Released on Amazon Prime, The Wheel of Time is one of the most ambitious TV shows a streaming platform has done to date. I have heard that Amazon has budgeted as much as 10 million per episode for this show! It is a show that they are taking very seriously and it is a show that had me gripped right from the start.
How to Stream or Download The Wheel of Time (TV series)
You can stream it or you can download the series for offline viewing using the Amazon Prime Video app. Click on the Download button at the end of the review
The Movie Review
I will admit, I was pretty ignorant of The Wheel of Time before the first trailer was released. However, it is based on a series of fantasy novels written by Robert Jordan. The first three episodes all aired on the same date, but the remaining five were aired weekly. I have to say, I am glad I waited and was able to watch all eight back-to-back.
The plot of The Wheel of Time is kind of hard to discuss without going into spoilers. Just know that this is a fantasy show that features magic, compelling characters, interesting relationships, and some epic action! It truly is a show that has it all and if you are looking for a fantasy fix in the same vein as Game of Thrones or The Lord of the Rings, I do not think you will be disappointed.
In this world, while there is magic, not everyone is able to use it. Rosamunde Pike is fantastic as Moiraine. Moiraine is part of an organization that can wield magic and she sets out to find these five young people, one of whom she believes to be the reincarnation of The Dragon. That is the basics of the plot, but there is way more to it than that.
The Dragon is part of this prophecy, but the prophecy states that the Dragon can either save the world or break it. You of course have your main story arc, but this is a real “ensemble” kind of show, and every character, even the minor ones has their time to shine. One of my favorite aspects was the relationship between Rand al’Tho and Egwene al’Vere.
I know that the massive amount of money that Amazon was spending on each episode is part of the reason there are only eight episodes. However, the eight-episode length works to the show’s advantage as none of it feels like filler at all. I truly went from one episode to the next, excited about what would happen. Some shows have one or two episodes that I feel could be cut, that is not the case here.
One thing that I have to say about The Wheel of Time is that visually it is one of the most amazing TV shows of 2021. The budget did not go to waste here and there is a great mix of practical and CG style effects. It is so well done that it is sometimes hard to know what is actually in front of the camera and what is green screen!
The Wheel of Time is a fantastic fantasy show and I would say it is close between this and The Boys as to what my favorite Amazon Prime original is. If you enjoy epic fantasy shows and movies, you have to watch this! I am sure that you will end up binge-watching it all in just a few sittings, that is how good it is
