Despite a strong third season, Prime Video cancelled The Wheel of Time earlier this year. It was a letdown for fans of the Robert Jordan adaptation, especially since the story had yet to reach its very hyped final battle for the fate of the world. It was also disappointing because the show had seemingly found its footing in season three—with no chance to continue that upward trajectory, despite a fan-led campaign hoping to see it picked up elsewhere.
Rosamund Pike, who starred in The Wheel of Time as Aes Sedai member Moiraine Damodred—a woman as complicated as she was powerful—is obviously bummed that season four isn’t going to happen. But she’s also not blinded to the fact that the show took a little while to find its own power.
Speaking to Collider, Pike (who’s on the big screen next as the villain in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t) spoke about The Wheel of Time‘s rough start.
“The fans said season one wasn’t good enough, which I think I agree with, for multiple reasons,” Pike said. “We were beset by covid in the middle of our shooting. We had some heads of department change. Then, by season two, we knew what we were doing, and we offered up a much better season. By season three, 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.”
Pike is well aware that playing catch-up might have contributed to The Wheel of Time‘s ultimate fate. “You wonder, had we started off at that place, would we not have been canceled? Maybe. 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.”
Pike told Collider she’s been touched by meeting passionate fans of The Wheel of Time, including people who formed friendships because of it, as well as “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.”
You can still stream The Wheel of Time seasons 1-3 on Prime Video—and if you really want to know what happens next, there are many more books in Jordan’s series that continue the story of Moiraine and company.
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