one does and then reassess
Shouts out to Rodel Ituralde
@@miketomasini Ingtar
Cenn Buie FTW
So many awesome character that all have their great moments and their moments when I really dislike shat they do. Rand, Mat, Perrin, Nynaeve, Moraine, Lan etc, this series got some amazing characters
Rand is my favourite character!
It cracked me up when you said "It's Egwene!". I can't stand her and I'm just on book two xD Great list!
Rand is in my top 3 fictional characters of all time with Darth Vader and Batman. Incredible character arc.
The lack of Perrin in later books was one of the big reasons that lead to my frustration and DNFing the series.
I have reread the first 3 books so far and I like Nyneave a lot more i this time.
Yeah, Perrin was on his way to being one of the great fantast characters ever and then...well...yeah.
What os DNFing? Why do people assume we know their abbreviations?
@@TheDragon160 probably "did not finish"
@@aaronlippman3338 thank you!
Rand is 100% my favorite character. His character arc is the best I've ever read!
I'm pretty on par with your choices, except I'm only up to book 6. So my opinions can be swayed. Loial ranks higher for me. And Nynaeve, even though she's still a biotch in books 1-5, she is a fave of mine as well. She reminds me ALOT of my friend's older sister. And I reminded him of that often, while we were watching the show.
My top 10 is probably:
1. Rand
2. Egwene
3. Perrin
4. Nynaeve
5. Moiraine
6. Elaida
7. Aviendha
8. Elayne
9. Min
10. Lan
This is it. An elite list, except I would sub Lanfear for Perrin. I low key feel like Egwene and Elaida are super underrated characters, which is a shame because their perspectives are the most fascinating in the books.
Regarding EotW and POVs, pretty sure it is something like 80% Rand. (Pretty much the entirety of the rest is Perrin)
Yes a lot of minor characters here I know but it is what it is. In no particular order
1. Tam (vital father role for main character and epic moments in the last battle)
2. Bella, Mandarb (in that order, Bella might have Mats own luck considering how far she made it amid all of the horse deaths in battles)
3. Androl (don’t hate but I like Sanderson characters more than Jordan and this dude screamed sanderson)
4. Logain (it’s not his role in the books that makes him great. It’s my imagination and anticipation of him. The whole series I was waiting for his glory, it never came in the way I expected, but I like to think that mins viewing my of him isn’t concluded just because the last battle happened, I imagine his glory to continue in the 4th age as sealbreaker, leader of the black tower.)
5. Mat (probably #1 if I was doing them in order)
6. Rodel Iturlalde (and the great captains, just the idea of them is so cool, but Rodel and Gareth had my favorite moments of the captains, they’re basically all the same character, excepting Pedron Niall I don’t like him.)
7. Vanin the horse thief
8. Min (because she’s the single female character in the whole series who’s annoying control obsessed moments didn’t outdo the memorable moments (besides Verin, honorable mention) plus anytime she has a viewing it’s a massive treat I live for the viewings.)
9. Rand/Lews Therin (favorite scene In the whole series is when he almost ends everything for everyone on dragonmount)
10. Ishamael (not super interesting but because he’s the only forsaken who’s motivations aren’t power but to cease to exist which I can relate to. That’s where Rand was leaning on dragonmount before he saw the light, not hard in this sad world to adapt such a mindset)
Loial is almost like Samweis for Frodo. Good , loyal and without the Ogier the last battle had probably not been on.
we have same top 5! ✌️
Mat is in my top three, I relate to him more than I care to admit haha
I have the same top 3, although in a slightly different order: Mat, Rand & Nynaeve. =)
Outside of the main five from the Two Rivers, in no order, some of my favorites are Tam, Lan, Moiraine, Aviendah, Verin, and Loial.
Your top 3 is also my top 3. But for me no Perrin and definitely no Egwene in my list. I always love your wot content so keep them coming!
Totally agree with Verin...her story is realy something....bit similar is Beak from Reapers gale....both stories hearthbraking.
Nyneave deserves to be the Amyrlin seat
She wouldn’t want that. She wants her man.
Read 7 books in two months. Loved them all… watched the show and it sucked so hard it killed all of my mood for reading. I am honestly not sure when I am gonna go ahead with this series.
bruh....... Don't miss out, only gets more epic.....
Don’t get discouraged by the show. Push on.
Don't let a show that has nothign to do with the books ruin the awesome experience of reading the whole series. The payoff in the end is too great.
keep reading homie!
1- Nynaeve
2- Rand
3- Mat
4- Moirane
5- Verin
6- Min
7- Loial
8- Galad
9- Siuan
10- Tam
I can't believe how much I hated Nynaeve until like book 8-9 and then she slowly become my favorite character in the series. What an amazing arc.
Rand is my favorite with Nynaeve as a close second.
Save it when I finish the book series
It should still be here.
I just watched this video. My top two are just the same as yours but Matt is #1 and Ny'neave is#2, Rand #3 Lan, #4 Perrin, 5 Moiraine. After that it fluctuates alot.
Rand, Mat, Nynaeve
depending on what metrics you want to apply
Good list though, no argument here!
You read the whole Godblind trilogy in the time it's taken me to read the first half of Memory of Light..
How many eyes do you have, Mike?I
Fun list, anyway!
Olver is my #1!
Just kidding! Your ranking perfectly matches mine, except the honorable mentions. I would swap Greandal for Lanfear, Gaul for Taim, and add Faile who grows from annoyingly immature to one of my favorites in the last 2 books.
Really putting me on my spot to come up with my top 10 WoT characters, but here we go.
(Oh wait, I found a tier list I made after reading it. I can copy off of past me)
10. Loial
9. Moridin
8. Tam
7. Lan
6. Verin
5. Lews Therin Telemon(this counts as a character, IDC)
4. Moiraine
3. Nynaeve
2. Mat
1. Rand
i miss your full spoiler thoughts. i get why theyre no longer a thing. just liked hearing others insight
I Will not watch right now since I'm reading the series at the moment and I don't want to be influenced 😀 I will come back and watch when I'm finished to compare our opinions. Have a good day
No qualms about your top 10. I'm making my way back through these books for the first time since AMoL came out so it's been a bit for me.
Honorable mentions: Hurin, Bela, Narg, Bayle Domon (I no believe you do no mention him. Fortune prick me!)
Here's my top 10 as it stands right now (I may change them after my re-read):
10. Thom - Really would have liked to see him even more in this series
9. Min - Maybe I have a bad memory here but I always loved how Min typically took no crap from anybody
8. Loial - Another one on her based on his "goodness"
7. Verin - What a great story arc
6. Egwene - Perhaps my memory is fuzzy about her character in later books but I seem to recall enjoying her story
5. Moiraine - Loved her story from start to finish
4. Lan - Badass
3. Mat - Probably my favorite when I was younger and first reading these books
2. Nynaeve - Agree with your sentiments completely
1. Perrin Aybara - I get the gripes about him in later books but I still just have to go with him based on his overall "goodness"
My top 10
1. Mat
2. Moiraine
3. Rand
4. Loial
5. Nynaeve
6. Birgitte
7. Lanfear
8. Lan
9. Thom
10. Perrin
(Honorable Mentions)
1. Verrin
2. Aviendha
3. Logain
4. Egwene
5. Tuon
Only read the first 7 books ~25 years ago so don't remember that much details but one character I liked was the myrdraal boss
Books 11-14 are so good. You should jump back in.
In no particular order:
Rand
Mat
Moraine
Galad
Azmodean
Ishamael
Lanfear
Berlain
Talmanes
Rhuarc
I mean you tossed a coin and Matt didn't win? That's weird
1.Mat
2.Nynaeve
3.Rand
4.Lan
5.Moiraine
6.Talmanes
7.Androl
8.Siuan
9.Perrin
10.Egwene
Honorable mentions: Cadsuane, Verin, Loial, Elyas, Birgitte, Thom, Logain, Amis, Faile, Gaul
Blood and bloody ashes, I'm not a flaming hero!
Nyn is not my favourite character (#3 after Rand & Mat), and I think a lot of that has to do with her early-series annoyingness and her being involved in the Menagerie plot lines.
However, I think her arc is the most realistically written.
Often times characters end up being completely unrecognizable people from where they started, or that new aspects are introduced to them, seemingly out of nowhere. With Nyn, she has tremendous Growth, without necessarily Changing.
She is still the same core person who started out, but just a better version of herself. Every step in her development is very grounded in what we know of her up to that point. All her achievements also feel more earned and true to her core, than anyone else's.
Me, me! Rand is my favorite character. Now you know someone 🙂.
There are some lesser characzers I love, like for example Andres and the red sister, I forgot the name, that help to save the Ashermann on the side of the light.
Rand and Mat are cut from a different cloth when compared to the other characters IMO.
Egwene started out my least favorite and ended up my favorite. I understand all your choices though. Everyone is going to vibe with different characters. Mat was the only one that I don't really get. He never clicked with me. I do like some of his parts though. Lol
1. Nynaeve
2. Mat
3. Moraine
4. Thom
5. Lan
6. Verin
7. Rand
8. Siuan
9. Galad
10. Loial
I love Egwene. I think rand and nynaeve are the best characters but I'll place Egwene nearly as high as Nynaeve. I don't know why Egwene is accused of being Mary Sue, while Mat is the character who rarely fails.
I just finished the series and my biggest complaints is the balance of coverage of the characters. Some we see too little of and some way too much.
Prince of the ravens
I always liked Verin, I just inherently trusted her throughout the series, more than any other AS. Given Moiraine's absence for most of the series and her crappy romance ending, Verin's exemplary ending pips her ahead of Moiraine for me.
Mat ❤
Haven't seen it yet but I'm just guessing number 1 is Egwene
Definitely
My top three would be 1. Mat and 2./3. Rand and Nynaeve. And Mat and Nynaeve a bit too were characters I disliked in the beginning.
I'm currently reading through book 5 and I'm hating Nynaeve, it's pretty encouraging to see that she seems to became a great character.
She is by far my least favorite.
On the other hand my favorite is probably Egwene (and Siuan/Perrin) and it seems pretty bad rn
Tbh I don't dislike Rand but I am very neutral about him overall tho I hated or more precisely DESPISED the ending for him tho for Spoiler reasons I guess I don't say what I mean cuz if you read the series you know what I mean
Did you enjoy season 2 more?
SPOILERS
10. Androl Genhald - Probably my most unpopular opinion on this list, but as a huge Sanderson fan, Androl is everything I wanted from a Sanderson WoT book. We don't get much from the perspective of Asha'man throughout the series, but most of what we do get is with Androl and it was like a breath of fresh air in aMoL for me. (Not that anything was bad at all but he was just different, and I really appreciate that.)
9. Lanfear - Pretty much everything that Mike said - she's smart, she's manipulative, she's awesome. Especially seeing her manipulating Rand in book 2 is some of my favorite stuff with any of the forsaken.
8. Thom Merrilin - I don't have too much to say about Thom other than, who doesn't love a good 'ol gleeman? Jordan does a really good job with Thom's character examining both his serious and fun side. He's hilarious and heartbreaking throughout, and I love it.
7. Loial - Nothing needs to be said. Just Loial.
6. Nynaeve al'Meara - I almost feel bad for putting Nynaeve at the bottom of the EF5, but really I love her just about as much as everyone below. She's only here because she's the least relatable to me, but that doesn't take away from her character at all. The Golden Crane fly's for Tarmon Gaidon! *chills*
5. Egwene al'Vere - I understand why some people don't love Egwene, but I absolutely love her character and her plot with the White Tower. The way she goes out too is such a satisfying conclusion.
4. Perrin Aybara - Basically everything Mike said in the video. He starts and ends strong but everything in between is so boring. I hope they can give him something more to do in the show or at least drastically decrease his plotline from books 6-10.
3. Moiraine Damodred - Moiraine is just a character that everyone loves, I only wish we had gotten more of her. She serves the role as the old wise wizard so well in the first few books, and especially on reread you can really examine her and everything she says and does. Her "dying" is absolutely heartbreaking and I really like the role she serves in the final book. She hasn't changed all that much, but everything in the world has and I love seeing her adjusting to that and how she interacts with all of our characters in the end. And not to mention all of the White Tower stuff with her and Siuan cause w o w.
2. Matrim Cauthon - See 1.
1. Rand al'Thor - Rand at Mat are my two favorite characters for completing different reasons. Mat is hands down the most *fun* character in the series, and no one makes me laugh more. His plot is also really good after book 3. But Rand, while reading him is absolutely nothing like reading Mat, I enjoy his chapters even more. His character is by far (imo) the most interesting and complex character in the series, and has such amazing moments. I love seeing his descent into madness and especially how his presence changes as the books go by. The three scenes that show this the best I think are Dumai's Wells, for obvious reasons, and maybe a less popular one but at the beginning of Towers of Midnight when he visits the White Tower and interacts with Egwene you can just feel the presence and power that he has. Egwene too. The tension in that scene is unrivaled. And of course, Rand on Dragonmount at the end of book 12 is absolutely stunning, and is my favorite piece of fiction I've ever read. His arc is just so good and I'm loving seeing it again as I'm rereading the books right now.