The Wheel of Time might be off Amazon’s production slate for now, but its story – both on-screen and off – is far from over. Despite the studio’s decision to cancel the fantasy series after Season 3, showrunner Rafe Judkins remains defiant and hopeful, insisting that the show drew “huge numbers of people worldwide.” He points to the fact that it appeared in Nielsen’s Top 10 for almost 20 weeks – a rarity in today’s competitive streaming landscape.
Adapted from Robert Jordan’s beloved book series and later completed by Brandon Sanderson, The Wheel of Time had a turbulent run.
The first season drew criticism from longtime fans for deviating from the source material and for a slow, meandering start. Despite the presence of Rosamund Pike, critics noted a lack of broader star power and weak early episodes that failed to hook mainstream audiences. Many felt the series was trying too hard to appeal to everyone and ended up pleasing no one.
Season 3, however, managed to correct course for many viewers, with improved storytelling, deeper character arcs, and closer alignment with the books – enough to convince many fans that better things were ahead. Sadly, Amazon didn’t share that optimism. Sources claim it wasn’t about quality, but economics. The fantasy epic’s massive production budget simply couldn’t justify the risk.
Judkins compared the situation to The Expanse, another cult sci-fi series that was rescued by Amazon after being dropped by SYFY. Yet unlike The Expanse, The Wheel of Time currently isn’t being shopped around, according to reports. That hasn’t stopped fans from mobilizing, with over 130,000 signatures on a petition to save the show. Their call to action? “Finish the story.”
Brandon Sanderson, while not shy about his criticisms, echoed the sentiment. “The fanbase deserved better,” he wrote, lamenting the lack of meaningful collaboration with the creative team. Other critics noted the disconnect between what made the books special and how the series sometimes tried to reinvent the wheel – literally and figuratively – instead of leaning into the original narrative’s strength.
Still, Judkins’ optimism clings to one of the series’ core themes: time is cyclical. “Perhaps the show will do what the books have always done – defy traditional definitions of beginnings and ends,” he mused. Whether another platform like Apple TV+ will take up the mantle remains uncertain, but in the era of constant streaming churn, miracles – or resurrections – aren’t impossible. Just not as common as they used to be.
For those truly seeking closure, one commenter put it best: “The books are finished. You can read them now – no cliffhangers, no waiting. Maybe that’s the ending we deserve.”