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2.2.1: Can Thom channel?

[Arthur Bernard Byrne, P. Korda]

Here are the reasons why some people think Thom can channel: 1) The mysterious blue flash in Whitebridge/random burns after the Fade fight in TEOTW. 2) The White Ajah hypothesis that channelling has a genetic link, and that Thom has at least one relative who can channel (Owyn). 3) His comment that he "could have done something" for Owyn. 4) In [TFoH: 9, A Signal, 145] Nynaeve says "she could not channel any more than Thom". This is taken to be "ironic foreshadowing."

Objections: 1) The blue flash is something that occurs when Fadeblade meets OP-forged blade (see section 2.3.4). Why Thom had OP-made daggers, we don't know. As for the fires, it seems likely that there was some sort of riot after the fight, which is why people didn't want to talk about it. 2) The genetic basis for channelling is not a simple matter at all; in the whole series, we've only heard of one channeller who is closely related to another--Elayne (if she's Taringail's kid, she's related to Moiraine, if she's Thom's, she is related to Owyn). 3) The "something" comment is just wishful thinking. 4) If Thom was a channeller, he would have to have the "spark inborn," since until recently, nobody was teaching men to channel. Thus, he'd have started channelling at about 20, a la Rand. Even if he had a block, like Ny, he would have channelled quite a bit in the 30 or so years since then, more than enough for him to be showing signs of madness and the rotting disease. 5) Nothing that we have seen of Thom's thoughts or actions gives any indication of him being able to channel.

From a signing in Seattle, Edward "potato" Liu tells us:

Now, regarding Thom, RJ said a man will not go mad or get sick if he never channelled. Thus, he agreed that a male channeller who could be taught to channel (as opposed to having the inborn ability) and has never channelled would not die from the taint. BUT, when I asked him if he ever intended to make people think that Thom could channel, he said no. I brought up the hereditary point (i.e. Owyn) but he said just because your parents have a particular gene doesn't mean you'll receive that particular gene. Also he made a point that Owyn was his nephew so therefore not necessarily very similar gene-wise. When I pressed him again on it, he said (I'm quoting) "There is no way in hell Thom can channel." All he offered for explanations is that Thom is a "mysterious man." Enough said.

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