Prime Video’s other massive fantasy series is preparing for another installment. After nearly two years since the debut of Season 1, the universe of Robert Jordan’s epic saga welcomes fans back this autumn, with Season 2 set to premiere in September.
This upcoming season showcases the scattered members of the Two Rivers group, as they confront both new and returning threats despite the ongoing conflict between Light and Dark. To refresh your memory, here’s a comprehensive recap of the Season 1 finale, outlining where Rand and his companions were last seen.
The Wheel of Time returns with a thrilling second season this autumn (Photo: Wheel of Time/Radar Pictures, Iwot Pictures, Long Weekend Little Island Productions, Amazon Studios, Sony Pictures Television)The Great Blight
The story opens with a flashback to 3,000 years ago during the Age of Legends, offering a look of a more idealistic world. We are introduced to Lews Therin Telamon (Alexander Karim), the previous Dragon Reborn, and witness the growing rift among the Aes Sedai.
Lews expresses his intention to imprison the Dark One permanently, but Latra (Kaytie Brayben) opposes his vision. His actions lead to the Breaking of the World and the corruption of the male half of the One Power.
Fast forward to the present, where Rand (Josha Stradowski) and Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) traverse The Great Blight en route to The Eye of the World, witnessing signs of the Dark One’s increasing power.
During their journey, Rand experiences a recurring nightmare in which he sees Moiraine murdered by a mysterious figure referred to as “The Man.” The Man taunts Rand about his lineage, prompting him to stab himself with his sword in an attempt to escape the dream.
Rand subsequently implores Moiraine to teach him how to wield the One Power, but she declines, fearing that the madness associated with male channeling would overpower him. Instead, she provides him with a sa’angreal, a powerful artifact that will enhance his abilities when he channels the One Power in his battle against the Dark One (Fares Fares).
Fal Dara
Meanwhile, in the city of Fal Dara, Egwene (Madeleina Madden), Perrin (Marcus Rutherford), Lan (Daniel Henney), and Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) grapple with Rand and Moiraine’s sudden departure.
Egwene is resolute about following them, but Perrin persuades her to reconsider. After spending the night together, Nynaeve confides in Lan that she has been tracking Moiraine since their time in the Two Rivers and offers to guide him.
Later, horns sound in the town, signaling an impending attack by the Dark One’s forces. Rand and Moiraine spot the army advancing through the Blight, with Moiraine revealing that their only chance to halt the invasion lies in defeating the Dark One.
City leaders prepare for the siege, with Lord Agelmar planning to defend Tarwin’s Gap with his troops. Should they fail to repel the Trollocs and Fades, the defense will fall to the women capable of channeling the One Power.
Agelmar expresses doubt to his sister, Lady Amalisa (Sandra Yi Sencindiver), believing the Dark One’s strength is too overwhelming, predicting that Tarwin’s Gap will succumb in this “The Last Battle.”
Nevertheless, they resolve to stall the assault for as long as possible and send messengers to alert other cities. Amalisa, however, remains determined, declaring, “I will not let our city fall.”
Upon reaching the Eye of the World, Rand touches it and enters a dreamlike state, where he envisions an idyllic life in the countryside with Egwene and their child.
While he is entranced in this dream, the Dark One appears in reality and severs Moiraine’s connection to the One Power as she attempts to protect Rand.
The Last Battle
Men stationed at The Gap make a brave stand against the Dark One’s forces while Lady Amalisa readies Fal Dara for the impending siege. A call goes out for any women with even a slight connection to the One Power, including Nynaeve and Egwene, who join Amalisa on the front lines.
Meanwhile, Perrin feels helpless, but Loial encourages him to seek ways to assist without resorting to violence. They join a group of men digging in Fal Dara’s throne room, searching for the Horn of Valere, an ancient artifact intended to summon allies during The Last Battle.
Perrin catches sight of an old acquaintance from the Two Rivers, Padan Fain, despite the chaos. In the dream realm, Rand begins to sense something is amiss. As he grapples with the nature of this reality, time halts, and the Dark One makes an entrance.
He presents Rand with a potential vision of his future, suggesting that he could reshape the world using his Powers. Meanwhile, Moiraine approaches Rand, knife in hand, as the Dark One continues to taunt her, stating, “If he doesn’t choose the light, I’ll choose for him.”
As the Dark One tries to lure Rand to his side, his forces invade The Gap. Amalisa and the other women channel the One Power to defend the city, with Amalisa drawing increasing strength from them, culminating in a spectacular display of magic.
Perrin follows the sounds of battle to a gruesome scene where he finds Padan Fain alone among the fallen. Fain has led a squad of Fades into the castle, slaughtering everyone else, including Loial, before Perrin’s eyes. Fain reveals that he has been spying on their group for the Dark One back in the Two Rivers.
While Rand may be the Dragon Reborn, Fain discloses that all five members of the Two Rivers group are ‘ta’veren,’ key focal points for the Wheel of Time.
He explains that the Trollocs were sent to their village to bring them all before the Dark One, as each has a role to fulfill in the revealing events.
Fain emphasizes the need for ‘balance,’ suggesting that some of the ta’veren may turn to darkness. A brief shot of Mat Cauthon (Barney Harris) standing in the shadow of the White Tower, the seat of Aes Sedai power, accompanies this revelation.
Choosing the Light
Rand resists the Dark One’s temptations. Realizing that Egwene does not share his desire for an easy life, he awakens from the dream world and utilizes the sa’angreal to channel the One Power, successfully banishing the Dark One, at least for the moment.
Moiraine entrusts Rand with a powerful artifact to confront the Dark One (Photo: Wheel of Time/Radar Pictures, Iwot Pictures, Long Weekend Little Island Productions, Amazon Studios, Sony Pictures Television)Nynaeve urges Lady Amalisa to cease channeling the Power, as they have managed to repel the attackers, but Amalisa is unable to contain it, leading to the disintegration of the other channelers. Eventually, she succeeds in severing the connection, but only Egwene survives the ordeal.
At the Eye of the World, Rand informs Moiraine that he will not return to his friends, having felt the madness trying to take hold while channeling. Fearing he may one day harm them, he implores her to tell his friends he has died, then walks away without disclosing his destination.
Lan soon finds Moiraine and reveals that she can no longer access the source. On the battlefield, Egwene taps into the One Power, managing to resurrect Nynaeve.
Lan comments on the stone at the Eye, which he believed couldn’t be scratched, even by the One Power. However, it bears scars from Rand’s power when he expelled their foe. Moiraine interprets this as a sign that this is not “The Last Battle,” but merely the beginning.
The season concludes with a tantalizing hint of a new invading force. We transition to “The Far Western Shore,” where a lone child playing on the beach spots a fleet of imposing ships on the horizon. Channelers emerge on deck, summoning a massive wave that threatens to crash down on the child.
In early August 2023, Prime Video included an extra sneak peek at the end of the final episode, presenting the very first scene from Season 2—the Darkfriend Social prologue from the second Wheel of Time novel—indicating that Rand has not managed to seal away his foe as effectively as he believed.
The Wheel of Time is available for streaming on Prime Video, with Season 2 set to premiere on Friday, September 1. If you’re searching for more streaming options, check out our recommendations for the best fantasy TV shows currently available.
