“The Wheel of Time” (WoT) is an epic fantasy series by Robert Jordan, later completed by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan’s passing.
Four years ago, “The WoT” aired on Prime Video and was developed by showrunner Rafe Judkins. It had a rough start during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the show improved with each season and built a loyal audience. By its third season, the show earned a remarkable 97% on Rotten Tomatoes — only to be abruptly canceled in 2025.
For fans like me, the cancellation didn’t feel like closure. It felt like betrayal, a blow to a story that had only begun to realize its potential. Judging by the outrage across fandoms and social media, I am far from alone.
The main cast includes Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred, Daniel Henney as Lan Mandragoran, Josha Stradowski as Rand al’Thor, Zoë Robins as Nynaeve al’Meara, Madeleine Madden as Egwene al’Vere and Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara. Mat Cauthon is played by Barney Harris in the first season and by Dónal Finn from season two onward.
I was first introduced to “The WoT” books when I watched Daniel Greene’s YouTube live “The Wheel of Time red carpet premier!” This event has introduced me to other fan voices, including WoT commentator KritterXD.
I immediately went to her TikTok and watched a couple of her WoT videos. I stayed up far too late watching her breakdowns of Aes?Sedai lore and character arcs, and soon after, I picked up the first book. KritterXD ultimately became the reason I fell down “The WoT” rabbit hole. Shortly thereafter, I had read half of the 14-volume series and immersed myself in an online community unlike any other.
When I interviewed her recently, KritterXD said she has been a dedicated fan ever since and vividly remembers the anticipation when the TV show was announced. She explained that she had been excited, but her enthusiasm skyrocketed when the cast was revealed and she discovered that Rosamund Pike had been cast.
That excitement didn’t fade. The seasons only improved as time went on, and season three was the best out of the three. “When it came out that it wasn’t being renewed, I was just devastated, confused and honestly, more than anything, furious,” KritterXD said.
The response to Amazon’s?cancellation was quick. Within weeks, the #SaveWoT campaign launched a petition, urging the studio to reverse its decision. The petition now has more than 233,000 signatures, including, I’ll admit, every email address I own.
The fandom’s determination didn’t stop there. They launched a GoFundMe that quickly brought in about $32,000 before stopping donations. According to KritterXD, the organizers deliberately ended the campaign early because they only wanted to raise as much money as they could responsibly use.
The funds went toward billboards, banners and promotional campaigns seen from São?Paulo to Los?Angeles, even catching the attention of the cast. Actor Josha?Stradowski, who plays Rand?al’Thor, shared photos of the “Save WoT” billboards in São Paulo and a video of an aerial banner flying over Amazon Studios, commenting, “Oh my!”
Rosamund?Pike and showrunner?Rafe?Judkins publicly supported the campaign as well, expressing hope that the series might find a new home. Pike used her social media to share campaign-related posts, including images from costume designer Sharon Gilham and spoke out on her desire to continue the story.
Some early critics said the show diverged too much from the source material, which is a natural risk when condensing 14?novels and a prequel. But as KritterXD said, the series still captures the high points and clearly feels like “The Wheel of Time” – just a different turning of the Wheel.
Where the adaptation shines most, KritterXD says, is in its portrayal of women. “Robert Jordan was so ahead of his time, I think, at least for a white dude, for putting women at the center of the plot,” KritterXD said. “And I think the show obviously took that from the books and kind of maybe even turned it up a few notches to modernize it even more.”
When asked what the series means to her personally, KritterXD didn’t hesitate.
“‘The WoT’ really advanced my love for epic storytelling and worldbuilding. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is up there, right up there, as like my favorite series, but the difference between ‘The WoT’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is that there are powerful and complex women,” she said.
That’s a sentiment I share. For me, and thousands of others, saving “The Wheel of Time” isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about protecting a story that brought people together, people like me, who found belonging in a world where the Pattern weaves us all for a reason. Each season improved upon the last, and the community’s devotion is undeniable.
KritterXD summed it up best, saying, “Don’t let the best fantasy show to ever be on television go away.”
If streaming platforms truly value engagement, loyalty and story worlds that inspire global communities, then Amazon, Sony or any competing service should listen. The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills – but perhaps, this time, the Wheel is waiting for us to act.
More information about the SaveWoT campaign can be found on their website.
