[TV] Wheel of Time series

[Blackhawk]

I'll admit, I haven't read the WoT books (in particular the first ~5) in like 20+ years at this point), but I am really struggling with S2. I don't remember 90% of what they're showing in these first two episodes.

Have we hit "inspired by the Wheel of Time series" at this point or is my memory just bad?

I'm in book 13 right now, and have read 1-12 in the very recent past.

We hit and passed 'inspired by' in the first episode of season 1. By the end of season 1, we were getting close to 'hard reboot.'

I started reading the books (re-reading the first six or seven, then finally moving toward the end) a while after the first season. I won't be touching the second season until I finish reading the series - I don't want their imagery and story points mixing with Jordan's (or, at this point, Sanderson's.)

[Punisher]

I don't think I ever read the books and haven't watched the show yet.
Can someone tell me what it's about amd what shows it's mist like?

[Unagi]

I don't think I ever read the books and haven't watched the show yet.
Can someone tell me what it's about amd what shows it's mist like?

It's about a game show in the distant future that is a lot like Wheel of Fortune, only the winner of the game is thrown forward in time the number of years that they 'won'. They then follow that contestant for a while until their story is somehow concluded. Then it goes back to the game show, where we follow another winner. It's creative in how it slowly starts to intertwine the various winner's new worlds together into some crazy future universe. Actually that's just me talking shit, but now I feel like that sounds like a cool show/book/series.

[Blackhawk]

I don't think I ever read the books and haven't watched the show yet.
Can someone tell me what it's about amd what shows it's mist like?

I don't know where they're taking the show, so it's a little hard to be specific. Keeping it general (and spoiler free beyond prologue level stuff), it's about a fantasy world where the people accidentally released a major bad entity (think 'Satan and Sauron had a baby more powerful than either' and you won't be too far off. It was a futuristic sci-fi world with magic, and they got a little too curious. They were able to imprison the entity again, but it was shoddy, and the process nearly destroyed the world, obliterated society, and drove every male who could use magic insane from that point forward.

It was very well known and accepted that one day, the guy responsible for both imprisoning the entity and destroying the world in the process would be reborn, and that when he did so, the entity would also break free. There would follow a 'last battle' in which the entity would either be destroyed, or the entity would win and all of the world would become, essentially, hell as the fabric of reality itself unraveled under the entity's control.

The story takes place thousands of years later as those events are just coming to pass. The world still hasn't recovered from what happened. Practically all of the technology is long gone and turned to dust, and the world is in a late medieval/early renaissance period (a typical non-Tolkien fantasy world - there aren't a bunch of other races, monsters don't wander all over, etc), with women being the only ones who can safely use magic (men who can use it are hunted down.) It centers on a small group of village youths from a rural town that's so remote that even the kingdom they live in has forgotten that the region exists (they haven't seen a tax man in generations.)

As for feel - the books are epic 'serious' fantasy full of characters and detailed cultures. Comparisons to something like Game of Thrones wouldn't be unwarranted (and it's worth noting that Wheel of Time is the longest single fantasy series ever written, currently sitting at 4.4 million words.)

The show changed the focus a bit, made the youths a bit older, but the core premise seems the same.

The feel (for the show, just going from season 1) is... less serious and grounded than Game of Thrones or The Witcher, but still has the scope and stakes of Game of Thrones. In film... more Hobbit than Lord of the Rings.

[Zaxxon]

I don't think I ever read the books and haven't watched the show yet.
Can someone tell me what it's about amd what shows it's mist like?

It's about a game show in the distant future that is a lot like Wheel of Fortune, only the winner of the game is thrown forward in time the number of years that they 'won'. They then follow that contestant for a while until their story is somehow concluded. Then it goes back to the game show, where we follow another winner. It's creative in how it slowly starts to intertwine the various winner's new worlds together into some crazy future universe. Actually that's just me talking shit, but now I feel like that sounds like a cool show/book/series.

And wait till you see Vanna, Aes Sedai of the White Ajah…

[Blackhawk]

I don't think I ever read the books and haven't watched the show yet.
Can someone tell me what it's about amd what shows it's mist like?

It's about a game show in the distant future that is a lot like Wheel of Fortune, only the winner of the game is thrown forward in time the number of years that they 'won'. They then follow that contestant for a while until their story is somehow concluded. Then it goes back to the game show, where we follow another winner. It's creative in how it slowly starts to intertwine the various winner's new worlds together into some crazy future universe. Actually that's just me talking shit, but now I feel like that sounds like a cool show/book/series.

It sounds like something Piers Anthony would write.

[Zarathud]

Fantasy about the world ending due to hubris but a young farm boy has a destiny after being the reincarnated guy who fucked up the world in the last spin. His local friends also have destinies. The story is told with a lot of world building, characters, complication, angst, and conflict.

[Punisher]

Thanks for the info.
Unagis version sounds but I'll add it to my list anyway and gice it a try.

[Pyperkub]

The second season is much better than the first. It feels more like Game of Thrones and less like Xena.

Agreed. Part of the reason for this is probably the issues they had filming the 1st season during peak pandemic (especially the final episodes). Part. I also think they are finding their way and the rhythm of the show - a hard thing to do with such a large cast over so many locations.

Also that the first book has so many tropes and it wasn't until the 2nd-4th books that even the books found their way out of the fantasy/hero's journey story by rote.

[Blackhawk]

So, uh... how's the new Mat? More the lovable rapscallion and less the smelly guy on the corner selling stolen watches?

[Jaymann]

So, uh... how's the new Mat? More the lovable rapscallion and less the smelly guy on the corner selling stolen watches?

Not really featured, but a serviceable job.

[Zaxxon]

I like him so far. Feels like Mat.

[Smoove_B]

Not sure if I'm the only one keeping up, but last night's episode ("Eyes Without Pity") was the first I can say I genuinely enjoyed. Maybe not so much because of the WoT elements, but the actresses playing Egwene and Renna did what I thought was an amazing job of relating what I (kinda) remember from the books.

Also, the early scenes with Rand and uh...Selene (heh) had a very Legend of the Seeker TV show vibe.

I'm also amazed at the casting for Elayne; she was perfectly cast.

[Zaxxon]

I haven't watched last night's yet, but it's on the docket for tonight. Looking forward to it, as I thought last week's was one of the best so far.

[Smoove_B]

I think this week's episode was also quite good (Ep 7 "Daes Dae'Mar"). Not sure exactly what is changing (scope? smaller focus each week on fewer characters?), but these last three episodes feel so much better than what the show was earlier in the season and in S1.

[stessier]

For anyone that's read the books, it is still just "inspired" by the books? I know them so well that watching something close but not quite brings on uncanny valley feelings and I can't enjoy it.

[Smoove_B]

I don't know if this is helpful, but they're doing a thing on Ars Technica where they have two people that are insanely familiar with the books do a show recap and they definitely get into the differences, usually to point out why changes might have been made or why something made sense to do a certain way on the show.

I know it can be jarring to see differences in the show vs a book, so I can totally appreciate where you're coming from. Hope that link helps answer things a bit, anyway.

[YellowKing]

Good to hear it gets better. I'm four episodes in and while I'm not hate-watching it like I was the first season, I still haven't reached the point where I think it's good. Hoping the latter half of the season changes my mind.

[Smoove_B]

I still haven't reached the point where I think it's good. Hoping the latter half of the season changes my mind.

It was the Ep 5-7 run of this season where I think things really improved somehow. Ep6 in particular was quite good.

[Hyena]

I don't think I ever read the books and haven't watched the show yet.
Can someone tell me what it's about amd what shows it's mist like?

It's about a game show in the distant future that is a lot like Wheel of Fortune, only the winner of the game is thrown forward in time the number of years that they 'won'. They then follow that contestant for a while until their story is somehow concluded. Then it goes back to the game show, where we follow another winner. It's creative in how it slowly starts to intertwine the various winner's new worlds together into some crazy future universe. Actually that's just me talking shit, but now I feel like that sounds like a cool show/book/series.

And wait till you see Vanna, Aes Sedai of the White Ajah…

Dammit, I almost copied and pasted that to google. I figured they married Perrin off and other...stuff, maybe they added in a hot chick, too.

[YellowKing]

Ok, all caught up and like the rest of you I've warmed up to it considerably. I particularly enjoyed the Seanchan and the portrayal of the damane. Egwene's acting in Episode 6 was one of the most gut-wrenching performances I've seen on TV in a looong time. Bravo.

Part of my increasing warmth to the show is that they've reduced Loial to a footnote. Sorry, I freaking hate the portrayal of him in this show, he looks ridiculous. I'd honestly rather they'd have put some bad CGI character in his place.

I do like the new Matt - he seems way more fitting of the character to me than the previous guy did. I'm not sure if that's due to the writing, the actor, or both, but I'm here for it.

I hope they continue in this dark direction, showcasing the brutality of the world and the high stakes for the characters. It has helped the show immensely. I've gone from hating them to caring for them (except for Loial because F that guy and Rand because ehhh, who really cares about Rand - he's like the least interesting character in the entire party ).

[RunningMn9]

I cannot get past how clean everything looks. Everything is absolutely spotless and appears to be in brand spankin’ new condition.

The plot choices through the first five episodes continue to enrage me. Still hate watching.

[Jaymann]

The Braid Puller has lost her braid!

A nation mourns.

[Smoove_B]

I really enjoyed the S2 finale. I can't comment on how book purists might feel (and again, that's no judgement from me, I get it), but in terms of an entertaining show I thought the back-end of S2 was really quite good.

[Zaxxon]

I’ve still got to catch the last two this weekend after my covid delay.

[Blackhawk]

The Braid Puller has lost her braid!

Wow, they're really pushing the plot forward. That wasn't supposed to happen until book 12!

[YellowKing]

As long as there are skirts to be smoothed, I think we'll be OK.

[malchior]

The turnaround of the series from the end of S1 to S2 is remarkable. It took a lot of positive press to get me to watch it after S1 but it does seem like they really pulled it off. Cautiously optimistic here for S3.

[Blackhawk]

As much as I hated season 1, I'm actually looking forward to watching this, going in with the attitude that it's not a Wheel of Time adaptation so much as it's 'inspired by' WoT. Like I said before, though, I'm waiting until I finish the books.

But I'm in the mood for a good fantasy series to watch right now. Maybe I'll just get around to watching The Witcher season 3. Oh, I'm waiting to continue that until I've read the books, too.

[Redfive]

The second half of S2 really picked up the quality and the finale was actually outstanding.

Many, many changes from the books, but mostly in the department of compressing characters and storylines to fit within the format of a TV series. Very noticeable for a reader but also (mostly) understandable.

[Hipolito]

I just finished watching S1 and S2. Yes, this is a flawed, sloppy show. It's very different from the books, often in ways that aren't improvements. But I love it. I love the performances, the costumes, the quick pacing, the graphic violence, the chances the show takes. I have greatly enjoyed every episode.

[mori]

Watched the series so far over a course of a month. No background with the books. Glancing through the thread I see this has had mixed reviews. I think it was an interesting world that was created but also quite silly and more so than the floppy wiener show. Never thought I would see Rosamund Pike squatting down waving her hands like she was doing an interpretive dance at a modern arts theater (I know, fantasy obviously is not my genre). The story was hard to follow. At times I felt like I must of skipped an episode as elements suddenly felt out of place and where did this character come from. I did not like any of the characters. Maybe Selene and Renna which is odd I know. I like Selene because she is a skeptic and not necessarily evil. She is more than one dimensional unlike every other character in the show. Renna because that is how I would imagine someone would do what she was trying to do. Good cop/bad cop, award or punishment, friend or tormentor. I heard Amazon spent a ton of money on the show, so why was the SFX so bad?

[Blackhawk]

Tip: Do NOT search for Wheel of Time characters if you don't want major, major single-word spoilers in every search result.

[Smoove_B]

S3 Teaser:

Based on the international best-selling book series by Robert Jordan, The Wheel of Time is a visionary fantasy that tells the story of a man destined to face the Dark One and save the world - or destroy it. In Season 3, as threats against the Light are multiplying, Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike) and Rand al'Thor (Josha Stradowski) embark on a perilous journey to the Aiel Waste to uncover the true fate of the Dragon Reborn. With the Forsaken in hot pursuit and Rand’s corrupted power growing stronger, Moraine must prevent the Dragon from turning Dark… no matter the cost.

3/13/25