SinceThe Wheel of Timeseason 4 won’t be happening,audiences should try this outstanding Netflix fantasy adaptation, which Brandon Sanderson has praised. After the epic fantasy adaptation’s strongest season yet, audiences have been shocked in the aftermath ofThe Wheel of Time’scancellation. With emotions still high nearly a month after the show was axed, it’s worth exploring other avenues, as there are other fantasy and speculative fiction adaptations available on various streaming platforms.The Wheel of Timeisn’t the only adaptation to divide readers, but there are others that are almost unanimously beloved.
Brandon Sanderson may be better known for his Cosmere fantasy universe, which covers titles likeMistbornandThe Stormlight Archive, but he’s also highly regarded in theWheel of Timecommunity for scribing the final novels after Robert Jordan passed away in 2007. Between him and Harriet MacDougal, Robert Jordan’s widow, it’s difficult to think of a more credible opinion on theWheel of TimeIP. The author was honest in his feedback throughout the show’s run, andBrandon Sanderson’sWheel of Timecancellation commentsstirred up discussion on Hollywood adaptations, leading back to statements he’s made in the past.
The Wheel Of Time’s Brandon Sanderson Praised Netflix’s Live-Action One Piece As A “Faithful Adaptation”
Sanderson Compared The Strengths & Weaknesses Of The Two Streaming Fantasy Adaptations
The Wheel of Timeseason 2 finale aired on June 30, 2025, and Brandon Sanderson offered some harsh critiques, saying, “I want to love it, and I like it. I think people are gonna enjoy watching this, I don’t think they’ll come back for it. Cause what brings you back are those moments where things culminate. You don’t come back for cool scenes.” (viaThe Dusty Wheel Show). Weeks later, he discussed Hollywood adaptations on hisIntentionally Blankpodcast, sharing his thoughts on Netflix’s live-action depiction ofOne Piece, a beloved, long-running manga and anime franchise.
Though Sanderson acknowledged that he was likely a harsher critic ofThe Wheel of Timedue to his desire to protect Robert Jordan’s work, and due to his close relationship with the material. Regardless,the author went on to praiseOne Pieceas a “better adaptation of the soul of the creator’s work than Wheel of Time is,“He gave Amazon’s Robert Jordan adaptation credit for likely being a better show all around, but also stated that this is likely due to the broader target audience, whereasOne Pieceis made for anime lovers.
In the discussion, Brandon Sanderson also went on to talk about howOne Piecesucceeded in being more self-contained, whileThe Wheel of Timewas more of a long-term, sprawling narrative.One Pieceis actually regarded as an extraordinary, fantasy epic tale, and although it will take more time to reach that stage, the live-action adaptation is progressing at a faster pace than its source material.
One Piece’s Season 1 Success Means It Won’t Be Canceled Any Time Soon
One Piece Likely Won’t Have The Wheel Of Time’s Fate
AfterThe Wheel of Time’sshocking cancellation, audiences have the right to be skeptical about investing in a new series. WhileOne Pieceis available on a different streaming platform, Netflix hasn’t had the most stellar reputation in recent years regarding canceling shows, either. However,One Pieceseason 2isone of the streaming service’s most-anticipated titles, with fans of the original anime giving the first season glowing reviews, despite widespread trepidation when the show was initially announced.
One Piecedidn’t reach the viewership levels of Netflix originals likeStranger ThingsorWednesday, but it wasthe most-viewed title in the back half of 2023. Assuming season 2 continues to achieve this degree of success, the title could be running for a long time.TheOne Piecemanga has been running since 1997, meaning there are decades of source material for it todraw upon. It’s one of the few shows supplied with a similar wealth of fantastic, beloved fiction asThe Wheel of Time, and it’s handling it in a way thataudiences have loved.
