The Wheel Of Time: Review, Analysis and Impression

In the second season of “The Wheel of Time,” the saga of the chosen five and their relentless battle against the malevolent Dark One continues. Despite its eye-popping production values, the season struggles to fully engage its audience. Just like its predecessor, Season 2 initially stumbles out of the gate. This season draws its inspiration from Robert Jordan’s second and third books in “The Wheel of Time” series, “The Great Hunt” (1990) and “The Dragon Reborn” (1991). The first three episodes, while visually stunning with their elaborate costumes and captivating cinematography, fall short in terms of viewer engagement.

There’s a sense of déjà vu, a feeling that we’ve seen all of this unfold before. As the characters exchange weighty pronouncements and share cryptic glances, it can be frustratingly hard to connect with their journey. Even though the storyline contains classic elements – a heroic quest, a powerful mage, a princess, a humble farm boy, and a looming dark threat – it fails to grip the audience’s emotions. It’s a tale as old as time itself, but there’s a way to breathe fresh life into such a narrative, a feat that “The Wheel of Time,” at least in its initial episodes, doesn’t quite achieve.

The Wheel of Time

Season: 2

Episodes: 3 of 8

Creator: Rafe Judkins

Starring: Rosamund Pike, Josha Stradowski, Marcus Rutherford, Zoë Robins, Barney Harris, Madeleine Madden, Daniel Henney, Michael McElhatton, Álvaro Morte

Storyline: The five possible Dragons Reborn seek to meet their destiny on different paths

Run time: 60 minutes

The concept of a group of heroes embarking on an epic quest to confront evil has been masterfully executed by iconic works like J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” and George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones.” These storytellers managed to fashion gripping narratives from these fundamental building blocks, captivating viewers with rich character development and intricate world-building.

After the climactic battle in the first season, the five central characters from the Two Rivers region of Andor – Nynaeve, Egwene, Rand, Perrin, and Mat – find themselves scattered across the land, each following their unique path. Moiraine, an Aes Sedai played by Rosamund Pike, is a member of a powerful clan of women who can harness the enigmatic One Power. In this world, men who channel the One Power go mad, as did the Dragon in ages past, leading to the world’s devastation. Within the Aes Sedai, there are factions with varying agendas, including some who seek to eliminate all male channelers. Moiraine has dedicated two decades to the quest of finding the Dragon Reborn, who is prophesied to either save or destroy the world. She believes that one of the five central characters is the chosen one, though she isn’t certain which.

On the flip side, there’s the malevolent Dark One, portrayed by Fares Fares, who stands as the embodiment of hope’s betrayal. His dreadful minions, the trollocs, run amok, causing chaos and destruction.

Each of the five protagonists, known as the Ta’veren (individuals chosen by the Wheel for a special purpose), embarks on their respective destinies and experiences glimpses of the paths they could take through dreams and visions. Mat, the gambler and shirker, finds himself imprisoned in Tar Valon, where he endures the taunts of Liandrin, an Aes Sedai, who tries to manipulate him with tantalizing honey cakes. Egwene and Nynaeve are training to become Aes Sedai and cross paths with Elayne, the daughter heir of Andor, who takes a keen interest in their affairs. Rand encounters a mysterious woman named Lanfear, who has connections to the original Dragon, and seeks training from Logain, a false Dragon played by Álvaro Morte.

The Dark One, after a chilling conversation with a young girl about the nature of monsters, forms an alliance with the sinister seafaring conquerors known as the Seanchan, who wear distinctive masks and harbor nefarious intentions toward the humble, dun-colored villagers. Lan, Moiraine’s loyal warder and companion, realizes that their paths are diverging, potentially opening the door to new relationships and alliances.

As we delve deeper into Season 2, there’s hope that the narrative will find its footing and the payoff for dedicated viewers will come to fruition. However, it’s important to remember that watching a television series should never feel like a chore; it should be an engaging and enjoyable experience. “The Wheel of Time” has the potential to captivate its audience, and its stunning production values are a testament to its ambition. With fresh episodes dropping every Friday on Prime Video, fans of epic fantasy adventures will have the opportunity to see if the series can rise to its full potential and deliver a compelling continuation of the chosen five’s quest against the forces of darkness.

The second season of The Wheel of Time currently streams on Prime Video with fresh episodes dropping every Friday