As fans eagerly await the arrival of Season 2 of Prime Video’s ‘The Wheel of Time,’ Amazon rewards their patience with a trailer that opens the curtains on the season’s plotline. This fantasy TV series, that secured a place in the spotlight in 2021, is poised to add another exciting chapter to its saga in September. Given the show’s literary roots, drawing inspiration from the sprawling 14-book series by Robert Jordan, faithful readers might have their speculations. Despite the first season’s adherence to the inaugural book, ‘The Eye of the World,’ the series enjoys a liberal approach in interpreting the wealth of content in the series. The trailer seems to hint at leaning towards the storyline of the second book, ‘The Great Hunt,’ albeit with traces of the third, ‘The Dragon Reborn.’
As the teaser unspools, it heralds an action-packed, dramatic, and perilous journey for the show’s heroes in Season 2. The world of ‘The Wheel of Time‘ is intricately woven, where the One Power can only be channeled by the all-female Aes Sedai. Men who dare to meddle with it suffer corruption. From the get-go, the series puts the spotlight on Moiraine Damodred (played by Rosamund Pike), an Aes Sedai on a purpose-driven quest. Together with her Warder, Lan Mandragoran (Daniel Henney), she uncovers a group of young ta’veren in the Two Rivers and ropes them into their battle against Ba’alzamon (Fares Fares), the Dark One’s right-hand. With numerous nations to discover and a looming evil trailing them, ‘The Wheel of Time’ promises an extensive journey ahead. Season 2, as the trailer confirms, reveals that their adversary, Ba’alzamon, is not as vanquished as they had believed.
The Wheel Keeps Turning for Moiraine in Season 2
The trailer unravels with Moiraine’s solemn voice declaring, “Everyone has a choice, and every choice has a consequence.” The nature of Moiraine’s dilemma remains undisclosed but hints at a significant event. The spotlight continues to illuminate her, deviating from the original book series but to the audience’s delight. Moiraine remains a linchpin in unraveling the series’ lore, given her connections, and her mission to shield Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski) from the Dark One has only just commenced, despite his attempt to disappear.
Her quest becomes a steep climb following her confrontation with the Dark One in Season 1, severing her access to the One Power. However, Moiraine’s resolve remains unshaken as she debates with Lan about securing Rand and embarks on an urgent nocturnal journey. The trailer provides a peek into her romantic past with Siuan Sanche (Sophie Okonedo), the Amyrlin Seat and head of the Aes Sedai. This could be a nod to their younger years together. From what we glean from the trailer, Moiraine continues to be a whirlwind of activity in the forthcoming season.
Threats Lurk Around Every Corner in Season 2
Moiraine acknowledges their failure to “defeat the Dark One” in the first season finale, inadvertently “setting him free.” This unexpected twist amplifies the threat they’ve been trying to avert. Coupled with Ba’alzamon’s survival following the confrontation with Rand, the danger level escalates. The trailer reveals the Dark One’s second-in-command forming an alliance with the Seanchan Empire, notorious for their practice of enslaving girls capable of channeling and forcing them to do their masters’ bidding. A leader of the Seanchan is shown examining an intriguing box.
Additional adversaries surface too. Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood) from the Red Ajah, a ruthless branch of the Aes Sedai that harbors hatred for men and hunts down those capable of channeling like Rand, appears to be hatching a malicious plot. Undoubtedly, she poses a substantial threat to our heroes. The trailer also shows glimpses of menacing monsters, including a Fade, a sight that spells doom for all. With danger lurking at every turn, Season 2 promises to be a rollercoaster ride.
Individual Paths Await the Ta’veren
Our main characters are branching off, each headed towards “separate corners of the world.” The story kicks off with five characters hailing from a humble town known as the Two Rivers. They are destined to play critical roles in the grand scheme of things, thus earning them the title ta’veren. However, Rand, Egwene al’Vere (Madeleine Madden), Nynaeve al’Meara (Zoë Robins), Perrin Aybara (Marcus Rutherford), and Mat Cauthon (Dónal Finn in Season 2) each embark on distinct adventures, a fact that the trailer subtly suggests. Egwene and Nynaeve, both endowed with powers they need to master, are slated to study in Tar Valon until a mission whisks them away. Judging by the books, their path is set to cross with the Seanchan depicted in the trailer. The trailer also offers a brief introduction to their new ally, Elayne Trakand (Ceara Coveney), the princess of Andor and an Aes Sedai in training, who is expected to play a pivotal role in the storyline. Her omission from the first season makes her appearance all the more exciting.
Perrin and Mat too, are glimpsed fleetingly. Perrin, accompanied by a voice discussing “something inside” that “calls for blood,” flashes across the screen with a wolf, a reference to his supernatural connection to the animal that book fans will recall. Mat appears shortly after, still wrestling with the dagger that took possession of him in Season 1. As their individual narratives are only beginning to unfurl, the trailer offers limited insights, but it does feature Perrin locked in combat and Mat squaring off against an unseen opponent armed with a quarterstaff.
Rand’s Mastery of His Powers Key to Season 2
Understandably, the trailer accentuates Rand’s journey due to its critical significance. He is grappling with abilities that have driven numerous men to insanity, and Moiraine is convinced he is the Dragon Reborn, a role that grants him the power to either salvage or devastate the world. The trailer portrays him meeting the Amyrlin Seat and delving deeper into his powers. He even contemplates gaining control over his abilities with Logain Ablar (Álvaro Morte), who once believed himself to be the Dragon until the Aes Sedai stripped him of his ability to channel. Moiraine underscores Rand’s importance to Lan, emphasizing, “Protecting Rand, guiding him, that is the only thing that matters.”
Throughout the Season 2 trailer, Rand seems to be wrestling with inner turmoil. Discontented with his predicament, Rand expresses his reluctance to be “a spoke” in the metaphorical wheel frequently referenced in the series. Siuan Sanche reassures Rand that he is more than a cog, dubbing him “the water that turns the wheel itself.” Rand is depicted training and harnessing his powers, even appearing to be tied to a literal wheel, and sharing an intimate moment with a mysterious dark-haired woman (Natasha O’Keeffe). The trailer offers a glimpse of the Aiel,
