Summary

The second season of The Wheel of Time surpasses the first, maintaining and improving the show’s quality and avoiding a second-season slump. The group dynamic is fractured in the second season, with the characters embarking on their own individual adventures, which provides a satisfying exploration of the broader world of The Wheel of Time. The inner machinations of the Aes Sedai, the White Tower, and the Black branch are heavily explored in the second season, adding depth to the world-building and expanding the lore of the show.

The Wheel of Time is one of Prime Video’s flagship shows. It was developed by screenwriter Rafe Judkins, who adapted the story from a fourteen-novel series (that started in 1990 and was originally written by the late writer Robert Jordan). The show brings to life the fictional characters of Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike) and her warder, Lan Mandragoran (Daniel Henney). These two strong warriors bring together a group of young people, one of whom Moiraine believes could be the reincarnation of the Dragon — who may either save the world or destroy it. Moiraine and Lan are a part of the Aes Sedai, a long-standing organization that can channel The One Power.

Holding the accolade of being the most-watched Prime Video upon its initial release in 2021, the first season of The Wheel of Time became a streaming success among fantasy fans and critics alike. Premiering on September 1st, 2023, the newest batch of eight episodes reintroduced viewers to not only the aforementioned characters but also the possible Dragon Reborns (the prophetic answer to the Dark One’s forces).

Even though the printed version of The Wheel of Time has a great number of stories to adapt, making a second season of a television show always holds a risk because there are now high expectations for what’s to come. So, what’s even more impressive than the show’s initial acclaim is that it avoided the dreaded second-season slump, not just maintaining its quality, but improving upon it. Here’s why The Wheel of Time’s second season is better than its first.

The Group Dynamic Is Fractured

In the second season, the group has been dispersed, having their own individual adventures. Egwene is at The White Tower preparing to be a Wisdom. Perrin has joined a traveling party in search of the crucial horn that will summon heroes of the past. Mat has been jailed by a supposed Red Aes Sedai, and Rand has been hiding at an inn, where he has fallen for the mysterious owner. While some viewers will undoubtedly miss the group aspect, the characters’ individual roads are so much more satisfying to see as the viewer learns more about The Wheel of Time’s broader world.

Speaking of villains, that is just another facet where this new batch of episodes succeeds better than the first. For example, a new antagonist arrives in the second season who first appears as Rand’s new girlfriend. Going by the name of Lanfear, she is actually a cunning member of The Dark One’s guild who has been assigned to keep an eye on the boy by any means possible.

There is also Renna, a callous and cruel woman from the Seanchan civilization. She holds the rank of being a sul’dam, or leash holder. This merciless officer is the one who oversees Egwene (once she is captured) and this dynamic makes for some nail-biting sequences. On one hand, it could be said that Lanfear psychologically torments one of our strongest protagonists while Renna settles for a more physical kind of punishment in order to get Egwene to obey the Seanchan rule. Seeing Egwene become weaker and weaker over time, pulls at the heartstrings like no other story element in The Wheel of Time.

World Building Is Emphasized More Than Ever

The Aes Sedai and the White Tower have been integral parts of this highly decorated fantasy show since it first premiered, but the inner machinations of both plot devices weren’t heavily explored until the latest season. Even though there was some mention of these groups and the concept was introduced earlier, the grey, brown, and yellow divisions of the Aes Sedai and the members therein were finally brought into the story of the show with a heavier emphasis.

Let us not forget about the Black branch as well, which actually works for the Dark One in secret. Seeing the rituals needed to excel in the White Tower is captivating for people who are not familiar with the books and who are watching The Wheel of Time without any background information. Nynaeve al’Meara is an extraordinary character for that reason. In order to evolve from being a Wisdom into the role of an Aes Sedai, she must pass three will-based trials. Giving time to such a subplot and understanding that this was normality for all those women who decided to become Aes Sedai gives more depth to this respected lineage. Related: The 16 Most Underrated Fantasy Movies Based on Books

As The Wheel of Time was renewed for a third season in July 2022 (almost a year before these new episodes premiered), there is a good chance that many more world-building and lore-expanding details will come forth from this fantasy-based Prime Video series.