Amazon's Wheel of Time may be inspired by Robert Jordan's classic fantasy novels, but the story has been rewritten significantly. In 1984, fantasy writer Robert Jordan approached Tor Books with the idea of writing a new trilogy he called "The Wheel of Time." Tom Doherty, the head of Tor Books, had worked with Jordan before and knew he tended to get carried away when he was writing, so he hired Jordan for six books instead. The result, however, was beyond anything even Jordan and Doherty imagined at the time. The fantasy series that Jordan wrote was one of the most vivid and well-developed in the history of the genre, with complex character arcs in which teenage boys ultimately became mighty warriors. In the end, Wheel of Time came to comprise 14 weighty tomes, and it was actually completed by writer Brandon Sanderson after Jordan sadly passed away before finishing the series in 2007.
Most readers assumed Wheel of Time would never be adapted, whether for the big or small screen. The story was too vast and sprawling, the world too complex. But the success of Game of Thrones has revolutionized the fantasy genre, with studios and networks now competing to create long-form fantasy shows that can fill the void left now Game of Thrones has finished. "There’s a little bit of a gold-rush mentality coming off the success of ‘Game of Thrones," Marc Guggenheim, executive producer of Carnival Row, told The Wall Street Journal. "Everyone wants to tap into that audience." This has already led to some tremendous fantasy TV shows, including the likes of Shadow and Bone and The Witcher, and Amazon has signed up to launch a Wheel of Time series.
Amazon's Wheel of Time makes a number of changes to the books, however, some of which have proved pretty controversial, but others smartly executed to adapt it to the format of television – and for our modern times. No doubt the number of changes will increase with time. Here are all the major changes from the books that have taken place in the series so far.
Wheel of Time Omits The Introduction & The Visions
The opening of Wheel of Time is very different, omitting an introduction that sets up the Dragon. While this may have been done for budget reasons - it involves sets that would never be seen again, and spectacular effects such as the raising of an entire mountain - in truth it makes narrative sense to skip the introduction. Jordan plunges readers into a complex fantasy world with little explanation, introducing countless terms and concepts that he unpacks as the series goes on, meaning it would be pretty challenging for viewers who are unfamiliar with the books.
Jordan makes no real mystery about the identity of the Dragon Reborn, with readers swiftly able to deduce it is really the main protagonist and viewpoint character, Rand al'Thor. For one thing, he experiences a series of disturbing visions that explore the history of the nations and his previous life as Dragon. Again, the decision to omit these dreams may be for budgetary reasons, but it also serves a narrative purpose; Wheel of Time is a lot more mysterious about the identity of the Dragon, with neither Moiraine nor general viewers entirely sure who it really is. It's quite possible Wheel of Time will take things in a different direction, choosing a different character to be the Dragon Reborn.
Wheel of Time's Characters Are Older Than The Books
One of the most controversial changes in Wheel of Time is related to the characters' ages. In the books, they are most certainly young teenagers, completely out of their depth in the world of chaos they are thrust into. Amazon's Wheel of Time has aged them up in order to avoid seeming like a young-adult TV series, and this has resulted in significant changes in character arcs. In the books, Rand is tongue-tied and lovestruck around Egwene, barely managing to ask her to dance with him; in Amazon's TV series, they are already a couple, even sleeping together. Perrin, meanwhile, has been reinvented as the local blacksmith, a married man whose wife suffers a heartbreaking fate.
Egwene Is A Ta'veren Too - And Possibly Nynaeve
One of Robert Jordan's most interesting ideas is the concept of a "ta'veren." As the books explain it, "And sometimes the Wheel bends a life-thread, or several threads, in such a way that all the surrounding threads are forced to swirl around it, and those force other threads, and those still others, and on and on. That first bending to make the Web, that is ta'veren, and there is nothing you can do to change it, not until the Pattern itself changes." In Jordan's books, there are three ta'veren in Emond's Field; Rand, Mat, and Perrin. Amazon's Wheel of Time takes a different approach, potentially turning Egwene into a ta'veren, as well as Nynaeve. Surprisingly, Moiraine even reveals she doesn't know which of the four is truly the Dragon Reborn, suggesting it is possible the Dragon has been reincarnated in a woman – five including Nynaeve, who was dragged away in the first episode before Moiraine could truly test her.
Wheel of Time's One Power Is Less Spectacular Than The Books
In Jordan's books, Channelers weave strands of One Power to spectacular visual effect. There are five specific threads, each with a distinctive color; earth, fire, air, spirit, and water. Male Channelers can access the more destructive strands - earth and fire - where female ones such as the Aes Sedai specialize in the others. Wheel of Time broadly seems to be following the same kind of approach, but the strands have all been bleached white, making the casting of spells much less beautiful than the books. Ironically, this particular change may not have been made for budgetary reasons; rather, it's possible the VFX teams felt the various colors were distracting in several scenes. The bright white visuals of the One Power also emphasize the idea that the power of the Aes Sedai is white or light magic.
Wheel of Time's Focus Is Broader Than The Books
The first book in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, The Eye of the World, is focused entirely upon Rand al'Thor. In contrast, Amazon's TV series spends time with all its major characters; that makes for a very different narrative, and frankly a much more enjoyable and dramatic one. Egwene's initiation into the Women's Circle is hinted at in the books but never described, whereas Wheel of Time shows the whole ritual. Likewise, the Trolloc attack on Emond's Field is recounted to Rand when he arrives with his injured father, rather than actually experienced.
The Emond's Field Party Grows More Slowly
The Emond's Field party grows much more slowly in Amazon's Wheel of Time than it does in the books. In Jordan's account, Thom Merrilin is in Emond's Field when the Trollocs attack, and he accompanies them on their journey to Tar Valon; in contrast, Amazon only introduces him in episode 3, when he saves Rand and Mat from a Darkfriend. Nynaeve's journey is much more dramatic; in the books she is preoccupied with treating the wounded, and pursues the Emond's Field group to bring them back, but in the TV series she is dragged away by the Trollocs and initially thought dead.
The Emond's Field Five's Journey Is Different
Amazon's Wheel of Time moves at a far faster pace than Robert Jordan's novels, and as a result the journey the Emond's Field Five take is subtly different. They skip a number of towns before visiting Shadar Logoth, and encounter Whitecloaks on the road rather than within one of the towns. Again, this serves dramatic purpose, because it means the encounter with the Whitecloaks is far more intense and effective; Amazon has done well making the accelerated pace work in terms of the narrative.
Moiraine's Injury Adds Tension To Wheel of Time
Finally, Moiraine is injured during the first battle against the Trollocs, and the poison spreads throughout her body; she can only be healed by another Aes Sedai, and in their absence the wound festers. This is a major rewrite for Wheel of Time, adding tension to the story because audiences don't simply assume Moiraine can get the party out of any crisis they face. It further explains references in the book to her being tired after performing feats that, later in the series, would seem commonplace for her.
New episodes of Wheel of Time release Thursdays on Amazon Prime.