Amazon’s investments in high fantasy epics are paying off, further proving that it’s worth it to take the time to tell stories to their fullest. With the third season of The Wheel of Time, we get to see all the setup and character development from the past two seasons fully take control of the narrative. Which means it’s about to get messy as hell, y’all (and to that, I say: Good).

The struggle to legitimize Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski) as the Dragon Reborn and garner support is proving difficult, particularly when others seek to claim such a prestigious amount of power for their own. Rand’s dalliance with Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe) in particular is thrilling, as the two circle each other with fiery tension—whether that tension is a good or bad thing is for you to decide. As Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) and Lan (Daniel Henney) seek to guide Rand on the path of the Light, they are pulled in different directions and must move swiftly to keep the Forsaken at bay. But with the White Tower divided and the Two Rivers becoming a battleground of ideologies, the Dark Friends’ influence is growing. 

Meanwhile, Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood) is making moves and searching for answers to her desires that are treacherous and signed in blood, but Elayne (Ceara Coveney) has motives of her own to pursue. And Elaida (Shohreh Aghdashloo) might just be pulling all the strings she can hold. Egwene (Madeleine Madden) must learn to control Tel’aran’rhiod, the dream world, in order to meet Rand at his level. Mat (Dónal Finn), Min (Kae Alexander), and Nynaeve (Zoë Robins) are drawn into a hunt for the Black Ajah but find themselves questioning everything. Elsewhere, Perrin (Marcus Rutherford) comes into his own as a leader who looks to fulfill his destiny inked on the page. And fan-favorite Loial (Hammed Animashaun) has a destiny of his own to build this season and will quickly capture your heart once more. 

The third season of The Wheel of Time gets off to a relatively slow start with bursts of brilliance, before building to an explosive second half. The sweeping fantasy is even more mesmerizing than it was when we were first introduced to the world, and the magical elements are kept simple but well done. The magic feels fully embedded in the world for most scenes, while some scenes stand out in their overt displays of power to remind you of its true strength. With stunning visual backdrops and intricate costume designs, the attention to detail—and to the fantasy genre—is to be admired. 

But it’s not just the beauty of the show that will take your breath away…sometimes, it gets snatched right out of your lungs with shock. As the stakes rise for the future of the world, the violence grows progressively more brutal—you can’t help but flinch as terrible killings are carried out without remorse or even ceremony. Yup, told’ya it’s going to get messy.

Now we’ve had time to really learn the world, the characters are settled in and start to take their agency back; Rand begins to not only take control of his powers but also question what he wants from his destiny, while those around him wonder if what they’re doing is even the right path anymore. The dynamics between the characters are the season’s beating heart, though: Min and Mat must learn to trust one another again; Nynaeve must reckon with Liandrin’s betrayal; Lan and Moiraine continue to grow as partners who understand each other deeper than anyone (their relationship will always have my heart). But Perrin and Loial’s emotional arcs are the season highlight and will keep you cheering for them long after the credits roll. While I do feel there are still a few too many characters to fully grow invested in all of them, the ones that are given more screen time pay off well and will capture your heart, even if they break it. 

If The Wheel of Time S2 left you wanting more, S3 is back on form. This season grounds the high fantasy elements through its characters, which leaves more room for emotional connection—and the result is thrilling. Honestly, watching this while our own world is in such turmoil, makes a lot of their decisions seem more real; there are characters who are fighting for the good of their people, while others still seek to sow seeds of dissent for their own ends. And sometimes, no matter how hard they fight to change things, the Wheel keeps on turning anyway—but there is always a thread of hope that connects them and keeps the Light going. And that’s what keeps you coming back for more: To see the Light overcome the Dark, because isn’t that what we should all be fighting for?