The Wheel of Time (2021-Present)

I haven’t read the fantasy series this new Amazon Prime show is based on, but I’ve heard of it. Now that I’ve seen season 1 of the show, I’m a little mixed on it. While it definitely has its flaws, I can also see its potential. At any rate, I’m willing to see where it goes next.

As the Wheel of Time turns, people are reincarnated through the ages. Long ago, the Dark One was imprisoned at the Eye of the World, but he’s begun to stir, and the best chance of fighting him may be the Dragon Reborn, who is just coming of age according to a prophesy. Moiraine, able to channel the One Power and a member of the elite Aes Sedai, travels to a remote village where she finds a group of young people who could all potentially be the Dragon. Together, they set out on a journey, Moiraine seeking to protect them from the Dark One’s minions as she attempts to determine which one might prove to be their only hope.

In case you couldn’t tell from that summary, it’s really hard to give a plot description of this show in a single paragraph. It’s dense with history, politics, and sects, and there are a whole lot of characters. The eight episodes of season 1 do a pretty decent job of laying all this out—I have no idea how much has been left out or simplified, but as a layperson with no book knowledge, I came away feeling like I had a handle on it. It’s a lot, though. It’s a series that calls for your attention in understanding all the inner workings of this world and these societies.

While some might find the intensive world-building inaccessible, it’s actually my favorite part of the series so far. I like learning about the Aes Sedai, the interpersonal dynamics of their assorted factions, and the warders who bond with them as their sworn protectors. It’s neat to see how the cultural belief in reincarnation weaves its way into different traditions and how it’s incorporated by people we meet from assorted groups. As we learn more about the Dragon Reborn, their previous incarnation, and their past dealing with the Dark One, I enjoy the deeper understanding I gain of how those events thousands of years ago are still affecting the world today.

I also like the diverse cast of the show, which understands that a world with magic users and shadow cities full of living evil isn’t beholden to any kind of “historical accuracy.” Plus, it just allows the show to mine more talent. I mean, Sophie Okonedo wants to play a small but pivotal role in your show, you say yes, right? The overall look of the series is lovely, from the costumes to the landscapes to the effects used to show people channeling the One Power. And some of the character relationships really interest me, especially the one between Moiraine and her warder Lan.

But when it comes to the story, a lot of this feels very been-there-done-that. It sometimes feels like fantasy authors can spend the brunt of their time dreaming up their world and then stick a boilerplate narrative onto it, not so much because they’re invested in the plot itself, but because it serves as a handy vehicle for displaying the cool world they created. I get a little of that here. While the notion of multiple possibilities for who the Dragon Reborn might be adds some variation, the young person plucked from obscurity to realize their grand destiny isn’t breaking much new ground. We hit a lot of familiar beats—the dangerous journey, the breaking of the party, the heroes being tested and tempted, and so forth. The main reason I’m still in this is because I like the world and some of the characters. However, the season 1 finale introduces some new directions that suggest the plot intends to leave the familiar path and forge a different one, so maybe season 2 will improve on that front.

Some of the dialogue gets overly prosaic, but for the most part, the large cast is up to the task. My favorites so far include Daniel Henney as the warder Lan and Zoë Robins as Nynaeve, one of the potential Dragons. Rosamund Pike does a nice job as the noble but somewhat-slippery Moiraine, of course Sophie Okonedo rocks it in her brief appearance as the leader of the Aes Sedai, and Hammed Animashaun (who I loved as Bottom in the National Theatre recording of A Midsummer Night’s Dream) has a delightful turn as a loquacious ogier (which is not exactly an ogre.)

Warnings

Violence, disturbing images, sexual content, language, drinking, and thematic elements.