After a number of false starts and at least one failed adaptation, fans of author Robert Jordan’s massive (and massively successful) Wheel of Time novel series finally got to see his vision come to life when Prime Video released the action-packed fantasy in November 2021 for those with an Amazon Prime subscription.
Audiences have now been waiting nearly two years to see more from the drama, and, luckily, we know when the adventures of Moiraine, Lan, Nynaeve, Egwene, Perrin, Rand, and Mat will continue after that explosive Season 1 finale. Below, we have answers for your The Wheel of Time Season 2 questions, so let’s get down to business!
What Is The Wheel Of Time Season 2 Premiere Date?
Even though the wait has been a long one, we’re now on the other side of it and only have a few weeks left, as The Wheel of Time Season 2 will premiere on September 1, 2023!
We’ve actually known that the second season was coming for much longer than many fans might realize, as the streamer bet big on the expensive production by deciding to renew the high fantasy tale, as revealed by Deadline in May 2021, shortly after production on the first season wrapped. And now we’re very close to being able to feast our eyes on it!
All Of The Season 1 Cast Is Returning, With One Exception
All of the fans who really enjoyed the chemistry between The Wheel of Time cast in Season 1 can rest easy, as pretty much everyone in the main cast whose character didn’t meet an untimely end will return in the aftermath of the first big battles with the Dark One and his minions. This means we’ll see more of the core group of Rosamund Pike (Moiraine Damodred), Daniel Henney (Lan Mandragoran), Josha Stradowski (Rand al’Thor), Madeleine Madden (Egwene al’Vere), Marcus Rutherford (Perrin Aybara), and Zoë Robins (Nynaeve al'Meara).
But, it was revealed by Deadline back in late September 2021, that Barney Harris (who played the easily led astray Mat Cauthon) would not be returning to the series. Harris was replaced by actor Dónal Finn (The Witcher), and while no reason has been given for the recasting, series showrunner Rafe Judkins noted that fans should expect the switch to be “seamless” on screen, mostly because of “how great the character of Mat is.”
There Are Several New Cast Members
As with many new television seasons, we’ll also be treated to some never-before-seen characters and additional cast members. Season 2 will introduce viewers to actress Ceara Coveney’s Elayne Trakand (who was announced on the show’s official Instagram in October 2021), a royal heir who’s another Aes Sedai novice and befriends Egwene while they’re in training. Natasha O’Keeffe and Meera Syal were announced as additions to the cast at the same time, and while we really haven’t gotten official word on who O’Keeffe might be portraying, Nerdist confirmed in May 2023 that Syal’s character is Verin Mathwin.
Verin is a long-standing member of the Aes Sedai in the Brown Ajah, who, like others in her particular group, focuses on learning and the belief that knowledge is power. However, there are some who think she pays far more attention to the world around her than she lets on.
Meanwhile, early December 2021 brought word from Deadline that new recurring players will be Guy Roberts (as Uno Nomesta), Arnas Fedaravicius (as Masema) and Gregg Chillingirian (as Ingtar Shinowa). That report also announced two guest stars: Thomas Chaanhing, who’ll play Lord Agelmar, and Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Lady Amalisa. And (Yes, there’s more!), at the April 2023 JordanCon (via Variety), it was revealed that there will be other new recurring characters, with Maja Simonsen and Ragga Ragnars portraying Maidens of the Spear Chiad and Bain, respectively, Jay Duffy as Dain Bornhal, and Rima Te Wiata set to play Sheriam Bayanar.
The cast this season is going to be stacked!
You Can Watch The Trailer Right Now!
We had to wait quite a while, but mid-July 2023 finally brought viewers a trailer so that we can see the kind of thrills that’ll be in store. Take a look!
Honestly, it looks like the sophomore season will be even more action-packed than the first, and I cannot wait!
Season 2 Sees Our Heroes Fighting On Very Separate Fronts
The first season was all about establishing who our young group of heroes was, revealing which of them is The Dragon Reborn, and sending them on an epic quest with their protectors. By the Season 1 finale, they were already heading in separate directions, and Prime Video’s official synopsis for Season 2 confirms that now that they all fully understand what’s at stake, they’ll have to find new allies if they’re going to survive and save the world.
As revealed in the finale and teased in the trailer, Rand was unable to end the Dark One, and has instead set him free, meaning that the real battle is ahead. Fans will see “threats new and very old seek out the young friends from the Two Rivers, now scattered over the world,” and explore Moiraine’s duties now that she’s cut off from magic and can’t help as she did in Season 1. Speaking of which…
The Loss Of Connection Between Moiraine And Lan Will Be A Big Part Of Season 2
A major surprise from The Wheel of Time Season 1 ending was Moiraine cutting herself off from her psychic bond to Lan, her Warder, right before going with Rand to the Eye of the Word in an attempt to defeat the Dark One. She likely did this so that Lan wouldn’t die during the expected confrontation, but the aftermath of that fight led to Moiraine no longer being able to channel the One Power, so she’s now unable to reconnect the bond with Lan.
We’ve seen what fully losing an Aes Sedai like Moiraine can do to her Warder, and the second season will explore what happens when both are still working to save all of existence, but can’t share thoughts and emotions so easily. As Judkins told CBR in December 2021:
So, that loss of connection between the two of them is something that really is going to play a big role in Season 2 because they no longer have that currency of communication with each other. So what does that mean for their relationship?
My guess? It’s going to be a long, tough road ahead for both of them!
The Second Season Is ‘More Brutal’
Well, doesn’t this just fit perfectly with my theory about Lan and Moiraine’s relationship? It turns out that things are going to be very hard for everyone, now that they’re all aware of the work that needs to be done. Star Marcus Rutherford spoke to LeftLion in February 2023 (via CBR) about our group of young heroes and the new season, overall, and said:
They've started to accept and have faith in the prophecy and their destiny, so there's more of a maturity to them. It's darker too, more real and a bit more brutal. The innocence of those kids we find in the village in Episode 1 is long gone, and they're becoming a bit more grown-up.
He also confirmed that there will be “a bit of a time jump” to get us into the events of Season 2, and while he didn’t say how long will have passed between the first season’s finale and the second season debut, a jump of several months would fit with the timing between the first and second novels in the book series.
The Wheel Of Time Season 2 Won’t Just Follow Plots From Book 2
Adapting any one novel for the screen can be a challenge, and that difficulty grows exponentially when you’re trying to do it for an entire series of books. The Wheel of Time posed an even greater challenge than most, because there are 14 books (all well over 600 pages) to attempt to bring to life. The showrunner said that he and his writers have been using “compression” of several book details to keep the series on track, and that we’ll continue to see that in Season 2, noting to Entertainment Weekly in December 2021:
Fans of the books will see that some characters are diving more into their Book 2 [The Great Hunt] story in Season 2, and some of them are diving more into their Book 3 [The Dragon Reborn] story in Season 2. We have to tell stories so efficiently on the show because we're trying to do 17,000 pages…It's still a tense battle to fit every season into those eight episodes.
I’m totally down with “compression” as long as the new season is as engrossing as the first, and it definitely looks like it will be!
We Know The Title Of The First Wheel Of Time Season 2 Episode
Those behind the complex, epic tale knew that audiences would have to wait for quite a while before being able to see Season 2, so they threw us a bone by revealing the name of the first episode of the upcoming season on Twitter…all the way back in May 2021! The Season 2 premiere is titled “A Taste of Solitude,” which just so happens to also be the title of the 18th chapter of Book 6, Lord of Chaos. Anyone who knows the books probably now has at least a hint about some of the plot for the season opener.
I don’t know about you, but now I really can’t wait for The Wheel of Time Season 2 to debut! Until then, check out the 2023 TV premiere dates and some of the other best fantasy shows you can stream right now!
