Though I was extremely worried the Amazon adaptation of the Wheel of Time series -- now streaming in Ultra HD -- would prove far too rushed to do the size and scope of its world justice, it's about time we got a reimagining of something where very little needs to be changed to appease modish attitudes and political narratives. Was this so hard, guys? We finally have a situation where the social studies majors AND the metathesiophobic nerds get to be happy! You don't need to change the characters' appearance for the mere sake of "diversity"; the world of the novels is already a varied realm, from the olive-complexion inhabitants of The Two Rivers, sans the likes of ginger Rand Al'Thor, to the Japan-inspired kingdom of Sheinar. You don't need to pretend that this was always a place where women are stronger than men and that the men who even attempt to use the One Power are caged and lobotomized; that's already the in-universe consequence of the Dark One's tainting of "saidin" (the "male half" of the True Source, which now turns its "channelers" insane). There's also the concept of "pillow friends", which I implore you to Google on your own. The rest of my worries subsided when I began to see images. Just looking at a photograph of the Season 1 main cast, I could tell exactly who each one was supposed to be, and I could also pinpoint locations like Shadar Logoth. As someone who grew up with the PC game (an adaptation so obscure me and my brothers are likely its entire fanbase) and would later listen to the books, I was delighted. Fantasy experts know this series well, but modern viewers may not realize how much their J. K. Rowlings and George R. R. Martins owe to Robert Jordan. Despite a few pacing issues and the sidelining of certain characters, the show works well for me so far and displays an adroit understanding of Jordan's world (there are about as many women crossing their arms as in the narrations of the books and even the soundtrack is reminiscent of Robert Berry's 2001 tribute album). Things like architecture and costuming are as awesome and intricate as in Jordan's text. And again, I feel like there is actual thought behind the casting, even when it's actually "more diverse" than what was implied in the text. I always imagined the Whitecloaks as Aryan white supremacist types, but maybe I've been playing the PC game for too long. Anyhow, I feel like there is some modicum of love behind the project; a bit of pandering, but also love. I walk in the light with cautious optimism and am ready for more. I wonder if the FXX pilot is still canon.

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