The lives of five young villagers change forever when a strange and powerful woman arrives, claiming one of them is the child of an ancient prophecy with the power to tip the balance between... Read allThe lives of five young villagers change forever when a strange and powerful woman arrives, claiming one of them is the child of an ancient prophecy with the power to tip the balance between Light and Dark forever.The lives of five young villagers change forever when a strange and powerful woman arrives, claiming one of them is the child of an ancient prophecy with the power to tip the balance between Light and Dark forever.
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 2 wins & 9 nominations total
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Summary
Reviewers say 'The Wheel of Time' adaptation garners mixed reactions. Praise is directed towards world-building, cinematography, and Rosamund Pike's performance as Moiraine. Fans appreciate the effort to adapt Robert Jordan's expansive fantasy world. However, criticisms include deviations from the source material, rushed pacing, and altered character arcs. Some express disappointment with adaptation fidelity and the introduction of modern themes. Despite these issues, many remain optimistic about future seasons, hoping for improvements and closer alignment with the books.
Featured reviews
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.
At the beginning I was not so sure, but as it has gone longer it has proven to be a very good show. While I have not read the books yet, I know many who both love and hate it and from both I have gathered it is a good enough adaption. If you have not read the books, you will enjoy it. If you have read the books you might take issue with some choices, but they also do a good job getting the broad strokes across in a very limited number of episodes. Some people are excessively negative about any adapted show, and that happens here as well. I say give it a shot if you enjoy high fantasy or fantasy at all.
Absolutely amazing season so far! A snow a bit shy, based on covid and Mat's recast in the ending of season 1, but getting better with each episode since! Season 3 is a must see, great world building, costumes and very good acting already at this point from the kids! Fresh new additions to the cast and solid adaptation. The show is now ready to lose some of the main protagonists as in the books, although that will make me cry! A few things done even better then in the books, especially when it comes to the heroes being more real and relatable in a tv adaptation. It also answers my biggest question as a huge book fan - why the white tower is unaware that there are so many channelers in the world outside of it? It absolutely bothered me in the books that the so powerfull and knowledgeable tower doesnt have a clue about the chanellers amongst the aiel, the seafolk etc if there are so many and each Aes Sedai knows who can channel only by seeing them, even when that person does not hold saidar at the moment. I beg those at Amazon, keep the show going it seems it will only get bigger and better now! The book material from now on has such a rich and unique storyline, that if the show goes all the way to the end, it will be impossible to ever find anything as good as it! PS: I cannot get "The hills if Tanchico" out of my mind! The hills of Tanchicoooo.....
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.
I never read the books for The Wheels of Time so I had no idea what to expect but I have to say that I've truly enjoyed it so far. This show hooked me from the first episode and held my attention to the last. I binged the first two seasons in less than a week and was still hoping for more episodes when I was done so I'm glad season 3 is finally here. It seems like some of the people who read the books didn't like it as much but as long as you try not to compare it to the book and just enjoy it for what it is...and that's an entertaining fantasy series. The series should be judged on its own and not compared to the book. I'm not saying it's the best show I've ever seen but it's definitely worth watching. The world building and cast are the best things about the show and I can't wait for more.
Renewed, Canceled, or Ending?
Renewed, Canceled, or Ending?
Check out our list of renewals and cancellations to see if your favorite show made the cut.
Did you know
- TriviaRobert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time" book series has 2,782 named characters.
- Crazy creditsThe opening titles are of a string breaking into different strands that crisscross and merge through looms to form a tapestry of the Aes Sedai group.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Jeremy Vine: Episode #4.235 (2021)
Behind the Scenes of "The Wheel of Time"
Behind the Scenes of "The Wheel of Time"
We stepped inside the world of "The Wheel of Time" Season 2 with a sneak peek at sets, costumes, and more.
- How many seasons does The Wheel of Time have?Powered by Alexa
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