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Can Thom Chanel?

Contributed by: 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.
2. The White Ajah hypothesis that channeling 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. TFoH: 9, 203, 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. Why Thom has OP-made daggers, we dunno. 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 channeling is not a simple matter at all, in the whole series, we've only heard of one channeler 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 probably just wishful thinking.
4. If Thom was a channeler, he would have to have the "spark inborn," since nobody goes around teaching men to channel. Thus, he'd have started channeling at about 20, a la Rand. Even if he had a block, like Ny, he would have channeled quite a bit in the 30 or so years since then, more than enough for him to be showing sign of madness and the rotting disease.
5. Noting that we have seen of Thom's thoughts gives any indication of him being able to channel.
6. Rand should probably be able to sense some channeling ability in Thom, a la the AS. Then again, maybe he doesn't know what to look for.

From a signing in Seattle, Edward "potato" Liu tells us:
Now, regarding Thom, RJ said a man will not go mad or sick away if he never channeled. Thus, he agreed that a male channeler who could be taught to channel (as opposed to having the inborn ability) and has never channeled 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. Owen) 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 Owen 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.