'The Wheel of Time' Season 3's First Images Introduce The Waste

The Wheel of Time turns... etc., etc. etc., and with every turn, the Season 3 premiere draws closer. The high-fantasy series based on the legendary 14 tome epic by the late Robert Jordan technically isn't British at all; Jordan was from South Carolina, Prime Video is based in America, and showrunner Rafe Judkins is from Salt Lake City, just to name a few of those involved. However, Bridgerton is equally American in its authors, producers, and production company, and no one in their right mind would categorize it as anything but British. (These are thing things that keep me up at night.) However, The Wheel of Time is one of the most fascinating of the "British-ish" fantasy series spawned by Game of Thrones' success precisely because it leans into the Euro-ness of the fantasy world Jordan created and away from trying to replicate exactly what's on the page.

If someone were looking for a faithful adaptation of the novels, The Wheel of Time would undoubtedly disappoint. But as an exercise in retelling an epic story relayed over a dozen-plus thousand-page books on screen, it's far superior to its sister series on Prime, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and puts nearly everything on HBO to shame.

However, as the series continues, it will get more complicated to streamline and fix the host of issues the books contain. So far, the show's done wonders; the deeply unfortunate Asian-coded Seachan and their torturous behavior were dealt with compactly in Season 2 and summarily dismissed until needed again. Season 3 faces two challenges: introducing Aiel culture without leaning into ugly Indigenous stereotypes and bringing aboard yet another central character who the fandom has never liked: Faile. Judkin has already done a lot of groundwork on the first one, introducing the Aiel as individuals since Season 1, and the first images of their homeland of The Waste feel authentic. But Faile, who will join up with Perrin this season, will need a lot of work to remake her without Jordan's unconscious misogyny, which is, unfortunately, the bulk of her personality in the early going. 

Here is the Season 3 synopsis:

In The Wheel of Time, a humble farm boy, Rand al’Thor, learns he is The Dragon Reborn—a dangerous figure from history destined to save the world … or break it. The Wheel of Time turns, and the Last Battle approaches.

After defeating Ishamael, one of the most powerful of the Forsaken, at the end of Season Two, Rand reunites with his friends in the city of Falme and is declared the Dragon Reborn. But in Season Three, the threats against the Light are multiplying: the White Tower stands divided, the Black Ajah run free, old enemies return to the Two Rivers, and the remaining Forsaken are in hot pursuit of the Dragon… including Lanfear, whose relationship with Rand will mark a crucial choice between Light and Dark for them both. As the ties to his past begin to unravel, and his corrupted power grows stronger, Rand becomes increasingly unrecognizable to his closest allies, Moiraine and Egwene. These powerful women, who started the series as teacher and student, must now work together to prevent the Dragon from turning to the Dark…no matter the cost.

The Wheel of Time Season 3 main roster includes U.K. actors Rosamund Pike (Saltburn) as Moiraine Damodred, Marcus Rutherford (Funny Woman) as Perrin Aybara, Dónal Finn (Rogue Heroes) as Mat Cauthon, Ceara Coveney (Hoard) as Elayne Trakand, Kate Fleetwood (Harlots) as Leandrin Guirale, Natasha O’Keefe (Peaky Blinders) as Lanfear, Ayoola Smart (Killing Eve) as Aviendha, and Kae Alexander (Game of Thrones) as Min Farshaw. The series also stars New Zealand actors Zoë Robins (The Brokenwood Mysteries) as Nynaeve al’Meara, Madeleine Madden (Jack Irish) as Egwene al’Vere, Dutch actor Josha Stradowski (Just Friends) as Rand al’Thor, and American actor Daniel Henney (Criminal Minds) as al’Lan Mandragoran.

Season 3 newcomers include Olivia Williams (Dune: Prophecy) as Queen Morgase, Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand & Fog) as Elaida Sedai, Luke Fetherston (Big Mood) as Gawyn Trakand, Callum Kerr (Four Weddings & a Funeral) as Galad Trakand, and Nuno Lopes (White Lines) as Lord Gaebril, the Queen's consort. Further additions include Isabella Bucceri (Everything in Between) as Faile Bashere, Björn Landberg (SOKO Wismar) as Rhuarc, Clan Chief of the Taardad Aiel, plus Nukâka Coster-Waldau (Anori), Salóme Gunnarsdóttir (The Lazarus Project), and Synnøve Macody Lund (Ragnarok) as the Aiel Wise Ones Bair, Melanie, and Melindhra.

The series was adapted for television by showrunner Judkins (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), who executive produces along with Pike, Mike Weber, Marigo Kehoe, Ciaran Donnelly, Justine Juel Gillmer, Dave Hill, Rick Selvage & Larry Mondragon for iwot productions, and Ted Field for Radar Pictures. The Wheel of Time is co-produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television.

The Wheel of Time Season 3 will premiere globally on Prime Video on Thursday, March 13, 2025, and stream with one episode a week through the end of April.