The Wheel of Time
monition : SPOILERS ahead for The Wheel of Time season 3 , episodes 1 - 3!The Wheel of Timeseason 3 begins with a bang . After working with the Seanchan to gaol Aes Sedai and novices in season 2 , Liandrin is brought onward to Siuan at the Amyrlin Seat . There , she is accused of being a Darkfriend , a charge that speedily reveals she is n’t alone . Multiple Aes Sedai set out attacking their sister in the White Tower , break themselves to be aligned with the Black Ajah . The battle transpire both in the tower and the street , resulting in a swift and deplorable death for one of Alanna ’s Warders , Ihvon , establishing Tar Valon is no longer safe .
It ’s a strong introduction forThe Wheel of Timeseason 3 , but at last one that does n’t represent how I felt watching the residual of these debut episode . Episode 1 establish the narratives to come , with slew of hard character development that observe when everyone go their separate way . As for the stories themselves , some offer intrigue for what ’s to come , while others feel dull to start . There ’s meandering that makes these first episodes less engaging than their promising narrative ideas urge for .
Rand Has The Most Interesting Quest Out Of Everyone
Accepting His Role As The Dragon Reborn
Episode 1 have it voice like Rand will be heading to Tear to remember Callandor , a sword meant for him to wield against the Dark One . While this would right away keep abreast the story of the third book in Robert Jordan ’s serial publication , the show demand a tour into the quaternary installment , The Shadow Rising , when Rand turn down to go . Instead , he wants to amass an army first , evidence himself as theCar’a’carn , a legendary figure in Aiel prophecy , who Aviendha is searching for . It ’s a clean direction to subvert expectations while still maintaining oecumenical fidelity to the books .
This intrigue carries over to both his personal journey , alongside those of his companions . Egwene place upright out the most , as what appear to be PTSD - incuded nightmares about being held captive by the Seanchan are actually Lanfear enter her dreams . She wants Rand all to herself , but what pull in it more layered is her status as a Forsaken . While manycharacters inThe Wheel of Timehave grand - scale rationality for want Rand on their side , Lanfear ’s could be interpreted as actual to some extent . It ’s an interesting moral force that leaves way for deeper exploration in the coming installment .
The Wheel of Time season 3 feels too fully grown and low at the same fourth dimension , with some compelling characters that ca n’t overshadow its story issues .
As for Egwene herself , her story starts build once the chemical group comes into tangency with a group of Aiel . One core member , Bair , previouslyshowed up in Egwene ’s dream . However , it ’s quickly disclose to have been the Aiel ’s dreaming the whole time , with the Two Rivers channeler also having the might to walk into other people ’s ambition . This lays the groundwork for future conflict with Lanfear as the show keep , but it does n’t cut into too cryptical just yet . Building up Rand is the focus here , and I retrieve his sparse interaction with the Aiel lay strong groundwork for what ’s next .
On the weak side of the tale , we have Moiraine and Lan , whose mentorship roles experience slightly lessen as Rand grows into his own . This does n’t give Moiraine much to do beyond installment 1 , when she worked with Lanfear to affright the group into leaving Tar Valon ( but more on this baffling team - up by and by ) . Lan gets a storyline when they arrive at the Aiel Waste , with a woman bring up Melindrha , who knows the Warder ’s true status as a big businessman . This lays the groundwork for a thick connector later , but also emphasizes one key issue the debut sequence have .
Some Stories Feel Far Removed From The Main Narrative
Everything Centers Around Rand, But Doesn’t Always Feel Like It
Season 3 ’s first episode quickly establish that Rand being the Dragon Reborn is survive to be its basal focus . However , many storyline finger heavily removed from the independent one , despite great characters and performance throughout . Perrin has return to the Two Rivers , memorize that Trollocs and Whitecloaks now reside in his homeland . Mat is learn the memories of heroes and verbalize Old Tongue after blow the Horn of Valere at theend ofThe Wheel of Timeseason 2 . Nynaeve and Elayne are tax with getting information from the Black Ajah . It ’s a lot to take in at once .
The show also appear to handle a doubly - edged sword in the form of build - up character debut that are on the face of it just setup for later events .
The show also come along to wield a twice - butt against sword in the form of build - up character introduction that are seemingly just apparatus for later upshot . This is most reflected by the unpitying Queen Morgase and her Red Ajah companion , Elaida . Morgase ’s introductory tantrum shows her executing her objector 20 years prior , instal her as a merciless swayer . When she come to bring Elayne back to Andor , however , she does n’t feel like the same person , later on leaving without much fanfare . While Elaida stays behind , indicating her succeeding importance , something is lost without Morgase ’s imposing introduction following through to the nowadays .
To some extent , it ’s understandable why so many stories feel disconnected;The Wheel of Timeis a 15 - book serieswith sprawling storylines . But it ’s the fleet nature of everything dead splintering , match with so many different ideas being introduced at the same time , that makes the series feel stretched thin . While it crop in a book that has borderline unlimited clip to tell its narrative , it does n’t work quite as well in roughly hour - recollective chunks . specially when there ’s apparatus , like Morgase ’s coming into court , that does n’t sense like it will go anywhere for quite some clock time .
Promising Ideas In The First Three Episodes Need Time To Develop
Some Aspects Need More Fleshing Out
The first three episodes also boast many striking mind , some that need more development , and others that experience overly detailed . For case , Moiraine ’s programme to scare Rand and the mathematical group into leaving Tar Valon with Lanfear goes awrywhen a Gray Man , sent by Moghedien , almost kill Nynaeve . It ’s an idea that , while apply some credence due to the Forsaken ’s connection with Rand , felt more severe than she ’d countenance give the importance of keeping the Dragon Reborn safe from the Dark One ’s influence .
Other interesting theme includeMorgase ’s choir , Prince Gabriel , really being the Forsaken Rahvin , and a rivalry forming between Mat and Elayne ’s brother . But many of these feel glossed over despite feeling like of import developments for the story . It make me wonder what exactly is going to be relevant to succeeding episodes of season 3 , and what is being used as frame-up for much later ( if at all ) . It does n’t help the sheer routine of plot line befall all at once mostly feel one - note , only elevated by firm performances from the mold .
Prime Video’sThe Wheel of Timewas develop by Rafe Judkins , who also serves as its showrunner .
Custom image by Nick Bythrow
Despite some promise thanks to dynamic characters and performances that are the ripe the show ’s ever had , The Wheel of Timeseason 3 ’s story feel like it ’s off to a rough start . Rand ’s level is interesting , andwhile focus the show around the Dragon Reborn prognostication more readily help its quality , something feels missingbecause of how many sprawl chronicle are precede at once . While they will likely get in touch strike fore , it ’s still a lot to digest in three episode , especially when many do n’t pop the question as much machination as the main one .
New episodes ofThe Wheel of Timeseason 3 air Thursdays on Prime Video .
The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine , a member of the powerful all - female organization Aes Sedai , as she leave a perilous quest with five young individuals . Moiraine suspects one among them could be the prophesized renascence of a mighty figure designate to either save or doom humanity .
Custom image by Nick Bythrow
