Set in a high fantasy world where magic exists, but only some can access it, a woman named Moiraine crosses paths with five young men and women. This sparks a dangerous, world-spanning journey. Based on the book series by Robert Jordan.
After the bombshell failure of the eighth season of “Game of Thrones,” people are hungry for a new fantasy hit TV show. “The Wheel of Time,” coming to Amazon Prime, was originally a 14-volume novel written by the late Robert Jordan, beloved by many over the decades. The story spans many generations but ultimately follows a great hero known as The Dragon and an evil entity known as The Dark One. They are destined to meet in the final battle for the fate of the world. The TV show follows Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike), a Cairhienin noble who has dedicated her life to finding the dragon reborn to take him to the final battle. At a village, she finds four young adults who she suspects to be the dragon and takes them on a quest while running away from Trollocs, horrific, humanoid creatures with the physical features of both animals and humans, who are trying to kill them. For big fans of this story, familiar characters like Nynaeve al’Vere, Rand al’Thor, and Perrin Aybara all come to life on the big screen.
Personally, I have never loved fantasy shows or movies. It is hard for me to suspend disbelief long enough to enjoy them and as a result, I didn’t love the first two episodes of “The Wheel of Time.” The only thing that pulled me in was the final battle in the first episode. Rosamund Pike, who plays Moiraine Damodred, did beautifully with the fight choreography and the special effects for her magic made the character feel powerful. She was my favorite and every time she was on screen she caught my attention. Also, the use of practical effects and sets made that scene so epic, and knowing that the Trollocs were stunt people in suits rather than CGI, made it all the better.
However, when it came to the characters, I never got fully invested in their story or their purpose. A day after watching, the story became forgettable for me, although I think I am at a disadvantage. Other people leaving the theater absolutely loved the first two episodes and it was because they had read the books that gave them prior knowledge of the characters. I went in there blind so form your own opinion. If you are a big fantasy person or have read “The Wheel of Time” series, the show is definitely something for you.
Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video Friday, November 19th
