"Rand misjudges Taim’s age because when they meet, you might say Taim has been rode hard and put away wet. He has just finished a long and difficult flight to reach Caemlyn, the one place where he might find refuge instead of being hunted — along with other reasons — and that has a wearing effect on anyone. Now that he has recovered, he doesn’t look so old."
That together with the shaved beard explains why Bashere had a harder time to recognize Taim. Probably Taim actually shaved his beard so that his hunters would have a harder time to identify him as well, and lied about the heat.
As said, Aran'gar's comment in PoD that she can hardly remember being a man makes no real sense if she is usually posing as Taim. It makes more sense that Osan'gar would have been ordered to play Taim at the BT (and not Dashiva), or that Demandred poses as Taim, but both ideas are ruled out.
Finally, RJ said that he was surprised that people came up with the Taimandred-theory, but he shouldn't if it's actually just another male Forsaken who poses as Taim. That and all his other comments about Taim indicate the Taim is a separate character, not someone in disguise.
That together with the shaved beard explains why Bashere had a harder time to recognize Taim. Probably Taim actually shaved his beard so that his hunters would have a harder time to identify him as well, and lied about the heat.
As said, Aran'gar's comment in PoD that she can hardly remember being a man makes no real sense if she is usually posing as Taim. It makes more sense that Osan'gar would have been ordered to play Taim at the BT (and not Dashiva), or that Demandred poses as Taim, but both ideas are ruled out.
Finally, RJ said that he was surprised that people came up with the Taimandred-theory, but he shouldn't if it's actually just another male Forsaken who poses as Taim. That and all his other comments about Taim indicate the Taim is a separate character, not someone in disguise.
Seriously, RJ, surprised by this? He introduces Demandred and Taim within chapters of one another, they bear a physical resemblance and have similar attitudes toward Rand/LTT ... always felt like a deliberate Red Herring to keep us looking at Demandred instead of someone else.
I'm totally on the fence with Taim to be honest. Ever since it became clear that he was not Demandred he's been a mystery to me! I will say that I don't think he's really Aran'gar (as funny as I would find that). She appears as Halima way to soon after Taim's appearance to have been able to build both persona. Taim was still very busy at the Farm and Halima was in the process of convincing the Salidar AS that she was long-lost best friends with Cabriana. In addition, the Halima ruse looks to have been a DO directive (given Semirhage's involvement and the clear use of TAR to inform Delana about Aran'gar). Why would Aran'gar be given this two big jobs like this?
If RJ had said nothing about Taim, then to this day I would have bet anything that Taim is Demandred. In fact, some fans are so convinced about this fact, that they have carefully analyzed RJ's words looking for signs of trickery and word play.
Taim even has Demandred's nose.
It's all about the damn nose! Part of me wants Taim to be Demandred just because I spent so many years buying into that theory! And RJ did say he was tricky like an AS in one of those quotes

Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!
Egwene's future
08/06/2010 10:10:28 AM
- 1168 Views
I've wondered if Egwene is "The Andoran Candidate"
08/06/2010 04:07:18 PM
- 410 Views
I rather think Aran'gar was a failure...
09/06/2010 10:56:42 AM
- 271 Views
Finally found a quote to redeem the Forsaken a bit
09/06/2010 03:53:37 PM
- 264 Views
Yeah, it's a bit strange...
09/06/2010 04:09:48 PM
- 250 Views
Re: Yeah, it's a bit strange...
09/06/2010 07:15:41 PM
- 233 Views
More thoughts in defense of this idea
09/06/2010 10:30:14 PM
- 223 Views
Re: More thoughts in defense of this idea
10/06/2010 01:26:54 PM
- 234 Views
Aran'gar certainly isn't Taim
10/06/2010 02:15:40 PM
- 216 Views
Implausible
10/06/2010 02:50:51 PM
- 221 Views
I mean...
10/06/2010 03:20:41 PM
- 192 Views
I still think yet another clue speaks loudly that Taim is a real Forsaken
10/06/2010 04:04:06 PM
- 208 Views
RJ explained Taim's look at the beginning of LoC
10/06/2010 04:25:54 PM
- 287 Views
Re: I still think yet another clue speaks loudly that Taim is a real Forsaken
10/06/2010 07:58:42 PM
- 266 Views
Mesaana's more likely. There just isn't enough time for it to be the Seanchan, imo *NM*
08/06/2010 08:31:07 PM
- 105 Views
On the other hand, we know that Egwene has to meet Seanchan yet. *NM*
09/06/2010 10:51:37 AM
- 104 Views
In book time, she'll probably be seeing Seta (and possibly Egeanin) in a couple hours
09/06/2010 11:09:08 AM
- 233 Views
They are in Caemlyn now...
09/06/2010 11:45:02 AM
- 274 Views
I didn't say it was important
09/06/2010 11:56:44 AM
- 216 Views
I mean...
09/06/2010 02:54:33 PM
- 269 Views
not going to happen
09/06/2010 09:10:16 PM
- 234 Views

Egwene's dreams are symbolic
09/06/2010 01:05:24 AM
- 514 Views
Some are more literal, while some are more symbolic
09/06/2010 10:51:09 AM
- 226 Views
Re: Some are more literal, while some are more symbolic
09/06/2010 06:54:14 PM
- 273 Views
As you said...
09/06/2010 08:33:13 PM
- 195 Views
Re: As you said...
10/06/2010 12:23:02 AM
- 240 Views
And they were Cabriana's best friends. Aran'gar killed them to cover her tracks
10/06/2010 01:48:13 PM
- 248 Views
Re: And they were Cabriana's best friends. Aran'gar killed them to cover her tracks
10/06/2010 11:02:36 PM
- 271 Views
I don't think Aran'gar is all that bright honestly... and we got a hint from the books too
11/06/2010 02:29:22 AM
- 226 Views
Re: I don't think Aran'gar is all that bright honestly... and we got a hint from the books too
11/06/2010 01:33:27 PM
- 250 Views
Re: I don't think Aran'gar is all that bright honestly... and we got a hint from the books too
11/06/2010 02:28:44 PM
- 232 Views
Re: I don't think Aran'gar is all that bright honestly... and we got a hint from the books too
11/06/2010 03:33:05 PM
- 412 Views
Found another relevant quote - Arangar wouldn't've needed Graendal's contacts in the AoL
11/06/2010 02:42:02 PM
- 259 Views
Re: As you said...
10/06/2010 08:32:12 PM
- 222 Views
Re: As you said...
10/06/2010 09:14:25 PM
- 198 Views
Re: As you said...
10/06/2010 11:40:52 PM
- 244 Views
So...
11/06/2010 08:46:41 AM
- 246 Views
Re: So...
11/06/2010 02:37:28 PM
- 217 Views
Nesta was impaled on a stake and her head put on a spike for rebellion
10/06/2010 01:44:53 PM
- 288 Views