If season 1 of Game of Thrones and The Witcher had a beautiful baby, it would be Season 1 of Amazon Prime’s new series, The Wheel of Time. 

What is Wheel of Time?

Based on a series of books by Robert Jordan, The Wheel of Time follows the journey of a powerful woman named Moiraine (Rosamund Pike). Along with 5 young people, they all journey to come into their power and destroy the “Dark One”.  Even with such a generic concept, this story is anything but ordinary. With the masterful mix of practical and digital elements used to bring us the fantastical world that Jordan created; it is nothing short of breathtaking.

In Wheel of Time, much of the world is run by a group of powerful women. These women control, or “channel”, magic. As well as, split into 6 different sects ruled by an internal leader.  Moiraine is a Blue, the information gatherer, and spies of the order. And she has been on a quest to find the reincarnation of a great power known as “The Dragon”.  This great power is to be reborn and either destroy the dark one saving the world or join him and end it.

Do I need to read the book first?

While a series based on 14 books may seem like an impossible world-building task. I am amazed by how easily The Wheel of Time pulls me into the lore without the need for an encyclopedia. At this point, the series seems to follow one book at a time making the world more digestible for the viewer.

Pike is stunning in the role of Moiraine. She gives you a taste of the depth of the character you can feel churning underneath the surface. On the journey, she is also Joined by Josha Stradowski as Rand, Madeleine Madden as Edqene al’Vere, Barney Harris as Matt Cauthron, Zoe Robins as Nynaeve al’Meara, and Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara.  Every one of these young actors makes you love them in their role. They have fleshed out their characters so well, it’s as if they stepped right out of the pages of the books.

Where to watch Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time premieres on Amazon Prime Video on November 19, 2021, with the first three episodes available immediately. The rest will debut on a weekly basis until December 24, 2021, for the season finale.  All I can say is, Christmas Eve is definitely going to be more magical in my house this year.

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