The Wheel of Time, based mostly on Robert Jordan’s popular novels, simply wrapped up its second season. It has a extra modest funds than Prime Video’s other big fantasy series—and fewer buzz than one thing like HBO’s House of the Dragon—however it constantly delivered juicy intrigue whereas taking its nerdy parts critically with out being too self-serious, for probably the most half.
It additionally did job managing the steep studying curve for viewers unfamiliar with Jordan’s dense supply materials. That mentioned, season two did enable itself to be a bit extra rapid-fire with characters and places that readers would instantly acknowledge as vital—however newcomers may need a tougher time conserving monitor of. All through the season, Wheel of Time’s core characters spent a lot of their time splintered aside, tasked with their very own adventures and quests after season one’s climactic face-off with sinister forces that, in season two, have been nonetheless plotting their ascent to energy. There was rather a lot to maintain monitor of, and the season finale, “What Was Meant to Be,” felt like a rush to get everybody in the identical place and tie up unfastened ends forward of the already announced season three.
Whereas Wheel of Time has a transparent Chosen One determine—Josha Stradowski’s Rand al’Thor, a reincarnated model of the Dragon, the person who “broke” the world after combating the Darkish One 3,000 years prior—he wasn’t the character who had probably the most compelling journey throughout season two. It additionally wasn’t the man who has a psychic reference to wolves, the highly effective magic-wielder coping with the devastating lack of her hyperlink to the One Energy, or the femme fatale masquerading as an innkeeper who’s truly an historic with the ability to invade folks’s desires… although she got here fairly shut. As an alternative that honor went to Egwene al’Vere, performed by Madeleine Madden, who was the guts and soul of Wheel of Time’s sophomore season.
Egwene didn’t have a straightforward time of it in season one, however she went by way of it in season two and emerged perpetually modified; she’s nonetheless acquired her ethical compass tuned accurately, however she’s additionally a stone-cold killer. Hardly what you’d anticipate from the light Two Rivers lady with nascent One Energy skills we met initially of season one, simply as she’d determined she’d quite develop into a Knowledge (a healer and neighborhood chief) than cool down with Rand, her childhood sweetheart. Season one was largely about unraveling the thriller id of the Dragon Reborn; with that out of the way in which, season two may focus on particular person characters exploring their distinctive powers.
For Egwene, that meant changing into a novice Aes Sedai, occupying the bottom rung on the White Tower—doing dishes and different grunt work for superiors who barely deign to make eye contact along with her—whereas honing her “weaves” (Wheel of Time’s phrase for spells) and refining her potential to “channel the One Energy” (use magic). Egwene is a tough employee and she or he believes being an Aes Sedai is her future, so she doesn’t thoughts paying her dues; her emotional state, nonetheless, is extra fragile than she’d wish to admit. Not solely does she imagine Rand is useless, she’s at odds along with her greatest buddy, Nynaeve al’Meara (Zoë Robins), a fellow novice whose prodigious abilities have made her a near-celebrity among the many Aes Sedai. Residing in Nynaeve’s shadow can be attempting sufficient, however Nynaeve—who bristles at authority figures and isn’t the sort to do different folks’s dishes with out criticism—has her personal inner turmoil, which causes a rift of their relationship. A few of that void is stuffed by the kindly Elayne Trakand (Ceara Coveney), one other novice who turns into an vital ally—and a 3rd touring companion when Egwene, determined to keep up ties to her Two Rivers associates, joins Nynaeve on an ill-fated rescue mission.
Unwell-fated, as a result of for causes too sophisticated to element right here, the ladies are kidnapped earlier than they even depart the White Tower. Nynaeve and Elayne handle to scramble away, however Egwene faces a dreadful destiny: she turns into a “damane,” enslaved by the Seanchan military that’s invaded the seaside metropolis of Falme. Her goal is to make use of the One Energy in harmful methods. She has a malevolent handler (or “sul’dam”) named Renna (Xelia Mendes-Jones), who makes use of a collar-gauntlet contraption that binds them collectively on a psychic degree. Renna has full management over Egwene—Mendes-Jones’ “masochistic but in addition cloying and deadpan” interpretation of the character is terrifying—and her strategies of self-discipline steadily stray into torture. Painful bodily torture, agonizing psychological torture, snipping off Egwene’s lengthy braid, a sacred image of her Knowledge coaching… Renna’s acquired vary.
When not in use, Egwene and the opposite damane are locked in cells in a spot everybody calls “the kennels,” which provides you an thought of how bleak their state of affairs is. You may see why the opposite captives, a few of whom are former Aes Sedai, others snatched from their households as younger ladies, have had their spirits fully damaged. Wheel of Time isn’t a present that shies away from cruelty and trauma, however what Egwene goes by way of is deeply harrowing. One of many damane torments is having a protect positioned over their mouths to allow them to’t converse whereas they’re in battle, however Madden’s eyes specific anger so forcefully there’s little doubt what Egwene is pondering always. (She additionally will get an opportunity to tell Renna “I will kill you,” which we absolutely imagine even when Renna doesn’t.) As a result of we all know Egwene—we’ve seen what she’s endured earlier than this, and we’re conscious of how robust she is—we all know there’ll come a second when she turns the tables.
In “What Was Meant to Be,” all the principle Wheel of Time characters converge on Falme forward of Rand’s fated showdown with the Darkish One. However probably the most urgent concern for everybody—together with Rand, who has the destiny of the world resting on his shoulders—is rescuing Egwene. Falme is below assault, so the damane are hauled to the highest of town’s highest tower to allow them to launch fireballs at Seanchan enemies. However regardless of being leashed to Renna, Egwene has an excessive amount of compassion and empathy to assault a crowd of harmless civilians, together with kids. When she refuses, it creates a gap within the defensive position and everyone seems to be round her is quickly buried in rubble, setting the stage for her confrontation with Renna.
The Wheel of Time made you wait lengthy and onerous for this second, however it was so price it, with Egwene exploiting Renna’s secret disgrace of getting One Energy skills whereas killing her… slowly. For an immediate, you nearly questioned if Egwene would present a few of that earlier compassion and let Renna go. However no: Renna has earned this excruciating demise, and one thing has crossed over in Egwene that enables her to see it by way of. She doesn’t want her associates, who present up simply after Renna expires, to rescue her. She’s acquired it dealt with.
Instantly following, Egwene modifications gears to assist Rand and her different Two Rivers associates face the following evil impediment of their path. However the remaining battle of the season looks like a half-step within the plot, as one foe falls however many extra are quickly revealed to have been unleashed. Egwene’s personal victory—a feat equal components intimate, ghastly, and cathartic—actually felt like the most important triumph of the season, and perhaps even each seasons mixed.
Seasons one and two of The Wheel of Time at the moment are streaming on Prime Video; a 3rd season has already been introduced.
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