GQ had released some new images and new insight into the Amazon Prime Wheel of Time television show. Senior staff writer Zach Baron shares his own journey through the realms of fantasy fiction and sums up the challenges and boons the show faces.

The obvious benefit for the show, Baron states, is it’s following in the footsteps of Game of Thrones. The HBO blockbuster opened the floodgates for demands for more fantasy. Baron says, “It's no wonder television has come to love fantasy—both are mediums without any set end, mediums that thrive on near endless renewal.” And viewers are looking for the next new world to escape into.

But there are some difficulties in producing a show of The Wheel of Time’s scope. There are book fans to placate and new fans to entice, and through it all, Rafe Judkins—the showrunner—has to play peacekeeper. Judkins says, “I say sometimes that showrunning is basically just laying your body over the show and trying to protect it as you take 10,000 swords into your back.” So far, most fans agree having the show in Judkins’s hands is a good choice.  Even Brandon Sanderson, who finished the last three novels after Robert Jordan’s death, agrees. When speaking to Baron, Sanderson said, “I basically became stepdad to millions and millions of fans,” and “[n]ow I've been able to hand that burden off to Rafe.”

Baron also recounts his visit to the filming set in 2019.  He spoke with the actors, saw the sets, observed the foundation that will be the final draft of the show.  He gives great details about the work the actors did as well as the struggles for the costume and creatures designers. You can read the full article here.

As the show's air date of November 19th looms closer, we're getting more and more teasers and content.  What do you want to see next?  Let us know in the comments below!