I was lucky enough to attend an early premier of the first two episodes of The Wheel of Time TV show on November 15 and felt like jotting down my (spoiler-free) thoughts. As I’ve mentioned before, my life has been deeply changed by The Wheel of Time in many ways over the years and so I’d like to share thoughts about the upcoming television show:
“There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of time. But it was a beginning.”
A beginning.
That is what I have decided the release of The Wheel of Time on Amazon Prime feels like. Since 2013 we have lived in a world where there was no new WoT content, no new stories to tell or journeys in the mighty world that Robert Jordan created. Had he lived, who knows what tales Jordan might have spun for us? What adventures might we have had with our beloved heroes? That was not in the Pattern, though, and so we’ll never know.
What we do know, though, is that through the television show we shall get to experience our beloved story and characters anew. “But Kiley,” you say. “It was perfect before. We don’t need anything new!” To that I say: Sure. Some people don’t like the idea of even the smallest of changes. But there will be changes – are changes. I’ve seen them. Some of them will be to a hero’s appearance. Some will be to a backstory. Some changes may jar you or irk you or pass by almost unnoticed. But our WoT is there. Our friends – Rand, Mat, Perrin, Nynaeve, Egwene, Moiraine, Lan –are there, and they are trekking through familiar lands with familiar enemies on their trail. Familiarity is comforting.
Honestly, it has been some time since I’ve read the series (kids, am I right?). There have been times lately I’ve felt detached from the world that once meant so much to me. And despite this – probably because of it – I found myself comforted every time Moiraine or Lan said any word or phrase unique to The Wheel of Time. It was like coming home after a long time away to find a few things have changed but the most important things have stood strong.
We can begin to see, after all these years, the story brought to life in front of us by someone who clearly cared for the source material. I was skeptical before. I was even worried. I am hopeful now after watching the first two episodes, because, though some things were different, a lot was also the same. The story is being told with a fresh voice and perspective to fit the media it was made for. This means that, for those of us who have read The Wheel of Time books, we may yet see something new. Not a new story, but the old story told in a new way. Something may surprise you or startle you or make you laugh or cry, even if you think you know what to expect. This is a turning of the Wheel, and not all turnings are the same, after all.
So, here’s to beginnings (which are also culminations of very long, rocky roads)! May we have open minds to experience the old legend we know told now by a different Gleeman. Let’s fall in love with it all over again and share it with others who might love it, as well.
(And please, Episode 3, don’t let me down.)
The Wheel of Time will be released November 19, 2021 on Amazon Prime
You can read my book, DAMSELLE IN DISTRESS, by heading here.
A beginning.
That is what I have decided the release of The Wheel of Time on Amazon Prime feels like. Since 2013 we have lived in a world where there was no new WoT content, no new stories to tell or journeys in the mighty world that Robert Jordan created. Had he lived, who knows what tales Jordan might have spun for us? What adventures might we have had with our beloved heroes? That was not in the Pattern, though, and so we’ll never know.
What we do know, though, is that through the television show we shall get to experience our beloved story and characters anew. “But Kiley,” you say. “It was perfect before. We don’t need anything new!” To that I say: Sure. Some people don’t like the idea of even the smallest of changes. But there will be changes – are changes. I’ve seen them. Some of them will be to a hero’s appearance. Some will be to a backstory. Some changes may jar you or irk you or pass by almost unnoticed. But our WoT is there. Our friends – Rand, Mat, Perrin, Nynaeve, Egwene, Moiraine, Lan –are there, and they are trekking through familiar lands with familiar enemies on their trail. Familiarity is comforting.
Honestly, it has been some time since I’ve read the series (kids, am I right?). There have been times lately I’ve felt detached from the world that once meant so much to me. And despite this – probably because of it – I found myself comforted every time Moiraine or Lan said any word or phrase unique to The Wheel of Time. It was like coming home after a long time away to find a few things have changed but the most important things have stood strong.
We can begin to see, after all these years, the story brought to life in front of us by someone who clearly cared for the source material. I was skeptical before. I was even worried. I am hopeful now after watching the first two episodes, because, though some things were different, a lot was also the same. The story is being told with a fresh voice and perspective to fit the media it was made for. This means that, for those of us who have read The Wheel of Time books, we may yet see something new. Not a new story, but the old story told in a new way. Something may surprise you or startle you or make you laugh or cry, even if you think you know what to expect. This is a turning of the Wheel, and not all turnings are the same, after all.
So, here’s to beginnings (which are also culminations of very long, rocky roads)! May we have open minds to experience the old legend we know told now by a different Gleeman. Let’s fall in love with it all over again and share it with others who might love it, as well.
(And please, Episode 3, don’t let me down.)
The Wheel of Time will be released November 19, 2021 on Amazon Prime
You can read my book, DAMSELLE IN DISTRESS, by heading here.
