So we have a 14 book series in our beloved WoT. This means the readers get a treat, since people can come into and out of the story. People can change and develop, become more or less relevant to the plots and overall story. When it comes to our main characters, we get to experience and appreciate these narrative turns. But I wonder if it's been a bit counter-productive when it comes to our villains. I'll try to make my points quickly and leave this open for comment.

Reading TDR for the first time, I was pleasantly confused by Rand's diminished role in the novel - Rand went from being the main protagonist to being the McGuffin that everyone chases. I think he had four brief POVs before the Stone Showdown. Perrin, similarly was absent from tFoH, and I felt no negativity that our favorite blacksmith got a whole book off.

Yet most were displeased when Mat disappeared from the story for one novel. I think the difference is that Rand's lesser role in tDR was a new and fun change of pace, and allowed more room for the other characters. Perrin's absence came after he'd accomplished a great deal, and his Two Rivers storyline was at a good stopping point. Mat was actually in danger when he vanished for a spell - moreover, he was in the middle of a renewed Seanchan invasion. Sometimes, certain moments don't allow for a satisfying break...

When it comes to our villains, though, there's this great big "holding pattern" that took effect after LoC or ACoS (not sure which). I'm not saying that they're badly written, just that they play too small an internal or external part in our story. We don't see them much, really, yet I can understand the authors' choice in that regard. But the recurring and long periods during which our villains disappear is frustrating, because it feels like the readers don't get enough bang for their buck after the villains reappear. When our bad guys disappear for a while, we know we won't see that they've changed, and we're unlikely to learn more about them.

Fain might be the only real exception to this, but most of his changes occurred before this holding pattern kicked in... What we have when our villains show up, is an opportunity to learn their thoughts, actions, and knowledge. Yet as the books have gone on, it almost seems like we get less from our villains, not more.

Lanfear was very involved in the storyline, and we learned a lot about her. At least, we did until she and Moiraine met in Cairhien. As Cyndane, we've had a handful of scenes in which she has delivered CK lectures, thought about Rand, and fought at the Cleansing. It's a case of a character coming back into the narrative with far less than that character had before. We hear from others that she runs Moridin's plans. Wow. What an exciting and in-depth development for one of our major characters, huh?

This isn't necessarily some big failing on the writers' part, but I was ready to take Lanfear as a character whose importance was largely diminished. She would still be a force for evil, but the decreased impact of the character seemed certain. Would it really "feel right" for Lanfear/Cyndane to come back in with some larger purpose? No! The character's relevance has been significantly diminished, so I just can't see it happening.

Ishy/Moridin has remained vital throughout, and we have learned more about his "world-view" as the series has progressed. Yet this seems to be an exception to the law of diminishing returns that has consumed our villains.

Moghedien seemed to develop a bit, right up until the Cleansing - but she largely disappeared after that. Demandred has remained so mysterious and impenetrable that it now feels like a nuisance more than anything else. Arangar had become a complete cartoon the last time I read about her. Osangar could've been fleshed out far more, but perhaps he was always meant to be a scrub.

Folks, as the story is drawing to a close, does it feel like we get less from our villains at exactly the times that we should be getting more?