Wheel of Time Characters and their MCU Counterparts

Wheel of Time's first season is about prophecy, but it's also about characterization. Robert Jordan's novels live on their sprawling cast of characters, and it's no different for the Amazon Prime TV series. Taking the opportunity to refocus and flesh out the stories of surrounding characters, this has been a show that succeeds the most when it follows the emotional journeys of its crew, wherever those paths may lead.

The MCU is known for archetypical characters that fight for justice against planet-wide threats, and that's just one reason that it's fun to compare the similarities between its properties and the myriad other shows and films spanning the media landscape. While there are some pretty sizable differences between it and Wheel of Time, there are some similarities, as well. That includes at least a little bit of character crossover.

Moiraine Damodred - Doctor Strange

One of the most powerful among the Aes Sedai, Moiraine cuts an imposing figure without the added benefit of an enormous cape. A supporting character in the novels that steps very much to center stage for the show, this is a character that navigates heady mystical worlds with poise and humor, which reminds us a whole lot of a certain Master of the Mystic Arts that we could name that goes by the name of Stephen.

On a personal level, both Moiraine and Stephen Strange share a sense of arrogance, but then again, maybe that's just what happens when you're the best there is at what you do. They are both also very well known for throwing their lives on the line to protect others. They might be workaholics with a rocky bedside manner, but these two certainly have a lot in common with one another.

al'Lan Mandragoran - Monica Rambeau

Lan is a Warder, meaning that he is bound to accompany and fight alongside one of the Aes Sedai. In his case for season one, this was Moiraine, meaning he got a front-row seat to most of the major action that took place. Sadly, this also meant that he bore a lot of headaches along the way. Don't know why that reminds us of Monica Rambeau, who definitely went through the emotional wringer in WandaVision.

One of the best parts of Wheel of Time was al'Lan Mandragoran's journey as he navigated the loss of an old friend and separation from Moiraine. Likewise, there is no greater scene-stealer in the MCU than Monica Rambeau. These are supporting characters that are so strong that we would watch them in their own series in a heartbeat.

Nynaeve al'Meara - Gamora

Wheel of Time allowed audiences and characters alike to believe that Nynaeve was deceased before she made a big comeback and showed herself to be, in fact, shockingly powerful. Though Gamora's story is significantly different, these are two characters that regularly find themselves weighing huge, live-changing decisions, and doing it with style and grace.

Like Nynaeve, Gamora believes in honor, and she's willing to push herself to the absolute limits if it means doing the right thing. Though Nynaeve and Gamora can both be outwardly quite combative, every action they take is in service to the people they care about.

Egwene al'Vere - Spider-Man

Egwene is a multi-faceted character who runs the gamut throughout the first season of Wheel of Time. Yet, it's the level of seriousness she takes when assessing the responsibility that she has to other people that makes her a definite mirror's image to the MCU version of Peter Parker.

Related: How Does Magic Work In The MCU? Marvel's Mystical Characters ExplainedWhen the others want to quit or find themselves arguing in circles, Egwene finds herself more than willing to commit her significant optimism and faith to even the most overwhelming of challenges. Making it up as she goes along and working to stay true to her own code, it goes without saying that she and Pete would make good friends.

Rand al'Thor - Hawkeye

There are a lot of obvious reasons to compare Hawkeye to Rand, primarily their skill at wielding a bow. Yet, it's Rand's desire for a calm and peaceful life as a family man despite the hand that fate has dealt him that makes Rand a perfect counterpart for the MCU's Hawkeye.

Though Kate Bishop and Clint Barton are two very different people, Rand embodies several aspects that they both share. Protective urges over those they love, the willingness to throw themselves into the line of fire, and the desire to stand by friends even when they don't deserve it are all distinctly Hawkeye-ish traits. Rand has important revelations in Wheel of Time, so it's hard to tell where things will go from here, but as of season one, he's very much our Hawkeye.

Mat Cauthon - Loki

Mat Cauthon's gradual slide into Anakin Skywalker levels of "dark side" made for some harrowing TV. Told by his mother that he would live to become exactly like his dysfunctional father, Mat's concern over his future goes back as early as the first episode. Very much like Loki, the ugly things that others said about him played a big role in the choices he made throughout the opening arc.

Loki isn't exactly evil, but then again, neither is Mat. As bad as things have been for either of them, they have spent much of their respective lives in a fight to survive. Loki might be a manipulator, but that is the tool he was given to navigate Asgard, while Mat was born into a life that seemed without hope. Whether or not Mat will find a way to pull back from the edge remains to be seen, but he makes for a fascinating villain if not.

Perrin Aybara - Heimdall

The Guardian of the Bifrost Bridge that connects the Nine Realms, aka Heimdall, may not at surface have much immediately in common with an inexperienced youth from Two Rivers like Perrin Aybara, but it's their spirit of protectiveness and a refusal to back down to threats that unite these two as kindred spirits. Perrin and Heimdall are both incredibly loyal, but they know not to show their whole hand unless it's absolutely necessary. Keeping secrets when they must, they each respectively bear the weight of a world on their shoulders.

Though Heimdall is ostensibly deceased in the MCU, we're always waiting for the day when he gets a little more screentime. On the other hand, Perrin is one of the focal characters of Wheel of Time, and watching him rise up to every challenge along the way was one of the highlights of the first season.

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