Rosamund Pike is opening up about the end of The Wheel of Time, and her views on the show's rough start may echo some fan concerns.
When The Wheel of Time debuted on Prime Video in 2022, it eschewed many major fantasy shows by not having many familiar actors in the cast. It relied on a batch of unknowns for the majority of its lead roles, which likely helped, as book fans were already debating how the actors matched the counterparts from the novels by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.
The exception was the key role of Moiraine Damodred, the Aes Sedai sorceress who gathers a group young misfits as she tries to discover which of them is the Dragon Reborn, a being destined to either save the world or break it. It’s one of the saga’s most important characters, so finding the right actress for the role was crucial.
The choice was Rosamund Pike, who broke out in the 2002 James Bond movie Die Another Day, showcasing her skills in action and drama. Pike has gone on to a fine career in films and TV, including Gone Girl, which earned her an Oscar nomination.
Pike’s performance as Moraine won praise as The Wheel of Time grew over its run. Which is just one of many reasons why it was so shocking to both fans and cast and crew when Amazon canceled the series after three seasons.
In an extensive interview with Collider to promote her role in Now You See Me, Now You Don’t, Pike discussed the series' end and tellingly offered this observation on the show’s rough start.
“The fans said Season 1 wasn't good enough, which I think I agree with, for multiple reasons. We were beset by COVID in the middle of our shooting. We had some heads of department change. Then, by Season 2, we knew what we were doing, and we offered up a much better season. By Season 3, I think we had our wings fully spread, and we were showing where we were capable of going, and there was a really well-acted, well-written, cohesive, deep show that was attracting powerhouse actors to come and play supporting characters. I think we showed what we were capable of doing with that material.”
It’s a nice disclosure by Pike that sums up how many fans felt about the show’s trajectory.
Why Rosamund Pike is right about The Wheel of Time’s weaknesses
Pike isn’t alone in her criticism of Wheel’s first season. Some book fans were unhappy with changes to the narrative, the inclusion of newer characters, or the liberties taken with various storylines. It was also clear how the pandemic-caused delays affected the production, especially in the rough special effects and staging for its final two episodes.
Season 2 was seen as a good improvement, correcting these issues and tightening up the story. Season 3 was easily the show’s best, coming together in a terrific package that seemed to be finally hitting its stride, which makes its abrupt end even sadder.
“Of course, you wonder, had we started off at that place, would we not have been canceled? Maybe," Pike reflected. "I think we're possibly victims to the terrible churn factor of people wanting to show that ‘We've got a new show.’ It's all about what's new.”
That’s another good observation by Pike about how Prime Video (and other streamers) have a habit of rushing shows too quickly just to get attention. Prime also had The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power premiering in the following year, which cut into the attention of fantasy fans and casual viewers alike. More care with the first season of The Wheel of Time could have made all the difference for the show’s longevity.
Despite that, Pike is proud of how The Wheel of Time worked and made such an impact on fans. “I’ve touched the waters of what it's meant to people, but this was a chance for people to really express, to come with people they’ve met through The Wheel of Time, people who’ve gotten married because of The Wheel of Time, people who've had the courage to come out because of The Wheel of Time. There are people who wanted to end their lives until they discovered The Wheel of Time. It's profound and meaningful, and I just thought, ‘My God, if I could get the heads of Amazon here at stage door with me, listening to these stories…’”
Pike clearly misses this role and we would have loved to have seen her work as Moiraine continue (especially with how season 4 would have given her more material). Perhaps had Wheel of Time worked as well from the beginning, it would have had another season to continue its improved run.
The Wheel of Time seasons 1 through 3 are streaming on Prime Video.