The Wheel of Timeshowrunner Rafe Judkins has finally broken his silence on the show’s cancellation with some engaging thoughts. Amazon announcedThe Wheel of Time’scancellationback in May, just weeks after the season 3 finale that marked the end of the adaptation’s strongest season yet. Just when the epic fantasy series was beginning to find its form and reach the potential of Robert Jordan’s masterful books,the story was forced into a premature, dissatisfying conclusion, leaving fans of the series confused and distraught.
It turns out audiences aren’t the only ones confused about the cancellation, as though Amazon listed financial reasons,showrunner Rafe Judkins finally took to Instagram to express his feelings, saying: “Why was The Wheel of Time canceled? And the truth is,I don’t know.“On his post, he goes on to offer his solemn feelings not only regarding the show’s failure to meet its end goal: concluding Robert Jordan’s story, but also about the broader state of television and the loss of long-form narrative in the medium. See his full post below:
What Rafe Judkins' Post Means For The Wheel Of Time
The Show’s Future Doesn’t Look Bright
Since season 3’s ending, fans of the show have worked on a petition that’s managed to accumulate over 130,000 signatures, urging Amazon not to cancel the show. This campaign has even rented a billboard in New York’s Times Square. Despite the evident passion from a massive viewer base, Judkins' comments are sadly less hopeful.While he expressed that a renewal on another platform wasn’t out of the realm of possibility, he noted the infrequency of those occurrencesand the unlikelyhood of it happening toThe Wheel of Time.
Our Take On Rafe Judkins' Instagram Post
The Wheel Of Time Is Indicative Of Broader TV Issues
Production companies are willing to invest massive budgets into their TV shows, butwhat they’re hoping for is quick, lightning-in-a-bottle results likeStranger ThingsorOne Piece. Unfortunately, this method doesn’t work for every tale.The Wheel of Timetakes time to plant its seeds and grow, which is part of what Judkins was trying to describe. Even though I wasn’t a fan of season 1, I’ll also admit that it took me a significant portion ofThe Eye of the Worldto become invested in the books. Season 3 was proof of a positive trend, and it deserved another go.
