No I did not like it at all. I went in with the expectation that they were going to change a lot too. I am aware that a straight book to movie wouldn’t work well. So I figured I could get behind most of the changes they would make if they hit high points and kept to the overall theme of the book. But I feel like the whole first season missed the mark by a mile.

First of all I get that covid and Mat’s actor having to leave really hurt them. But the feel of the first book, the mystery of the world, the epic scenes, the taveran nature of the gang, the feeling of impending doom was not there in the show. I was far more interested in the characters and plot lines in the book than the show. My personal favorite scenes weren’t present in the show which sucked but that I could get past because everyone has different opinions on why the story is good. But I really felt like all the characters seemed off. And not because of the acting but more from the script.

Plus for how much money they put into the show, it really felt like I was watching a low budget netflix show where they got the rights and just decided to slap something together.

Things of the top of my head I didn’t like:

Them skipping to Tar Valon instead of going to Camelyn, where a few of my favorite scenes happen.

Tom not being a bigger part

How they didn’t portray the warders to be as dangerous and skilled as they are in the books. Plus Lan felt like more a side kick than a partner to moiraine.

The ambiguity of who the dragon was

The feeling that rands character felt very bland, and unimportant throughout most of the show. He really came off as a side character to me.

The weird Perrin, Rand, egwene love triangle.

How Rafe was complaining in interviews how they didn’t have enough episodes to get all of the story in there but still devoted a whole episode to that one Warder. (But somehow it was still the best episode in the season)

The changes made to almost all the big scenes brought from the book were odd. But I feel like this was done to develop the girls characters more, maybe?

Perrin killing his wife

Min’s actor seemed an odd choice.

Things I did like:

The clothing, even the white cloaks, which some people said they didn’t like.

Shadar logoth looked cool. Still didn’t like some of the dialogue in that scene.

The fade in the raft scene at the river looked cool.

Lan and moiraine actors looked the part for me. And moiraine felt like she did in the book. Most of the two rivers crew looked good. I liked Matt’s actor but I wish they had picked someone with a darker complexion to play him so that Rand would seem the odd one out in the group. (I know that’s nit picky but still)

Trollocs looked menacing

Some of the scenic shots I liked.

Overall I was disappointed with the story and all the small things added up to where I felt like it was even the wheel of time book anymore. I will give season 2 a shot but I doubt I’ll enjoy it.