The Wheel of Time Season 3’s reviews make the show’s cancellation even more disappointing

The Wheel of Time might have finally found its edge with Season 3, but that wasn't enough to keep the story going.

After years of investment and anticipation, Prime Video has officially cancelled the fantasy series, just as the show began receiving its most positive critical and fan reception.

The timing of the decision was frustrating for viewers who supported the show during its uneven start.

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The Wheel of Time Season 3 raised the bar, but it came too late

By the time The Wheel of Time Season 3 aired, the show had evolved into something fans had long been hoping for. The improvements were not just great, but rather, they were dynamic and dramatic.

The show's adaptation of Robert Jordan's intricate fantasy world finally began to echo the show's narrative complexity and the emotional depth.

According to IGN:

"The Wheel of Time finally achievs its full potential in season 3, which is filled with rich characters finding their place in Robert Jordan's complex fantasy world."

Yet this creative upswing did not align with Prime's bottom line. While the show initially debuted in 2021 to strong viewership numbers, the same space and speed did not last.

By Season 3, despite good reviews, engagement had drastically fallen, which the show took as a red flag, considering the high production cost.

Regardless of its uneven start, The Wheel of Time's season 3 saw consistent gains in reception over time. Rotten Tomatoes scores reflect this climb: Season 1 had an 81% critic score and a 61% audience score, while season 3 scored 97% and 83%, respectively.

Unfortunately, the improved reception may have come in far too late to sway the decision-makers at Amazon Prime. According to Deadline:

...The Season 3 overall performance was not strong enough compared to the show’s cost for Prime Video to commit to another season and the streamer could not make it work after examining different scenarios and following discussions with lead studio Sony TV.”

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What’s lost with the cancellation is more than just potential

For long-time fans of The Wheel of Time, the abrupt end means a significant part of Jordan's stories and literature will remain unadapted. The show had just begun setting up important arcs, such as Rand's return from the Aiel Waste or Egwene's rise to become the Amyrlin Seat.

Critics recognized the shift in tone and quality taken on by the 3rd season. Times of India said;

“This season takes the characters into much darker territory, adding greater depth and intensity to the story... the creators seem to have found their footing.”

Decider put it as:

“Stream It! Dualities of light and dark and more fantasy battle action are on offer as The Wheel of Time returns.”

The cast, led by Rosamund Pike, had finally been given the material that would let their performances and characters shine—something that felt missing in the earlier seasons. Yet, regardless of the change and good critical reviews, the financial increase proved to be unacceptable for a fantasy show airing on a streamer.

Even with a vocal fanbase and changes, The Wheel of Time became the casualty of streaming's harsh reality.

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The Wheel of Time deserved better. Season 3 demonstrated just how compelling the show could be if given more space to grow.

But as streaming becomes an increasingly unforgiving landscape, artistic progress alone isn't always enough.

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