Amazon Prime Video’s adaptation ofThe Wheel of Timehas officially been canceled after three seasons. Following season 3’s positive reviews, audiences have been waiting for weeks for news aboutThe Wheel of Timeseason 4, with petitions circulating to have the series extended. Though the show got off to a divisive start with book fans and TV viewers alike, season 3 took massive strides in a positive direction, scoring a series high 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes with an 83% from audiences.
Deadlinehas reported thatThe Wheel of Timeseries has been discontinued, with season 3’s finale marking a permanent end for the show. The article examines the statistics of Nielsen’s Top 10 Originals chart, explaining how, even though the show performed well with its viewership numbers, the series ultimately wasn’t living up to the numbers required to maintain a fantasy show’s budget. The report also states that season 3’s ending was written with the possibility of cancellation in mind, and was “designed to offer some closure.”
What The Wheel Of Time’s Cancellation Means
High-Budget Television Blockbusters Are At Risk
FollowingGame of Thrones, every streaming service has sought to replicate the HBO juggernaut’s success. Netflix hasThe Witcher, Prime hasThe Rings of Power, and HBO hasHouse of the Dragon, to name just a few examples. Seven years afterGame of Thrones’ending, none of these shows have come close to meeting the expectations streaming service studios sought for them, andThe Wheel of Timehas now fallen victim to not living up toGame of Thrones.
The Wheel of Timemay have had good numbers, but it needed even better to make up for its steep costs.
Television seems like the perfect place to adapt sprawling fantasy epics, with several-hour seasons offering a wider capacity for story than cinema. However, these shows still require massive budgets and resources that are challenging to come by, and even pulling in millions of viewers isn’t enough to satisfy that expense.The Wheel of Timemay have had good numbers, but it needed even better to make up for its steep costs. After a successful season 3,viewers will undoubtedly be disappointed that the show won’t progress any further through Robert Jordan’s book series.
The Wheel Of Time Was Just Getting Started
Image via Prime Video
I love Robert Jordan’sWheel of Timebooks, and I’ll be sincere in saying that I was not satisfied with the first two seasons of this show. To me, they didn’t feel like the books, and I kept watching with low expectations, grasping for those rare moments that captured the magic of Jordan’s storytelling. I didn’t expect season 3 to be much different, and I was utterly wrong.I still had my issues with the third season, but in terms of fantasy books adapted to television, it’s one of the best available.
The Wheel of Timeseason 3 captured some of the most beautiful parts ofThe Shadow Rising, particularly in episode 4, “The Road to the Spear.” Rosamund Pike was as exceptional as always, but actor Josha Stradowski was beginning to show his chops as Rand al’Thor, becoming an impressive standout among the cast. His scenes were phenomenal throughout season 3, and I would have been thrilled to follow his character for several seasons to come.
