REVIEW: The Wheel of Time S3
It’s been an interesting journey for the screen adaption of The Wheel of Time and quite the bumpy road since Rand set off with his pals from the Two Rivers on a path to becoming the Dragon Reborn. Fans of Robert Jordan’s epic fantasy series have been divided on the adaption so far with season 1 not getting off to the best of starts but with The Wheel of Time S3 complete, it’s safe to say that the series has grown into one of the best fantasy series on TV in recent memory.
There’s a lot to pack into the eight episodes of The Wheel of Time S3. Our heroes are off on different missions around the world, all striving to be the best versions of themselves and fighting against both dark forces and temptation itself. Rand travels to the Aiel Waste in need of an army to follow him with Moiraine keeping him in sight as she slowly becomes aware of the sacrifice needed for victory if Rand is to save and not destroy. Perrin battles with his past guilt as he transforms into a leader wanting to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Corruption poisons the heart of the White Tower as the Aes Sedai are split on whether they should side with the Dragon and fractures appear between the Forsaken as the pieces move closer to the final battle. It’s a busy season but the improved writing and a cast who fully understand their characters keep the energy up and lead to a massive improvement on previous seasons. We are currently living in an amazing time when fantasy is all over our screens and The Wheel of Time S3 is a reward for fans who have stuck with the series as it is now in a place where it can be seen as on par or surpassing other efforts such as House of the Dragon, The Witcher, and Rings of Power.
Rand’s journey into the Aiel Waste and an episode focusing on him seeing his past lives is one of the best episodes in the series yet. The acting is great as the weight of the past weighs heavily on Rand’s shoulders and he begins to understand who he must become. Josha Stadowski does really well in portraying Rand as someone caught between that battle between the light and dark. You can see why people would follow him but you can also see why there may be fear in their eyes. Juggling different arcs and timelines has been something the series has done well since the first season and this season is the best yet. So many films and TV series are ruined by the visual effects and fantasy shows can live or die by how well they pull off magic and monsters. The Wheel of Time S3 has seriously improved in this department. With the series focusing so much on magical battles and monstrous creatures, it has some of the best VFX in recent memory and it shows what can be done when a series gives its creators time to develop and work to their full potential instead of rushing the work and creating something subpar. In an age where audiences want instant greatness, it’s a joy to see such improvement in The Wheel of Time and if the show continues on this trajectory, the next season will be mind-blowing. The only thing that really feels missing from the season is a central villain with the gap of Ishmael from last season not really being filled effectively.
The Wheel of Time S3 builds on the progress seen in the second season and has grown into a must-see fantasy series. Improved writing. Improved acting. Improved effects. If you drifted away earlier in the series, now is the time to jump back on the wheel and see where this journey takes you. A very impressive third season adaptation of the hit fantasy series.
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