I Like The Wheel Of Time Show

I started reading the Wheel of Time books as a kid, starting with the release of the first book in 1990.

I watched the first season of the show when it released. I didn't like it, because the main characters didn't do anything. In the last episode, the Ta'averen were dreaming, idle, gone, or used as magical batteries. They took literally no action.

I was going to skip season 2, but I'm glad I watched it. I like it because:

Things actually happen

The books were horribly paced. Nothing ever happened. They're doing great things with the pacing, and I like how they're smashing different plot arcs together to make them meatier.

Rand isn't dating three women

That was a stupid plot arc. It looks like they're lining up Perrin X Aviendha which I think is great. Faile was an aptly-named failure of a character. If they either make the Queen of Nine Moons have a personality, or more obviously pair him up with Min, that would be great.

I like the female characters much better

Moiraine, Nynaeve, Egwene, Liandrin, Aviendha, and many more are much better. 90s fantasy authors weren't great at characterization in general, and their takes on female characters were especially bad.

I'm most surprised at Liandrin. She was insufferable in the books, but here she's villainously relatable.

The jury is out on Elayne, since she hasn't had much to do yet.

Based on the last episode, it looks like they nailed the casting for Moghedien. I loved her closing scene more than anything else in Season 2.

They break things

I'm glad they're willing to play with the more ridiculous parts of the source material. Rand fighting blademaster Turak in book 2 was ludicrous; turning that into a gun vs. sword Indiana Jones moment made me laugh out loud.

How long will it go on?

I wonder how many more seasons they'll make. I like the show, but I have no idea who the audience is. I'm guessing that people who like the books will hate the show, since fantasy oldheads aren't the most adaptable fanbase in the world. On the other hand, I have no idea how people who haven't read the books can remotely follow what is going on, because they introduce so many characters and then give them very little screen-time -- especially the Aes Sedai.

If they can keep the pacing fast, I'll be happy to continue watching. The first two or three books weren't terribly paced, but after that the plotting entered Blight of Desponde territory, and they're going to have a lot to unwind.

I think if they can manage not to make Rand a conqueror, but instead keep him moving with his rogue band of friend-venturers, that'll work a lot better than turning into a grand geopolitical saga. I'm not sure why Jordan took that direction when he was clearly not very good at it.

Hats off to the writers and to the cast for turning things around in Season 2. I'm looking forward to Season 3!