I never read the books for The Wheels of Time so I didn't know what to expect but after hearing so much about it and being so popular I thought I'd give it a chance. Also, after listening to people I know who already watched it and who actually read the books and the hype that was surrounding the show I was expecting the next Game of Thrones. It's not, I was hoping it would be better. I should have known since the reviews are so mixed but people were hyping it up for months and again the trailers were pretty good. I'm about halfway through right now and it's going to be a struggle to finish it. I know it's already been renewed for another season so hopefully it'll get better but I'm not expecting it to.
3,776 Reviews
Who is the intended audience?
kshutch-1659029 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Seems that most book-to-show projects either aim to please the readers or the new watchers...and that is generally ok. If the aim is the readers, stay true to the material to bring it to life. If the aim is the watchers, use devices to thoroughly explain the plot and make it easy to follow. I feel like they missed the mark here. This is not aimed at readers because its missing a lot, changes elements, and does not have the same feel as the books. Its not aimed at the watchers because its moving to fast for newcomers to understand and in a seemingly boring fashion.
For readers: You may be wondering - Where is Minn? Why did Perrin have a girlfriend? Where is the wonder in the Two Rivers group demeanor where even running from Trollocs and Fades they still were in wonderment of the the outside world and speaking all the time about how the old stories matched against what they have seen so far. Why are they at Tar Valon without first going to Camelyn? Where is Elayne? Who are these other warders that had no role in the books but are taking up a lot of screen time? Why is the show saying the Dragon could be a woman when the Dragon must be a man who touches the male half of the one power (saidar)? Why did they meet Thom at White Bridge when Thom should have been with them since Two Rivers to act as a plot device to teach them about the outside world? Why did White Bridge have a little wooden bridge, it should have been a massive White Bridge built by Aes Sedai. Why is Moraine and Suanne in a relationship? Why have we only seen Matt gamble in passing at the very beginning when that is literally his favorite thing in the world and the core of his future. Where was the wandering guy that teaches Perrin about the wolves?
For the watches: You may be wondering and should know more about - What is the one power and what are the differences in the male and female parts of the one power? Who is Lews Therin? Who are the Forsaken? Who is the Dark One? Are Rand, Matt, and Perrin mainly weaklings compared to Nynaeve? What role do those 3 play since as of yet they have not really done anything except fumble around (except the subtle introduction to Perrin and wolves and Rand's 2 minute "I am the dragon" reveal). Why did they show the Heron mark on Rand's sword, that used to be his father's sword, and then never say anything about it. Understand this world is super rich with history and has a lot more character development than this show is offering.
It is ok, but it could be so much better. I feel like I did when I watched Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth adaption or Terry Brook's Shannara adaption. Both adaptations were like budget version of the stories they meant to tell and suffered greatly because of it. Seems like Wheel of Time is likely to go the same way. A few of these things are touched on in the last few episodes like Minn, The Heron Marked sword, Lews Therin, but these are done in poor order and glossed over like small details that are actually important to the later story. But come on, we see Seanchan or whatever at the end and we still have not met Elayne?
For readers: You may be wondering - Where is Minn? Why did Perrin have a girlfriend? Where is the wonder in the Two Rivers group demeanor where even running from Trollocs and Fades they still were in wonderment of the the outside world and speaking all the time about how the old stories matched against what they have seen so far. Why are they at Tar Valon without first going to Camelyn? Where is Elayne? Who are these other warders that had no role in the books but are taking up a lot of screen time? Why is the show saying the Dragon could be a woman when the Dragon must be a man who touches the male half of the one power (saidar)? Why did they meet Thom at White Bridge when Thom should have been with them since Two Rivers to act as a plot device to teach them about the outside world? Why did White Bridge have a little wooden bridge, it should have been a massive White Bridge built by Aes Sedai. Why is Moraine and Suanne in a relationship? Why have we only seen Matt gamble in passing at the very beginning when that is literally his favorite thing in the world and the core of his future. Where was the wandering guy that teaches Perrin about the wolves?
For the watches: You may be wondering and should know more about - What is the one power and what are the differences in the male and female parts of the one power? Who is Lews Therin? Who are the Forsaken? Who is the Dark One? Are Rand, Matt, and Perrin mainly weaklings compared to Nynaeve? What role do those 3 play since as of yet they have not really done anything except fumble around (except the subtle introduction to Perrin and wolves and Rand's 2 minute "I am the dragon" reveal). Why did they show the Heron mark on Rand's sword, that used to be his father's sword, and then never say anything about it. Understand this world is super rich with history and has a lot more character development than this show is offering.
It is ok, but it could be so much better. I feel like I did when I watched Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth adaption or Terry Brook's Shannara adaption. Both adaptations were like budget version of the stories they meant to tell and suffered greatly because of it. Seems like Wheel of Time is likely to go the same way. A few of these things are touched on in the last few episodes like Minn, The Heron Marked sword, Lews Therin, but these are done in poor order and glossed over like small details that are actually important to the later story. But come on, we see Seanchan or whatever at the end and we still have not met Elayne?
A Different Turning of the Wheel
andrewvsmithrd24 January 2024
Having read the books, I was very disappointed in the massive changes, but I decided to give it a chance to stand on its own. It is good and entertaining. There's not much to hate about this show at all.
However, if you wanted a LOTR like adaptation of the books, you ARE GOING TO FIND A VERY DIFFERENT PLOT. This is close enough to the books to give spoilers without the plot which is nuts.
Be that as it may, it is entertaining if you aren't gripping your books too tightly. It's evident, almost immediately, that this is going to dance to its own tune.
I think it would have been better if it was the books that played in my head, but I think just enough information is put out to not confuse people new to the series or just looking for something to watch.
It's made for a younger audience which is a demographic that most readers probably don't fall into. If you read the books, just imagine this as a different turning of the wheel.
However, if you wanted a LOTR like adaptation of the books, you ARE GOING TO FIND A VERY DIFFERENT PLOT. This is close enough to the books to give spoilers without the plot which is nuts.
Be that as it may, it is entertaining if you aren't gripping your books too tightly. It's evident, almost immediately, that this is going to dance to its own tune.
I think it would have been better if it was the books that played in my head, but I think just enough information is put out to not confuse people new to the series or just looking for something to watch.
It's made for a younger audience which is a demographic that most readers probably don't fall into. If you read the books, just imagine this as a different turning of the wheel.
Changes
rickey1971-131-97858022 November 2021
The changes don't make sense. They say its to update with the times.... .but the books are about how women dominate the new world. So making a change to where a woman can be the dragon reborn... makes no sense. A thousand years ago, in a utopian society, men destroyed the world and tainted the male half of the source (of power). Which is why the white tower is at odds with a MAN being reborn with so much power is an issue. The main issue in the books. Making the characters older makes no sense, giving perrin a wife to kill makes no sense. Almost all of it makes no sense. I do like it. It is nice to see. Acting and special effects are nice. But the changes, which from what I see are not warranted. It doesn't help the story to move forward... it's just nonsense. And as far as all the NON white characters in a close knit town on the edge of obscurity, also makes no sense, as we see many different people and cultures throughout the books. I do like the show, but its obvious that the writers never read the series. Which makes me sad... because I so much want to see a true adaptation of the books. But for the few who haven't read the books.... I'm sure you will love the series... and you should.
This is not common but season 2 is BETTER than 1
kattrambo7 October 2023
Season 2 is better than season 1. The characters seem more developed, the actors seem entrenched in their roles, and much more magic. Season 3 was set up very well. Lanfear is an interesting character. I don't know what she is up to, but knowing that there is even something bigger coming is set up well. I can't wait till season 3. I do wish Nyn would eventually stop being so sensitive about everything and show what she has fully, but that is set up for season 3 as well I think. Rand and his crew are good heroes, complex, and well acted. I would love to have seen more of Rand in a magical capacity, but I think that will come. I hope. :)
And So the Wheel Turns
Athanatos17310 December 2021
To start with, I have read the series of books and although they were not perfect, they were highly enjoyable and epic in their scale.
Now to the series.
A show or movies based on a book or series of books is generally bound to infuriate as the finished product cannot compare to the imagination of the reader, and there are not many examples of where this has been overcome.
So far I have been watching a show that has the main characters of the books relegated to supporting characters with little to no dialogue in some episodes.
There were over 2000 named characters in the book and they still felt the need to create new characters for the show that serve no real purpose.
The acting is fairly bad. With the amount of money spent on the cinematography, you would think they would have hired better actors.
I could see how someone who hasn't read the books would be confused as to what is going on, as the explanations as to what is going on are vague, which makes me wonder who this show was made for.
If it was to introduce people to the world that Robert Jordan created then they failed.
If it was for fans of the books, then they have again failed, as they have been changing things that didn't need to be changed and generally angering fans.
If you are going to adapt a series of books, then do so correctly, otherwise write your own original story and do what you want with it.
My positive takeaway from The Wheel of Time is that the cinematography is excellent, and unfortunately that is the only thing I find worthwhile.
Maybe it will get better, but I highly doubt it.
If you enjoy reading, I would recommend giving the series of books a glance, as this show is a pale reflection of the story Jordan wrote.
Now to the series.
A show or movies based on a book or series of books is generally bound to infuriate as the finished product cannot compare to the imagination of the reader, and there are not many examples of where this has been overcome.
So far I have been watching a show that has the main characters of the books relegated to supporting characters with little to no dialogue in some episodes.
There were over 2000 named characters in the book and they still felt the need to create new characters for the show that serve no real purpose.
The acting is fairly bad. With the amount of money spent on the cinematography, you would think they would have hired better actors.
I could see how someone who hasn't read the books would be confused as to what is going on, as the explanations as to what is going on are vague, which makes me wonder who this show was made for.
If it was to introduce people to the world that Robert Jordan created then they failed.
If it was for fans of the books, then they have again failed, as they have been changing things that didn't need to be changed and generally angering fans.
If you are going to adapt a series of books, then do so correctly, otherwise write your own original story and do what you want with it.
My positive takeaway from The Wheel of Time is that the cinematography is excellent, and unfortunately that is the only thing I find worthwhile.
Maybe it will get better, but I highly doubt it.
If you enjoy reading, I would recommend giving the series of books a glance, as this show is a pale reflection of the story Jordan wrote.
Books and Visual Media are different, Accept each on their own Merit
joeshultheis-4994331 January 2024
I really have enjoyed the series so far. It's one of my favorite portrayals of fantasy in a television series. It may be because I read the first 5 books and understand some of the in between nuances that can not possibly be covered in the time allowed in a series for tv. But WOW, what is covered is so enjoyable.. I am very grateful to Rafe Judkins and Amazon for their efforts in bringing this vast project to the screen. The production value is top notch. The books were huge (800+ pages each) so trying to bring this together is no small feat. My applause and thanks! If only you had the money and time to of done 10 or more seasons! Keep up the good work and I am excited for more.
I would of given it 10 stars, but there were some small things of a personal consideration not significant to the overall production. Again I am just happy to have this type of content to enjoy watching!
More adaptations like this please Amazon!
I would of given it 10 stars, but there were some small things of a personal consideration not significant to the overall production. Again I am just happy to have this type of content to enjoy watching!
More adaptations like this please Amazon!
Sadness
olegl-0182728 December 2021
The most disappointing fantasy adaptation I've ever seen.
I absolutely dont understand how it was possible to miss so many important details for the disclosure of this universe and at the same time add so much unnecessary garbage.
I absolutely dont understand how it was possible to miss so many important details for the disclosure of this universe and at the same time add so much unnecessary garbage.
The books have me hooked. But not the show.
fcc_amccaleb27 December 2021
Maybe it's because I haven't read all the books yet (still working on it) and they are taking short cuts to plot points further on in the series, but the show is so far off from the first book that I barely recognize it. It started to come back to the book towards the end but then the season finale blew that up. The way it ended in the book was so much better.
Also, there are several things that make this show look cheap, even though I know it isn't. The trollocs cgi is bad. Their movements are choppy and almost appear sped up. Also, some of the cities and places feel like they didn't have the money to do any sweeping panoramic shots and they are just filming on a tiny set so everything is shot in close up.
I was really excited for this series and now I could care less if it continues. I actually started reading the books because I heard it was coming out. I'm hooked on the books but not on the show.
Also, there are several things that make this show look cheap, even though I know it isn't. The trollocs cgi is bad. Their movements are choppy and almost appear sped up. Also, some of the cities and places feel like they didn't have the money to do any sweeping panoramic shots and they are just filming on a tiny set so everything is shot in close up.
I was really excited for this series and now I could care less if it continues. I actually started reading the books because I heard it was coming out. I'm hooked on the books but not on the show.
I've never been angrier at a screenwriter
kevin-davisgt26 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
You literally had an entire proven and established plot line, a fan base, a script and character development written out for you 20 years before the series premiere and you managed to screw it up. The first 5 episodes were fantastic: casting was great, adaptations were appropriate, and then you got to Fal Dara. WTF. You could not have diverged harder from a successful, proven, and oft emulated plot. I watched episode 7 and felt the same thing Rand felt at the Eye- hope and confidence in the beginning that devolve into absolute horror at the shortcuts and adaptations created for literally no benefit to the original plot. It's a whole new story, different plot, and here's my spoiler: their adaptation ain't gonna stand up to 20+ years of fandom. This is the death knoll of a series, I hate that I had such high expectations. They literally had a script written for them and they screwed it up.
Another turn of the Wheel.
branislav-makan18 January 2024
The most important thing to realize is this is not a true books adaptation. These books cannot be adapted to a TV screen. You cannot bring hundreds of characters into a TV show. The cost would be unreal and the show would stop before it even started.
That being said, this is a truly remarkable piece of work. It brings the beauty of Mr. Jordan's work into different Light. Many casts are spot on and the actors are breathing the life into the characters I could only imagine before.
Story is roughly following the books, but it's changed to better fit the modern era. Some changes are good, others less so, but overall it's more or less the epic saga we read about all those years ago.
In the end, it's just another turn of the Wheel, and the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills.
Give it a chance. You may end up enjoying it. Be thankful we got it. And pray they keep doing what they are doing the way they are doing it.
Light be with you.
That being said, this is a truly remarkable piece of work. It brings the beauty of Mr. Jordan's work into different Light. Many casts are spot on and the actors are breathing the life into the characters I could only imagine before.
Story is roughly following the books, but it's changed to better fit the modern era. Some changes are good, others less so, but overall it's more or less the epic saga we read about all those years ago.
In the end, it's just another turn of the Wheel, and the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills.
Give it a chance. You may end up enjoying it. Be thankful we got it. And pray they keep doing what they are doing the way they are doing it.
Light be with you.
Improving with each series
wheatley-2023020 February 2024
Series 1 was just good enough to carry me to series 2, encouraged by the higher audience rating on Prime. I would score it a 6.
Series 2 is very much better, meriting an 8 or better.
Both series display very high production values. The fantasy world is superbly presented, with different cultures carefully delineated. Rosamund Pike carries dignity and power that is the key driving force of the drama. Daniel Henney, who I have not seen before, is very effective too.
The younger characters are not always as convincing, although some do grow into their roles as series 2 progresses. Also, Natasha O'Keeffe adds real bite in series 2.
The other key difference between the series is probably the way everything comes together to culminate in an epic battle in series 2, whereas the conclusion to series 1 spreads the characters into different battles.
Series 2 has left me keen to see more!
Series 2 is very much better, meriting an 8 or better.
Both series display very high production values. The fantasy world is superbly presented, with different cultures carefully delineated. Rosamund Pike carries dignity and power that is the key driving force of the drama. Daniel Henney, who I have not seen before, is very effective too.
The younger characters are not always as convincing, although some do grow into their roles as series 2 progresses. Also, Natasha O'Keeffe adds real bite in series 2.
The other key difference between the series is probably the way everything comes together to culminate in an epic battle in series 2, whereas the conclusion to series 1 spreads the characters into different battles.
Series 2 has left me keen to see more!
Unfaithful to source material, incoherent along its new manufactured plot
kcconnor28 December 2021
This is a 10,000 page opus with several overlapping themes and long term plots. Which has been turned into misandrist garbage.
Every single male character has been stripped of his skills and accomplishments in this adaptation. All the women are the "bestest evar." Nynaeve somehow doesn't have her "block" that is an issue for half the series. Egwene can heal death itself (preposterous!). The metaphysics from the book that make for balance and order to the magic system are just cast aside and ignored.
This adaptation is everything one derides in fan fiction.
Every single male character has been stripped of his skills and accomplishments in this adaptation. All the women are the "bestest evar." Nynaeve somehow doesn't have her "block" that is an issue for half the series. Egwene can heal death itself (preposterous!). The metaphysics from the book that make for balance and order to the magic system are just cast aside and ignored.
This adaptation is everything one derides in fan fiction.
Wheel of Time - Could have had the world
mculleton-437-78203012 September 2023
Robert Jordan left a legacy of material and exceptional storytelling. This series is a disaster in casting, a re-write that makes absolutely no sense. It's like a Van Gogh being repainted by a 5 year old.
Adding new story lines (Perrin's story), romances that never developed (Rand). I have tried to keep an open mind but after the first episode of the second season....stick a fork in it because the writers have gone collectively insane and the story is not just baked...it's toasted.
For those of you who have not read the books I'm sure you will enjoy Cinematography is amazing. I'm just wondering what twists the writers have next in the once beautiful tapestry that was the Wheel of Time...
Adding new story lines (Perrin's story), romances that never developed (Rand). I have tried to keep an open mind but after the first episode of the second season....stick a fork in it because the writers have gone collectively insane and the story is not just baked...it's toasted.
For those of you who have not read the books I'm sure you will enjoy Cinematography is amazing. I'm just wondering what twists the writers have next in the once beautiful tapestry that was the Wheel of Time...
Love but.....
airandra26 February 2024
The books deserve 10 out of 10, I was amazed with the first season, the way they put out the second season though Idk it's really good but the way they are doing this with show like what is the thought process behind it? They could have cut this pie so many ways, but they chose to cook one pie at a time, cut it into 4 pieces, and then they repeat the process the amount of people that need to be fed is a crowd of 1000+, It's worth the watch for sure and definitely leaves you wanting more just not a big fan on the way they went about doing the series itself that's the only reason I say 8 out 10 on the show.
It is great show!
kharin-art13 January 2024
I love the original book series and I when I heard a lot of bad reviews for this - I was not ready to watch it until now. And... It is good. It has some deviations from the book series, but I read the series a long time ago so I notice only some of them. But mainly the plot is interesting, logical and enjoyable. Second season is better than the first one (but I noticed some bad CGI there) in my opinion. Plus, it feels different from the other similar shows (especially season two, when the "epic editions" were turned a little bit down). I like it more than the Witcher, for example (I also like the original book series). The cast is great too...
Sorry, but I'm just sad by how weak this turned out
jmf_taborda24 December 2021
First of, I'm a relatively recent book reader, stared a year ago and I'm on book 7
Coming into this show, I had somewhat high expectations, with even though the first book being the worst of the first 7, it was still a pretty good book with such indept explanations of everything and everything was tied in such a way that kept us wondering and guessing and rooting, a fearing..
On the first Episode I understood how fast they had to move for such deep plot... But that was to be excused if they weren't gonna waste an entire Episode around a useless depressed warder and his issues.. The chacters are bland, the tone is weird because it wants to be a jolly show with dark elements and fails miserably at both, shadar logot was the biggest missed opportunity of the whole show..
The VFX and CGI of this show is simply bad, really bad! The worst I've seen in an Amazon show, let alone the one with the highest budget of them all.. everything from the creatures, the cities, everything that was soo fake and the sets in tar valon looked really cardboardy, and lets not talk about Ishamael because he just looked like a mashed potatoe. I feared for no one, i felt zero empathy, nothing of it looked reall and so one of the worst experiences of my life..
Than we have the plot changes.. from all the moments that makes my EOTW experience, they kept zero of them in the show, and traded them for women power representation or supposed to be shocking moments that none worked.. The dialogue is childish and highschoolish, weak and really poor, wasting most of it cringing.
I'm not mad for the changes just because of the changes.. I'm mad because they made up for such a weaker overall story than the book was, wand it was the worst book.
Overall, it's a pretty weak show, with weak character's, weak plot, weak motivation's and I'm having the saddest christmas eve ever with how bad tis finale was.
Than we have the plot changes.. from all the moments that makes my EOTW experience, they kept zero of them in the show, and traded them for women power representation or supposed to be shocking moments that none worked.. The dialogue is childish and highschoolish, weak and really poor, wasting most of it cringing.
I'm not mad for the changes just because of the changes.. I'm mad because they made up for such a weaker overall story than the book was, wand it was the worst book.
Overall, it's a pretty weak show, with weak character's, weak plot, weak motivation's and I'm having the saddest christmas eve ever with how bad tis finale was.
Finally, a huge fantasy production that's truly worth watching!
skjenco30 December 2023
First off, they didn't stick strictly to the books. Rather, they crafted a story inspired by the Wheel of Time series, much like Peter Jackson did. They tell a truly captivating story based on Jordon's work. Consulting with Brandon Sanderson was a smart move on their part. I rated the first season a 7 out of 10. And I was concerned about the direction they might take the story, because what I deem and inaccurate understanding of the dual aspects (Male/Female) of the One Power, Saidin and Saidar. This made me worry that they might skew the story to fit a particular political agenda. Fortunately, that wasn't the case.
What they got right, and why I gave it a 9, is their effort to understand Jordan's characters and how they fit into his story. They also seemed keen on grasping the underlying themes and incorporating them into their storytelling. In a nutshell they realize this is the retelling of Robert Jordon's story not their story. Once they had a handle on their role in telling the story, they focused on a story based on Robert Jordan's work, avoiding personal biases or agendas. While some people have criticized the series for pushing a certain narrative, I didn't perceive it that way at all. I found the series, especially the last episode, to be outstanding. The finale gets a 10 out of 10 from me.
What they got right, and why I gave it a 9, is their effort to understand Jordan's characters and how they fit into his story. They also seemed keen on grasping the underlying themes and incorporating them into their storytelling. In a nutshell they realize this is the retelling of Robert Jordon's story not their story. Once they had a handle on their role in telling the story, they focused on a story based on Robert Jordan's work, avoiding personal biases or agendas. While some people have criticized the series for pushing a certain narrative, I didn't perceive it that way at all. I found the series, especially the last episode, to be outstanding. The finale gets a 10 out of 10 from me.
Teenage Lovestory Rev.
simbrubie11 July 2022
I have to revise my initial opinion due to the weak 1st season.
To avoid any misunderstandings: I still don't think the series is good as an adaptation of Jordan's fantasy series, the story deviates too much from the original and I don't completely agree with the cast either (e.g. Aiel have been living in the desert for about 3000 years and should look accordingly emaciated, not full like a cat that has just eaten milk). But that's just my personal opinion.
However, as a fantasy series, without an exact reference to the original, I think it's good. The second half of the second season makes up for a lot of the length. And the acting performances by Madeleine Madden and Zoë Robins are impressive!
I'm actually looking forward to the third season.
To avoid any misunderstandings: I still don't think the series is good as an adaptation of Jordan's fantasy series, the story deviates too much from the original and I don't completely agree with the cast either (e.g. Aiel have been living in the desert for about 3000 years and should look accordingly emaciated, not full like a cat that has just eaten milk). But that's just my personal opinion.
However, as a fantasy series, without an exact reference to the original, I think it's good. The second half of the second season makes up for a lot of the length. And the acting performances by Madeleine Madden and Zoë Robins are impressive!
I'm actually looking forward to the third season.
You have all been robbed
mattysym24 December 2021
I've been struggling to put into words exactly what it is that makes me dislike this tv show, the best I can do is say that Rafe Judkins has removed, changed and added so much that the resemblance to this book series is at best passing. What he has created from a classic fantasy story is a Frankenstein's monster with a rushed story that makes little sense in a world robbed of any character or depth. I watch because I love the book series, and seeing them mangle one of my favourite series is like witnessing a car crash happen in slow motion, I don't want to watch but I can't bring myself to look away.
I could go into detail, but nobody wants that so I'll save you that torment. The book readers know what the changes are, and the tv show enjoyers don't really care. Each to their own, Keeping Up with the Kardashians has been on television for 20 years so it's not like the bar is incredibly high. The crux of my criticism of the Wheel of Time steaming series is this; Rafe Judkins believes himself a better storyteller than Robert Jordan, that is the only way to explain how and why he made the changes that he did. That is the only way to explain it. There are moments that could have been book accurate, but weren't. For what reason? Only Rafe knows.
I could go into detail, but nobody wants that so I'll save you that torment. The book readers know what the changes are, and the tv show enjoyers don't really care. Each to their own, Keeping Up with the Kardashians has been on television for 20 years so it's not like the bar is incredibly high. The crux of my criticism of the Wheel of Time steaming series is this; Rafe Judkins believes himself a better storyteller than Robert Jordan, that is the only way to explain how and why he made the changes that he did. That is the only way to explain it. There are moments that could have been book accurate, but weren't. For what reason? Only Rafe knows.
Unexpected
cheropkoech-6823712 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I started the series as a way to pass time but I was hooked from the first episode and that says a lot I am a movie/show fanatic and I am very impressed by this show. The work taken to produce such perfection is incredible. I applaud every single actor and actress for their outstanding performance and to the show for the twists and turns like the way Mat Cauthon was a hero and not a villain as he was portrayed to be. The graphics were out of this world good job. My only problem was Nynaeve having too much pride and being too sensitive to accept any help and to actually trust anyone but other than perfection I really liked the show and would 100% recommend it to anyone.
Mediocre soap fantasy production
lars-15512 January 2022
I've now watched through the entire series and can unfortunately state a poorly executed direction that often resembles a mediocre soap fantasy production.
The soap factor is clearly noticeable in the last two episodes when acting with long pauses in the dialogue and face close-ups. The same boring close-ups as they walk through the dark forest in the last episode.
The soap factor is clearly noticeable in the last two episodes when acting with long pauses in the dialogue and face close-ups. The same boring close-ups as they walk through the dark forest in the last episode.
Dreadful.
chrisvonae31 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I watched the episode, and as a fan of high fantasy, I was really looking forward to it.. however, it turned out to be a real miss.
You start off with Rosalind Pike talking about having the 'one power' but never using it as a weapon.. 10 minutes later, she's using it to zap poorly-CGI'd enemies.. i.e. Using it as a weapon.
The series doesn't explain any of the backstory, so you're left being clueless and not engaged with the events on screen.. there are some witches.. a weird village and some minotaurs.. what?!
They've hit the PC mark on the head, with a curiously multicultural village, seemingly ran by women.
Now, in most well written high fantasies, there are several races, which converge in bit cities, however this was a small village with all races shoehorned in to help the woke out there, and it didn't come across as natural in any way.
The main characters were not engaging in the slightest, with the exception, perhaps, or Pike and her Japanese guardian(?) They were all bland, unlikeable and instantly switched me off from the series.
In summary, you have an unrealistic, disengaging series, featuring some very dull leads, and a storyline that is seemingly non-existent.
I gave a 2-star, because I am generous.
Poor attempt, more effort needed. Awful, awful, awful.
You start off with Rosalind Pike talking about having the 'one power' but never using it as a weapon.. 10 minutes later, she's using it to zap poorly-CGI'd enemies.. i.e. Using it as a weapon.
The series doesn't explain any of the backstory, so you're left being clueless and not engaged with the events on screen.. there are some witches.. a weird village and some minotaurs.. what?!
They've hit the PC mark on the head, with a curiously multicultural village, seemingly ran by women.
Now, in most well written high fantasies, there are several races, which converge in bit cities, however this was a small village with all races shoehorned in to help the woke out there, and it didn't come across as natural in any way.
The main characters were not engaging in the slightest, with the exception, perhaps, or Pike and her Japanese guardian(?) They were all bland, unlikeable and instantly switched me off from the series.
In summary, you have an unrealistic, disengaging series, featuring some very dull leads, and a storyline that is seemingly non-existent.
I gave a 2-star, because I am generous.
Poor attempt, more effort needed. Awful, awful, awful.
It could have been good.
gpqtfh3 January 2022
Pro:
Cons:
- Beautiful cinematography, interesting world, nice atmosphere.
Cons:
- The most feminist film ever made. In this film all women are badass, all men are just tools, weak, stupid, crybabies / nobodies. It's just stupid, but hey, it's 2021... let's ruin every movie with it.
- Overdone, unnecessary "political correctness", lots of unnecessary, time-wasting cliched dialogue.
Reader of the series multiple times
amuru2924 December 2023
So far I believe they are doing a pretty good job bringing to life a world as complicated and expansive as The Wheel of Time books. Honestly as a lover of the books the compression of parts of the story and the changes irk me sometimes but the show is so good that I easily get past it. It's not perfect but a damn good adaptation.
Now for the low review people. I really believe that most (not all) but most are too bothered by some of the main characters being adapted as people of color by the writers. If it bothers them that much than I am sure they got bigger issues going on than changes to a fantasy series for tv adaptation. However, they will definitely not be honest about their "fears" and will just criticize little things and ratings bomb it.
Now for the low review people. I really believe that most (not all) but most are too bothered by some of the main characters being adapted as people of color by the writers. If it bothers them that much than I am sure they got bigger issues going on than changes to a fantasy series for tv adaptation. However, they will definitely not be honest about their "fears" and will just criticize little things and ratings bomb it.
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