So, Season 3 of The Wheel of Time is almost here (March, baby!), and I’ve been getting hyped by rewatching the first season. Now, I’m a huge fan of the books, and let’s be real, adaptations can be tricky. It’s like that time they stretched The Hobbit into three movies – sometimes it works, sometimes it… doesn’t.
While the first season generally follows the main narrative of The Eye of the World, it makes some significant alterations to the story’s structure and pacing. Both the book and the show begin with the Trolloc attack on Emond’s Field and Moiraine Damodred’s arrival. The core group of characters—Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene, and Nynaeve—embark on a perilous journey with Moiraine and Lan, facing numerous threats along the way. The overarching goal remains the same: to reach the Eye of the World and confront the Dark One.
My first time watching Season 1? It was a wild ride, with moments of “Yeah, they nailed it!” followed by “What were they thinking?!” But recently, I rewatched it with my daughter, who’s never read the books, and it was a whole new experience. Seeing it through her eyes, I started to appreciate things I’d missed before. The visuals are seriously impressive, the One Power looks amazing on screen, and the actors are all fantastic. Plus, my daughter got totally sucked into the world and the characters, which was awesome to see.
But let’s be honest, there were some things that threw me for a loop. So, grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let’s dive back into Season 1.
Shadar Logoth: Spooky Vibes, But Where’s the Creepy Dude?
Shadar Logoth, the cursed city, is one of the most memorable locations in the books, and the show does a great job of bringing its creepy atmosphere to life. But they made some changes that left me scratching my head.
In the books, Mat finds the ruby-hilted dagger after a run-in with Mordeth, this creepy dude who’s basically the embodiment of Shadar Logoth’s evil. In the show, Mordeth is MIA, and Mat just kind of finds the dagger lying around. It’s a small change, but it loses some of the creepiness and the connection to Mat’s later struggles.
The show makes changes to the ruby-hilted dagger from Shadar Logoth, both in its appearance and its abilities. In the books, the dagger is described with the ruby set in the pommel, while the show places it more prominently on the hilt. More importantly, the dagger’s deadly effect is seemingly weakened. In the books, any scratch from the dagger would cause a slow and agonizing death, but in the show, Loial survives being stabbed by it. This change raises questions about the dagger’s true nature and its role in future events.
Darkfriends and Forsaken: Lurking in the Shadows
The show does a decent job of introducing the Darkfriends and their mysterious masters, the Forsaken. We see them plotting and scheming, which adds a layer of suspense to the story. But some key Forsaken are missing, and it seems like there might be fewer of them overall. I’m curious to see how this affects the power dynamics in the world.
The Seanchan: Talk About a Surprise Entrance!
One thing that really surprised me was the early arrival of the Seanchan. In the books, they don’t show up until much later. Seeing them in Falme at the end of Season 1 was a major “Whoa, what just happened?!” moment. The Seanchan, with their unique culture and their damane (women who can channel but are basically enslaved), add a whole new layer of complexity to the world.
Moiraine: Shielded and Sidelined?
Okay, this one was a biggie. In the books, Moiraine is this super powerful Aes Sedai who guides and protects our heroes. But in the show, she gets cut off from the One Power! This is a huge change that has major implications for her character and the story. I’m still trying to process it, to be honest.
The Dragon Reborn: Anyone’s Guess?
Another change that sparked a lot of debate was how they handled the Dragon Reborn prophecy. In the books, it’s clear that the Dragon will be male. But the show makes it seem like any of the Emond’s Fielders could be the Dragon. While I like that this gives the female characters more agency, it does mess with a core element of the story.
Perrin: A Wife, a Tragedy, and a Wolf Connection
Perrin’s storyline in Season 1 was definitely one of the most controversial. Giving him a wife who dies in the first episode felt a bit unnecessary, and his connection to wolves is only hinted at. I’m hoping they’ll explore his wolfbrother abilities more in future seasons.
Egwene al’Vere and Nynaeve al’Meara: Empowered Women
Both Egwene and Nynaeve are depicted as strong and capable women with a natural inclination towards channeling. Their journey towards becoming Aes Sedai is accelerated in the show, with them displaying impressive power and resilience early on. This change aligns with the show’s focus on female empowerment and its reimagining of traditional gender roles within the world of The Wheel of Time.
Mat: A Darker Turn and a Missing Arc
Mat Cauthon, the mischievous prankster, is portrayed in a much darker light in the show. His struggles with the dagger are more intense, and he’s basically sidelined for the final battle. I’m curious to see how they’ll handle his character arc in Season 2.
The Eye of the World: Visually Stunning, But a Bit Rushed
The final showdown at the Eye of the World is visually spectacular, but it felt a bit rushed compared to the book. While Rand’s encounter with the Dark One remains a pivotal moment, the complexities of the Blight and the Eye itself are somewhat simplified. However, the show still visually portrays the Blight as a dangerous and corrupted land, capturing the essence of its threat.
The One Power: Now That’s Some Magic!
Despite my issues with some of the changes, I have to give the show props for its portrayal of the One Power. The weaves, the flows, the colors – it all looks amazing and really captures the magic of the books.
Overall: A Bold Adaptation with Hits and Misses
Season 1 of The Wheel of Time is a bold adaptation that takes risks and makes some significant changes to the source material. Some of these changes work, while others feel a bit off. But overall, it’s a visually stunning and engaging show that captures the essence of the books while also doing its own thing.
With Season 3 just around the corner, I’m excited to see where they take the story next. Hopefully, they’ll learn from some of the missteps of the first season and deliver an even more satisfying experience for both book fans and newcomers.
What did you think of Season 1? Let’s chat in the comments!