How "The Wheel of Time" TV series differs from the books
BY Tayla Blaire
6th Sep 2023 Culture
4 min read
Fans of The Wheel of Time have noted a few key differences between Amazon Prime's TV adaptation and the books. We explore the biggest changes so far
The Wheel of Time season two has finally arrived, with Amazon Prime’s hit TV series releasing the first three episodes on the streaming platform on September 1.
Fans of Robert Jordan’s sprawling book series are undoubtedly taking notes on differences between the original source material and the show’s adaptation—and there are differences aplenty! It’s clear why Brandon Sanderson has referred to the show as “another turning of the wheel.”
We took the liberty of outlining some of the biggest book-to-show differences apparent in the first three episodes. Below you’ll find spoilers for episodes one to three of The Wheel of Time season two, as well as various spoilers from the book series.
1. Rand’s storyline
Credit: Jan Thijs/Prime Video. Rand al Thor's meeting with Logain is expedited in the television show
Rand al Thor asks Moiraine to tell the others that he’s dead at the end of season one, already a major departure from the books.
In The Great Hunt, Rand is with Mat, hunting the stolen Horn of Valere. In the show, Rand is in Cairhien, working in a sanitarium where he asks the gentled Logain to teach him the ways of the One Power.
"Rand al Thor asks Moiraine to tell the others that he’s dead at the end of season one, already a major departure from the books"
Rand and Logain only meet in the tenth book of the series, Crossroads of Twilight, and Rand is immensely proficient in the power at that stage.
In the show, Rand is also romantically involved with his landlord, a beautiful woman named Selene, who readers will immediately recognise. In The Great Hunt, Selene is encountered in an alternate world, accessed through portal stones, when Rand rescues her from grolm.
2. Liandrin as a major role
Liandrin having a much bigger role was already set up in season one, but the first three episodes of season two have solidified this tenfold.
In the books, Liandrin is an Aes Sedai of some significance. In the show, she has imprisoned Mat and Min and seems to be exerting her influence on Nynaeve, despite her not being allowed to teach novices in the One Power.
Liandrin’s secret that Moiraine discovers—the existence of her son, now an aged man—is also not present in the books at all.
3. Nynaeve’s Testing
Credit: Jan Thijs/Prime Video. In the TV show, Nynaeve finds herself trapped in the Arches
In both the book and the show, Nynaeve goes through the Arches to confront her fears and become an Accepted. While there is consistency in the fact that she channels in the Arches (something she shouldn’t be able to do), there are differences in what she experiences.
In The Great Hunt, the Arches force Nynaeve to fight the Forsaken, Aginor, at the Eye of the World (a storyline omitted from season one), to see the Two Rivers afflicted by illness, and to leave her beloved Lan and their children in Malkier.
"In both the book and the show, Nynaeve goes through the Arches to confront her fears and become an Accepted"
In the show, she is with her parents as they are attacked and killed, with Nynaeve hidden in a cellar.
The Two Rivers is still depicted as ravaged by disease, but she encounters Tam, Rand’s father, and the role of Wisdom has been adopted by Mat’s mother, Natti Cauthon.
Her final vision is in the Two Rivers with Lan and their children, but with Perrin and Mat visiting, as they are attacked by Trollocs. In the show, Nynaeve is trapped in the Arches—something that doesn’t happen in the books.
4. Moiraine and Lan’s dynamic
Credit: Jan Thijs/Prime Video. A rift between Moraine and Lan Mandragoran emerges in the TV show
In the show, Moiraine seems to be doing her utmost to distance herself from Lan. She is cruel, accusing him of failing to protect her during a Myrddraal attack (she is attacked by Draghkar in the books) and ultimately seems to reject their bond and hands Lan over to Alanna to return to the White Tower.
At this stage in the books, they remain a united front, despite difficulties. And, of course, in the books, Moiraine isn’t stilled and has full control of her power.
5. The Seanchan’s actions
Fans of the books will have their jaws drop when they see the fate of foul-mouthed Uno Nomesta, a harrowing depiction of the Seanchan’s brutality and might.
It is also evident in the show that Ishamael is pulling strings with the Seanchan, seen through his place of prominence on the palanquin.
These are some of the most dominant changes evident in the first three episodes of The Wheel of Time season two, but far from the only changes, as eagle-eyed fans will be quick to notice.
Elyas is a character from the books, but in the show he seems to be combined with Hurin, a “sniffer” who is capable of tracking evil.
"Fans of the books will have their jaws drop when they see the fate of foul-mouthed Uno Nomesta"
The “darkfriend social” as it is dubbed by fans, is told through the lens of a little girl rather than the Whitecloak, “Bors”.
Adeleas is now depicted as Verin’s sister, instead of Vandene’s. Min seems to be playing double agent, working for Liandrin and manipulating Mat in order to be “free” of Moiraine. Also, Bayle Domon has a moustache in the show.
While there are undoubtedly other changes that caught the eye of book readers, it remains to be seen what other creative decisions will be made in the upcoming episodes.
The Wheel of Time Episode 4 is set for release on Amazon Prime on September 8
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