Why Prime Video has canceled the bike of the times after three seasons

The “Wheel of Time” series from Prime Video is officially over. Even when the show still deserves a fantasy story in the glow of a triumphal third season, which many referred to by many as a cinematic achievement, it has now abruptly (if not unexpected).

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As far as so many other members of the “Wheel of Time” passion -fan, this is tragic news for this poor writer. It is a production that is important to me. In addition to the fan of the original book series, I was invited a few years ago to visit the Jordan Studios in Prague. I saw dozens of the more than 300 sentences that the studio built for the show built (many of which are included in a massive 350,000 square meter truck facility from the Soviet Lean). I interviewed producers, cast and crew, saw choreography sequences in real time and even looked at the first two episodes of season 2 in the warm comfort of the Winesspring Inn with popcorn and a fine flagon of Two Rivers Ale in hand. (No joke.)

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Trust me when I say that I have invested the size, commitment and love in this production. I saw how it was increasingly popular, even when it scaled its story and managed to adapt an extremely overwhelming amount of source material into a really interesting and convincing (albeit strongly shortened) serialized adaptation.

So what went wrong then? What did this apparently healthy, popular project dance that seemed to have a future than that of one force itself? In one word: money.

If you wonder what Robert Jordan's impressive adaptation killed, it was the almighty dollar. After Deadline, who broke the news of the rejection of the show, the decision not to renew the show for a fourth season came after long consultations. The publication was added:

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As is so often the case in the current economic environment, the reasons were financially because the series is creatively liked by the managers of the streamer.

The detail of the “current economic environment” stands out. The implication that the show, if it had been broadcast in better times, would still be on the right track for Stings of the fourth season. However, the saddest part is the last piece: the main videos that made the hard decision also liked this thing – and they were not alone. It was pretty impressive and the audience knew it. The ratings were at all -time highs when the show was canceled. The audience point of the Roll -Of -Time tomatoes rose between the first season and the second season from 38% to 60%. The third season became darker, increased the pace and reached the pace with a score of 83%. The critics were generally friendlier all the time, but was still on extremely impressive 97% for season 3.

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Nevertheless, the life elixir of a show (actual spectators) has decreased in the course of the three-year run. According to Deadline, the Wheel of Time season 1 was the most watched premiere of 2021 by Prime Video and a Top 5 ever. While the audience, especially globally, has remained relatively strong, it is not sufficient. The show did not even reach Nielsen's top -10 -original chart in the first three weeks of season. Fortunately, the creators were smart enough to see the writing on the wall, and put the final of the third season with at least one degree of closure (as far as possible in Jordan's mammoth).

For myself, the cancellation was always a way after visiting the set. If this is not clear now, this was not the case that the show was bad. On the contrary, it was well done and showed a great line -up. Critically, it also achieved what I considered a rare performance in the modern media: it has a mountain made of source material (14 huge books from the original Robert Jordan series) in something that resembles a coherent and convincing story.

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No, it was not the production itself that I thought that the show was for the hackklotz. It was the mere costs associated with production. As typical of the Tentpole series from Prime Video, the studio has poured a lot of money in everything, from VFX to sets, cinematography and any other element. As I was on the set, I saw dozens of hair pieces and detailed costumes. They had to use a golf car to move people for interviews, not only for reasons of convenience, but because it was right to go from one set to the next.

The Tar Valon set was particularly impressive. It had a real, gigantic goal, was at least two floors in most areas and was out of view. Side streets were real and all props were legitimate. I remember that I recorded the smallest piece of a dealer and watched his handmade subtleties. Cool? Absolutely. (The nerd in me spent all the time.) Expensive? They bet their lower dollars. If this production was doomed to fail from the start, it was the exaggerated investment in a really impressive show that was impressed by the smallest costume detail to the largest set.

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It is a shame that “Wheel of Time” is intended for Hollywood's trash can. But do not make a mistake, even if a difficult record in a bad economy was what it has, leaves three seasons of the best filmed fantasy adaptation that can be bought.