Personally I believe that Moridin is Ishamael, but lately I've been thinking of anyone else it might be. I'm not sure anyone really knows who would win an a fight between Moridin and Shaidar Haran (because of Shaidar Haran’s blocking abilities, and whether they extend to the True Power as well as the One Power), but I think it would be a hell of a fight, and very close. My theory is this - if Ishamael is not Moridin (who I think he is), then he is Shaidar Haran. With me so far? So, if Ishamael is one, who is the other? Who else could have so close to Ishamael's strength in the Power? The first person to come to mind would be Lanfear. This is of course possible, but I would like to believe she is still alive, so for the sake of a wild theory I'm going to say it's not her. Who does that leave? What I have been thinking lately is Beidomon. Weird, eh? This is why. Other than Mierin (Lanfear), he was closest to the Dark One due to his help in making the Bore. I really don't think Robert Jordan introduced so pivotal a character just to discard him, when he could just as easily have used one of the other Forsaken. So, I think it's about time for Beidomon to be brought into the picture, in the form of (IMO) Shaidar Haran. Chew on that one for a while.
wotmania says: Chewing on it... Chewing on it... Tastes like chicken... Anyway, I have a major problem with either Moridin or Shaidar Haran being Beidomon. There has been absolutely no evidence of Beidomon anywhere. And Beidomon and Lanfear were not trying to drill a hole into the Dark One’s prison - they were just trying to do some research into what they thought was a different form of the One Power. My best guess would be that Moridin is Ishamael and Shaidar Haran is a new entity.
We are falling into the trap of thinking that all of the Forsaken and/or other shadow characters have to BE someone other than what they seem. In my opinion the evidence that Moridin is in fact Ishamael reincarnated is simply too strong to refute.
Shadar Haran on the other hand doesn't appear to be anyone other than what he has been said to be....a Myrdraal with extra powers and stature granted to him by the Dark One. He doesn't need to be a reincarnation of anyone else to be exactly what he has been said to be...The hand of the dark. I think he fits in well with where the plans of the shadow have seemed to be going in recent books. No more promises to other chosen...Moridin is now openly named Naeblis and has been given control of the other chosen...some more than others by means of the cour souvra(sp). Seemingly the attempts at turning rand have been given up and the forces of the shadow are marshalling themselves for the upcoming war...this means establishing who is in control and stamping out the squabbling amongst themselves. The Dark One accomplishes this through fear and subjugation. A Myrdraal, whatever his apparent stature and powers, giving orders to the chosen would have been unthinkable once...as noted by all of their reactions to him. What better way to let them all know that their failures have been noted and the master is displeased than by speaking to them through a creature that should have been beneath them. Shaidar Haran isn't some secret identity of an already once slain forsaken...he is truly the hand of...and the voice of...the shadow. The weakening seals have apparently given the Dark One enough ability to touch the world that he can affect the world now in more ways than he could before...including speaking through Shaidar Haran.
I don't remember where exactly, and I don't have my books with me right now, but when Rand and Nynaeve are workign to cleanse the source, and there's all the fighting going on, there's a POV from Cyndane that makes it readilly apparent that she is Lanfear reborn.
Beidomon