When it comes to high-budget genre series, the phrase "the next Game of Thrones" gets thrown around a lot. Every fantasy show is vying to become the next pop culture juggernaut that will immerse its audience in a new world and get everyone talking.
The latest epic fantasy series stepping up to the plate is Amazon Prime's The Wheel of Time. Comparisons to Game of Thrones are inevitable, if a little tired - The Wheel of Time feels closer to The Lord of the Rings anyway - but it's worth noting that former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos reportedly demanded his own version of the HBO hit. Given The Wheel of Time's rich fantasy world and devoted fanbase, it's quite possible that Prime has succeeded in fulfilling his request. Still, people who aren't familiar with the source material are likely to have a few questions going into the show.
If you're a total newcomer to The Wheel of Time, or if you read the books a while ago and need a quick refresher, you've come to the right place. Check out the trailer first to get your bearings:
What is
The Wheel of Time is a high fantasy series by Robert Jordan, made up of 14 novels and one prequel. After Jordan's death in 2007, Brandon Sanderson, author of Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, completed the final three books. He was selected for the task by Harriet McDougal, Jordan's widow and editor, and used Jordan's notes and outlines to bring the story to its conclusion. Sanderson also serves as a consulting producer on the Amazon series.
Showrunner Rafe Judkins confirmed that the first season of The Wheel of Time will cover parts of the first, second, and third books. A second season is already in the works.
Ok, but what's this wheel everyone keeps talking about?
In the fantasy world of The Wheel of Time (the world itself is unnamed), the Wheel of Time is an important mythological concept that is exactly what it sounds like: a wheel that turns through time.
Made by the Creator (again, exactly what it sounds like), the Wheel has seven spokes, each representing a different age: Jordan's series takes place towards the end of the Third Age.
There are two big thing to remember about the Wheel: first, the Wheel weaves the Pattern of each age. Whatever happens, happens because the Wheel wills it. Second, the Wheel turns thanks to the energy of the True Source, which is also the source of the One Power.
The One Power sounds cool. Tell me more about that!
Like with the Wheel of Time and the Creator, the One Power is just what it sounds like. It's the magic of this world, wielded by people known as Channelers and made up of two opposing, yet complementary halves: saidar, which is wielded by women, and saidin, which is wielded by men.
When The Wheel of Time begins, only women are allowed to channel the One Power. Those who do make up the powerful organization of the Aes Sedai, which is divided into different orders, called Ajahs.
Why can't men channel the One Power?
It's less that they can't and more that it's not great when they do.
Remember when I said The Wheel of Time takes place during the Third Age? Well, the Second Age was called the Age of Legends, and it was, by all accounts, a great time. Aes Sedai, both men and women, were more common, and they created extremely advanced technology and improved everyone's quality of life.
Things went downhill quickly when the Dark One influenced the world and began the War of the Shadow. The world's most powerful Aes Sedai, Lews Therin Telamon, stood against him, earning the title of "Dragon." The Dragon and his forces successfully imprisoned the Dark One, but when they did, the Dark One tainted saidin and drove all the male Aes Sedai mad. In their madness, they destroyed much of the world and returned it to a primitive state. This marked the beginning of the Third Age, and is known as the Breaking of the World.
In the Third Age, there are some men who can channel the One Power and claim to be the Dragon Reborn. However they are hunted down by the Red Ajah of the Aes Sedai, as their channeling can quickly become corrupted by the Dark One.
Hold on, there's been someone called "the Dark One" this whole time?
Yes, and I was getting to him! The Dark One is a cosmic force of evil and chaos, the antithesis of the Creator. He is known by many other names, but his true name - and the one you shouldn't say aloud - is Shai'tan.
The Dark One may be locked away, but there are still dark forces in the world, like monstrous Trollocs, eyeless Fades, and Darkfriends: humans who have been tempted by darkness and are up to no good.
And what's the deal with the Dragon Reborn?
Given that the Wheel of Time is a constant cycle of death and rebirth, both reincarnation and prophecies exist in this universe. One prophecy states that the Dragon has been reborn into the world and will be reaching adulthood by the time the The Wheel of Time's story begins. As an immensely powerful Channeler, the Dragon Reborn is prophesied to either save the world from the Dark One or destroy humanity entirely.
Great, so who is it?
We don't know! The Wheel of Time begins with the search for the Dragon Reborn, who could be any of a number of characters. So without further ado, let's get ready to meet the show's main players.
Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) is a powerful Aes Sedai trying to find the Dragon Reborn in the rural town of Two Rivers.
Lan Mondragoran
Moiraine's Warder, Lan (Daniel Henney) is a fiercely loyal warrior who will do anything to protect his Aes Sedai.
Rand al'Thor
Rand (Josha Stradowski) is a sheepherder from the Two Rivers who might just be the legendary Dragon Reborn.
Egwene al’Vere
Egwene (Madeleine Madden) is a gifted young woman who recently joined the Two Rivers' Women's Circle.
Perrin Aybara
Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) is the Two Rivers' blacksmith. Could this gentle giant be the Dragon Reborn?
Nynaeve al'Meara
The Wisdom of the Two Rivers, Nynaeve (Zo? Robins) is a leader and healer wise beyond her years.
Mat Cauthon
Mat (Barney Harris) is a good friend of Rand and Perrin's with a bit of a mischievous streak - something that might be a problem if he turns out to be the Dragon Reborn.
Is there anything else I need to know?
Nope, you're all set for The Wheel of Time! Get ready for a fantasy adventure years in the making and remember: "The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills."
The Wheel of Time premieres Nov. 19 on Amazon Prime.
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