The Epic Evolution of Rand al'Thor in Season 2: Unveiling a New Chapter in The Wheel of Time

Summary

The second season of The Wheel of Time will draw inspiration from the second and third books of the series, delving into Rand's quest to master the One Power while facing formidable adversaries.

Josha Stradowski, portraying Rand al'Thor, delves into the complexity of his character's struggle to conceal his true self while navigating the immense strength he wields.

He acknowledges the fruitful synergy between the show's creators and himself, as they engage in thoughtful exchanges regarding the ongoing season as well as the broader narrative arc of the series.

Robert Jordan's epic fantasy series, The Wheel of Time, continues its journey to the screen with the upcoming release of season 2 on Prime Video. While the first season primarily adapted the first book, The Eye of the World, season 2 of The Wheel of Time will draw from the second and third books, The Great Hunt and The Dragon Reborn. Showrunner Rafe Judkins, along with the assistance of renowned fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson, who completed the series after Jordan's passing, faithfully adapted the source material.

At the heart of The Wheel of Time book series is Rand al'Thor, expertly portrayed by Josha Stradowski in the show. Season 2 begins shortly after Rand has tapped into the One Power, a dangerous force that can drive its male users to insanity. As the Dragon Reborn, the chosen one destined to save the world from the Dark One, Rand must learn to wield this potentially destructive power while facing an ever-growing army of adversaries.

Josha Stradowski Talks The Wheel of Time Season 2

Josha Stradowski discussed Rand's storyline in season 2, anticipated future seasons, and other aspects during his conversation with Screen Rant. Please note that this interview took place prior to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and the show in reference owes its existence to the hard work of the writers and actors affiliated with WGA and SAG-AFTRA.

Screen Rant: I love the way Rand’s story starts this season. To me, it was unexpected. What can you say about where we pick up with him?

Josha Stradowski experienced the same feeling of surprise when he received the script. He was immediately captivated and sought ways to expand upon the character's development. One aspect he focused on was the protagonist's attempt at concealing his true identity and abandoning his past life. To achieve this, he decided to physically transform his appearance by shaving off his hair, symbolizing a sacrifice.

As the story progresses, the audience discovers the protagonist in an unforeseen location where he struggles to manage his immense channeling powers. Being the most powerful channel in the world, each time he uses his abilities, he gets closer to the brink of madness. Despite his efforts, he finds the control to be overwhelming and uncontrollable, resulting in a tumultuous and unrefined display of power. Fortunately, there are characters throughout the narrative who offer assistance to the protagonist in various meaningful ways, adding anticipation for the viewers.

I often speculate that any major deviations from the books are part of a strategic move by Rafe and the writers, like a game of 3D chess, to ensure a successful outcome in the future. Considering your extensive knowledge of the books, how extensively do you discuss the overall plan with them as opposed to focusing solely on the current season?

Josha Stradowski: We do engage in discussions beforehand, and I have indeed read all the books. I thoroughly enjoy these conversations with Rafe and the writers. We definitely communicate. As you mentioned, there are both similarities and differences, and it's exciting to uncover the reasoning behind these choices. As an actor, having such abundant source material is incredibly rewarding and inspiring. The wealth of ideas that can be derived from it is simply astounding.

In episode 2, Rand is seen walking, and having read the books, I knew that in the future, he would become someone who takes care of the less fortunate. As he passes by a boy in a poverty-stricken area, I felt that he should give him a coin, as a testament to his sense of responsibility.

The director of the first block, Thomas Napper, was highly collaborative and open to such ideas. He was also immersing himself in the books, although I'm unsure of how far he had progressed. He believed that these small gestures added richness to the overall story.

And the audience may not even take notice of it. It may not appear significant, but to me, these small details gradually accumulate and speak volumes about Rand as a person. While it may appear as though he is merely offering a coin to someone else, for him, it holds a sense of responsibility towards the world. He perceives things differently. He sees beauty and suffering in places where others see nothing, and experiences emotions that he cannot express to anyone else. Essentially, this is where you find him in season two. He is completely isolated, dealing with everything by himself, which can be both bewildering and overwhelming.

Someone on Twitter inquired about the prop or item of clothing you plan on taking from the set.

Josha Stradowski: Oh, this is becoming a thing now. You know, if you take something from the set, it's best to keep it a secret rather than discussing it. However, it's just too enjoyable to resist. I happen to have a sword; I've managed to snatch it. It didn't come easy, especially when it comes to getting it past security. We were filming in Morocco, and I decided to bring it home with me, encountering some challenges along the way. How do you even explain that? But nevertheless, I succeeded. Now it's sitting at my house along with other items I've acquired. But perhaps that's all I'll disclose for now.

About The Wheel of Time Season 2

Hailing from Robert Jordan's best-selling fantasy series, The Wheel of Time, this captivating narrative follows the journey of Rand al'Thor (Josha Stradowski, Gran Turismo), a modest youth who discovers his true identity as The Dragon Reborn—a significant figure in history with the destiny to either save or shatter the world. As his powers rapidly ascend and his sanity comes under threat, a formidable alliance of empowered women must shield him from the clutches of the Dark One. With the turning of the Wheel of Time, the ultimate clash, known as the Last Battle, draws near.

Stay tuned for more interviews with the cast and crew of Season 2 of The Wheel of Time.

Zoe Robins

Daniel Henney & Madeleine Madden

Donal Finn, Ceara Coveney & Marcus Rutherford

The Wheel of Time season 2 premieres September 1 on Prime Video.

Source: Screen Rant Plus