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The Wheel of Time

Movie ID: 1445

RT slug: the_wheel_of_time

RT URL: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_wheel_of_time

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Release year: 2021

Runtime: —

Wide release date: —

Limited release date: —

Festival premiere date: —

Streaming release date: —

Tomatometer final: 88%

Audience score final: 76%

Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Directors: —

Writers: Rafe Judkins

Producers: —

MPAA rating: TV-MA

Executive Producers: Darren Lemke, Larry Mondragon, Marigo Kehoe, Mike Weber, Rafe Judkins, Rick Selvage, Ted Field, Uta Briesewitz

Created: 2026-09-30 21:05:14

Updated: 2026-09-30 21:05:14

Synopsis

Moiraine, a member of a magical organization, takes five young people on a journey, believing that one of them might be the reincarnation of the Dragon, a powerful individual prophesied to save the world or destroy it.

Consensus

—

Latest Snapshot / Canonical Review Totals

Canonical reviews: 82

Canonical fresh: 52

Canonical rotten: 30

Canonical calculated Tomatometer: 82 (52/30), 63% (63.415% raw)

Latest snapshot UTC: 2026-09-29 16:04:27

Snapshot Tomatometer: 88%

Snapshot review count: 82

Snapshot fresh count: 52

Snapshot rotten count: 30

Source note: Imported from manual review paste batch #4224 (full_snapshot)

Companies

— No companies stored.

Cast

Billing Name Character
1 Rafe Judkins Creator
2 Rosamund Pike Moiraine Damodred
3 Daniel Henney al'Lan Mandragoran
4 Josha Stradowski Rand al'Thor
5 Madeleine Madden Egwene al'Vere
6 Marcus Rutherford Perrin Aybara

Movie Import Batches

Batch ID Status Mode Created Notes
1461 processed — 2026-09-30 21:05:14 Processed successfully into movie_id=1445 using update_mode=merge_non_empty.

Review Import Batches

Batch ID Local Snapshot UTC Snapshot Entered % Entered Count Status Notes
4224 2026-09-29 11:04:00 (America/Panama) 2026-09-29 16:04:27 88% 82 processed Mode=full_snapshot. Processed 82 row(s); 0 row error(s). Parsed unique reviews in this batch=82, fresh=52, rotten=30, tomatometer=63%. Net new reviews added=82, fresh=52, rotten=30. Current canonical totals=82 reviews, 52 fresh, 30 rotten, tomatometer=63% (63.415%). Entered review count matched parsed batch count (82). WARNING: entered tomatometer 88% did not match parsed batch 63%.

Latest Canonical Reviews (max 100)

ID Critic Outlet Fresh? Score RT Time Raw Approx Published UTC Quote
284466 Nicolas Soto But Why Tho? Rotten 5/10 2023-01-21T18:07:03.000Z 2023-01-21 18:07:03 The Wheel of Time season 1 makes a lackluster debut. An inconsistency in the pacing throughout the entire season made everything feel rushed and predictable.
284467 M.N. Miller Ready Steady Cut Fresh 4/5 2022-10-21T20:00:15.000Z 2022-10-21 20:00:15 A sprawling fantasy epic of female empowerment that remains loyal to the crazed fanbase.
284468 Maggie Lovitt Millennial Falcon Reviews Fresh A 2022-09-02T16:08:11.000Z 2022-09-02 16:08:11 The Wheel of Time is the epic, sprawling fantasy that we have been waiting for.
284469 Prahlad Srihari Firstpost Rotten — 2022-08-08T20:39:50.000Z 2022-08-08 20:39:50 The Wheel of Time is a product of a culture where TV and streaming storytellers are looking for an answer to a big hit, rather than conceptualising an entirely new story or bringing a refreshing update to an existing text.
284470 Jessie Gender Jessie Gender YouTube Channel Fresh — 2022-05-30T21:00:18.000Z 2022-05-30 21:00:18 While the Wheel of Time has much room for improvement, and sometimes devolves into CW level character drama, there's enough meat on this show's bones to be a promising start to this fantasy adventure.
284471 Scott Bryan BBC.com Rotten — 2022-04-06T11:02:07.000Z 2022-04-06 11:02:07 Not a Must Watch What frustrates me is from the outset of The Wheel of Time is that it does that thing where it spends five minutes quickly explaining a world you dont know with terminology you have never heard or really understand.
284472 Sarah Marrs Lainey Gossip Rotten — 2022-02-16T03:59:35.000Z 2022-02-16 03:59:35 Wheel of Time is a frustrating series that is intermittently compelling, but much of the time is dead boring, with one of the most memorably unmemorable group of characters Ive seen in a long time.
284473 Nathaniel Muir AIPT Fresh — 2021-12-24T23:00:34.000Z 2021-12-24 23:00:34 A great start to the long awaited adaptation. The scenery is beautiful while the characters are engaging and their quest memorable.
284474 Matt Roush TV Insider Rotten — 2021-12-15T23:11:58.000Z 2021-12-15 23:11:58 With a deficit of whimsy and wonder, "Wheel" introduces such thinly developed characters that it makes it hard to care (or see) who survives a chaotically filmed attack by monstrous orcs (sorry, trollocs).
284475 Camilla Long Sunday Times (UK) Rotten — 2021-12-12T23:40:49.000Z 2021-12-12 23:40:49 How did Pike manage to keep up that sense of terrified, intense urgency, with all those boring plastic animals horsing around her? Where was all the swearing and off-colour shagging?
284476 James Delingpole The Spectator Rotten — 2021-12-10T17:11:06.000Z 2021-12-10 17:11:06 You know what? I think the screen version might be even worse than the book.
284477 Jeanmarie Tan The New Paper (Singapore) Fresh 3.5/5 2021-12-09T01:32:31.000Z 2021-12-09 01:32:31 Admittedly, The Wheel Of Time got off to a flawed, exposition-heavy start... But with a little more patience and investment, you will be rewarded with a much-needed escape.
284478 Steve Murray ArtsATL Rotten — 2021-12-03T23:32:16.000Z 2021-12-03 23:32:16 From what I understand, longtime fans of the books have felt underwhelmed and badly served by some changes in characterizations, and the aging up of the main players.
284479 Joseph Harris Black Nerd Problems Fresh — 2021-12-03T23:11:41.000Z 2021-12-03 23:11:41 It's going to be exciting watching these characters grow.
284480 Mikel Zorrilla Espinof Rotten — 2021-12-02T20:01:08.000Z 2021-12-02 20:01:08 It all feels somewhat conventional. Is it the show's fault or because many fantasy film and television adaptations have already been made? [Full review in Spanish]
284481 Joel Keller Decider Rotten — 2021-12-01T18:41:02.000Z 2021-12-01 18:41:02 The Wheel Of Time is definitely a talky mess of a show, at least to start. It throws a lot of characters at us, but somehow all the time taken to establish them doesn't give us any more idea about them than when the episode started.
284482 James Field Pajiba Fresh — 2021-12-01T16:20:58.000Z 2021-12-01 16:20:58 This was a solid opener.
284483 Samantha Field The Mary Sue Fresh — 2021-12-01T00:31:36.000Z 2021-12-01 00:31:36 This pilot needs to cover a lot... That the showrunners managed to do all this cohesively in 54 minutes is impressive.
284484 Rebecca Long Slate Fresh — 2021-11-30T21:11:33.000Z 2021-11-30 21:11:33 While the adaptation isn't a carbon copy of the books, it works well as a complement.
284485 Brad Newsome Sydney Morning Herald Fresh 4/5 2021-11-30T20:41:23.000Z 2021-11-30 20:41:23 In the world of fantasy literature, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time novels were once the biggest thing since The Lord of the Rings... This handsome and expensive-looking new television adaptation looks like doing them justice.
284486 Beau North The Spool Fresh — 2021-11-30T16:50:46.000Z 2021-11-30 16:50:46 Open-minded viewers will find a great deal to dig here: romance, sword fights, monsters, magic.
284487 Verne Gay Newsday Rotten 2.5/4 2021-11-30T16:30:37.000Z 2021-11-30 16:30:37 You are... left with the uneasy, then sinking, feeling that "Wheel" - as sumptuous a production as this is - has been done before and better. A couple of times, at least.
284488 William Bibbiani TheWrap Rotten — 2021-11-30T01:02:15.000Z 2021-11-30 01:02:15 It's genuinely baffling how perfunctory the storytelling feels in The Wheel of Time.
284489 Alci Rengifo Entertainment Voice Rotten — 2021-11-30T00:21:33.000Z 2021-11-30 00:21:33 The visuals have some magic here, but the overall journey fails to cast any sort of spell.
284490 Pat Stacey Irish Independent Rotten — 2021-11-24T23:31:59.000Z 2021-11-24 23:31:59 The action, when it comes, is lively, if predictable, but The Wheel of Time buckles under chunks of tedious exposition.
284492 Allyson Johnson The Young Folks Fresh — 2021-11-24T22:51:57.000Z 2021-11-24 22:51:57 Despite the flaws there's enough here that will keep viewers engrossed in the series with its expansive visuals and inherent intrigue over the mystery of the Dragon Reborn.
284491 Liz Shannon Miller Consequence Fresh — 2021-11-24T22:51:57.000Z 2021-11-24 22:51:57 For those who hang in there, rewards abound.
284493 Alison Herman The Ringer Rotten — 2021-11-24T22:01:23.000Z 2021-11-24 22:01:23 Shows like The Wheel of Time feel reverse-engineered from an ideal outcome. And, unlike in fantasies, prophecies in the real world aren't guaranteed to come true...
284494 Travis Johnson Flicks (AU, NZ, UK) Rotten — 2021-11-24T03:52:03.000Z 2021-11-24 03:52:03 There are worse fantasy series and films out there, to be sure, but none of them were dumb enough to give their monsters a name that rhymes with "bollocks".
284495 Peter Gray The AU Review Fresh 3.5/5 2021-11-24T01:52:19.000Z 2021-11-24 01:52:19 Its fantastical elements, surprisingly hard-hitting violence, and committed performances keep this Wheel turning enough to earn satisfaction from genre-appreciative audiences.
284496 Carly Lane Collider Fresh A 2021-11-23T23:01:41.000Z 2021-11-23 23:01:41 Like any good fantasy epic, The Wheel of Time is one that promises very impressive returns, provided audiences are willing to settle in for the long haul.
284497 Veronica Elizabeth Bruno Culturess Fresh — 2021-11-23T19:40:55.000Z 2021-11-23 19:40:55 The Wheel of Time is pretty and very watchable, but you need some patience to invest in the series once it hits the gas pedal midway in. It's worth the wait, though.
284498 Nicola Austin We Have a Hulk Fresh 3.5/5 2021-11-23T13:30:28.000Z 2021-11-23 13:30:28 Does it do enough to distinguish itself in an already crowded genre? As yet, I'm not entirely convinced - however, the ambitious narrative is certainly intriguing.
284499 Erik Kain Forbes Fresh — 2021-11-22T21:21:27.000Z 2021-11-22 21:21:27 The Wheel Of Time is off to a flawed beginning, but it's still fun and exciting and I care about the characters and hope they succeed against The Dark One.
284500 Allison Nichols Tell-Tale TV Fresh 4/5 2021-11-22T20:11:23.000Z 2021-11-22 20:11:23 One thing The Wheel of Time excels at is world-building. It is magnificent.
284502 Deborah Ross The Mail on Sunday (UK) Fresh 3/5 2021-11-22T19:21:14.000Z 2021-11-22 19:21:14 Spectacular CGI, spectacular battles, spectacular towns shattering in their entirety, but spectacle is not storytelling. I've awarded three stars because, if this is what you like, I'm confident you will like this.
284501 Emma Stefansky Thrillist Fresh — 2021-11-22T19:21:14.000Z 2021-11-22 19:21:14 The show has a lot going for it: rich source material, a cast who seem game for anything, well-choreographed fights, some of the most beautiful visuals in a television show this year, and a very promising start, if a little clumsy with the exposition.
284503 Ani Bundel NBC News THINK Fresh — 2021-11-22T19:21:13.000Z 2021-11-22 19:21:13 While the streaming service's adaptation of Robert Jordan's bestselling fantasy series isn't mind-blowing, its diverse cast, thoughtful script and often nuanced female portrayals make it yet another step in the right direction for the fantasy genre.
284504 Fionnuala Halligan Screen International Rotten — 2021-11-20T16:50:35.000Z 2021-11-20 16:50:35 It does eventually bed in somewhat, but not as much as it should.
284505 Glen Weldon NPR Fresh — 2021-11-20T16:40:47.000Z 2021-11-20 16:40:47 It does manage to tell its story in a way that's compelling, unique and, frequently, surprising, full of narrative twists and character turns that even the most jaded fantasy reader might not see coming.
284506 Lacy Baugher Culturess Fresh — 2021-11-19T23:32:47.000Z 2021-11-19 23:32:47 The result is a crisp, entertaining fantasy delight, one that -- if there is any justice -- may actually hand Amazon a genuine streaming hit.
284507 John Doyle Globe and Mail Fresh — 2021-11-19T23:22:50.000Z 2021-11-19 23:22:50 Stick around for the marvellous cast of characters, both the sad and funny ones. As Moiraine, Pike is very stately and you get the feeling there is more to this woman than the speeches and her grave gaze on the world.
284508 Brian Lowry CNN.com Rotten — 2021-11-19T22:02:26.000Z 2021-11-19 22:02:26 The characters simply don't possess enough pop to draw in those who don't come immersed in the mythology, and the special effects are uneven.
284509 George Fenwick The Post NZ Fresh — 2021-11-19T21:42:18.000Z 2021-11-19 21:42:18 A perfect lockdown watch for those wishing to escape to another world.
284510 Austin Burke Austin Burke/Flick Fan Nation Fresh — 2021-11-19T20:42:00.000Z 2021-11-19 20:42:00 There are a fair share of lingering questions that will frustrate fans but keep them engaged in the episodes to come. The world is vast, and this series is on its way to become one that everyone is talking about.
284511 Michael T. Stack TV Fanatic Fresh 4.4/5 2021-11-19T19:52:06.000Z 2021-11-19 19:52:06 It is a beautiful fantasy show and should not be compared to other fantasy shows like Game of Thrones because it's already its own entity.
284512 Belen Edwards Mashable Fresh — 2021-11-19T19:21:46.000Z 2021-11-19 19:21:46 The overall result is an exciting adventure that gets better as it goes along.
284513 Ed Fortune Starburst Fresh 3/5 2021-11-19T19:21:37.000Z 2021-11-19 19:21:37 This is not Game of Thrones, it's a warm hug of fantasy tropes, running gags and special effects. It will likely do very well, because those who adore it will watch it again and again.
284514 Lucy Mangan Guardian Fresh 3/5 2021-11-19T14:31:26.000Z 2021-11-19 14:31:26 It's absolutely fine. It's got brio, it's got style and it's got enough portentous voiceover book-ending events to make everything feel high stakes.
284515 Therese Lacson The Beat Fresh — 2021-11-19T07:40:33.000Z 2021-11-19 07:40:33 When it comes to adapting for the modern audience, sometimes changes need to be made, and that's a good thing.
284516 Christian Hoffer ComicBook.com Fresh 4/5 2021-11-18T20:31:32.000Z 2021-11-18 20:31:32 The Wheel of Time is an enjoyable watch and a solid adaptation that should make fans of the books happy. For some, the show might struggle to stand out among other high-profile fantasy series.
284517 Donnie Lopez Black Girl Nerds Fresh 5/5 2021-11-18T19:31:06.000Z 2021-11-18 19:31:06 Although there are many recognizable characteristics of fantasy storytelling weaved into 'The Wheel of Time', one of this show's more interesting features is the amount of diversity among its cast of characters
284518 Keith Phipps TV Guide Fresh 4/5 2021-11-18T18:51:03.000Z 2021-11-18 18:51:03 However basic its beginnings, The Wheel of Time quickly reveals itself as an expansive world that demands return visits.
284519 Rob Owen Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Rotten — 2021-11-18T17:41:18.000Z 2021-11-18 17:41:18 Wheel of Time is very self-serious, which makes it easy to mock, particularly if you're apt to make comparisons to other fantasy franchises: One screechy villain has Voldemort's nose; an Army of horned beasts are this show's version of Orcs.
284520 Inkoo Kang Washington Post Rotten — 2021-11-18T15:21:22.000Z 2021-11-18 15:21:22 It fulfills Jeff Bezos's alleged demand that Amazon develop its own "Game of Thrones" - in the most unspecial manner possible.
284521 James Poniewozik New York Times Rotten — 2021-11-18T15:11:19.000Z 2021-11-18 15:11:19 Early on, the wanderers take refuge in a cursed city, its deserted streets lined with baroque architecture and statuary. "Wheel," as a production, feels like that. It's a breathtakingly detailed edifice with no people in it.
284522 Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News Fresh 4/4 2021-11-18T13:40:49.000Z 2021-11-18 13:40:49 It's a crowning achievement in every way.
284523 Fiona Sturges Financial Times Rotten 2/5 2021-11-18T13:10:47.000Z 2021-11-18 13:10:47 While there is enough violence and faux-mysticism to keep genre fans happy, convincing human interactions are harder to find.
284524 Tessa Smith Mama's Geeky Fresh 3/5 2021-11-18T00:31:51.000Z 2021-11-18 00:31:51 While the premise is completely intriguing, the delivery doesn't always work for those new to this world. Still, there is much potential for the rest of the season.
284525 Sherin Nicole idobi.com Fresh — 2021-11-17T20:11:08.000Z 2021-11-17 20:11:08 The Wheel of Time conjures up the sorcery, emotional twists, and trials by fire to satisfy your epic fantasy cravings
284526 Patricia Puentes Ask Rotten 5/10 2021-11-17T18:30:59.000Z 2021-11-17 18:30:59 As much as The Wheel of Time left me indifferent, I very much warmed to the universe of the Aes Sedais. Your introduction to them is Moiraine, and it's difficult not to be intrigued by her order. She's the type of woman who doesn't hear "no" often.
284527 Nick Allen RogerEbert.com Rotten — 2021-11-17T17:20:41.000Z 2021-11-17 17:20:41 It's hard to get lost in this world when it feels so emotionally distant, so scattered, and so packed with thin plotlines.
284528 Daniel Fienberg The Hollywood Reporter Rotten — 2021-11-17T17:00:43.000Z 2021-11-17 17:00:43 I never felt like I was watching an unfolding story, but I absolutely felt like I was watching the whiteboard in a writers room, more the pushing of note cards toward a destination than an adventure.
284529 Chancellor Agard Entertainment Weekly Fresh — 2021-11-17T13:20:38.000Z 2021-11-17 13:20:38 Despite the weak characterization, I still found The Wheel of Time rather watchable.
284530 Chris Rovzar Bloomberg News Fresh — 2021-11-17T13:20:36.000Z 2021-11-17 13:20:36 The material is there, and the execution so far seems up to the task.
284532 Rob Bricken io9.com Fresh — 2021-11-17T13:10:38.000Z 2021-11-17 13:10:38 It's both better and worse than the books. And yet, for some reason, I'm ready for more.
284531 James Dyer Empire Magazine Fresh 3/5 2021-11-17T13:10:38.000Z 2021-11-17 13:10:38 A slow start paves the way for a satisfyingly ambitious fantasy that fans of the genre can really get stuck into. For the uninitiated, though, it might all sound like a load of trollocs.
284533 Sabrina Barr metro.co.uk Fresh — 2021-11-17T13:10:36.000Z 2021-11-17 13:10:36 As far as fantasy series go, The Wheel of Time delivers and then some.
284534 Valerie Ettenhofer Film School Rejects Rotten — 2021-11-17T03:51:14.000Z 2021-11-17 03:51:14 Based on the six episodes available for review, The Wheel of Time doesn't seem inherently unfilmable. It simply could have been filmed better.
284535 Rachel Cooke New Statesman Rotten — 2021-11-16T20:01:47.000Z 2021-11-16 20:01:47 Will The Wheel of Time be a hit? Don't ask me. All I know is that I went into a kind of death spiral after watching the first episode.
284536 Allison Keene Paste Magazine Fresh 8.5/10 2021-11-16T20:01:46.000Z 2021-11-16 20:01:46 There's more to explore if you want it, but for casual viewers, much of the ancillary information is either doled out when it's important to know, or is glossed over because it would otherwise bog things down.
284537 Samantha Nelson IGN Fresh 9/10 2021-11-16T19:52:00.000Z 2021-11-16 19:52:00 The Wheel of Time is gorgeous, well acted, and strongly written, a show that understands the characters and plot of Robert Jordan's books without being slavishly loyal to the source material.
284538 Daniel D'Addario Variety Rotten — 2021-11-16T18:21:28.000Z 2021-11-16 18:21:28 This premise would, on its face, seem to lend itself well to episodic drama. And yet the series, created by Rafe Judkins, finds itself stranded on various morasses.
284540 Meghan O'Keefe Decider Fresh — 2021-11-16T18:11:23.000Z 2021-11-16 18:11:23 All told, The Wheel of Time has way more to woo book readers than repel them.
284539 Alan Sepinwall Rolling Stone Rotten 2/5 2021-11-16T18:11:23.000Z 2021-11-16 18:11:23 [It] may bring in some fantasy fans starved for any morsel of magic and wonder. But the whole thing is empty, if expensive, calories.
284541 Preeti Chhibber Polygon Fresh — 2021-11-16T18:11:22.000Z 2021-11-16 18:11:22 The Wheel of Time is a very strong start to a much-awaited series and created by someone who has a clear understanding of how adaptations can soar when complementing their source material rather than just copying it.
284542 Chaim Gartenberg The Verge Fresh — 2021-11-16T18:01:27.000Z 2021-11-16 18:01:27 When The Wheel of Time does fire on all cylinders, it's proof that it might actually be possible to fit the book into a coherent TV show.
284543 Ben Travers IndieWire Fresh C 2021-11-16T17:51:21.000Z 2021-11-16 17:51:21 Drawbacks aside, I must say, "The Wheel of Time" isn't bad.
284544 Alex Maidy JoBlo's Movie Network Rotten 5/10 2021-11-16T17:51:20.000Z 2021-11-16 17:51:20 The Wheel of Time ends up as a disservice to Robert Jordan's books. What could have been a Dune-level masterpiece ends up a middle-of-the-road offering that fails to live up to its potential.
284545 Jon Negroni TV Line Fresh B 2021-11-16T17:41:05.000Z 2021-11-16 17:41:05 It's simply a thrill to see these cherished characters finally get an adaptation worthy of such a grand adventure.
284546 Ed Power Daily Telegraph (UK) Fresh 4/5 2021-11-16T13:00:50.000Z 2021-11-16 13:00:50 In its early episodes this big Wheel has enough sweep, mystique and momentum to suggest that it can keep on turning and give Amazon the global hit it dearly craves.
284547 Kelly Lawler USA Today Fresh — 2021-11-10T19:33:13.000Z 2021-11-10 19:33:13 Wheel seems able to satisfy new viewers and superfans alike, creating an inviting and rich world that isn't too confusing to understand.

Showing the latest 100 canonical reviews for this movie.