Adam’s Review
The first episode of Wheel of Time showed me some of the things I wanted to see, but far too many of the things I was afraid of.
Major characters and their backstories have completely changed. The relationships have been hypersexualized. The apparent need to expedite the plot has left zero room for character development or laying the ground for nuance.
When the strongest part of the show was the battle sequence, it makes me wonder if I’m watching an adaptation or a Michael Bay movie.
Rating: On a scale of “steaming pile of shit” to “absolute masterpiece,” this lands solidly as a “dumpster fire with a smiley face.”
Garrett’s Review
There’s a lot that is completely removed from the source material, but it’s exciting and I am definitely intrigued. By the end of episode one, I am hooked. I loved it.
Rating: On a scale of desert to ocean, this was the Great Lakes
Fei’s Review
The first episode of the Wheel of Time, “Leavetaking” has redeeming qualities, but unfortunately falls into some of the trap of many Hollywood adaptations of fantasy. As a newcomer to Robert Jordan’s epic saga, I was immediately hooked and blew through the first three books of the series in two months. Even though I had previously sworn off of 20th century high fantasy because I was tired of Eurocentric storytelling that ignore the narratives of BIPOC and female characters, I was happily surprised that The Wheel of Time subverted my expectations.
One of the things this Amazon series gets right is the importance of diversity in the original texts by casting a diverse set of main characters and focusing equally on the storytelling through the male and female gaze. I was equally interested in Rand’s storyline with his father as Egwene’s promise of becoming a Wisdom. Also, the battle at Emond’s Field is nothing short of extraordinary cinematography.
Unfortunately, this is where my positive feelings about the TV series drops off. Unlike the masterpiece of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which sticks quite closely to its source material and only changes portions that did not make sense cinematically, this series creates new storylines and relationships to FORCE us to connect with the main characters. Instead of letting Jordan’s work shine at what it does best – vivid storytelling perfused with subtlety—this series pours on with heavy handed Hollywood theatrics and trite relationship dynamics to develop these characters.
I fear that going forward, we will lose the quiet introspection and deep connections that permeates Jordan’s characters for lackadaisical writing and overused Hollywood tropes. But, perhaps I am being too pessimistic – only the next few episodes will tell.
Rating: on a scale of The golden compass to the Lord of the Rings, this is a solid Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince