You have used all your credits for this month. Please add more credits to continue.

by

Summary

  • Amazon Prime Video canceled The Wheel of Time despite Season 3’s high ratings, sparking concern among fans for the future of fantasy shows.
  • The series was one of the most expensive on Amazon, with season development costs sky-high, making further investment unviable.
  • Fans fear other fantasy shows like Rings of Power may meet the same fate due to a trend of canceling successful shows.

Due to Amazon Prime Video deciding not to produce any more seasons for the show “The Wheel of Time,” a series based on Robert Jordan’s popular fantasy novels, fans who love this genre are expressing their disappointment and concern that this decision might signal the end of future fantasy-themed television shows on the streaming platform.

The show “The Wheel of Time” revolves around the character Moiraine Damodred, portrayed by Rosamund Pike, who enters the town of Two Rivers and becomes part of an influential female group known as the Aes Sedai. This story transports Moiraine on thrilling journeys along treacherous paths as she travels with five other young individuals, one of whom is suspected to be the Dragon Reborn. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance: he either saves or allows its destruction. The initial season premiered in November 2021 and received mixed reviews, leaving many book readers disappointed due to significant deviations from the source material and what appeared to be weak character development. However, subsequent seasons have been a more satisfying experience for fans, with season 3 reaching a series high of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 83% approval from audiences. Remarkably, this impressive performance was not sufficient to secure its continuation.

The Wheel of Time Fans Worried About the Future of Fantasy Shows After Cancellation

Following the announcement last week about The Wheel of Time being canceled, fans have vented their frustration and sadness on social media platforms. One viewer poignantly stated, “I’m not sure why I should invest my time in new TV shows if they’re all going to be axed. I hope the people responsible for canceling Wheel of Time never experience tranquility.” Another fan expressed concern that without The Wheel of Time, there might not be any more high-quality fantasy series to anticipate in the future. They lamented, “With The Wheel of Time being canceled, we’re likely heading towards a scarcity of great big-budget magical fantasy shows.

“For real, there are no fantasy shows out there to scratch that itch at all.”

Critics have suggested that “The Rings of Power” should be cancelled, arguing that it doesn’t compare favorably to “Wheel of Time,” yet it was given a larger production budget and is set for a third season. According to Deadline, the reasons for its cancellation boil down to financial issues, as is often the case. “The Wheel of Time” is one of Amazon’s most costly shows, with the initial season costing a staggering $80 million to produce, and subsequent seasons even more expensive. Despite the fervor of its fan base, the viewing figures were insufficient to warrant investing further funds into the series, leaving Amazon seemingly with no other choice.

As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but share my concerns about the future of enchanting fantasy shows on our screens, given the recent cancellations of popular ones like “The Wheel of Time” and “Shadow and Bone” on Netflix. While “Shadow and Bone” boasted an impressive Rotten Tomatoes rating of 83%, it was halted before reaching its third season. Similarly, the critically acclaimed “Lockwood & Co.” was cut off after just one season, despite scoring a remarkable 94%. The fate of Amazon’s “Rings of Power” remains uncertain, but given the cancellation trend that followed the phenomenal success of “Game of Thrones,” it appears as though the era of investing vast sums into fantasy series might be drawing to a close. Only time will reveal if this trend continues and claims another promising series as its next victim.

Source: X/Deadline

Read More

2025-05-28 17:44