Exclusive: Rafe Judkins Dives Into Bold Changes for Wheel of Time Season 2!

Summary

The Wheel of Time season 2 is receiving positive feedback and is said to be even better than the first season.

By altering the source material and fostering deeper connections between characters, showrunner Rafe Judkins skillfully conveys emotional resonance on the screen.

Due to a sudden departure in the middle of the season, the second season went through a comprehensive overhaul, resulting in a renewed emphasis on the individual quests undertaken by the Emond's Field Five. This eventually leads to a compelling emotional climax when they finally reunite.

The Wheel of Time season 2 finale contains spoilers. The process of bringing The Wheel of Time to the screen has faced multiple obstacles. The author of the book series, Robert Jordan, passed away in 2007 before completing the series. Brandon Sanderson took on the task of finishing the books. Additionally, the production of the Prime Video adaptation's first season was halted due to COVID-19. When filming resumed, a key actor was no longer available. However, the creative team behind The Wheel of Time persevered and overcame these challenges, resulting in a second season that has been widely praised as superior to the first. Showrunner Rafe Judkins, known for his involvement in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the upcoming Uncharted film adaptation, deserves recognition for his role in bringing The Wheel of Time to television.

Rafe Judkins On The Wheel Of Time

Screen Rant: I understand that you worked on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It appears that a similar pattern is emerging here, where a television series is initially met with mixed reactions, but eventually gains a devoted and appreciative following as it continues. From your perspective, does this stem from having faith in a unique creative vision, believing in the exceptional nature of your work, and persisting despite any initial criticism or skepticism?

Rafe Judkins: The books had a captivating, gradual progression as readers discovered the unique and special aspects of the world created by Robert Jordan. Even after 30 years, the presence of the Seanchan remains rare and intriguing. It brings a fresh and new perspective to the story, enhancing its appeal as the series continues.

At a certain point in reading the Wheel of Time books, everyone experiences a profound shift where they become fully engrossed and obsessed with the story. For me, that moment occurred with the Egwene Seanchan storyline. From then on, my thoughts revolved solely around this book series. I believe the same phenomenon is happening for viewers of the show, where they reach a point of complete immersion.

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Some people find their special moments in the first season, while others find it in Lanfear, Nynaeve and the Arches, Egwene, or witnessing Rand on top of the tower at the end. Each person has their own unique moment, and our responsibility is to bring enough of these moments to life so that individuals can connect with them.

In the season two finale, you achieved remarkable things by rearranging these moments from the book, deepening the relationships among the core characters. How did you reach that point or work towards it from a writing perspective?

Rafe Judkins: Our focus is always on bringing the emotional lives and relationships of these characters to life for the audience, as those are the aspects that have the most impact on television. It is through falling in love with the characters and their connections with others that we aim to deepen the significance of key moments.

This approach is evident even in Perrin's storyline in the finale. While the books depict him killing two Whitecloaks and the death of Hopper in the first book, we wanted to take more time to fully invest the audience in Perrin's character development and his bond with Hopper. This way, when that crucial moment arrives, the audience can truly feel the loss of Hopper, akin to a parent's grief. Personally, I still experience that feeling every time I watch it, and Kal Pinka's performance as the dog is truly exceptional, deserving the title of Best Supporting Actress. Our aim is always to create such emotionally resonant moments.

Mat blows the Horn of Valere alongside the Horn of Valere in the books, and it was crucial for us to connect this event with his emotional journey throughout the season. In the books, his main struggle is being a hero without believing in his own abilities. Therefore, our objective was to use this significant moment of him blowing the Horn of Valere to convey that emotional narrative to the audience, allowing them to truly understand Mat's character development.

In regards to your departure during the first season, I am curious to know how Mat's storyline for the second season differed from your initial vision due to these circumstances.

Rafe Judkins: The entire season was rewritten to focus on the story of Mat, who sees himself as an unlikely hero. Although we originally planned to include the three boys searching for the Horn of Valere, we had to abandon that storyline. In television, it's important to stand by the story you're telling. Therefore, we decided to fully explore the individual paths of the five characters from Emond's Field, as they are separated for the first time. This allowed us to create a strong impact when they eventually reunite at the end of the season. Viewers will witness each character embarking on their own journey before they come together.

Does this imply that Rand's decision at the end of season 1 was influenced by Mat, resulting in their separation?

Rafe Judkins affirmed that committing to the notion of each character being distinct was crucial. Therefore, the team took action and successfully presented compelling individual storylines for all of them.

One of the standout moments in season 2 is undoubtedly the water scene featuring Egwene and Renna. I remember reading on Twitter that this scene had a deep impact on you when you first encountered it in the books. I'm curious to know how much this scene changed from its initial draft to what we saw on screen.

Rafe Judkins: The credit for crafting this episode goes to the incredible writer, Rammy Park. The story she presented came together seamlessly right from the start in the writers' room, and it remained largely unchanged as it made its way onto the screen. It was always clear to us that this was a story about a woman's emotional breakdown, conveyed through the symbolic use of a pitcher and water. The idea flowed smoothly through the entire production process without any major alterations.

Are there any specific elements from the second or third books that weren't included in the show that you regret not being able to include?

Rafe Judkins: One storyline that I particularly miss is the three boys going on a hunt for the Horn. I really loved that storyline, especially in The Great Hunt, because it showcased Rand, Mat, and Perrin's relationship with each other. While we had to find other ways in the show to bring these three characters together and highlight their dynamic, I still feel a sense of longing for that specific storyline. We understand that not everything from the books can be included, but sometimes you can't help but wish for it.

Lanfear stands out this season with her amazing introduction at the season's end. Can you explain how the development of the villains unfolded for the show? Lanfear's role seems to align with what readers envision while reading the book, rather than what is actually written on the page.

Rafe Judkins: That was our intention - to delve into the Forsaken and explore their significance throughout the entire book series, rather than focusing solely on books two and three. Ishamael and Lanfear are often portrayed through the perspective of Rand or Perrin, appearing only as moments of fear. However, the series humanizes them in an incredible way, generating deep intrigue. They chose the Dark for reasons that are distinctly human, rather than out of pure evil, which is why they pledged allegiance to the Shadow.

We aimed to incorporate the knowledge gained about Lanfear and Ishamael throughout the entire book series by portraying their characters from the very start. Rather than having the audience wait until season five to develop a fondness for Lanfear, we wanted them to love her from the beginning. And Natasha (O’Keeffe) accomplishes that brilliantly.

During the first season, you collaborated considerably with Brandon Sanderson. Did you have any specific collaborations for season two?

Rafe Judkins: Brandon also collaborated on the second season, and I treasure every moment spent with him because he is one of the foremost epic fantasy storytellers of our era. Having him contribute his brilliant ideas while developing these storylines is truly exceptional. In season two, one of his invaluable contributions was ensuring the coherence and resolution of the narrative threads. Although our approach may have differed slightly, he provided me with invaluable guidance in maintaining focus on these pivotal moments. Delivering these payoffs in a television format can be challenging at times, especially compared to the ease of doing so in a book. However, it is crucial for our epic fantasy series to evoke that same grandeur, and Brandon played an instrumental role in helping us achieve that this season.

About The Wheel Of Time Season 2

The second season brings forth both novel and ancient perils that target the young companions hailing from the Two Rivers, currently scattered across the globe. The once influential mentor who discovered and guided them is now devoid of any ability to offer assistance, compelling them to seek alternative wellsprings of fortitude. They must rely on their bond with one another, their own innate resilience, the forces of good symbolized by the Light, or the malevolent forces epitomized by the Dark.

Check out our other Wheel of Time season 2 interviews here:

Sharon Gilham

Jan Petrina

Davina Lamont

Ondrej Nekvasil & Ondrej Nierostek

Sanaa Hamri & Thomas Napper

Josha Stradowski

Madeleine Madden & Daniel Henney

Marcus Rutherford, Donal Finn & Ceara Coveney

Zoë Robins

Andy Scrase

New episodes of The Wheel of Time release on Fridays on Prime Video.