Here is my The Wheel of Time S2 finale review and finally this year we have a series with a satisfying climax. Though, as I’ll get to, this conclusion will definitely be subjective depending on your stance. As always I will staying as SPOILER FREE as possible in this review, so let’s get to it. I am considering a book spoilers analysis of Season 2’s finale because there is quite a bit of debate on some aspects that were changed from the books. I think I may be for once the voice of reason in this argument. However, that’s for later.
This year has felt like a series of bad finales for every single show I’ve watched, or least the high profile shows. I had heard a bit of hype for this finale and that worried me. I didn’t want to get my hopes up and be disappointed again because the Season 1 finale was the worst episode of the season.
Thankfully, I found that some of the set ups were concluded admirably. It was dramatic, fun and at times emotional. That being said, it was not perfect for me, perhaps that comes as a book fan. For me a couple of small details here and there could have taken this to an A+, and I’ll explain more at the gripes section.
However, with time to think about it all, I have realized these niggles were minor. Additionally I don’t see there being much to complain about if you’re a show only viewer. I guess I’ll find that out later today when I record The Dragon Reviewed with Christine and Kyle. You can find out what we talked about last week Here.
The Falme Finale
Without spoiling the plot, we already know everyone of our main cast is either in Falme or on the way there. This also happens to be where the Whitecloaks and the Seanchan are about to meet one another, and it’s where Ishamael is currently based. In other words the sh** is about to hit the fan all at once, and that’s the nature of this finale. That basic outline itself does match the climax of the second book in the series, The Great Hunt. However, events do not pan out exactly as they did in the book and of course some books fans will always be upset by this.
My view of this show has always been that this is not an adaptation of The Wheel of Time. This is what happened in a different turning of the Wheel. Another Third Age the next time around, or the one before the books. Even creator Robert Jordan described that Ages that came round again may look the same to someone who knew the story at a distance. However, once you look closer you’d see things this time were very different. Yet, every time we get a divergence from the books, some fans will complain what’s the point in adapting the story.
The way I see it, all the most important events will still happen, all the prophecies will be fulfilled as they must. The Third Age will become the Fourth Age with the same end result. It has to for the Wheel to keep turning. The Third Age is not only about The Dragon, it’s also about how he needs his friends to enable him to achieve his goals. This is also true of the books, though in slightly different ways.
Satisfying
Last week I had some worries, and those were thankfully unfounded. Especially when it came to Matt’s story in this episode, which I thought was the key element. Matt has taken such a backseat so far, for reasons we know were unavoidable. Therefore, to see him take that step towards becoming his ‘fan favorite’ book character was well executed. I’ll even argue this interpretation worked better than the books with a few subtle changes. Matt, Egwene and the baddies are the best part of this finale to me. The writers resisted the urge I think to have Nynaeve do a hulk out moment this time, which was the right call. However, where viewers will differ is on whether Rand should have had a ‘moment’ like this in this finale.
The first 3 books in the series all end with what feels like a copy pasta of a climax to me as a reader. I remember by the time I finished book 3, which I enjoyed, I felt like each book would just be Rand coming to the rescue at the end. Then book 4 goes a completely different direction and the story improves for me then greatly.
I think the showriters understand that if they gave Rand this moment in Season 1, it would cheapen it in Season 2 and be just boring by Season 3. Ergo, there will be some fans annoyed that Rand doesn’t show why he’s the most powerful channeler of them all. Folks, we have 6 more full season to see Rand get OP, it’s coming, have patience.
RELATED: Wheel Of Time S2 Episode 7 Review – Adaptation Changes Put To The Test
My argument is that this will happen in Season 3, and when it does, it will have a greater impact because of the restraint shown with Rand so far. I also have to admit than in the books Rand is a bit of a Mary Sue (though there are reasons that works in the books). He’s untrained, but when he needs to he instinctively always seems to just do amazing things anyway. In my opinion the show is doing a better job of showing this struggle in Rand.
Some will say their giving all Rand’s best moments to the girls due to some wokeness. However, I don’t believe that for one moment. Nynaeve got several moments in Season 1, and given the pain she’s suffered, it makes sense for Egwene to get a moment here. However, I will say a little change here and there on the editing of the final showdown could have kept the plan, and also appeased books fans a little.
As for the bad guys, the baddies in black? Well, I just love these villains in the show. I challenge any book fan to a debate that Ishy and Lanfear are not much better defined and three dimensional in the show than they are the books. Plus, we get to meet a new baddie this week and a tease of more to come. Fares Fares as Ishamael continues to impress as does Natasha O’Keefe as Lanfear. I hope both will stick around for future seasons.
Consequences
The main thing you want in a story is for their to be dramatic turns and interesting character arcs. This season has gotten viewers to care about these characters and what happens to them. Now we get to see some of our characters take big steps forwards into becoming the heroes of this new Age. Funnily enough, as said my Loial in this very episode. There needs to be consequences and balance to the actions characters take. Too many shows these days trade that drama for some fight scenes with crap CGI and bland choreography. I’m looking at you, Marvel (Loki excluded) and Star Wars (Andor excluded).
And Gripes
That being said I did have one or two little gripes that stopped this being an A+. I’ll list them briefly to avoid spoilers.
I feel Perrin and Hopper’s relationship should have been explored more either here or previous episodes. It worked for me as a book reader. However, I’m not sure it will for non book readers? Also, there were a few editing mistakes I noticed again. Shots that run after each other not quite making sense of what came before. I noticed this especially in Moiraine and Lan’s scenes on the beach. Not that these were bad scenes, but the editors missed a few bits.
Next, I’ll have to be vague, but I mentioned above about Rand not getting a ‘moment’. I said that with some tweaks it could have been more satisfying. All I’ll say is that I would have shot that very slightly differently to have the same overall result. However my way would ease some pain in the book fans minds. Lastly, there is something Moiraine does at the end, and whilst it fit;s the scenario, I thought it was a bit too much. It could have been slightly toned down and had the same effect. That was the one section where I thought this could look a bit cheesy to casual fans.
GRADE: A-
Overall, Season 2 was just superior to Season 1 in almost every way. The good thing is that for me the story gets darker and more interesting from this point onward. Our characters will have to suffer a lot more before the end of Season 8, fingers crossed we get there. Once again, I will say if you are someone who was looking for a page by page adaption, then it’s not this series. I don’t think there will ever be what you book only fans desire.
I also controversially think the show is fixing some of the issues I had with the early books. This in turn is helping it to be a better received TV series. If you cannot grab a casual audience for a show with this budget then it will be canned. It doesn’t matter how faithful it was to the books if it doesn’t work on TV. Ask yourself how well those first three books would work as a TV series of 10 episodes if literally adapted?
As always, let me know what you thought of my Wheel of Time S2 finale review. Share your own finale thoughts or reviews below.
Remember to find out what non-book fans Kyle and Christine though later today. Watch for The Dragon Reviewed popping up ion your feed if you are subscribed to the GenreVerse YouTube channel.
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