It took some time to watch it today, but here is my review of The Wheel of Time S2 Episodes 1-3. Before I get into it, I have to say my initial thoughts are that this feels so much better than Season 1 did. Bit of background, I have read all the books and enjoyed them, so that’s the angle I am coming from when I review the show. Secondly, I am keeping SPOILER FREE on this one folks.

I’ll cover each episode with it’s own grade. However, I want to give some general overview thoughts first off. To begin with, you can tell Wheel of Time has had a budget boost for Season 2 compared to Season 1. Everything just looks that bit better, the sets. the costumes, and the editing all feel less rushed and cheap. I can’t say that’s all related to budget, but that’s what it feels like to me.

Ultimately as a book fan, it has to be said that this Season the plot deviates quite a bit from the books. Honestly that was to be expected, knowing as we do that the idea is to cover most of book 2 and 3 in this season. The question remains, does the story still cover all the most important plot points and provide and engaging show to watch? Well, the answer, so far, is yes.

Episode 1

Episode 1 focuses mostly on Moiraine and Lan, and given the pair hardly feature much in book 2, I was surprised how much this felt right. Moraine was never cut off from the Source in the books either and yet that plot is handled is very well and ties into lore we did get in the books. This changes the relationship somewhat between Lan and Moiraine. In fact it kinda pushes things along to where the books get between the pair much later. So far, I’m for it. Rosamund Pike really sells the loss in Moiraine and Daniel Henney the frustration at not understanding the change in their relationship.

Additionally with Moiraine are two new Aes Sedai who both show up in the books, though the context of why is a little different. So far, I really like Meera Syaal as Verin. There are already a few little touches which foreshadow what has to happen for this character in future seasons, and they were well done. The kinda of thing a book fan spots, but new viewers won’t even notice.

The rest of the episode is mostly taken up by Nynaeve and Egwene as they begin their training as novices in the White Tower. I hope people like the White Tower scenes because it’s a location we will spend a lot more time with in future seasons.

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Actually there is a lot here that has been cut from the books, but I still felt like the main messages came across and the supporting Aes Sedai that we meet felt a lot like their book counterparts to me. The major difference with this adaptation is the ages of the characters. in the books Aes Sedai don’t exactly look young always, but they have an agelessness which simply can’t be replicated without magic powers. I like the decision to make some of the Aes Sedai middle-aged and older for the show.

Overall I thought Episode 1 was a good start. However we do have to mention a few things from Season 1 here that I didn’t like. This will be SPOILERS for Season 1, but like many fans I was furious that they decided to have Loial stabbed, especially by the THAT dagger, which going by the books would have killed him 100%. I hated this decision, it made no sense. So how has this been handled in Season 2/ Well, no spoilers, but let’s just say, you’d be best to pretend that mistake never happened, because the showrunners have. Now, this could be a criticism. However, I’m actually pleased they’ve just realized they messed up and corrected it with a wave of the hand.

Ultimately, Season 2 so far feels like a lot of mistakes in Season 1 have been acknowledged and corrected, sometimes by going farther away from the book plot. However, so far, it is working.

GRADE: A-

Episode 2

One character who was notable by their absence, almost from Episode 1 was Rand. What has that guy been up to. I mean he is the lead of the show right. Again, This could be a criticism, but it’s not from me. Rand has his own story and I liked the way his into was left a little longer. Rand’s story is currently probably more on track with Book 3 than in Book 2 which he spent with Perrin and what his little group are up to. I won’t say too much about Rand and Selene for fear of spoilers, but it’s like Rand and Selene, a book 2 story has been mixed in with Rand’s journeys on his own in book 3. Tricky to pull off, but so far it is working for me.

I guess my one criticism overall plot wise might be that Rand misses some book time learning to sword fight with Lan. I get the feeling 1-2 throw away lines in a scene indicate Rand has been learning this ‘off-screen’. I’m not sure that will work, but so far they’ve pulled things off I didn’t expect to work. Ergo, they get the benefit of doubt, for now.

RELATED: Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time | Marcus Rutherford, Ceara Coveney and Dónal Finn Preview Their Characters For Season Two

Overall I think Episode 2 takes the foundation of the opening episode and builds the drama, in a good way. I felt myself enjoying the show more and more each episode that went by. I’ll also say that Maruc Rutherford, whom I wasn’t a fan of in Season 1, finally seems to be getting interesting. Perhaps the introduction of Elyas, which should have first appeared in Season 1 makes a difference. Too much of Perrin’s Season 1 story felt there to fill space that wasn’t needed. I feel like Perrin’s story is so far the most book accurate outside of Nynaeve. So far that’s a good thing, especially as it works having Perrin on his own and not being with Rand. It allows the Rand and Selene story to actually have it’s own beat and pacing.

There is a change of character fate in Episode 2. Someone who makes it all the way to end of the books, just doesn’t. I won’t say much, as I thought it was a brilliant scene and I’m not even angry about it. The individual was a constant background character in the books. However, after book 2 does not really have a huge impact on the plot. This is a different turn of the Wheel, in this turning, they played their part a little earlier. That’s how I see it anyway

GRADE: A

Episode 3

Again in Episode 3 we have a deviation from the books. However, we also weirdly have a lot of scenes which feel lifted straight from the books. Somehow this combo built drama, even for me who knows what happens. Well I guess I didn’t know what happens, but I knew certain outcomes were impossible. The cold open especially is lifted straight from the books. Though, what comes after is where we see change. Something specific that happened in the books happens here. In the show though it’s a little less subtle and used to extract maximum drama from the situation. I enjoyed it.

Zoe Robbins really shines here as Nynaeve. There is an especially emotional moment for her at the episode’s close which was very relatable to anyone. Robbins nailed it. I also have nothing but praise for Liandrin actress Kate Fleetwood. The Liandrin character in the books was a lot more one sided than this expanded role. Fleetwood is amazing whenever she is on screen. Use her as much as you can, I’m all for it.

RELATED: The Wheel Of Time Season 2 Sneak Peeks And Two Teasers – Rand Meets Logain And Selene

The action looks tighter, the score and editing all feel sharper. The extra run time, (all three are over 64+ minutes long) allows time to breathe and to tell the story from multiple viewpoint sin the same episode. The magical weaves looks so much better in Season 2 than they did in Season 1. There is too much in Episode 3 I don’t wish to spoil. However, I will say we again get a ton of foreshadowing of things that will happen in slightly different ways. Elayne actress Ceara Coveney feels like the perfect casting for this character. I already like Elayne and Egwene together. Oh and Donal Flynn is starting to win me over as the new Matt Cauthon. We even see a small hint of where Matt’s story may go. There is a playfulness in Matt, which Flynn delivers well here.

Overall, Episode 3 was my favorite of the three. I could have quite happily kept bingeing and had another hour of Episode 4 was I allowed.

GRADE: A+

After starting decently well Season 1 and then veered almost off a cliff at the close. I therefore had hope rather than hype for Season 2. The writers would still fail to land the ending this season again. However, so far, I have to say that everything here is better than Season 1. I can’t wait to see Episode 4 next week.

Also, The Dragon Reviewed is back folks, we record tomorrow for your viewing pleasure. Once again Kyle and Christine Malone will join me as non book readers to tell you what they think of Season 2 so far. Also, what their theories are for where the story is going?

Let me know what you think of my review of The Wheel of Time Episodes 1-3? Leave your own review below, or don’t. The pattern will see it turns out right.

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