Latest news with #TheWheelOfTime
Forbes
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘The Wheel Of Time' Deserves Another Season, Warts And All
The Wheel Of Time I understand why detractors of Amazon's Wheel Of Time series dislike the show so immensely. It runs roughshod over the source material, making too many changes to count. But it's also done something that I think is worth mentioning: The third season, which I liked a great deal, made me decide to get back into the books by Robert Jordan. Prior to Season 3, I had only read the first two novels. It took my half a dozen tries to get through the first one, The Eye Of The World, in part because I found it so derivative of Lord Of The Rings. The second book, The Great Hunt, was better but I still wasn't sure if I wanted to invest so much time into a new fantasy series, especially since I've heard from a lot of people that it drags to a slog somewhere in the middle. But Season 3, which had now moved past where I was in the books, rekindled my interest in the series. I burned through The Dragon Reborn (though I still think perhaps it should have been called The Stone Of Tear) and have been doing the same with The Shadow Rising. And I can finally say that the series has 'clicked' for me at long last. It has carved out its own space in the epic fantasy genre. Braid-tugging aside, Jordan's writing is engaging and his characters – especially Mat and Perrin – are compelling. The lore and magic and politics of the world grow more fascinating by the page. And I may not have picked these back up at all if Season 3 hadn't convinced me that this was, in fact, something special. Of course, now that I've read as far as I have, I see all the ways the show up to this point has mangled the story. Not because it's 'woke' (aside from a few casting choices, I think they've done a great job adapting a book series that was already very diverse with lots of strong female characters) but because they've taken out huge chunks of what actually happens, fast-forwarded a ton, and placed certain scenes down in completely different spots. Some characters are wildly different in the show and others get a lot of screentime that they probably don't need yet. Some choices, like making Moiraine and the Amyrlin Seat a romantic couple, feel out of place but not a huge deal in the big scheme of things. Others, like essentially taking away Mat's gambling and resistance to being part of the 'team', or effectively cutting the Stone of Tear and the sword Callandor, are frankly bizarre. Maybe it's because I don't have a lifelong love of these books that I can accept these changes. I don't like many of them, but I can accept them for two reasons: First, the show has gotten so much better since Season 1. Strip away the source material, and you have a really good fantasy show on its own merits – unlike Rings Of Power which is bad regardless of its fidelity to Tolkien. Second, I am able to say to myself 'This is just a different version of the story.' Specifically, this is a different version because it had to be. In a perfect world, Amazon would have greenlit fifteen seasons of this show from the outset with an unlimited budget and all the runtime they needed to cover the story. In the real world, that was never going to happen even if this was a hit. Live-action fantasy is too expensive. Even the most popular and successful fantasy show of all time, Game Of Thrones, was cut short. Even if they'd been given fifteen seasons, getting the cast to stick around that long would have been a miracle. They had to truncate and condense and make changes. Yes, we can question those changes, but the reality is even in the perfect scenario, what works on the page doesn't always work onscreen. This was far from the best we could have hoped for, but by Season 3 I think it was a lot closer. The cast was warming up to their characters. The writing was more confident. The special effects and costumes had improved. All across the board, The Wheel Of Time was headed in the right direction. And so of course Amazon canceled it, just when things were getting good. Fans have started a petition to save the series. It's a nice thought, though I've seen so many of these over the years and they almost never work. Occasionally another streamer will swoop in and save a show from certain death, but saving one that costs this much seems incredibly unlikely. The Legend Of Vox Machina I'll reiterate my own hopes, which are perhaps only a little less pie-in-the-sky: Let's start making animated versions of epic fantasy series instead of focusing so much on live-action. Live-action is expensive. Casting is hard and rarely not controversial (Game Of Thrones notwithstanding). Even strong series face all sorts of obstacles with budgets and cast down the road. Animated series can avoid so many of these pitfalls. They're cheaper, you can more easily replace a voice actor, children don't age out of their roles (looking at you, Bran Stark) and you can achieve the fantasy elements much easier and more effectively. A show like The Legend Of Vox Machina handles combat, dragons, magic and other fantastical effects so much better than Wheel Of Time or any other live-action fantasy. It just works better when everything is animated. CGI doesn't eat the whole budget up. Scale is less problematic. (Obviously this is not always true, as Netflix's Arcane was a wildly expensive show that went so far overbudget it was tragically condensed into two seasons, rushed awkwardly to an unsatisfying conclusion). I wish Amazon would reconsider at the 11th hour and decide to give The Wheel of Time another lease on life. I don't think they will, but the people behind the show and in front of the camera deserve another crack at it, and so do fans. In the meantime, I have a bunch more of these books to read and that makes me happy. Read my review of Joe Abercrombie's latest fantasy novel, The Devils, right here. And let me know what you think about all of this on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.
NDTV
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
American Fantasy Series The Wheel Of Time Cancelled After Three Seasons
New Delhi: The Wheel Of Time co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios has been cancelled by streaming giant Amazon Prime after 3 seasons. The show was based on the bestselling novel series by Robert Jordan. The announcement came within a month of the Season 3 finale. The last season was high on the magical charm of the show, high-end battles, and the rounding off of several character arcs. As reported by Deadline, the reason behind cancelling the show was because of financial limitations. Season 3 had led to a significant decline in the viewership, hence Amazon MGM Studios had to think through their future investment. The finale was still impressive as several plotlines reached its culmination, but the performances did not live up to the expectations that could lead to another season. The show was led by Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Zoe Robins and Madeleine Madden, and the first season was released back in 2021. It soon emerged to be the most-watched series that year. Spanning 8 episodes, the series was one of the platform's top 5 series launches of all time. The plot of the series revolves around a gang of young individuals who find themselves drawn towards a battle between the forces of light and darkness. The crux of the storyline is highlighted by a looming threat called the Dark One, which represents pure evil, and one who they have to confront. The second season of the show came out in 2023 followed by the third and final season, which was released in March. The third season of the series was based on the fourth book of the novel series, called The Shadow Rising. The season aired in March 2025 and concluded in April.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'The Wheel of Time' gets cancelled as another popular show hits the chopping block amid low viewership claims, fans left disappointed
Another popular series has hit the chopping block recently, as it was announced and confirmed that ' The Wheel Of Time ' will not be returning to the small screen after its third and now final season. The news has sent fans into a disappointed slump, as the show was cancelled even after being well received by the public. Large streaming platform cuts 'The Wheel of Time' The popular online series titled 'The Wheel Of Time' will no longer be getting any new episodes after its third season, as it becomes the series' final one. According to reports from Deadline, the show has officially been cancelled as of now and will not release any more content in the future. The show's reason for being cancelled after its third season has been cited as declining viewership ratings. Fans have been extremely disappointed by the sudden decision, as the show had global popularity. The cancellation has been done according to viewership decline after the show dropped out of Nielsen's Top 10 Originals chart, even though this only represents the show's viewership in the U.S. Global success did not justify high costs According to the report, all aspects of the show were considered; however, the viewership and performance of 'The Wheel of Time' did not end up justifying its renewal for season 4 and onwards. It was shared that the show's current performance did not make up for the high costs that the studio and production houses had to go through to make the episodes. Fans get upset and react to the sudden news online As soon as it was confirmed that the show would not be getting renewed for a new season after the third one just dropped on April 17, fans immediately took to online social media platforms to express their disdain and disappointment on the matter. One comment read that 'Just remembered we're never gonna see Nynaeve's true power in The Wheel of Time,' while another fan shared how another streaming platform should pick up the show 'The Wheel Of Time'. They shared in their online social media post that 'another streaming service should buy The Wheel of Time..' The Wheel Of Time – Official Trailer | Prime Video
Geek Girl Authority
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Prime Video Cancels THE WHEEL OF TIME After 3 Seasons
Highlights Prime Video has canceled The Wheel of Time five weeks after its Season 3 finale. The Wheel of Time The reason for its axing is a financial one, as it is purportedly well-liked creatively by Prime Video executives. Season 3 dipped in viewership, eventually slipping from the Nielsen's Top 10 Originals chart. The Wheel of Time's Fate Decided The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills … well, at least according to Prime Video. Epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time has been canceled after three seasons. According to Deadline , the decision comes after 'lengthy deliberations.' RELATED: The Wheel of Time : Robert Strange on Playing an Eelfinn in the Season 3 Finale That Explosive Finale 'He Who Comes With the Dawn,' the show's Season 3 — and now series — finale, aired on Thursday, April 17. It delivered a handful of loose narrative threads, including Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan (Shohreh Aghdashloo) ordering Siuan Sanche's (Sophie Okonedo) execution and deposing the latter as the Amyrlin Seat. Meanwhile, in Tanchico, Mat Cauthon (Dónal Finn) strikes a potentially hazardous deal with an Eelfinn (Robert Strange), and Liandrin Guirale (Kate Fleetwood) gets away with the cuffs and matching collar needed to capture the Dragon Reborn, aka Rand al'Thor (Josha Stradowski). Nynaeve al'Meara (Zoë Robins) seemingly breaks through the block on her ability to channel the One Power, too. In the Aiel Waste, the Aiel declare Rand as the true Car'a'carn, while Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike) battles Lanfear (Natasha O'Keeffe) and reels in the aftermath following Siuan's decapitation. Egwene al'Vere (Madeleine Madden) watches in terror in the finale's last moments as Rand struggles to stop channeling, indicating we could've seen a darker turn for the Dragon Reborn in a potential fourth season. Not to mention, the penultimate episode also sees Perrin Aybara (Marcus Rutherford) captured by the White Cloaks — yet another cliffhanger. RELATED: Read our The Wheel of Time recaps The Why of It All Deadline reports that Prime Video decided to cancel The Wheel of Time for financial reasons, but there's also a viewership component. The adaptation of Robert Jordan's bestselling fantasy novels stayed in Nielsen's Top 10 Originals chart for the first three weeks of Season 3 before dropping out. The show remained on the chart for its previous seasons' entire runs. However, it returned to the Top 10 list the week after the Season 3 finale. According to Deadline , its performance, viewership-wise, wasn't strong enough to offset its pricey budget. Its contemporary, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power , is currently in pre-production in the UK. This certainly comes as a shock. Season 3 is the show's best yet, and episode four, 'The Road to the Spear,' might be one of the best episodes of fantasy television out there. It's currently sitting at 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes on the critics side. Perhaps it can find life elsewhere. All three seasons of The Wheel of Time are streaming on Prime Video. Davina Lamont and Sharon Gilham Craft Looks That Bring THE WHEEL OF TIME Season 3 to Life Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Gizmodo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
We're Never Getting to the Last Battle on ‘Wheel of Time'
It's a sad day for fans of Prime Video's The Wheel of Time, and an even sadder day for fans of that show who also loathe cliffhangers: it's been cancelled. There's no season four coming. The recently wrapped season three had yet to reach the Robert Jordan-adapted story's much-teased Last Battle, so the fate of the world may forever be left hanging in the balance. This news comes from Deadline, which writes 'the decision … followed lengthy deliberations, sources said. As is often the case in the current economic environment, the reasons were financial as the series is liked creatively by the streamer's executives.' The trade notes that while ratings for season three were decent, they represented a dip from the show's first two outings, and the 'overall performance was not strong enough compared to the show's cost for Prime Video to commit to another season … the streamer could not make it work after examining different scenarios and following discussions with lead studio Sony TV, sources said.' Deadline also notes that season three's finale was 'designed to offer some closure' in the event that the show was cancelled. Fans may not agree with that—nor might showrunner Rafe Judkins, who told io9 ahead of season three that he was 'hopeful that even in the current world we get to tell the whole story of The Wheel of Time.' He also teased that he already had the show's 'end game in mind,' and it didn't sound like the season three finale was designed to fulfill that. 'We're always plotting and planning how we want to do everything we've got,' he told io9. 'You'll see stuff falling into this season that [hints at our] plans for the top of season four or into season five. So, we're always approaching it from the writers' room as if we're going to make it to the end of this thing, and that this is how we want to tell that story. I think a lot of shows aren't given the benefit of as many seasons anymore, but I think Amazon's been an amazing network in terms of, from the outset on this, they really set out to tell the whole story.' The Wheel of Time is drawn from a 14-book fantasy series that could presumably have sustained many, many more seasons. Now it seems fans will have to start turning pages to see what happens to Moiraine, Rand, and their friends and foes, while looking forward to the Wheel of Time video game that was very recently announced. What are your thoughts on The Wheel of Time's cancellation? Did you think, as many fans did, that season three was the best yet? Let us know below.
