Streaming on: Prime Video
Episodes viewed: 8 of 8
With Rand (Josha Stradowski) now officially proclaimed the Dragon Reborn, The Wheel Of Time Season 3 capitalises on last season's promising cliffhanger with a gripping, wildly violent opening that might be the most brutal yet seen on this show. Putting most blockbusters to shame, this jaw-dropping start sets the tone for what's to come.
Showrunner Rafe Judkins keeps that momentum up across a range of intersecting narratives more effectively than ever (even if some of the episodes still verge on being too long). Just when the show's signature lore threatens to derail that drive with too much exposition, a new reveal or set-piece keeps the wheel spinning.
Beyond that initial all-female battle — a rarity in genre fare of any kind — Season 3 continues to hone and refine what it does best with a well-earned confidence. It's evident everywhere you look, from the unparalleled costuming and set design to the actors themselves. While the younger stars have stepped up, looking more comfortable now in their roles, big draws like Rosamund Pike and Sophie Okonedo remain fittingly regal, bringing elegance and poise to Moiraine and Siuan Sanche's star-cross’d love.
This season, the pair are kept apart more than fans might like, but fear not, because the show's inherent queerness remains intact. This is just one of many ways that The Wheel Of Time further sets itself apart from its peers. More sophisticated than The Witcher, more thrilling than The Rings Of Power, and more distinctive than House Of The Dragon, it's hard to imagine a better version of Robert Jordan's epic book saga — a series once deemed unfilmable. If anything, this season is the most cinematic yet, especially in Episode 4, where the past, present and future collide in a new peak for this show that promises the best is still yet to come.
