A humble farm boy, Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski, Gran Turismo), learns he is The Dragon Reborn—a dangerous figure from history destined to save the world … or break it. Desperate to protect him from the Dark One, an army of powerful sorceresses must reckon with his burgeoning power and encroaching madness. The Wheel of Time turns, and the Last Battle approaches. Though Rand thought he destroyed the Dark One, evil is not gone from the world.
In Season Two, threats new and very old seek out the young friends from the Two Rivers, now scattered over the world. The woman who found and guided them is now powerless to help, and so they must find other sources of strength. In each other, or themselves. In the Light … or the Dark.
Based on Robert Jordan’s hit fantasy series, The Wheel of Time, the series has been adapted for television by executive producer and showrunner Rafe Judkins and is co-produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television.
The disappointing return
There are two disappointments in this second season of The Wheel of Time. Firstly, that this sequel has been split and that only 4 episodes are currently available. Secondly, as is almost always the case with second parts, this new season is not as good as the previous one.
Mat Cauthon (Dónal Finn)
The fact that the characters are now separated makes it difficult to keep the viewer involved. If, unfortunately, you’re less interested in one of the characters and their story, you’re bound to find one of the episodes long. In addition, this first part of the season feels like a teaser for what’s to come. The action seems to be waiting for something that won’t happen until later in the fall.
One last annoying detail… The appearance of certain characters has changed too much. For example, it takes a while to recognize Mat (Dónal Finn). So much in fact that I wondered if the actor hadn’t been replaced.
But still, a lot of fun and positives
That said, I enjoyed watching season 2, even if it’s not quite as captivating as the first. The fantasy world is well-developed and provides some beautiful moments and visions. The scenes with The Dark One are the most enjoyable. Why are the “good guys” so boring compared to the bad guy? The opening scene, a repeat of the first season’s finale, sets the tone. It’s clear that the most important character in this half-season will be the big villain.
The Seanchan Empire, Loial (Hammed Animashaun), The Dark One (Fares Fares)
In fact, the strange group he wanders with offers some of the best moments of the season. Once The Dark One is united with Perrin and his group, we sense that something is up. Fans of massacres will be pleased with the scene in which these two characters meet.
Then…
As this first part of season 2 doesn’t go very far, we have to hope that the sequel will go in the right direction. We can certainly assume that certain characters will finally be reunited to give the series a bit more rhythm. 4 locations with a dozen characters is getting tiresome. This division worked well in Game of Thrones, but here it’s less effective. Especially since there are fewer episodes.
It remains to be seen how the reunion of Season 1 characters and the main new heroine will eventually come together. For those of you who liked the villain red Aes Sedai, she takes up more space in season 2, and it’s to be expected that she’ll be just as important in the second half of the season.
All in all, season 2 is a must-see for those who have seen the first season. But if you’re not in too much of a hurry, I’d advise you to wait for the other episodes. For those who haven’t seen season 1, go ahead.
