When I hear people claiming to get lost in the rich universe created by George R. R. Martin, I assume that they won’t be able to keep up with Robert Jordan‘s characters and The Wheel of Time.

If you’re not up to date with everything that was happening before season 3, you might be a little lost for most of the three episodes already available on Amazon Prime Video. A lot of drama, magic, blood, and alliances happen simultaneously, and it’s hard to balance what everyone wants and what they should do, especially with so many villains on the loose. That’s because the series is already a simplified narrative! That’s right.

We have our heroes full of flaws and doubts navigating between Good and Evil, where prophecies and intentions only contribute to a somewhat chaotic story. Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike) continues her enigmatic leadership and commitment to guiding Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski) to embrace his destiny as the Dragon Reborn. Now, he has to claim the sword Callandor in Tear, which leads them on more journeys through the not-so-friendly territory of the Aiel Desert. At this point, having someone question him as the chosen one is already a joke, but there you have it.

The group of friends can’t even enjoy the reunion, each one takes a new path – again – and Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood), finally revealed as Black Ajah, wants to destroy the Dragon. Rand has at his side the traumatized Egwene al’Vere (Madeleine Madden), who has been tortured with difficult memories because Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe) is jealous of her.

The special effects still make us laugh more than get carried away by the fantasy, but it’s a complex and fun universe to follow. Olivia Williams’s entrance as Cersei Lannister is a paradoxical desire to see her in Game of Thrones at some point and the laugh of the copy, but her Queen Morgase is imposing and mysterious.

With more blood and battles, The Wheel of Time is a success. The themes can be found in many other more idolized content – such as Dune: Prophecy (where Williams is one of the stars), Rings of Power or House of the Dragon, because they are cousin series that address similar questions: the thirst for Power, the evils of prophecies and the manipulation of Faith. It is not an easy task to navigate the story, but it is imaginative. There are always surprises and twists.

Note that I did not even try to recap the plot in detail because it is a suicide mission. In a scenario where the complexity of the plots can easily confuse the viewer, The Wheel of Time stands out as a challenging and enriching narrative. Despite the moments of exaggeration in special effects and the rivalry with other great fantasy productions, the series remains relevant and intriguing with its intricate dynamics of power, prophecies, and moral choices. In the end, what really matters is the journey — a journey that makes us question the nature of power, faith, and destiny, but, above all, surprises us with each new twist. With this, The Wheel of Time establishes itself not only as a healthy competition but also as a solid reference within the genre, where chaos and magic coexist in a unique and intoxicating way.

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