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138 sats \ 3 replies \ @samhainsam 7 Dec \ on: What is the Wheel of Time tv series? BooksAndArticles
Haha I was rubbing my hands when I started reading your post. I’d been thinking about the TV adaptation the other day too!
The series wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either. It felt like the creators wanted to sprint before learning to walk. Their intentions seemed genuine (you can tell they cared about the source material) but somewhere along the way, the execution fell short.
One thing that really bothered me was how they handled sexuality. In the books, there’s sensuality, tension, but it’s subtle. It creates tension and depth without taking over the story. In the show, though, it felt like sex scenes were added just for the sake of it. It didn’t drive the plot or reveal character; it just… happened. That shift made the world feel less mysterious and more like generic fantasy TV.
The “woke” elements don’t bother me much as long as they serve the story, but it’s frustrating when they stray too far from the original spirit. It starts to feel more like a shadow of the books than a true retelling.
🐺 Characters like Perrin (love him!) suffered a lot from this: book Perrin is layered and full of quiet strength, while the show version lost that introspection. And don’t even get me started on Lanfear… she’s magnificent on the page! But in the series they watered her down completely. 🥲
Still, I agree with your broader point, unlike some other modern adaptations, this one doesn’t feel made out of contempt for the source. You can sense that the team loved the world, even if their modern sensibilities clashed a bit with Jordan’s tone. I like your take about it being a myth retold from a later Age, a flawed retelling but still deeply connected to the Pattern. That idea actually makes me appreciate the show a bit more.
Can’t wait to keep reading the series, every book opens with that legendary line and instantly sets me in the right mood. There’s nothing quite like it!
Sprinting before walking is a good way to describe the tonal problems.
All the journeys are condensed. The relationships are condensed. The character arcs are condensed.
The other show I think about having this problem is The 100. It's one of my favorite shows but it would have been much better if we got to bask in the world a little more.
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I’ve never heard of The 100, but now I’ll have to check it out! My reading and watchlist just keeps growing 🥹
It’s a bit sad that for the sake of “entertainment” or to make things “easier” for a new audience, writers end up butchering such beautifully crafted plots and characters. Mat, for example, another one who got completely “flanderized.” And don’t get me started on the Nynaeve–Lan relationship. In the show, he’s older like in the books, but somehow they made it really weird and awkward, especially with that whole odd tension with Moiraine! 🥲
Maybe the books handle it differently later on (I’m not that far yet), but so far it feels like Jordan gave these dynamics real depth and purpose. The show stripped that nuance away, making everything look rushed and weird. Still, I get what they tried to do, they just missed that careful rhythm that makes Jordan’s storytelling so special.
PS Moiraine, the actress I mean, is the voice behind the new audiobooks and I’ve heard she’s delightful! Have you listened to them?
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No, I haven’t listened to the audio books but she’s incredible
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