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Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series is often lauded among fantasy readers, and the TV adaptation of his epic has finally arrived. Amazon Prime Video is bringing the story to life, channeling the success of HBO’s Game of Thrones and the aesthetic of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings. Naturally, the show could become the next big fantasy hit. What can interested viewers expect from it, and how can they tune in to watch new episodes?

‘The Wheel of Time’ TV series dropped on Amazon early

Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred in Amazon Prime Video's 'The Wheel of Time' TV series. She's wearing a blue cloak and standing before a vast landscape.
Rosamund Pike in ‘The Wheel of Time’ | Copyright: Amazon Content Services LLC and Sony Pictures Television Inc./Jan Thijs

Although most streaming services keep fans waiting until 3 a.m. EST to start binge-watching a new TV series, Amazon Prime Video decided to drop The Wheel of Time a little early. Despite setting Nov. 19 as the official release date, the first three episodes of the new fantasy epic dropped the evening of Nov. 18. And many longtime fans of the books are already plowing through the early installments.

Touted as the next Game of Thrones, The Wheel of Time actually comes off more like The Lord of the Rings in its premise — though there are a few brutal scenes that call back to HBO’s hit series. With the right plotting, the Amazon show could move beyond both popular fantasy stories and become a phenomenon of its own. The trailer certainly alludes to plenty of original concepts despite its clear influence from J.R.R. Tolkien.

The trailer for Amazon’s new TV series teases an epic adventure

Amazon Prime Video’s trailer for The Wheel of Time presents an age-old premise for the TV series: a group of heroes fighting the influence of a villain called the Dark One. But while good versus evil is a tried-and-true setup for a fantasy epic, the footage promises to introduce new lore into the television genre.

That begins with Rosamund Pike’s Moraine Damodred, who hails from a powerful group of women called the Aes Sedai. She’s charged with traveling to the Two Rivers, where a group of teens has caught the eye of the Dark One and his army. Although the trailer only alludes to her powers, she promises to be a force to be reckoned with. So does the chosen one she sets out to find.

The Wheel of Time trailer also gives viewers a look at the Dark One’s army. And while there certainly seem to be terrible humans in this world, it appears the leads will be up against monsters. That draws yet another likeness between this story and The Lord of the Rings. However, the show could diverge from Tolkien’s material depending on what it does with its villains.

How to watch ‘The Wheel of Time’ on Amazon Prime Video

With the first three episodes of The Wheel of Time officially out in the world, all it takes is a subscription to Amazon Prime Video to tune in.

Those who aren’t subscribed can always try a 30-day free trial of the service. That will give them enough time to catch most of the first season. The outing is only eight episodes long, with three installments dropping on its premiere date and the rest following weekly. That leaves the finale coming out on Dec. 24.

At the very least, a trial will give viewers an idea of whether they deem The Wheel of Time worth watching. The show has already been renewed for season 2, so those who do enjoy it will want to subscribe ahead of its second outing.

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