Entertainment NOW

2 • August 27 - September 2, 2023 Entertainment Now By Dana Simpson TV Media W ithin the realm of the fantastic, several novels, movies, video games and series ex- ist to tickle the adventure bone. However, despite the plethora of content, few franchises have the hold that Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings do. One series that has recently re- entered the chat, however, is "The Wheel of Time," which is about to begin its second season on Prime Video. First written by Robert Jordan beginning in 1990, the 15-book series was expected to comprise just six novels. In 2009, the book series was taken over by fellow fantasy writing powerhouse Brandon Sanderson, follow- ing Jordan's death two years earlier. As time progressed and more books emerged, fans of high fantasy craved a TV or film adaptation that would do the then-still-growing book series justice. Finally, in 2018, follow- ing nearly two decades of rights disputes, low-budget pilots and controversy, it was announced that Amazon Studios would part- ner with Sony Pictures Television to make everyone's otherworldly dreams come true. Now, following further set- backs brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and more, "The Wheel of Time" Season 2 premieres Friday, Sept. 1, on Prime Video. Already renewed for a third season ahead of the Season 2 premiere, WOT fans can rest easy knowing that the series' writers did not need to rush to fit several books worth of content into one (potentially) final set of episodes. Instead, audiences get another eight episodes in the second season, while looking forward to even more come Season 3 (likely to be released 2024-25). When Season 1 began, viewers met Moiraine (Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl," 2014) as she began her quest to find the Dragon Reborn in the Two Rivers. As a member of the powerful Aes Sedai, an order of women with the ability to channel a form of elemental magic called the One Power, Moiraine has been called upon to find a kind of "chosen one," the reincarnation of a chan- neler called the Dragon, who once destroyed the world. After gathering a small group — any of whom could possibly be the Dragon Reborn — Moiraine, her Warder, Lan Mandragoran (Daniel Henney, "Big Hero 6," 2014), and the four new candidates — Per- rin Aybara (Marcus Rutherford, "Bulletproof"), Mat Cauthon (played by "Clique's" Barney Harris in Season 1 and replaced by "The Witcher's" Dónal Finn in Season 2), Rand al'Thor (Josha Stradowski, "High Flyers") and Egwene al'Vere (Madeleine Mad- den, "Dora and the Lost City of Gold," 2019) — begin their quest to defeat a primordial evil known as the Dark One. As can be expected from any adaptation, there are a few differ- ences between details from the novel and those from the series, but as Mashable writer Belen Edwards wrote after the Season 1 release, "A 100% faithful adapta- tion of 'The Wheel of Time' was never going to be possible," due to its "four million words" put to paper since 1990. Regardless, the crux of the tale remains the same, right down to the preview material at the end of the season (or novel). Recently planted directly at the end of the Season 1 finale, titled "The Eye of the World" after the first official book in the saga, the full-scene insertion is reminiscent of Jordan's own decision to in- clude a sneak-peek at the end of each one of his books. In fact, the keen observer may have already noticed that the Season 2 clip is an adaptation of the "Darkfriend Social" prologue that begins "The Great Hunt," the second book of the literary series and the main source from which this season's material was mined. (Though it should be noted that some ele- ments were also included from Book 3, "The Dragon Reborn.") For the sake of brevity and avoiding as many spoilers as possible, suffice it to say that the first season did not end on a high note for Moiraine and her tribe of villagers. Despite the unveiling of the Dragon Reborn, a battle be- tween the reincarnation and a vil- lain presumed to be the Dark One only appeared to awaken a more sinister energy. Needless to say, a war is on the horizon headed into this new installment. "In Season [2], threats new and very old seek out the young friends from the Two Rivers, now scattered over the world," the Prime Video description reads. "The woman who found and guided them is now powerless to help, and so they must find other sources of strength. In each other, or themselves. In the Light ... or the Dark." "The Wheel of Time" was adapted for the screen by cre- ator Rafe Judkins ("Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.") and the Season 2 premiere is directed by Sanaa Hamri ("Empire") and Thomas Napper ("Jawbone," 2017). Zoë Robins ("Black Christmas," 2019) and Guy Roberts ("Hanna"), who play Nynaeve al'Meara and Uno Nomesta, respectively, are both expected to return to the series for Season 2 as well. "The wheel weaves as the wheel wills," so don't miss your chance to be a part of the journey. "The Wheel of Time" Season 2 premieres Friday, Sept. 1, on Prime Video. Cover Story Ayoola Smart and Marcus Rutherford in "The Wheel of Time" A series 'Reborn': 'The Wheel of Time' returns for Season 2 Farmers Insurance 2 x 2 Letters & Numbers Sudoku Fill in the grid so that every row,every column, and every 4x4 box contains the digits 1 through 9 AND the letters A-F. Solution on page 12.

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