Amazon's first Wheel of Time trailer has released, and there's plenty of story reveals and secrets in it. "The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and , leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again." With these words, fantasy writer Robert Jordan introduced readers to the world of the Wheel of Time. This series of 14 books - finished by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan's death - have become some of the most beloved of fantasy works.
Fantasy is in vogue right now, and studios and networks are desperate to fill the void left by first trailer for Wheel of Time introduces a lot of the core concepts, suggests some subtle changes to the books, and sets up a phenomenal arc that can sustain this story for years to come. It makes no concessions for viewers who haven't read the books, though, meaning casual audiences will likely be absolutely bewildered.
Here's our breakdown of all the key takeaways from the Wheel of Time trailer - the characters, the plots, the places, and the thrilling action scenes to come.
23. Introducing Nynaeve & Egwene
The Wheel of Time series is set in what could be described as something of a Matriarchal society, so it's appropriate that it begins with two women - Nynaeve and Egwene. Nynaeve is the Wisdom of the village of Emond's Field, essentially a healer and leader of the local Women's Circle. The secret of her success as Wisdom is the fact she has access to the One Power, the Wheel of Time version of magic, although she can only access it when she is angry. Egwene, meanwhile, is daughter of the mayor of Emond's Field, and she has unusual potential to wield the One Power. In the books, Nynaeve and Egwene are secondary characters at the beginning who rise to prominence as the series continues, and Egwene in particular has a vaunted destiny ahead of her. Placing them at the beginning of the trailer - in what seems to be some sort of ritual to test Egwene's courage - seems a clever way of telling viewers the balance has shifted, and the women will be crucial all the way through. Nynaeve is played by Zoë Robins, while Egwene is played by Madeleine Madden.
22. Welcome To Emond's Field
Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time takes readers across an entire fantasy world - but it all begins in the village of Emond's Field. The rural community was settled by descendants of the survivors of ancient wars against Trollocs (equivalent to Trolls), and it is governed by two groups; the all-male Village Council and the Women's Circle, led by the Wisdom. Merchants commonly drift in and out of Emond's Field, collecting the valuable tabac that is farmed there, and transporting it to wealthier parts of the world.
21. Rand, Mat, & Perrin
The three male protagonists are shown sharing drinks in Emond's Field, and it's clear the Wheel of Time characters are older than in the books - a smart move on Amazon's part to avoid this looking like a YA adventure. All three are ta'veren, people who are central to the Web of Destiny and who influence the lives of those around them in order to transform the world. As it is explained in The Eye of the World (book 4):
"The Wheel of Time weaves the Pattern of the Ages, and the threads it uses are lives. It is not fixed, the Pattern, not always. If a man tries to change the direction of his life and the Pattern has room for it, the Wheel just weaves on and takes it in. There is always room for small changes, but sometimes the Pattern simply won't accept a big change, no matter how hard you try....And sometimes the Wheel bends a life-thread, or several threads, in such a way that all the surrounding threads are forced to swirl around it, and those force other threads, and those still others, and on and on. That first bending to make the Web, that is ta'veren, and there is nothing you can do to change it, not until the Pattern itself changes. The Web - ta'maral'ailen, it's called - can last for weeks, or for years. It can take in a town, or even the whole Pattern."
Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) is a gentle man who has a fierce anger, Mat (Barney Harris) is a cheerful gambler who frequently acts without thinking, but Rand (Josha Stradowski) is the closest thing Wheel of Time comes to a main character - a man with a unique destiny ahead of him, one of which he is entirely ignorant as he relaxes in Emond's Field.
20. A Hint of Romance
The Wheel of Time trailer promises some of the same romance plots from the books, most notably between Rand and Egwene - although because the characters are older, the relationship seems to be rather more well-developed (a later shot in the trailer shows them naked together). Again, this is a smart move on the showrunners' part, because it allows The Wheel of Time to avoid feeling too much like a YA series; it also means Egwene can be a more well-rounded character right from the start, whereas in the books she initially felt like a secondary character who rose to prominence as the series continued.
19. The Journey Begins
The young heroes of The Wheel of Time may never have left Emond's Field before, but a mysterious attack from Trollocs will force them to flee for their lives. The trailer shows the group riding away from Emond's Field down by the Two Rivers, the beginning of a series of adventures that will see them travel across most of the continent and learn their true natures - and the remarkable powers they possess as a trio of ta'veren. The world of The Wheel of Time is every bit as vast and immersive as Westeros in Game of Thrones or Middle Earth in The Lord of the Rings.
18. A Hint of Tragedy To Come
The trailer includes a shot that appears to hint at a tragedy to come. The sorceresses of The Wheel of Time are known as Aes Sedai, and each of them is guarded by a Warder. Frequently the bond between Aes Sedai and Warder becomes romantic, because the two work together for so long and become so close with one another. In one shot, a Warder is shown holding one of the Aes Sedai rings and weeping, suggesting his sorceress has died.
17. A Deeply Symbolic Shot
The trailer moves on to another shot of Egwene, as part of a ritual in which she is accepted into the Aes Sedai. In the books, Egwene s the party leaving Emond's Field out of a desire for adventure; it is possible the more developed relationship between Egwene and Rand will provide a stronger explanation in Amazon's series. She will prove to be an unconventional member of the Aes Sedai, possessed of rare power, and is destined to ascend through their ranks at speed.
16. Tar Valon
Tar Valon is one of the most important locations in The Wheel of Time, seat of the Aes Sedai throne and located within sight of a mountain called the Dragonmount. The design of Tar Valon seen in the Wheel of Time trailer corresponds perfectly with the books, and it is dominated by the White Tower, the compound where the sorceresses live and train. "The Wheel of Time turns around Tar Valon," an old adage declares, "and Tar Valon turns around the Tower."
15. Rosamund Pike's Moiraine
Marketing for The Wheel of Time has tended to focus on Rosamund Pike's Moiraine, the Aes Sedai who initiates the events of the entire series when she arrives at Emond's Field and discovers three ta'veren - including, most concerningly of all, Rand al'Thor. Moiraine is one of the most remarkable figures in the Aes Sedai, and her legend is famed all across the continent; she only narrowed avoided being placed on the Sun Throne as their leader. She has dedicated her life to studying ancient prophecies of the fabled Last Battle between all the forces of good and evil, and it is that quest that has brought her to Emond's Field.
14. Inside The White Tower
The Wheel of Time trailer gives a shot of the Aes Sedai's leaders meeting for a council. The Aes Sedai are divided into color-coded Ajahs, explaining the different robes. It is likely this shot shows Moiraine about to present the travelers from Emond's Field, who seem to be stood almost out of sight to the right hand side of the scene - Nynaeve is visible, holding her Wisdom's staff. Notice the prominent throne, which will play an important role in the politics of the Aes Sedai.
