CS: Wheel of Time: Who is Padan Fain?

Highlights

Padan Fain started as a peddler but became a powerful servant of the Dark One, tasked with capturing the Dragon Reborn. He evolved into a master of cruelty and manipulation.
Fain's quest to find the Dragon Reborn led him to the Two Rivers, but his plans were foiled by Moiraine Damodred. He followed the protagonists, facing hostility and eventually becoming infected by Mashadar.
Fain's transformation merged him with Mordeth, giving him new abilities and leading him to form an army. He became obsessed with killing the Dragon Reborn and worked against the Dark One.

The Wheel of Time, created by Robert Jordan, redefined the fantasy genre with a series of 19 novels and a prequel. The premise follows the exploits of a band of young protagonists set on a journey to fight a sinister force called the Dark One, who is hell-bent on destroying the planet.

Padan Fain, a peddler hiding a dark and malicious secret, stands as one the most enigmatic and layered characters in Amazon's The Wheel of Time. Fain, a servant of the revered Dark One, was bestowed with superpowers and assigned a mission to find and capture the Dragon Reborn. But, Fain’s constant exposure to ancient evil powers and his internal conflicts have corrupted him beyond redemption, turning him into a perilous threat to the Dark One and the Dragon Reborn. Padan Fain, as a character, witnesses several changes and evolutions throughout the series, becoming more powerful and enigmatic as the story progresses. He established himself as a master of cruelty, treachery, and manipulation.

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Who Is Padan Fain In The Wheel Of Time?

Padan Fain belongs to Murandy, a small country in the south of the continent. He traveled across the lands while selling commodities and news to segregated villages, thus attaining the status of a peddler. Further, Fain became a Darkfriend, a disciple of the Dark One. He was handpicked by the Dark One to be a spotter with the power to sense the presence of the Dragon Reborn and his minions. He also flaunted the ability to see and control the Shadowspawn, which consisted of monsters such as Trollocs and Myrddraal. Fain was also given protection from the Dark One’s touch, which made him immune to the corruption and madness that embodied other Darkfriends and male channelers.

Padan Fain’s mission to find the Dragon Reborn directly led him to the Two Rivers, the home of Rand al’Thor and his friends. He executed his sinister plans by pretending to be a timid and friendly peddler while secretly bringing a horde of Trollocs to wreak havoc in the village on the festive night of Bel Tine. Fain wanted to capture Rand and his companions, who were prospective candidates for the Dragon Reborn, and hand them over to the Dark One. But the whole plan turned out to be uneventful due to the intervention of Moiraine Damodred, who freed the other captives.

Fain followed them globally, using all his power and wit to hunt them down. While on it, he faced utmost hostility and challenges that took a heavy toll on him. Fain set foot in the cursed city of Shadar Logoth, where he got infected by Mashadar. He went on to steal a powerful dagger from Shadar Logoth, which had the power to drain the life and soul of anyone who laid a hand on it. His drastic transformation and actions seriously impacted the events and characters of TheWheel Of Time.

During this quest, Fain faced Mordeth and merged with him, gaining his intellect, skills, and personality. He further gained the ability to synthesize and control his army, which consisted of corrupted humans and Shadowspawn. He named the army Whitecloaks, who had a single purpose of hunting down Darkfriends.

Padan Fain’s transformation led him to tread a different path, thus making him hostile and rebellious against the Dark One. He started working on his new agenda, which included killing both the Dragon Reborn and the Dark One and claiming the world for himself. During this transformation, Fain developed a substantial prejudice and obsession with Rand al’Thor, the true Dragon Reborn. He considered Rand his archenemy and became hell-bent on destroying Rand by hook or crook. Fain pledged to harm and murder anyone who allied with Rand or Moraine.

On his quest to the pinnacle, Fain commits several murders, injuries, and betrayals that directly affect several prominent characters. He played a key role in the ultimate battle against the Dark One, where he had a climactic face-off with his arch-nemesis, Rand al’Thor. Moiraine, in a conversation with Rand (The Great Hunt, Chapter 49), describes Padan Fain as:

“Padan Fain was the Dark One's creature to the depths of his soul, but I believe that in Shadar Logoth, he fell afoul of Mordeth, who was as vile in fighting the Shadow as ever the Shadow itself was."

Who Plays Padan Fain On The Wheel Of Time?

Amazon Prime Video adapted The Wheel of Time into a television series and released it in November 2021. The series developed by Rafe Judkins boasts a stellar star cast which includes Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred, Daniel Henney as Lan Mandragoran, and Josha Stradowski as Rand al’Thor to name a few.

Johann Myers donned the role of Padan Dain in the television adaptation of The Wheel of Time. Myers, a British actor, is known for prominent movies and TV shows like The Medallion, The Bank Job, Luther, and Snatch. Myers nails the role of Fain, bringing his charismatic and cunning personality to life with utmost conviction.

Myers has received widespread praise for his nuanced performance as the cunning Padan Fain, successfully embodying the essence of the character. He further brings his interpretation and suave to the table by improvising certain bits of Fain’s personality and appearance. Myers shares excellent on-screen chemistry with his other co-actors, especially Stradowski, who plays his archenemy Rand al’Thor.

Padan Fain transforms dramatically from being just a mere peddler to one of the most threatening villains in The Wheel of Time. His descent into insanity and monstrosity showcases the repercussions of embracing the dark.