The Wheel of Time (TV Series) What Might Be (2023) User Reviews

Great Episode, could've been 10/10

[bluenine-2 · 8/10 · 1 September 2023]

Great episode, loved the accepted trial of Nynaeve. I liked it that they deep dived into it like the books. The emotions felt real. Until the fake out death of Nynaeve, once again. This is the 3rd time Nynaeve "dies" only to comeback alive in just 11 Episodes. Its too much. My partner who hasn't read the books felt that Nynaeve should've stayed dead this time!!

The fake out deaths were the worst part of Season 1. And they keep doing that. At this point, I don't feel anything for the real deaths. Uno died & I didn't care. Coz he had also died a few episodes ago (S1 Ep 8) only to be alive in the next episode without any explanation, just like Loial.

WOT world building has some fake out deaths built into its metaphysics. It did not need any more.

Solid television with some flaws

[bluejays-88045 · 8/10 · 5 September 2023]

I thought Nynaeve's test was generally well handled in that it was drawn out, stressful, and intense which is what it should be otherwise it's all talk and no show. I did not like that this involved a fake death which we have had so many of that it has cheapened the show, making us worry less about our main characters since they always come back to life.

Elayne's actress is excellently cast she does very well in the role and I like a lot of her lines and interactions with Egwene, very enjoyable to watch. Mat's actor seems to be an improvement on Barney Harris which is also a welcome surprise and even though Mat is moody early in the series he has some fun lines as well.

The world feels increasingly fleshed out and the sets, dialogue, and general appearance of the show are a big step up from Season 1. I hope this continues in future episodes. I am uncertain about where the story is headed but it seems to, very generally, follow the trajectory of the Great Hunt. Let's hope it continues on that path without too many turns for the worse.

What a powerful episode and good cliffhanger

[olsenwolfer · 9/10 · 2 September 2023]

So if anybody who hasn't read the books and doesn't really know what's going to happen, I found this episode a lot better than the first one of this season. I don't necessarily know if I like how Rand is going about his I don't know life I guess or whatever you want to call it he's lost his way and doing typical boy thing but just moving on to the next thing. But the end of this episode is definitely heartbreaking. I could not imagine having to do what she did, just to come out on the other end and be left with nothing. She was in there for so long, and to feel all of that and know that it wasn't real and know that you lost it anyways is just heartbreaking!

Excited to see where the season goes again didn't read the books.

Heartbreaking!

[rationalnerd · 10/10 · 1 September 2023]

Wow what an heartbreaking and incredible episode. Nynaeve's test had a lot of similarities with the book, but also very interesting differences. I love that her future fear is about leaving the Tower. The scenes with her kid and Mat and Perrin were so cute. Egwene's pain at losing Nynaeve (again!) and Elayne supporting her friend were great character moments. Also, Mat running away (again!) was so appropriate, considering the guilt he bears of having left them behind. I hope he'll get his redemption moment later this season.

The Seanchans are terrifying. The unexpected death is a book change that will break some hearts, but had meanings and sense. Looking forward to Perrin interacting with the wolves in the rest of the season.

Rand! Logain! Selene! Cairhien! So many good moments!

Nynaeve's TEST!!!

[michaelmag-56565 · 10/10 · 1 September 2023]

I think this was the scene I was most looking forward to in the series, other than a couple towards the very end! Most of the episode focuses on Nynaeve's accepted test, and I'm glad they decided to spend so much time with it. There has been changes compared to the book, but they were needed. I wont spoil anything major here, go watch it!!!, but they really let this cook before letting us eat and it was soooo worth the wait, the pay off was massive. A couple of clunky scene in here with Rand (I wrote in my notes 'weird wine quest'), mostly explaining the way the Cairhein politics work, but they didnt take too much away from an amazing episode. Some big changes from the book in this episode revolving around Min. Again, this is one of those things i am only bothered about because i have read the books and i am happy to see where this leads in the season instead of getting too upset about it now. The end of this episode is huge, go watch, enjoy. Now we wait for episode 4.

An engrossing episode

[Arosa_mg · 10/10 · 2 September 2023]

This episode is fantastic. It had moments when I gasped, laughed, jumped out of my seat, and went, "Wait, what? What happened?" It was so good that I wanted to watch it again after a few hours. By itself a compliment because I don't rewatch (or reread) most shows. Still, Wheel of Time can do that to you. It can potentially be your "comfort" type of show, not because it's rainbows and flowers but because it truly transports you to the Westlands (or Randland, as fans would affectionately say).

This episode certainly isn't all flowers -it has a shocking moment that I wasn't expecting (even as a book reader), but it was on point to start on the right foot and show the Seanchan are terrifying. They gave me nightmares with the books, and might give me nightmares with the show.

So good!!!

[zacpaulsen · 10/10 · 1 September 2023]

This episode wrecked me in all the ways I needed it to! So good!!! I laughed, I cried, and it made my heart so happy! Nyneave is amazing, Zoe did such a great job playing her. Elayne was also perfect. Absolutely the right choice in an actress. She screams the daughter heir! The world looks beautiful and the channeling is so much better than season one. As a life long reader of these books. It makes me happy to see this new turning of the Wheel. This feels like the wheel of time! I can't wait for more episodes! Hopefully the haters will be happy about this episode.

The new Mat is wonderful. Mat and Min. Perfection.

A showstopper of an episode

[chlozj · 10/10 · 3 September 2023]

Episode 3 completely blew me away. I wasn't expecting the Nynaeve testing to be.. dare I say.. better than the books? Perhaps it's because I was completely taken in by what happened in her 3rd arch. Zoe Robins is killing it! I'm also completely invested in the boys, even though their bigger moments are still building. Josha is doing such a good job as Rand and I can't wait to see what happens with him in Carhien with Logain and Selene. Also Mat is just more mischievous, humorous and boyish this season which is my book canon for him. The Seanchan are rightfully terrifying and an unexpected casualty left me gasping and spluttering at the TV.

Frustration at some changes but still better than expected

[kent-wikberg · 8/10 · 3 September 2023]

As a avid reader and devout fan of the books I must say so much of season one annoys me too much to make it enjoyable. The quest for who's the dragon, some steps away from the core of how the magic works (eg: being able to pull enough power through a link to kill someone, logain seeing sai'dar when nyneave weaves it and some other stuff)

For this season though I try to keep an open mind and it has been pretty good! This episode was deep and well acted and left me wanting more and very much interested in where they will go with the story. I wonder how they will go about nynaeves block from now on..

I like what they did Nynaeve

[dmayo-23764 · 6/10 · 26 September 2023]

They did do good with Nynaeve story this episode. Her travel through the arches was done very well in my opinion. I do not like what they are doing with the Seanchan though. First off the dark one has nothing to do with the Seanchan. In no way did he manipulate them in the books. They also never captured Perrin in the books. I also don't like that Rand and Selene are a couple in the show. That is honestly kind of dumb. Rand rejects her advances in the books. Oh another thing that I didn't like in the show so far. What are they doing with Logan? He was a prisoner at the White Tower. Rand never seeks out Logan help on how to channel. That was dumb. So they did some things right but a lot of things wrong so far this season.

It's only gotten better

[burkhardjoshuas · 9/10 · 3 September 2023]

This episode was fantastic and set up a ton of struggles for our main cast. All aspects of the show have improved and there is a ton of pay of in this episode. The stuff with Nynaeve was great. As a book reader I'm not supposed to be ok with the changes but I can see almost every story beat from the books they are weaving in the show.the seanchen look incredibly scary as they should and the fact they gave them American accent warms my heart. This isn't just a good fantasy show now, I think it's genuinely good TV. This episode had me absolutely craving the release of episode 4 so I think it did a great job!

Arches was not as hard apparently

[mihir89 · 1/10 · 11 September 2023]

Just one point in this episode. In the beginning it was said by that head aes sadai that you are as good as dead if you are stuck in arches. Egwene cried and annoyed us for the whole episode. Maybe my definition of hard is different but if Nynaeve come back from arches in one episode then that doesn't seem that hard. I was looking forward to not seeing Nynaeve for few episode but alas it is not going to be true.

PS one a side note can one main character show a bit spirit. All character seem to be depressed or sad or ready to die. I am sure they can find a moment of joy in such a bit of world they are living in.

Pure Craftsmanship

[aquacarib2 · 10/10 · 8 September 2023]

Riveting. Compelling. Incredible details. Brilliantly executed in every regard. No spoilers here to ruin the experience of this episode. Just watch and thoroughly enjoy. Season 2 is proving to exceed expectations and I'm thrilled as a viewer to be watching this next masterpiece. They've done very well with the much higher budget and significantly improved performance by all involved. Your eyes can't help but to linger on the nuanced facial expressions of the actors in character, who further deepen In development as their story arcs are revealed. Mesmerizing too are the set design, elements of which are remarkably detailed to the point where you can almost feel the textures. So happy for the continuation of this series and the massive support it's been receiving.

Glad I kept watching

[miikd · 9/10 · 10 October 2023]

After the previous episode I almost quit the show.

This episode redeemed the series. While the series differs greatly from the books, many elements remain. The thing that drew me back was the excellent casting. Kate Fleetwood's portrayal of Liandrin is spot on. The situations are VERY different from the books so she has to make do with odd plot points. But she does it owning the character. She is such a villain in the books and she isn't as prominent as she is in the series. If anything, they're making her character more complex, more of a whole person, which is a good thing.

Zoë Robins is probably the strongest actor in the cast and she does such an amazing job with Nynaeve. Her time in the arches, while not exactly the same as the books, was very much in the same spirit as the books. I really like how they gave up on her and she came back much later. Not the same as the book but better in a way.

Mat Cauthon was off the mark last season, but this episode felt more like Mat. The whole prison thing with Min is weird. Like why is Min locked up??? Min is a great character in the books, I hope she has a chance to develop in the series.

Ceara Coveney does a perfect Elayne Trakand. I really hope she plays as large of a roll in the series as she does in the books.

I say the casting is excellent (and it is) but all the main characters (Rand, Perin, Mat, Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne) are supposed to be teanagers. Obviously they aren't in the series and it doesn't matter that much.

The dialogue can be a little difficult to understand sometimes. It sounds like a mix issue the edit is clean.

A good series based on mediocre books

[GwydionMW · 9/10 · 9 September 2023]

I never tried the original books. The cover of the first put me off - just another author doing a weak rehash of Tolkien.

The TV show led me to try the first book, but not to change my view. I'm not reading any more.

But the TV series was fun. Moiraine as played by Rosamund Pike was wonderfully convincing, and remains so.

It was genuinely surprising at times, at least to those of us who never read the books.

An interesting on-going story.

I got depressed by the True Believers who seem to keep watching just so they can complain about how much it bored and offended them. I'm puzzled as to why they bother. They can't actually put off the rest of us.

Best series yet

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 9/10 · 12 January 2024]

Episode 3 of The Wheel of Time season 2 is thrilling and emotional, with an intriguing development of Nynaeve's character and disturbing portrayal of loss by Egwene. The episode also showcases the brutality of Lady Suroth and the Dark Ones, with Mat's character being explored, though the actor portraying Mat doesn't do it justice. Nynaeve returns after passing a trial, and the storyline's future development will be interesting. The episode leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, showcasing the intense emotions and brutality of the characters. In episode 3 of The Wheel of Time season 2, the sisters inform Nynaeve about the trial of the arches and the potential dangers. Despite facing challenges, Nynaeve prevails. However, her feelings for Lan prevent her from focusing on the third challenge. She passes away during the trial. Perrin and the Shienarans are brought before Lady Suroth and her minions. A man is murdered to instill fear in the crowd, and everyone takes an oath and bows to her. Lady Suroth's actions serve as a reminder of the dangers and dangers of the task. The story revolves around Rand, who spends time with Logain to find a solution to his helplessness. Logain questions his motivations and assigns him a mission to control his strength and prevent insaneness. Egwene learns of Nynaeve's death, feeling a sense of loss. Liandrin visits Mat and releases him from prison, revealing his worthlessness for betraying his friends. She advises him to see Egwene if she wants to keep him. The story highlights the complex relationships and challenges faced by individuals in their quest for self-discovery. Egwene confronts Liandrin about her role in Nynaeve's death, revealing that she had placed her trust in her. Rand tries to find a solution to manage his abilities, but Logain reveals that he has no control over them and they will eventually overpower him. Mat, who tries to meet Egwene, releases Min and they run away together. Min and Liandrin work together, while Perrin escapes from a moving carriage with the help of a wolf. Rand, unintentionally wielding The One Power, burns down the house. Nynaeve overcomes her fears in the trial of the arches, returning alive but consumed with sadness. Egwene consoles her before the episode ends. Episode 3 of The Wheel of Time season 2 is thrilling and emotional, with an intriguing development of Nynaeve's character and disturbing portrayal of loss by Egwene. The episode also showcases the brutality of Lady Suroth and the Dark Ones, with Mat's character being explored, though the actor portraying Mat doesn't do it justice. Nynaeve returns after passing a trial, and the storyline's future development will be interesting. The episode leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, showcasing the intense emotions and brutality of the characters.

Series advancing from awful to not-good

[infinitetyler · 3/10 · 1 September 2023]

We're off to a pretty good start with the Accepted testing; that's about how it went in the books. Credit where credit's due, the Senchean are discomforting (even though they don't look like bugs). OMG, now they go and pull a stunt like that and immediately lose all the goodwill they just built. You can tell which parts aren't Robert Jordan because they feel both contrived and over-the-top, like some director has 2 bosses, 1 screaming "Make me Game of Thrones!" and 1 yelling "Make The Hobbit trilogy!" I give this episode credit for making me appreciate RJ as a romance writer. There's a difference between the romance in the testing scene versus the CW style intimacy throughout the other episodes. Lan didn't even cry or talk about how worthless he is once. Also how is Rand the most boring character in this? Good to see Mat is still in the story. There's just way too much Liandrin in everything. How is Rand this boring? He's like Jon Snow Season 8 boring. Maybe he'll be a reverse Jon Snow and by season 8 he'll turn interesting (please cancel this show before then). How was Rand's relationship interesting in the books? Oh, I know, because most of it took place in dreams using magic. Wait, do they still not know who The Dragon is? If you're wondering, look at the cover of almost any of the books. The mystery box of "who is the Dragon" was never the focus, because that would be a lame premise for a story, and that's why it's made pretty clear by page 12 of the first one. Rand is such a tool in this. Oh wow, the writers are taking liberties again with the Accepted testing. This episode had such a strong start, but it's flirting with Season 1 levels of stupidity by the end. WoT is like living in post-war Iraq with intermittent electricity, just brief moments of hope and relief followed by longer periods of crushing despair. Please cancel this show so someone trying to tell Jordan's story can reboot it in 10 years.

Such a poorly made series

[NanoFrog · 4/10 · 4 September 2023]

Ugh. Most of the secondary cast in this series are truly untalented actors, nearly unwatchable. The editing, costuming and directors work is really terrible. This great and interesting story brought to video is just a terribly bad effort. The casting is in particular very bad. I have rarely seen so many talentless people in one series. I find the story confusing, fragmented. There is so much jumping around it is nearly impossible to understand the story in a clear and linear way. Many of the so-called actors garble and mumble their speech, it is easy to entirely miss important story details because the acting, enunciation is so poor. This edpisode has some great moments, surrounded by gibberish and scenes that have no context. This is a great story being told by producers and directors that have not a clue as to tell the great story that should be here. It is truly disappointing how badly made and preented this series is.

So boring

[gpglenpeters · 1/10 · 3 September 2023]

This show is so unbelievably boring. The characters are so insipid and uninteresting and the acting is terrible.

It's as if the CW had an enormous budget. It's just so bad.

How awful of a writer must you be to pen this drivel?

I am embarrassed for everyone involved in this project.

It must've been so difficult to make it this woeful, I mean it must've been a concerted effort whenever there was even a glimmer of a chance for there to be a half-decent moment to ensure it was snuffed out.

Why would anybody think this is worth producing?

I think this may be the worst show of the year and that's impressive considering the candidates in 2023.