The Wheel of Timehas returned for its third season, but it is already being criticized for making significant plot changes compared to what happens in the original novels. However, Rafe Judkins — the series' showrunner — has a strong justification as to why so many changes are taking place in the main story line. Based on Robert Jordan’s book series of the same name, the show has long been regarded as one ofthe best fantasy novel series of all time, captivating audiences with its blend of swords and sorcery.
Needless to say, if you do not want to be spoiled, do not read on any further!
The first three episodes ofThe Wheel of TimeSeason 3 were released on Prime Video on June 15, 2025, but viewers familiar with the source material couldn’t help but notice the changes made to the narrative. In a recent interview withTechradar, Judkins addressed the controversy, explaining that it was a necessary move to improve the emotional impact of the story.
He stated:
“I’m always focused on the emotional truth of the characters and trying to get that across on screen. That’s where television shines. If you’re doing an adaptation for television, I think you really need to focus your energies [on that] because that’s what the art form of TV does best – it brings those characters across.”
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But he didn’t stop commenting there, of course. Judkins had a lot to say about the specific changes and why they were necessary. Curious to know more? Read more in the section below!
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Judkins was adamant that certain expansions and eliminations were necessary for the story’s flow and emotional impact. In his conversation withTechradar, he explained this specifically in relation to Rand:
“In this season, for instance, we do a lot with the relationships that Rand has with Lanfear and Egwene. And neither of those are really present in the books. A lot of what we have to do is condensing [stuff down from the novels], but sometimes we need to expand [on what’s on the page]. Rand has really deep, complicated relationships with these women, but they don’t have a lot of scenes together in this book [‘The Shadow Rising’], so it felt like we really needed those to understand the depth of these relationships and how important they are to those characters.
That’s an [example of] where we’re actually adding something that wasn’t in the books. I’m sure it’ll drive people crazy, but there’s a reason why we do it, and that’s because we want viewers to emotionally understand the relationship between these characters and how each one affects the other. It has a huge impact on the story as it moves forward.”
Even though a few major alterations have previously taken place onThe Wheel of Time— such as Mat’s decision to remain beyond the Waygate, and Rand’s early departure from the party — they were often attributed to production constraints. Some of the most significant interactions in the third season center on Rand, Lanfear, and Egwene, so while the changes may bother readers of the original book series, they align with Judkins' vision of making the story more robust and engaging.
With Rand and his allies journeying across Aiel Waste to face new threats, the story only becomesmore reliant on character dynamics. If Judkins' approach to creative liberty proves successful,The Wheel of Time’s storytelling might take a positive turn, benefiting viewers' overall experience.
The Wheel of Time
