‘The Wheel Of Time’ Season 2 Premiere Review – A Bigger, Bloodier And More Magical Return

Fans of The Wheel of Time, rejoice! Almost two years after the first episode of the fantasy series aired, season two now hits Prime Video with a grandiose three-episode premiere. While the whole season is (loosely) based on the second and third books in Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series, it’s certainly not only for the die-hard fans. No, the first episode of this new season takes it slow as it takes you back to the beginning and explains – without being too explanatory or fully detailed – who’s who and what happened.

We (re)discover that the Aes Sedai oversee the land where this series takes place. There was a time when both men and women had magical powers, but because the men got corrupted by the Dark One, now only the women wield the magic. They want to safeguard peace and are hunting down the few male channellers. Throughout their quest, they encounter the Dark One and the Dragon Reborn, who can either set the world right or destroy it. Because of all that information and those explanations, the first episode feels a bit tame, and therefore, it’s all a bit slow and ponderous like the first season.

However, once the Dark One (Fares Fares) teams up with wicked conquerors of the Seanchan empire, the series becomes much darker, especially during the third episode. This dark collaboration means a lot of violence, death and mischievousness. The life of the Aes Sedai might not be that dark, but it’s filled with intrigues, deception and backstabbing. Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) is still looking for the Dragon Reborn and when she openly rejects her warder and companion Lan (Daniel Henney) – the line between love and hatred is a blurry one – she’s facing that search alone.

While Lan opens himself up to another (dangerous) relationship, Moiraine thinks that the Dragon Reborn is one of the five from the Two Rivers region of Andor. On her list are Egwene (Madeleine Madden), Nynaeve (Zoë Robins), Perrin (Marcus Rutherford), Rand (Josha Stradowski) and Mat (Donal Finn who replaces Barney Harris). The latter isn’t up to much as he’s imprisoned in Tar Valon. Rand, on the other hand, meets a mysterious woman, Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe), who’s connected to the original Dragon in one way or another.

Egwene and Nynaeve are busy as they’re training to become Aes Sedai. Joining them is fellow trainee Elayne (Ceara Coveney), the daughter heir of Andor, who certainly brings new life and blood to this series. When Nynaeve is confronted with her greatest fear, her friendship with Egwene might be on the brink of collapsing. No one’s future seems safe and secure, and they’re battling external and internal fears. Who will make it to episode four and the rest of the season?

Because the stakes are much higher than in season one, everything in The Wheel of Time feels much bigger, bolder and bloodier. While there are still some flaws – using too many plotlines and overpowering scores – season two is much more exhilarating. This is mainly because the cast and crew upped their game to ensure the fascinating story comes to the small screen in the best way possible. Both the locations and costumes are breathtaking again, and the gorgeous colours of the streams represent each element beautifully. They’re the perfect capsule for the incredible acting performances.

Pike (I Care A Lot) shows us in an emotional and subdued way that losing her power was the worst thing that could have happened to Moiraine. However, during what feels like a breakup scene with Lan, we see glimpses of a more determined and headstrong Aes Sedai. The rest of the cast is finding their feet and feeling much more comfortable than in season 1. Therefore, the overall performances become much more engaging and richer. Kate Fleetwood (Fate: The Winx Saga), who plays Liandrin, is the perfect example of that; she elevates every scene with tremendous acting. Seeing women having power and a purpose in life and not just being a lust object for once is frankly quite refreshing.

If you’re an avid reader of Jordan’s work, you might see that showrunner Rafe Judkins (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) doesn’t follow the books to the letter. While some plot details have changed and some encounters have been moved forward or pushed back, The Wheel of Time still holds onto the books most of the time. On top of that, there are the outstanding performances, breathtaking sets and a few battle scenes that will make you gasp. Maybe by season 3 – which has been confirmed – The Wheel of Time will be pitch-perfect. Patience is a real virtue, after all.

The first three episodes of season 2 of The Wheel of Time are now available on Prime Video. A new episode will be released every Friday.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=W-1OT1jxuQo%3Fsi%3DYlEyELIpFNm_wpQt