And once again we set out on the road: "The Time Skill Cycle" is the sweeping fantasy we have been waiting for

The television adaptation of one of the most successful book series in the world, turns out to be a winning combination of prestigious production, successful casting and smart writing.

The sweeping rhythm, mystery and sense of adventure of a fraternity of friends against all odds, make the episodes pass quickly and leave a taste of more

Ilan Kaprov

18/11/2021

Thursday, November 18, 2021, 00:00

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Trailer for the series "The Wheel of Time" (Amazon Prime Video)

For over a decade, fans of a particular popular fantasy book series have been waiting for the last two books to complete a 25-year journey for them. Without mentioning names (just, George R.R. Martin, it's entirely up to you), its creator has been doing everything but completing it for years - and while this is of course his right, it's interesting to examine this case against the background of "The Wheel of Time" In both cases there are epic fantasy series, with a huge and vast world, countless characters, mythological creatures, supernatural touches and of course millions of fans. The number of copies sold so far from each one is more or less the same (about 90 million), and in both cases They were adapted for high-budget TV series: the first on HBO and the new one on Amazon Prime Video (the first three episodes air together tomorrow, Friday, and from there one episode each week).

But while that series has been smeared for over two decades on seven volumes, the "Time Skill Cycle" on 14 volumes has been written as if it is fighting for its life. Tragically, author Robert Jordan did indeed die suddenly following a heart attack in 2007, having managed to write the first 11 books in 15 years. The last three were completed by his friend, writer Robert Sanderson, based on Jordan's roadmap. What has disappeared in this equation between the two works (beyond that petty matter of the two books who knows if and when they will come) now concerns the fate of the television adaptation of "The Time Skill Cycle." On the one hand, for a change it rests on the basis of a whole source material with a beginning, middle and end, but no less so it also has the spirit of its creator - yes, just like the work to which it is compared. When it comes to her first season, she seems to be running ahead and fighting as if her life depends on it - and it works.

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A thrilling, sweeping and twisting adventure.

"Time Skill Cycle" (Photo: Amazon Prime Video)

At the heart of the "time-skill cycle" is a circular conception, of history that repeats itself in each age anew, as human beings come into the world to fulfill the role assigned to them in each generation. Hence the names of the series and the books. In this universe the most powerful source of energy is called the "One Power", which only a few and special can channel. The force is divided into two sides - male and female - that existed in harmony, until a tremendous battle between the forces of light and darkness led to the pollution of the male part of the force. A man whose attraction to power was particularly strong, and was called the "dragon," lost his sanity when he channeled power and brought about the destruction of the world. Men have since been denied the right to access it. Thus, the most powerful and influential figures in the work universe are Aas Sadai, an order of powerful women who are only allowed to channel the one power. Men who try to do so are persecuted by them and permanently cut off from the possibility of accessing it - for fear of leading to renewed destruction.

The plot of the series begins many years after that destruction, in the shadow of an ancient prophecy about the "reborn dragon" - a man with a particularly strong connection to the one power, who will save humanity and the world from the Lord of Darkness and resurrection.

Aas Sadai named Morain (Rosamund Pike, "Disappeared"), goes to a remote area called "The Two Rivers", where she suspects that one of the five young locals is the "dragon": the three friends Rand (Joshua Stradovsky), Matt (Barney) Harris) and Perrin (Marcus Rothford), the young village sage Nineveh (Zoe Robbins) and the one who is destined to inherit it and is also the object of Rand's love, Ivan (Madeline Madden).

Together, the group embarks on a dangerous journey to find out its fate, with dangers and powerful enemies waiting for them on all sides.

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Carries a lot of the series on her back.

Rosamond Pike, "Time Skill Cycle" (Photo: Amazon Prime Video)

From the literal description, "Time Skill Cycle" sounds like another fantasy series that does no good to non-fans of the genre: lots of details to seemingly remember, mythology, concepts. In short, very little will be spent. But in practice, this is exactly the most notable virtue of the television adaptation of "The Time Skill Cycle" (the review is based on six episodes out of the eight that make up the first season. A second season has already been booked). While quite a few fantasy series collapse under this heavy burden of exposition and premature grinding of water until the tools finally line up on the board, Amazon's fantasy series just gallops forward almost without stopping. Details and explanations come in motion and almost never as a lecture or sermon as is customary in the genre, and on the other hand even those who are unfamiliar with books have no sense of confusion or lack of details.

A significant part of this achievement lies in the series' choice to deviate quite a bit from the original material, especially when it comes to the identity of that powerful "dragon".

Although the first book, The Eye of the World, is also a mystery about the answer, it is quite easy to decipher.

This is a character whose story actually opens the book and from which the chain of events begins to unfold.

The much thicker fog that the series casts (including the number of nominees for this degree) adds a lot of interest and risk to adventure - and it is indeed such: suspenseful, sweeping and full of twists and turns.

And the more we become acquainted with the story of the five, and especially the relationship between them, the more their fate becomes much more precious to our hearts.

This element is important because regardless of the identity of the "dragon", the development of each and every one of the protagonists places him on a different and important trajectory in advancing the plot.

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Well written and cast heroes.

"Time Skill Cycle" (Photo: Amazon Prime Video)

This result could not have been achieved without a successful casting, and here comes the second important virtue of the "time-skill cycle." Its protagonists are not only well written, but also precisely suited to the types they are. And just as their weaknesses and strengths make them beloved in the book, so it happens in the series itself. Above them all stands Pike, the senior actress in the cast by a margin. In 2014 with the lead role in David Fincher's 'Disappearance', it seemed that here the British star was making the big leap to the status of a super-actress in Hollywood. And while that hasn’t happened, Pike carries much of the series on her back. She expresses well the complexity of Morain and Haas Sadai, especially when it comes to the enigma that characterizes her and her motives, the awe that her abilities evoke, but takes care to inspire in her enough humanity not to make her cold and detached. And in general, given the much inspiration that "Time Skill Cycle" draws from "The Lord of the Rings", it can be said that she is a kind of female Gandalf.

With a $ 100 million price tag for the first season, it seems fair to say that the impressive design and production of "Time Skill Cycle" is self-evident.

It would have been true if we had not encountered so many huge series in recent years, that managed to turn a fortune into a disaster.

Quite a few big scenes are included in the first season, multiplayer, occurrences and effects, and except for a puzzling decision to present a particular scene in the first episode in a hyper-fast cut that makes it difficult to understand exactly what is happening before us, the visual aspect of the series is spectacular and impressive.

It's fun to get carried away after the battles and adventures of the "time skill cycle", just as it's fun to follow its scripted and interesting thread weaving.

Devout fans may well be seen in this creative freedom because of blasphemy, but it manages to simplify quite a few complex and lengthy events from the books, and mostly surprise those who are sure they know where it all goes.

Galloping forward.

"Time Skill Cycle" (Photo: Amazon Prime Video)

Speaking of "Lord of the Rings", this is perhaps the most interesting part in the context of the "time skill cycle" and its future. With all due respect to the large investment and hype surrounding it, the diamond in Amazon's crown is generally "Lord of the Rings" - a brand that for its purchase and its first season alone paid the trading giant close to $ 1 billion, and is expected to rise as early as next September. Of course, we are not telling Jeff Bezos the money, and even without doing so it is clear that there is more than enough for both series - but it will be very interesting to see how "Lord of the Rings" differentiates itself from a series that has adopted many of the motifs and benefits that set it apart: Fight the Dark, the vast and expansive world, the mystery, the powerful wizards and a variety of other motifs.

All of this should not, of course, interest the "time-skill cycle," which is a refreshing surprise, and most importantly, in the face of a TV year laden with failures and disappointments - simply a fun and effective TV as we all hope to see.

The length of the episodes (about an hour each) is not burdensome or tiring, the pace is overwhelming and the feeling of uncertainty contributes to the desire to swallow more and more of it.

With only eight episodes, this desire does only good: it is always better to leave us with a taste of more, than to make us wonder: "When will it already be over."

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