The Wheel of Time is fantasy TV done right

Pictured: The Wheel of Time Season 2

// I have no idea if Wheel of Time is a good adaptation, but it’s definitely great television.

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By Fergus Halliday

Oct 25, 2023

2 min read

Published on October 24, 2023

I liked The Rings of Power plenty, but The Wheel of Time is picking up steam fast. The second season of Amazon’s other big-budget fantasy adaptation dropped in September and while I remain sceptical that the series will come anywhere close to adapting the entirety of Robert Jordon’s 15-book saga, I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts.

If Amazon’s mystery-box approach to the Second Age of Middle Earth wasn’t quite your jam, Wheel of Time might be more your speed. Set in a fantasy world full of magic and monsters, the series follows a group of young adults who are swept up in events bigger than they could ever imagine after Rosamund Pike’s Moiraine Sedai intervenes in their lives.

As someone unfamiliar with the source material, the best bits in The Wheel of Time remind me of Fellowship of the Ring. Each episode brings with it new complications for its characters to chew on and new locations for you to feast your eyes upon.

Although the soundtrack does a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to immersing you in The Wheel of Times’ sprawling fantasy world, there’s something to be said for an ensemble cast of relative unknowns like the one found here. With each scene, it feels like you’re watching the likes of Daniel Henny, Zoe Robins, Marcus Rutherford and Medleine Madden grow into these roles and make them their own. The casting and chemistry aren't as electric out of the gate as that of Game of Thrones, but it’s not that far off either.

That said, I’m often left at a loss as to why the showrunners behind the series didn’t opt for something akin to Game of Thrones’ opening credits. Without a solid sense of the geography involved, it sometimes feels like The Wheel of Time is a little too easy to lose yourself in. Then again, maybe that’s part of the appeal.

Seasons 1 & 2 of The Wheel of Time are available to watch now on Amazon Prime Video.

Stream The Wheel of Time on Amazon Prime Video

More options for a wheely good time

Game of Thrones: Stream all eight seasons on Binge or Foxtel Now
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Stream it on Amazon Prime Video
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring: Stream it on Amazon Prime Video, Binge, Foxtel Now, Netflix, Stan or Paramount+

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Written by

Fergus Halliday

Fergus Halliday is a journalist and editor for Reviews.org. He’s written about technology, telecommunications, gaming and more for over a decade. He got his start writing in high school and began his full-time career as the Editor of PC World Australia. Fergus has made the MCV 30 Under 30 list, been a finalist for seven categories at the IT Journalism Awards and won Most Controversial Writer at the 2022 Consensus Awards. He has been published in Gizmodo, Kotaku, GamesHub, Press Start, Screen Rant, Superjump, Nestegg and more.