1 Wheel Of Time Scene Suggests Ingtar’s Death Was Secretly More Accurate Than You Think

Summary

• Ingtar’s death in the show suggests that he may have been a secret Darkfriend, which aligns with his character arc in the books.
• The exclusion of Ingtar’s betrayal in the TV adaptation removes a key element of his heroic sacrifice.
• Ingtar’s potential redemption and desire to die a hero align with his personal journey in The Wheel of Time books.

Ingtar’s death in The Wheel of Time was a departure from the books, but a key scene from earlier in the scene indicates it may be more accurate than it initially appeared. In Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time books, Lord Ingtar Shinowa sacrificed himself in an act of redemption. His TV counterpart also met his end saving his friends, but the meaning of this decision was changed considerably – or at least, that was the impression given by The Wheel of Time season 2 finale.

For its adaptation of The Wheel of Time’s second book, The Great Hunt, Amazon’s show brought in a number of characters relevant to the novel, Ingtar Shinowa included. In the story, Ingtar was the leader of the hunting party sent from Fal Dara to find Padan Fain and retrieve the stolen Horn of Valere. But as the story progressed, it was discovered that like Fain, Ingtar was a Darkfriend. Unbeknownst to his allies, he had been acting as a willing accomplice to the villains. But by the end of his arc, Ingtar had renounced his loyalty to the Dark One.

One Wheel Of Time Scene Hints Intgar Was Secretly A Traitor

The TV version of the story notably excluded Ingtar’s betrayal in The Great Hunt, thus removing that key element of his heroic sacrifice at the end of the book. However, there was one scene in season 2 that creates the possibility that Ingtar’s Darkfriend story was hidden in the show. In an eyebrow-raising exchange with Perrin, Ingtar said that “Perhaps Fain had a reason for doing what he did.” and claimed that Perrin may not like what it is. Ingtar’s suggestion that there could be a legitimate justification for Fain’s heinous acts was striking, given the circumstances.

Ingtar having a great capacity for forgiveness is possible, of course, but it’s important to keep in mind that Fain had murdered many of Ingtar’s own allies at Fal Dara. Fain’s heartlessness was witnessed by many. Ingtar was also well aware of the innocent people slaughtered at Two Rivers, as Perrin had just recounted the story. Ingtar’s apparent need to rationalize Fain’s actions would make perfect sense, though, if Ingtar was a Darkfriend himself, and perhaps someone questioning his current path.

Ingtar Being A Secret Darkfriend Would Make His Death More Accurate

The Wheel of Time never confirmed Ingtar’s status as a Darkfriend, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t one at some point. Based on his earlier interaction with Perrin, there’s a chance that Ingtar, rather than getting found out, successfully concealed his allegiance to the Dark One and changed his ways without anyone being wise to it. That being the case would bring the same meaning to his death that it had in the books. While Loial’s speech about them being “heroes” of another Age likely did inspire him, redemption could have been a factor as well.

Ingtar wanting to die a hero after living as a Darkfriend would be in keeping with the spirit of the character in The Wheel of Time books. It’s also a personal journey that wouldn’t necessarily need to be shown, as it’s not hard to understand why Ingtar would seek redemption. The trials he went through alongside Loial, Perrin, Masema, not to mention the friendships he’s formed with them, may have motivated him to place his loyalty in them and forsake the Dark One completely.

The first two seasons of
The Wheel of Time
can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.