The Wheel of Time continues to impress and delight in Season 3
★★★★ | Wheely good
I began reading Robert Jordan’s mammoth fantasy series in primary school, thirty years and a lifetime ago. It took until the early 2020s for the books to finally reach a conclusion, and by then, I had dropped out. When Prime Video’s adaptation began a few years later, I returned to Jordan’s intricate saga to see how things had aged.
Some of it was as enchanting as I remembered. A lot wasn’t. The wheel turns, and things never stay the same. But the essence of Jordan’s story, which channels Lord of the Rings, epic myths, and coming of age lessons gorgeously, remained intact.
The first season of Amazon’s major adaptation didn’t quite stick the landing. Instead, it felt like rushed cliff notes for the first book, which left even someone like me, who knew the source material, confused about where this was going. Luckily, the showrunners learned from their mistakes, and the second season of Wheel of Time was a marked improvement in every way.
Such is the case with the third season, premiering this Thursday, March 13th. While the episode count remains the same and much of Jordan’s intricate world building continues to be streamlined, Wheel of Time proves itself a fantastic adaptation that understands what the beating heart of the story is.
The story picks up from where the previous season ended. Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) and Rand (Josha Stradowski) continue their journey to understand the essence of Rand’s destiny as The Dragon Reborn. Meanwhile, the forces of Light are hammered from all sides, as the Forsaken grow in power and threaten to turn Rand’s fate into something darker and more dangerous than anyone could expect.
It’s been almost two years since the second season of Wheel of Time, and if you aren’t comfortable with your Jordan lore or a devoted fan of the series, I strongly recommend a recap video or two. The series remains as dense and convoluted as ever, but pleasurably so. As with Jordan’s books, the adaptation is immense in character, locations, and mythology, and it never hesitates to drop far-off destinations or events without explaining them any further. It has the same energetic care-free nature that makes The Rings of Power such a thrill. This is a lived-in world that feels alive and vibrant. You either go with it or don’t.
The cast has grown even more comfortable with their characters, and I’m finally starting to warm up to Josha Stradowski as Rand. It’s a difficult part, one that Stradowski slowly but surely claims as his own. Rosamund Pike remains the series MVP, not only executive producing the show, but leading the cast in a committed and hugely charismatic performance as Moiraine.
Newcomers like Shohreh Aghdashloo as Elaida a’Roihan and Olivia Williams as Morgase Trakand are equally welcome. Both are powerful actors who claim any room they walk into, and they bring gravitas to even the most flamboyant sequences. Aghdashloo, in particular, seems to be having a blast in the middle of court scheming and backstabbing.
I don’t think Season 3 will win any new converts, despite all the praise. At this point, The Wheel of Time is spinning at such speed that jumping in without any prior knowledge feels impossible. But I still warmly recommend it to everyone I can. Even if that first season is a bit of a chore. At the present, The Wheel of Time is one of the best fantasy series around. It reminds me of the classic 90s series in the best kind of way. It’s committed to the lore in a way that in lesser hands could come off as cheesy and pompous. Instead, Jordan’s colossal tome translates to the screen as a vibrant and joyous epic that captivates time and time again.