Wheel of Time Season 1: Full Spoiler Review

I took a week to let it sink in, watched the season again and now it's time for my full spoiler review of the first season of Amazon's The Wheel of Time. Did it set up a bright future or was this season a complete dud?

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[jefferickson]

Who the hell wants an adaptation of a story they love that isn't about the actual plot of that story? I expected The Lord of the Rings adaptation to actually be about The Lord of the Rings. I don't think I had unreal expectations just because I expected this show to be actually about the book. You are allowed to like whatever show you like and I think If you loved how GOT ended then you'll love this adaptation.

[evansteiner]

Oh man, totally agree. They could have saved SO MUCH TIME if they just had Stepin go berserk when Kerene died and charge the Ghealdans.

[wanderer]

"Things can't just happen because we think they'd be cool. They need to make sense within the world" - couldn't say it better myself! The linking scene in episode 8 is a good example of breaking that rule. These ladies are way too powerful and Egwene shouldn't be able to "resurrect" Nynaeve. It lowers the stakes and takes the gravitas out of the show. IMO, it'd work better if Nynaeve couldn't channel in that moment at all. It would set her on this arc and made her two previous channeling scenes more meaningful.

[celestial]

For the cast, I would also give a shoutout to Josha for Rand. His face and eyes can switch from hard and stubborn to soft and caring in an instant, without barely moving a muscle. Also English is not his native language and this is his first English speaking role. He has a lot of tough scenes ahead of him and I’m excited to see what he does with it.

[aldan]

Yeah - I followed it all from the start, I wasn't expecting a 1-1 retelling of the story. In saying that, it seems beyond stupid to have strayed so so far from the core mechanics that make up the greatest story ever told, and there's a reason 90 million copies of this book have been sold worldwide. So I expected changes, what i didn't expect was this bastardization of the lore - I think this can mostly be put down to whoever is making the editing decisions on these episodes - the things they have chosen to leave in, and the things they have chosen to cut or replace tell a clear story. And it is not an encouraging one looking forward. It's funny, I just picked up the Eye again after watching through the season multiple times to really try and identify where they have gone wrong and it really is in the lore changes. Eg the simple choice of just having a Moiraine that is sketchy on the prophecies has made a HUGE change to the mechanics of the decisions, and the relationships around her. And lets be frank, S1 was the Moiraine show, not the eye of the world. Which I thought was going to be fine, gun actor, makes sense right - but it has seriously detracted from the story and I guess that's why RJ wrote this book from inside Rands head mostly. We lost the charm and replaced it with cut in sections of future politics and stuff and you have to question why. It really has been an exercise in robbing Peter to pay Paul - and this is never a good idea lol, and hey should bloody know that. So there are clearly problems in the production team, I read Rafe's OG script for EP1 - and minus the smut, that felt a thousand times better to me. So Rafe's vision is not the problem, it's just the things being cut from his vision are leaving something that is not really the wheel of time at all unfortunately. I think it started well, I still enjoy the start but it really went off the rails after ep4 and unfortunately didn't find them again. I think the Dragon mystery again, seems good ie it hooks new viewers, I know in my family this seemed a positive early on but again, you have robbed Rand to do this. And he is, you know, the Dragon. Or supposed to be at any rate but you would hardly know, and now with the stakes being shot to shit with that last episode you don't really need him anyway. So - it has problems - I hope they address these, because there ARE some good things like you mentioned, the casting is great, the acting has been great too - imagine what these guys could have done with some better writing - but they need to give Perrin his bloody Axe pronto, stop shading Mat as a degenerate, let Rand be Rand, show Eggys brilliance more and pull back Nyn from this unfortunate Mary Sue place she now finds herself in now. And yes, if we could get some of the real Lan back in that would be great too. Moiraine is fine, she's different but she is good - we just have to get out of her head pronto because her distrust of the prophecies is ruining the story at this point. Oh, and if you are going to choose to age up the characters, please, for the love of Bela, get rid of the freaking teen drama.

[valleyheartadventurecompan]

The argument that there "just wasn't enough time" to give the MAIN CHARACTERS any sort of development is completely illogical. There was plenty of time, Rafe and his "writers" just decided to focus on unimportant side plots. The whole series (assuming it makes it past season 2) will suffer because of these choices. Also, when we are finally supposed to get huge character moments (like Rand at Tarwin's Gap) Rafe pawned off those moments on unimportant side characters. It makes absolutely zero sense.

I was so upset after the finale that I went and mapped out the entirety of the season one that I would create if I were showrunning. It was cathartic. I encourage everyone who feels the same to take a couple of hours to do this.

Believe me, I know there is more to writing and show-running, but with the money they had, they could have done something similar.

I made changes of my own (like skipping Baerlon because of rumors of high Whitecloak presence there) that would cut down on the number of locations necessary to film. I also gave the Lan, Nynaeve, and Moiraine sequences a bit more time than they did in the books.

Kinda spoilers: I also added Thom’s nephew’s stilling as a cold open, the bloodsnow (probably the best scene from the shows), and Logain’s assault on Ghealdan. Like the show, you still see the Winternight attack as the cold open of Episode 2, as the climax of Episode 1 is the attack at the farmhouse (the show absolutely did Tam dirty...he's a freaking blademaster and he can't kill one trolloc?) and the fever dream. We lose the pointless, “who’s the dragon” nonsense that did nothing but distract and keep us from connecting with the characters we should connect with. This made what should have been epic moments in the show fall flat. “Oh, this redhead that I have spent all of five minutes with is the dragon? Neat, I guess.”

I still got it mapped out at 9 episodes of around an hour each.

You still get the story and characters you love, and you still get some changes necessary for adaptations.

It wasn’t that hard to at least map out a story that is true to the heart of the books.

Rafe and crew really bombed on this one. I don’t even think I will be watching season 2.

[elpsykongroo]

This 1 for 1 adaptation straw man already got old long back. Literally no one expected that.

The math is simple, for a book adaptation Subtractions to the books have to be made, Changes (to certain backstories, personalities, etc.) have to be REALLY justified as being WAY BETTER than what's in the books, and their own Additions simply shouldn't be made since that takes away the excuse from the Subtractions.

[ianohlander]

This is really well reasoned out. Truth is, there have been things along the way that made me a bit uncomfortable (and I *DID* expect there to be changes- all I wanted was that the characters be true).

A few changes I didn't like (Perrin killing his wife being a major problem that, frankly, introduces FAR MORE trauma than an emotionally introverted and emo character like he didn't need anyway. Like Brandon Sanderson, this could have been effectively done if it was Luhan. Another way would have been the Trolloc kill his wife and he go into berserker mode and be covered in blood. Also, Perrin not killing any WC's. His guilt for this also carried through and gave him a connection to them. Valda may not let him go because of the golden eyes, but having him kill a couple while escaping would have done nicely. Instead, he seems to be aping Hodor in his shuffling around. He just stands there looming. Maybe he was in the wolf trance. BUT- AND THIS IS CRITICAL- if they aren't going to follow the books with the reason that this needs to appeal to non-readers, then THEY CANNOT DEPEND ON IN BOOK EXPLANATIONS FOR PLACES WHERE THEY JUST FAILED TO EXPLAIN!!! This is cheap and frankly, insulting, as if they are creating an adaptation that is going to deviate significantly- and they have- they have no expectation that book explanations are sufficient. The metaphysics and rules have been changed.)

But other than the love triangle of Perrin, Rand and Egwene (which, seriously? One single sentence of Perrin's in book 1 while they are running from the ravens does not count as a basis for such a thing. It's so juvenile and is just another example of manufactured drama that is, frankly, a hallmark of lazy writing- which is inexcusable given the source material provides plenty of drama to select from. People make comparisons to CW shows all the time, which can be unfair when their claim comes primarily from the fact the EF5 are young. But in this case, with a stupid love triangle, it is warranted) I was pretty much very happy with episode 7. A bit clunky in the Dragon reveal, esp since we have had so little characterization of the EF5, but over all I was glad of it. They did the best they could without Mat/Barney which wasn't their fault.

I was prepared to love 8 and instead, from the moment it began, my unease grew and grew. The entire mischaracterization of Lew Therin's decisions- which Rafe said we never saw on screen but was pivotal- was frankly unforgiveable. It completely removed context or balance to the situation. I don't have faith they will retcon this or rework it so it hews closer to the source material. Not really.

A bad taste at the beginning that didn't get better with the portrayal of Agelmar, the Amalisa linking, all the death fakeouts, and the power ramp ups. The only redeeming feature was Rand's battle at the Eye. Much better (though I would like to see Rand defined more than simply by his relationship with Egwene. Despite a mention of Tam, there appears none of the inner struggle he felt over his parentage. Instead, his agency and decision making is firmly grounded in his relationship with Egwene.) Rand and Ishamael's interaction was brilliant. Was a much better way to depict the Eye.

But overall, knowing how little they focused on the EF5 characters when they could have taken time from Alanna or Steppin to still give time to characterize Moiraine and Lan (the big actors) along with the EF5 ones. Frankly, from a show perspective, we have been given LITTLE reason to care about them beyond Nynaeve (and her only because of her relationship with Lan.) They took the limited time they DID have and used it in stories that, in the end, played no role in the season as a whole.

So your giving it a LOWER score AFTER it was done makes sense. Because it makes the Steppin-Kerene storyline- as good as it was- something that simply couldn't have been afforded. The warder bond has played little role, esp in the end, since Moiraine masked it (again, with no explanation). They've changed the metaphysics just enough that we can't just assume book explanations (nor should we be required to. The same criticism goes with the Extras. Love them, totally. But they can't depend on in story contradictions or events to only make sense if you watch this extra thing right here.)

Building the world and setting up the series was a laudable goal. But they also needed to tell a consistent story so that WE CARE what is going on. We invest time and mental energy in made up worlds because we love the world and the people in it. Somehow, BOTH OF THEM feel shortchanged in this simply because they didn't use their time budget properly.

I agree that covid had a huge impact, as did Barney leaving. And so some of that is completely excusable.

But much of these complaints stem from writing (and more importantly, editing) mistakes that started in the beginning. Episode 1 needed 2 hours, no question. But frankly, it needed better writing. The cold open frankly was laughable and didn't add anything. It would have been better to start with Rand and Tam as in the books, then introduce Moiraine. In the face of the tension of the cloaked watcher, her introduction woudl have been MUCH stronger and portentous. It would have serviced the show leads and still have made sense. IT would have avoided the dumb "rumors of 4 taveren" line. It wouldn't have made the cold open look like something from Hercules and Xena (which I loved back- in the 90s! They still has a place in my heart. It showed me a tv series for WOT could be done and I often would daydream while working about how one could breakdown the books into seasons.)

Rafe seems to be a bit like George Lucas. A good visionary- sometimes. The music is amazing, the opening credits, the costuming and sets (though they need to look lived in and worn down. There is no sense of age. He needs to work on the lived-in look that Lucas pioneered and makes SW, and shows like the Mandalorian, look so good.) A lot of good things. Ep 7 cold open was GLORIOUS!!!

But he can't write to save his life. And his characterization is weak. He needs to be the showrunner- not direct or write. Get a consistent team of writers (not just one or two good ones and then weak ones.)

The biggest weakness is the one you point out. You can't create events simply to look cool. They have to make sense. Frankly, a producer who can push back and force him to think about the story logic would work. Gary Kurtz did that with George Lucas. Without that, I am concerned it's going to keep happening. They have already leveled up the supergirls' power (and their ability to do complicated things without thinking) and healed what was close to death. scaling that back wont be easy (and I fear has already diminished what made Dumai's Wells so freaking cool.)

They need a soft reset on some of this stuff.

I will watch season 2 but I don't feel the same fire or excitement only because I fear the problem is the approach of the showrunner himself and the casual way they deal with plot. Those things have to change or I don't see what will be different. I am hoping no covid or a new Mat will help. But the problems run deeper with how the showrunners choose to approach things and how respectful they are of consistency and logic and the material.

[EAN]

This is my biggest problem with the show, that makes me have no good will for it :
a certain trend in the show,

Men that had been intentionally derailed :
Abell Cauthon : from a respected member of the Village he became a deadbeat Dad and a cheat.
Mat : from a prankster that is actually competent he is a lazy thief.
Perrin - From a Brave man that is afraid of hurting people but will if needed to : to a broken man that killed his wife and let Padan Fain take the Horn.
Tam : the amazing Veteran blade master that took multiple Trollocs and led the rest to a wild goose chase . to a man that could not defeat a single Trolloc.
Bran al' Vere : no longer mentioned to be the Mayor.
Lan : Did not know of Moiraine "Tell", did not defeat a Fade, failed to properly protect Moiraine in Emond's Field.
Did not teach the boys how to fight.
Aglemar : from the most honorable lord in the books, that deeply respected Aes Sedai and was considered a great soldier and general, he became an arrogant fool that died from the first Troloc that reached him.
Thom : The master gleeman role was greatly reduced, and now he is also a thief.
Rand : Champion of the Light that killed one forsaken wounded another and decimated the Trolloc army in Tarwin gap, and was resourceful in the journey, he is now the guy that still apparently fell to Ishamael trap, in the end, and did little else in the show. most of his motivation in the show is in relation to Egwene.
Lews Therin Telamon - Leader of the forces of The Light that choose a desperate measure to save the world, turned to a prideful person that seemingly brought the world to ruin out of his own pride.
Women that had been intentionally derailed :
Natti Cauthon : became a drunk.

Thats not just incompetence. that is an agenda.

[DameTara]

I give it a 5/10 I really didn't like that all the men were portrayed as weenies and the woman as the greatest mary Sue's. The book is about how so much can be accomplished by working together. That is not shown in the show at all.

[JonasGrumby-OO]

If 5 untrained women can link and destroy the largest trolloc horde of the age, why would you need a Dragon? The White Tower? Training? Look at what 5 neophytes can do? Can you imagine what the hundreds of Aes Sedai can do?
If Lews Theron was an arrogant ass living in utopia and recklessly destroyed the world instead of acting in desperation because all was nearly lost, why would you want him? Egwene can raise the dead with no training. She’s literally Jesus; the Dark One has no chance Just let the women handle it and kill Rand immediately! The guys dangerous and reckless. Don’t believe that? Tell it to Agelmar. He and his boys were needlessly killed. They should have gone and played golf. His underpowered sister and her friends could have saved his life by just telling him to sit down.
There: doesn’t matter if you’ve read the books or not these choices are objectively stupid and that’s just one quick example.
If you love this, then by all means enjoy. I won’t give them the satisfaction of another click for producing stupid crap.

[Vialle]

The first novel has 3 main characters - Rand, Matt & Perrin …. The first season has 3 main characters - Moraine, Nynaeve & Egwene. I can not express my disappointment with the last 2 episodes; the destruction of the lore & magic system and the reduction of the boys roles in the story so far. Plus loosing Barney 😭who was outstanding as Matt (even with the horrible way they changed his backstory)

[johnfadds]

So Egwene channels a weak ass fireball at Valda. Next she resurrects the dead.
Maybe she'll make the Dark One her pet in the next season.

Nice character progression!

[Darmk]

The Stepin stuff was so unnecessary. Season 1 is not when we needed this kind of development about the warder bond. It feels like they put a bunch of lore stuff into a hat and pulled one out just so they could have something extraneous to develop. Season 1 should have been far more focused on the journey of the EF5.

[UnraveledDreams]

The show Is just one of those terrible realities Rand had to live through when using the portal stone.
"I win again, Lews Therin!"
On a serious note: Yeah the power creep is too much! There is no more room for Nynaeve to grow. And Rand with an item that enhances his power 100X hardly glows half as bright as Nynaeve... SMH

[bluelight]

Episode 8 was a mess from start to finish and covid isn't an excuse. From LTT being the Dragon Reborn and an arrogant that wanted to imprison the DO for apparently no reason at all (the world looks perfectly fine), to that nonsense linking scene. Plus all the random fake out deaths.
I honestly have no faith season 2 will drastically improve...

[TheHumbleMarksman]

The season was a failure as a male viewer. There wasn’t much “for me” - it was basically desperate housewives after episode 3. The first three episodes set up a promise it feel flat on delivering on the rest of the season. All my buddies think the same thing - a “boring show for women” - only thing that got me to the end was my love for WOT and the increasing sadness of how bad the adaptation was. Witcher 2 beat the hell out of this on every dimension - it’s embarrassing Amazon spent so much for something so confoundingly mediocre.

[xaco]

I think alot of theese issues is that we have a showrunner that got a few episodes of Chuck and Agent of Shield on his resume. He doesn't have the experience and the skills to adapt a huge book series(yet atleast). We see it in the writing, pacing and in the choises he makes when he doesn't get what he feels are right. 8 episodes is enough to adapt the eye of the world, but not when you add more side characthers and cut out most the development your main characthers need.

To be quite honest, I don't really think they will make a better job on the 2nd season. Because it's not just about the money. I hope that they will make a better job, but only time will tell.

[greggsimmons]

I agree with you that they spent too much of their limited time on things like Stepin's arc - he reaction immediately after Corinne's death was enough from a world building persective. That fact that he got more screen/plot time than Loial was criminal.

[Ablon]

the power levels bothered me a lot. Nynaeve healing...egwene healing...girls linkin with no training and destroying an army of trollocs, weak ass dragon reborn...