Season 2 of The Wheel of Time was a drastic step up from the first, creating a richer world, higher stakes, and significantly more complex characters. In the first two episodes of Season 3, that upward trend looks set to continue. This third season quite literally starts off with a bang—two gripping episodes that never hit the brakes. Major events are being set in motion, but there is clearly more deliberate directing to give a sense of purpose and momentum to everything in Season 3, all while still providing vital character moments that allow the main cast to breathe.
The Wheel of Time Season 3 picks up shortly after the events of the previous season, when Rand (Josha Stradowski) and the rest of the group from Two Rivers defeat Ishamael at Falme and use the Horn of Valere to summon legendary heroes.
While the entire cast spent most of Season 2 separated on their own adventures, the first episode finally sees everyone reunited—able to breathe again for just a brief moment. If you have read The Wheel of Time books, as with the last two seasons, you may notice events tweaked and sped up a bit, and that is fine, honestly. Particularly in this season, the breakneck pacing of the first two episodes means the events of the third book, The Dragon Reborn, already feel truncated. But on the positive side, it seems the show is finally leaning wholeheartedly into its unique interpretation of the source material and these specific versions of the characters.
“This third season quite literally starts off with a bang—two gripping episodes that never hit the brakes.”
As the group relaxes in Tar Valon before setting out on a new journey, rebellion hits the White Tower—the seat of power for the magical organization made up of women who can channel the One Power. What follows is the most impressive action scene the series has had to date and one of the best seen in any fantasy TV series.
In the throne room of the White Tower, two factions of Aes Sedai do battle, slinging magic spells left and right and decimating the dazzling marble-white interior. It is genuinely the closest we have ever gotten to an Avatar: The Last Airbender fight done well in live-action. The action, in general, feels better coordinated and planned, with a bump in visual effects to match.
That act of rebellion sets off a chain reaction of events that, once again, leads to the main party splitting up to go on their own adventures. While we see glimpses of those separate stories in Episode 2, it is the first episode that truly shines and shows how far this show—and these actors—have come.
With two seasons under their belts, there is a real sense of camaraderie between the cast—from the way Mat (Dónal Finn) starts to open up and feel vulnerable with Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) to the blossoming romance between Rand and Egwene (Madeleine Madden), where the two must learn to lean on each other.
This season also allows for more unique interpretations and embellishments to these characters, with a few standout performances. Stradowski as Rand is already the highlight, as we see him play multiple “versions” of Rand, had his fate been different. One is a Rand driven mad by the One Power; another is a murderous inversion of the hero, intent on killing those he loves.
Stradowski does an incredible job of adding layers to these different versions of Rand while still showing how they represent aspects of the real character. Finn as Mat is another standout, as the character grapples with being crushed by the weight of the dark power inside him while trying to hide it from his friends—only to open up to the right people.
“More than anything, it is that main cast of characters that drives The Wheel of Time, and this season not only recognizes that but doubles down on it.”
Those two characters certainly get more of a spotlight in the initial two episodes, but there are threads of unique character arcs laid for nearly everyone—from Egwene deciding to stand by Rand’s side to Nynaeve realizing she needs to better herself and Perrin finding his own purpose by returning home to Two Rivers. It is a fascinating setup to see the party reunite and reconnect, only to have them broken up once again. It gives each character an added sense of desperation to their quest, along with personal growth as they learn to rely on nothing but their own skills.
The Wheel of Time Season 3’s premiere is by far the strongest start this show has had, and it is not even close. Better action and more intimate performances from the main cast headline what already makes this season stand out, but everything the show has done well remains—the costuming is still jaw-droppingly impressive, and the sense of place and culture bleeds through every location.
If the rest of Season 3 continues this upward trend, The Wheel of Time will have turned into something truly unique, with a vibrant cast of characters and a roguish sense of adventure that sets it apart. More than anything, it is that main cast of characters that drives The Wheel of Time, and this season not only recognizes that but doubles down on it. With so much source material to draw from, it is easy to see how this series could continue for many more years.
