The first three episodes of The Wheel of Time Season 3 officially arrived on Prime Video yesterday, finally providing context for the countless compelling teasers fans have been pouring over for weeks. One of the best previews for The Wheel of Time Season 3 was a cheeky video dedicated to Matrim “Mat” Cauthon (Dónal Finn). The clip, unveiled on Prime Video’s social media channels, teased a new swagger for Mat in Season 3. More importantly, though, it promised that The Wheel of Time Season 3 would feature one of Mat’s most iconic moments from the Robert Jordan book series: the game of “Maiden’s Kiss.”
Sure enough, the sequence finally steams up the screen about two thirds into The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 1 “To Race the Shadow.” Mat plays the dangerous Aiel game with Maidens of the Spear Bain (Ragga Ragnars) and Chiad (Maja Simonsen). (Fun fact: Bain is also identified as one of the Maidens Mat plays with in the book.)
We first learn about Maiden’s Kiss in Chapter 2 of The Shadow Rising. While playing cards in Tear, Mat talks about how Aiel clan chief Rhuarc — who will be played by Björn Landberg at some point in Season 3 — tricked him into playing the “kissing game” with the beautiful, but deadly, Maidens of the Spear. Instead of being a low stakes game, though, the Maidens surround a man playing, holding the sharp edge of their spears to his throat. The women then take turns kissing the guy, easing up on their spear if it’s a good kiss, and edging forward for the jugular if it’s good. Mat claims he “got nicked less than I do shaving,” but also is in no rush to ever play the dangerous game again.
When DECIDER caught up with Dónal Finn at the virtual junket for The Wheel of Time Season 3, we simply had to ask the Irish actor what it was like bringing Maiden’s Kiss to life.
“What was it like to to shoot? Yeah, it was really good craic,” Finn said, using the Irish slang word for “fun.”
“You know, I think like the great thing like about that was I think when you take it out of context, it’s so high stakes and also kind of like, silly,” he added. “In their world, this is like a ‘Truth or Dare’ thing but also, like, losing that could mean that you die.”
If there’s one thing that defines Mat Cauthorn, it’s his willingness to take a good bet. The higher the stakes, the better, which is what makes Maiden’s Kiss such a perfect expression of who Mat is and what he wants.
Of course, Maiden’s Kiss is inherently a game of flirtation. Is this a hint that Mat will get more opportunities to flirt in The Wheel of Time Season 3?
“Is there more opportunity to flirt? I mean, I think Mat will take the flirting where he can get it,” Finn said. “I think he’s found this kind of confidence where he’s feeling like, ‘Yeah, I’ll chat to anyone.’”
“I think he had a bit of that before, but I think he maybe feels a bit more steel regarding his chat, his rizz,” Finn laughed.
“Rizz,” Finn’s co-star Marcus Rutherford echoed with a chuckle. “As the kids say.”
“As the kids say,” Finn repeated with a smile.
The Wheel of Time Season 3 premieres on Prime Video on March 13, 2025.
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