Rafe Judkins,

I began to read the books when I was about 10. My older brother encouraged me to read them and he read the first chapter, with Ilyena, out loud to me. I’ve been a fan ever since.

Robert Jordan died when I was a freshman in high school. I was not a part of any fandom community online, so found out the news in person. It was a strange feeling to grieve someone I did not know, but who had created the characters that had been my companions during summer breaks, long car drives, and late nights – companions that I admired and felt inspired by, that taught me to have courage and empathy and to stubbornly hold on when something is important.

When Harriet chose someone to finish the books, I was glad for it, and very optimistic. I had been hoping she would finish it herself, but handpicking someone herself is the next best thing. However, when Brandon Sanderson wrote the first book, I tried to read it and found that I just couldn’t finish it. His writing style was nothing like the original author. It bothered me every time I came across a modern word or a dumbed down internal thought. It bothered me even more that I had friends who couldn’t tell the difference in writing, or worse, preferred Sanderson’s writing.

I couldn’t read it anymore because I found myself always bothered by something and didn’t want to be in a bad mood. So I moved on with my life and focused on other things. After I finished college, I was wanting to go back and visit the world of Wheel of Time.

I looked up the finished books and came across an interview where Brandon Sanderson mentioned that Memory of Light was the quickest book for him to write because Robert Jordan had already written most of it. I had renewed hope and finally read the final three books.

I was amazed by how much I enjoyed reading them and how wrong I had been to be frustrated. Brandon Sanderson could never write exactly as Robert Jordan and it was unrealistic for me to have expected that, but he finished the series and it was absolutely incredible. It truly was a timeless ending to a unique epic fantasy.

I look back at how critical I was of Sanderson’s work and think that I was immature. I was too immature to see the whole picture, and I couldn’t have been more wrong in my embarrassing complaints of his work.

Rafe Judkins, I write all this in hopes that my experience will encourage you to not listen to critics who can’t see the whole picture of what you and your team are designing. Please do not listen to people who have displaced grief, who are irritated with the smallest details, who want someone to blame.

I don’t know much about you, but I know that you successfully pitched this show to a major streaming network by explaining your deep connection with the series. I know that you care about retaining the core qualities of the story because of your dedication when portraying characters and events on screen. I know that you care about the fans because you have answered questions and invited feedback and criticism. I know that you are skilled when maneuvering difficult circumstances because we saw you deal with eight-episode policies, COVID, replacement of a main actor. And I know that you are talented because I watched the show. Please believe me when I say that there is NOBODY that could have done a better job than you and your team with this series.

I’ve enjoyed all three seasons of the show, with Rhuidean being the most incredible portrayal of anything I’ve seen on any screen ever. Thank you to you and your team for giving that to me.

I’ll be honest and say there are parts of the show that are even better than in the books. For example, thank you for making Faile so magnetic from the beginning. Thank you for delving into Min’s backstory. Thank you for giving Loial a true main character’s role. Thank you for allowing Rand and Egwene to have a more satisfying break-up sequence. And thank you for giving Moraine and Lan space for their heartfelt and meaningful conversations. Also, thank you for displaying Perrin’s inner turmoil in a way that is still so relatable to us introverts.

I’m motivated to write to you after reading your message that indicated you have hope that another platform could pick up the series. I appreciate you not giving up even under difficult circumstances. I appreciate everything that you and your team have done and are still doing for this timeless story.

Very respectfully,
Wheel of Time fan