Fantasy has long been dominated by male heroes who save the day—and often a woman in distress. While recent hits like Game of Thrones and Star Wars have tried to flip the script, they still tend to center men as the ultimate power brokers. But Prime Video's The Wheel of Time quietly does something different: it builds a world where women hold real, multifaceted power, and it doesn't need to revolve around men to do it.
Magic Is Just the Beginning
In the world of The Wheel of Time, channeling the One Power is a privilege reserved for women in the current age. Men once channeled too, but their arrogance allowed the Dark One to corrupt that power, making it dangerous for any man to use. This history has placed women at the top of society's hierarchy. The Aes Sedai, an organization of female channelers, wield immense political influence—often bending the rules to serve their own agendas. For instance, Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike) and the leader of the Aes Sedai, Siuan Sanche (Sophie Okonedo), are secret lovers who sacrifice their relationship to stop the Dark One. Moiraine even stages a public disobedience to get expelled from the White Tower, freeing herself to continue her quest. Their power isn't just magical; it's political and strategic.
But not all powerful women are on the side of good. Liandrin Guirale (Kate Fleetwood), a Red Ajah Aes Sedai, secretly serves the Dark One and tries to recruit the powerful channeler Nynaeve al-Meara (Zoë Robins). When Nynaeve accuses her of breaking the Three Oaths, Liandrin coolly replies, “I’ve broken many more than that.” Then there's Lanfear (Natasha O'Keeffe), one of the Forsaken—ancient, sadistic channelers who sided with evil 3,000 years ago. Freed from imprisonment, she uses every trick to convince the Dragon Reborn, Rand (Josha Stradowski), to join the Dark. These women are not just villains; they are agents of their own dark ambitions.
Power Without Magic
Even women who can't channel are depicted as formidable in their own right. Nynaeve, before discovering her channeling ability, earned respect as the Wisdom of the Two Rivers—the youngest ever to hold that role. Her maturity and decisiveness made the community trust her. Other examples include Moiraine's sister Anvaere Damodred (Lindsay Duncan), who works to restore her family's honor, and Ila (Maria Doyle Kennedy), the pacifist leader of the Tuatha'an, who follows the Way of the Leaf and refuses to harm others.
The show also introduces the Aiel culture, where women are trained as deadly hand-to-hand combatants from childhood. In a Season 1 flashback, Rand's mother fights off soldiers while in labor. In Season 2, the Aiel warrior Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) is introduced: after Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) frees her from a cage, she laughs at the idea of needing protection and proceeds to dismantle a squad of Whitecloak soldiers with lethal grace. Even though some Aiel women can channel, their physical prowess is legendary—and known throughout the world.
A Richer Vision of Female Agency
What makes The Wheel of Time stand out is that its women don't need men to define their power. They are warriors, politicians, healers, and schemers—each with independent lives and goals. This is a far cry from other fantasy shows where female characters often derive their influence from manipulating men who hold the real power. For fans looking for a fantasy epic that truly centers women, The Wheel of Time is a refreshing and masterful take. If you're also interested in other fantasy worlds that break the mold, check out our list of the best fantasy epic movies or explore how video games redefine worldbuilding.
