I never read the books for The Wheels of Time so I didn't know what to expect but after hearing so much about it and being so popular I thought I'd give it a chance. Also, after listening to people I know who already watched it and who actually read the books and the hype that was surrounding the show I was expecting the next Game of Thrones. It's not, I was hoping it would be better. I should have known since the reviews are so mixed but people were hyping it up for months and again the trailers were pretty good. I'm about halfway through right now and it's going to be a struggle to finish it. I know it's already been renewed for another season so hopefully it'll get better but I'm not expecting it to.
3,288 Reviews
Improving with each series
wheatley-2023020 February 2024
Series 1 was just good enough to carry me to series 2, encouraged by the higher audience rating on Prime. I would score it a 6.
Series 2 is very much better, meriting an 8 or better.
Both series display very high production values. The fantasy world is superbly presented, with different cultures carefully delineated. Rosamund Pike carries dignity and power that is the key driving force of the drama. Daniel Henney, who I have not seen before, is very effective too.
The younger characters are not always as convincing, although some do grow into their roles as series 2 progresses. Also, Natasha O'Keeffe adds real bite in series 2.
The other key difference between the series is probably the way everything comes together to culminate in an epic battle in series 2, whereas the conclusion to series 1 spreads the characters into different battles.
Series 2 has left me keen to see more!
Series 2 is very much better, meriting an 8 or better.
Both series display very high production values. The fantasy world is superbly presented, with different cultures carefully delineated. Rosamund Pike carries dignity and power that is the key driving force of the drama. Daniel Henney, who I have not seen before, is very effective too.
The younger characters are not always as convincing, although some do grow into their roles as series 2 progresses. Also, Natasha O'Keeffe adds real bite in series 2.
The other key difference between the series is probably the way everything comes together to culminate in an epic battle in series 2, whereas the conclusion to series 1 spreads the characters into different battles.
Series 2 has left me keen to see more!
This is not common but season 2 is BETTER than 1
kattrambo7 October 2023
Season 2 is better than season 1. The characters seem more developed, the actors seem entrenched in their roles, and much more magic. Season 3 was set up very well. Lanfear is an interesting character. I don't know what she is up to, but knowing that there is even something bigger coming is set up well. I can't wait till season 3. I do wish Nyn would eventually stop being so sensitive about everything and show what she has fully, but that is set up for season 3 as well I think. Rand and his crew are good heroes, complex, and well acted. I would love to have seen more of Rand in a magical capacity, but I think that will come. I hope. :)
And So the Wheel Turns
Athanatos17310 December 2021
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.
Changes
rickey1971-131-97858022 November 2021
The changes don't make sense. They say its to update with the times.... .but the books are about how women dominate the new world. So making a change to where a woman can be the dragon reborn... makes no sense. A thousand years ago, in a utopian society, men destroyed the world and tainted the male half of the source (of power). Which is why the white tower is at odds with a MAN being reborn with so much power is an issue. The main issue in the books. Making the characters older makes no sense, giving perrin a wife to kill makes no sense. Almost all of it makes no sense. I do like it. It is nice to see. Acting and special effects are nice. But the changes, which from what I see are not warranted. It doesn't help the story to move forward... it's just nonsense. And as far as all the NON white characters in a close knit town on the edge of obscurity, also makes no sense, as we see many different people and cultures throughout the books. I do like the show, but its obvious that the writers never read the series. Which makes me sad... because I so much want to see a true adaptation of the books. But for the few who haven't read the books.... I'm sure you will love the series... and you should.
The best we'll get.
Morrowclaw4 January 2024
Is it perfect? No. Did they change things? Yes. Is it a page for page retelling? No. Are characters how you imagined them? Subjective.
The Wheel of Time is a 14 novel series with one prequel book in the mix. It's thousands of pages with over 700 named characters, dozens of locations and so many different moving pieces. Y'all need to curb your expectations. I know you wanted a page for page retelling but that's unrealistic and would never happen. What book being adapted has been so being 100% faithful? Not one.
This is the best we'll get and I meant that in a good way. It's an ambitious show and I'm glad we got something half this good.
The Wheel of Time is a 14 novel series with one prequel book in the mix. It's thousands of pages with over 700 named characters, dozens of locations and so many different moving pieces. Y'all need to curb your expectations. I know you wanted a page for page retelling but that's unrealistic and would never happen. What book being adapted has been so being 100% faithful? Not one.
This is the best we'll get and I meant that in a good way. It's an ambitious show and I'm glad we got something half this good.
Disappointed
iannikkibanks15 December 2021
Loved the books although a bit drawn out but not happy with the series. The characters are far removed from their personalities. The actors are not up to the roles excluding Pike. The story line has been changed considerably but the show relies too much on the sets and costumes. Also in an effort to create a diverse cast the isolated villages have a mixed race group. How can this be. The standard is well below thoes such as Game of Thrones even eith a similar budget.
A decent new series
GwydionMW19 November 2021
I've never read the books, so I've no idea what the TV series.
I did find the first three programs entertaining, though I could have done without the long chats between the four about what they were doing.
Surprises are real and the magic works.
So far it owes something to Lord of the Rings. Four friends pursued by a Dark Rider, and a bold escape via a ferry. But most is original.
I look forward to more.
I did find the first three programs entertaining, though I could have done without the long chats between the four about what they were doing.
Surprises are real and the magic works.
So far it owes something to Lord of the Rings. Four friends pursued by a Dark Rider, and a bold escape via a ferry. But most is original.
I look forward to more.
Sorry, but I'm just sad by how weak this turned out
jmf_taborda24 December 2021
First of, I'm a relatively recent book reader, stared a year ago and I'm on book 7
Coming into this show, I had somewhat high expectations, with even though the first book being the worst of the first 7, it was still a pretty good book with such indept explanations of everything and everything was tied in such a way that kept us wondering and guessing and rooting, a fearing..
On the first Episode I understood how fast they had to move for such deep plot... But that was to be excused if they weren't gonna waste an entire Episode around a useless depressed warder and his issues.. The chacters are bland, the tone is weird because it wants to be a jolly show with dark elements and fails miserably at both, shadar logot was the biggest missed opportunity of the whole show..
The VFX and CGI of this show is simply bad, really bad! The worst I've seen in an Amazon show, let alone the one with the highest budget of them all.. everything from the creatures, the cities, everything that was soo fake and the sets in tar valon looked really cardboardy, and lets not talk about Ishamael because he just looked like a mashed potatoe. I feared for no one, i felt zero empathy, nothing of it looked reall and so one of the worst experiences of my life..
Than we have the plot changes.. from all the moments that makes my EOTW experience, they kept zero of them in the show, and traded them for women power representation or supposed to be shocking moments that none worked.. The dialogue is childish and highschoolish, weak and really poor, wasting most of it cringing.
I'm not mad for the changes just because of the changes.. I'm mad because they made up for such a weaker overall story than the book was, wand it was the worst book.
Overall, it's a pretty weak show, with weak character's, weak plot, weak motivation's and I'm having the saddest christmas eve ever with how bad tis finale was.
Than we have the plot changes.. from all the moments that makes my EOTW experience, they kept zero of them in the show, and traded them for women power representation or supposed to be shocking moments that none worked.. The dialogue is childish and highschoolish, weak and really poor, wasting most of it cringing.
I'm not mad for the changes just because of the changes.. I'm mad because they made up for such a weaker overall story than the book was, wand it was the worst book.
Overall, it's a pretty weak show, with weak character's, weak plot, weak motivation's and I'm having the saddest christmas eve ever with how bad tis finale was.
Not up to expectations
Supermanfan-1330 January 2024
The Wheel of Time has to be one of the bigger disappointments to come out on the last few years. I never read any of the books (or even heard of them) so I had no expectations as far as staying true to the source material because I knew nothing about it. If anything though I had pretty high expectations because of how great the trailers looked and how much people were talking about it. Well, the trailers are like most trailers by making it look better than the actual movie or show is. Season 3 is coming out later this year and even though I know better and shouldn't give it a chance. I will but my expectations are low this time.
Love but.....
airandra26 February 2024
The books deserve 10 out of 10, I was amazed with the first season, the way they put out the second season though Idk it's really good but the way they are doing this with show like what is the thought process behind it? They could have cut this pie so many ways, but they chose to cook one pie at a time, cut it into 4 pieces, and then they repeat the process the amount of people that need to be fed is a crowd of 1000+, It's worth the watch for sure and definitely leaves you wanting more just not a big fan on the way they went about doing the series itself that's the only reason I say 8 out 10 on the show.
The books have me hooked. But not the show.
fcc_amccaleb27 December 2021
Maybe it's because I haven't read all the books yet (still working on it) and they are taking short cuts to plot points further on in the series, but the show is so far off from the first book that I barely recognize it. It started to come back to the book towards the end but then the season finale blew that up. The way it ended in the book was so much better.
Also, there are several things that make this show look cheap, even though I know it isn't. The trollocs cgi is bad. Their movements are choppy and almost appear sped up. Also, some of the cities and places feel like they didn't have the money to do any sweeping panoramic shots and they are just filming on a tiny set so everything is shot in close up.
I was really excited for this series and now I could care less if it continues. I actually started reading the books because I heard it was coming out. I'm hooked on the books but not on the show.
Also, there are several things that make this show look cheap, even though I know it isn't. The trollocs cgi is bad. Their movements are choppy and almost appear sped up. Also, some of the cities and places feel like they didn't have the money to do any sweeping panoramic shots and they are just filming on a tiny set so everything is shot in close up.
I was really excited for this series and now I could care less if it continues. I actually started reading the books because I heard it was coming out. I'm hooked on the books but not on the show.
If you are going to make Wheel Of Time then make Wheel Of Time, not some other trash...
FishBibble25 December 2021
The best source material really any show could hope for, and what is the first thing they do, change it all, change the characters, the way they behave, then changed the settings which were so amazing in the books, changed the dialogue to the point that most people are bored silly. This is not Wheel Of Time.
Whoever wrote, and directed this I feel has just done a great disservice to the Books, and clearly wasn't a Wheel Of Time fan. If you are a fan you wouldn't feel the need to completely change it. Why get a person who hated the source material to write/direct it?
The only good news is, they messed it up so badly that there is plenty of room for someone to come in and do it correctly at some future date, as this will be completely unmemorable... I find every time i try to watch it within 5 mins I am simultaneously so bored, and frustrated that I just can't watch another min. I really want to like this, and I really wanted it to be good, but it just isn't. And there is some good talented actresses, and actors in it. So I blame the writing team and the director on this one...
Whoever wrote, and directed this I feel has just done a great disservice to the Books, and clearly wasn't a Wheel Of Time fan. If you are a fan you wouldn't feel the need to completely change it. Why get a person who hated the source material to write/direct it?
The only good news is, they messed it up so badly that there is plenty of room for someone to come in and do it correctly at some future date, as this will be completely unmemorable... I find every time i try to watch it within 5 mins I am simultaneously so bored, and frustrated that I just can't watch another min. I really want to like this, and I really wanted it to be good, but it just isn't. And there is some good talented actresses, and actors in it. So I blame the writing team and the director on this one...
Terrible acting and script
arawakt26 January 2022
I couldn't get past the first episode, and even then, I felt I wasted my time. What a terrible script. And horrible acting! The first scene alone was painfully overacted. It's a shame, I was excited to see such wonderful diversity in their casting... but the acting... nope. Can't watch without flinching. One star for good costumes and scenery. Although some of the backgrounds and wide shots look somehow fake. Definitely expected more.
Second season shining
jordandpowell21 September 2023
While the first season was good the second season is really starting to shine. Characters are starting to step into their own and the inevitable clash is starting to ramp up. Will the action and adventure continue to deliver? I don't know, but if you are into adventure fantasy viewing then this show is worth a try. With the overwhelming amount of shows to choose from this one stand out in it's genre. It is by no means perfect. Pacing, especially in the first season, can be slow at times. Overall, it does deliver on character intrigue, story line and special effects. Looking forward to updating at seasons conclusion.
Season 2 episode 8 - Its starting to be great:)
bjjao6 October 2023
So I've been a bit on the fence about this show.
I really liked the books, but its been some years since i read them, so all i remember are the main strokes of the story and the feeling i had when reading them.
Season 1 and 2 have been very good, and there are a lot of great actors but also a few I've not been to fond of.
Rosamund Pike have been one of my favorite British actresses for many years, almost up there with Helen Mirren.
But in season 2 episode 8, I think I finally fell in love with this series and the way they portray the story from the book.
I still think a few of the characters haven't gotten the space to shine yet, but this is definitely one of the best recent series.
I'm really looking forward to the next episode.
I really liked the books, but its been some years since i read them, so all i remember are the main strokes of the story and the feeling i had when reading them.
Season 1 and 2 have been very good, and there are a lot of great actors but also a few I've not been to fond of.
Rosamund Pike have been one of my favorite British actresses for many years, almost up there with Helen Mirren.
But in season 2 episode 8, I think I finally fell in love with this series and the way they portray the story from the book.
I still think a few of the characters haven't gotten the space to shine yet, but this is definitely one of the best recent series.
I'm really looking forward to the next episode.
Epic Failure
akshayjv-0522215 January 2022
The most disappointed series of 2021. I honestly expected a lot but it's too bad. It had a stupid story, worst casting even poor graphics. I don't know were they spend all that money.
I don't know what they even mean by wheel of time. It feels like they were copying Lord of the rings. Most of the episode were too boring. Even the costume were funny. Doesn't create a curiosity for the next season.
If you were into this kind of series give it a try but don't expect anything much.
I don't know what they even mean by wheel of time. It feels like they were copying Lord of the rings. Most of the episode were too boring. Even the costume were funny. Doesn't create a curiosity for the next season.
If you were into this kind of series give it a try but don't expect anything much.
Rewritten YA trash full of JV tropes
plyneham24 December 2021
A great story and book series ruined by some hack. Full of kids doing dumb stuff they don't do in the books, fake deaths (nothing at stake if everyone gets resurrected), illogical actions (let's charge our horses into the stables! Let's not channel from this massive wall!), one dimensional re-written characters (me Perrin me dum dum), macguffins with power way, way beyond what's in the book, etc
Gave it a shot, won't watch season 2.
Gave it a shot, won't watch season 2.
Wheel of Boredom
DLochner23 December 2021
The beginning is tough and slow. You hardly understand the connections, but over time the story at least picks up a bit of speed and tension. A little Lord of the Rings and a little Game of Thrones but none of that right. You can see it, but you don't have to. Excruciatingly boring.
Dreadful
alistairc_200028 December 2021
Such a wasted opportunity. Poor scripts. Unlikeable actors. This make Hawk the Slayer look like a masterpiece. Do not waste your time with it.
It is terrible, it is bad, it is boring, have I made the word limit now IMDB? How many ways can I say it was not worth watching?
It is terrible, it is bad, it is boring, have I made the word limit now IMDB? How many ways can I say it was not worth watching?
Second season is much better than season 1
bluemanmtl22 September 2023
I have found that the second season of Wheel of Time is excellent as compared to good in the first season. The acting,, cinematography, nearly everything is much better for me. The on downside to this season and why i have it rated at eight stars instead of ten is how dark this season is and how much the bad guys have the upper hand. I really am not fond of shows ir books where the bad guys are given so much room and so much of an upper hand so that to the reader or viewer things look hopeless, and worst we get to spend way too much time with the bad guys, which i have as a watcher no interest in. I really don't care what the bad guys are doing, only interest is the good guys and their quest. So for me while this season of Wheel of Time is very much better than season one in many ways, the actual darker content of season two is not as good as season one, it actually for me is disappointing.
Are the characters trash humans on purpose?
SithHunter20 January 2022
This was really bad
karinahatem27 January 2022
Don't understand the great reviews, this show is so bad, that I could barely pass beyond E5, very poor performance, weak storyline that got too many holes, every episode there new characters and storylines out of the blue, and without any explanation. The show even uses words and references that Don't make any sense.
Very bad
yousefnada-7231113 January 2022
Haters going to hate
scififan-6926716 January 2024
Watch the show for yourself. It's not bad AT ALL.
I think some of the reviews here are a little overboard and just strange.
It's a mixture of Lord of The Rings, The Hobbit, and Harry Potter. I think it's really entertaining and suspenseful. From the action and fighting, to the more meaningful heartfelt dialog, it's extremely well done. The show feels like a expansive adventure and takes me back to when I was little watching Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings for the first time. The Wheel of Time has become one of my all-time favorite tv shows. I recommend to anyone who loves the Fantasy genre as well as action adventure.
Here's to hoping for many more seasons! I can't wait to see what's to come.
I think some of the reviews here are a little overboard and just strange.
It's a mixture of Lord of The Rings, The Hobbit, and Harry Potter. I think it's really entertaining and suspenseful. From the action and fighting, to the more meaningful heartfelt dialog, it's extremely well done. The show feels like a expansive adventure and takes me back to when I was little watching Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings for the first time. The Wheel of Time has become one of my all-time favorite tv shows. I recommend to anyone who loves the Fantasy genre as well as action adventure.
Here's to hoping for many more seasons! I can't wait to see what's to come.
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