Exclusive: Daniel Henney Talks The Wheel Of Time Season 2, Friendship With Rosamund Pike, And Missing His Criminal Minds Castmates!
The Wheel Of Time S2 is almost here!
The wheel has been spinning and it is that time again, folks! After debuting with an eight-episode Season 1 in November last year, The Wheel Of Time is back with Season 2, all set to premiere on September 1, 2023. The Prime Video fantasy series, based on the high fantasy novel series of the same name by Robert Jordan, is developed by Rafe Judkins and features an expansive cast that includes Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Zoë Robbins, Josha Stradowski, Madeleine Madden, Marcus Rutherford, Dónal Finn, and Ceara Coveney, amongst others. Season Two of The Wheel of Time is based on elements of the third novel in the series, The Dragon Reborn, and has been filmed across the Czech Republic, Morocco, and Italy.
At the end of Season 1, things didn’t look all that good for our heroes, you recall? Rand al’Thor finds out that he is The Dragon Reborn, and despite an attempt to destroy the Dark One, he doesn’t exactly manage to rid the world of evil. Meanwhile, Moiraine, the Aes Sedai, has been rendered powerless, and her Warder, al’Lan Mandragoran, is torn between his need to help her and his new relationship with the Wisdom, Nynaeve al’Meara. In Season 2, as the wheel of time turns and The Last Battle approaches, we see the fates of the Aes Sedai as they try to keep evil in check, and of the friends from Two Rivers, who are scattered across the world, fighting their own battles in the Light and in the Dark.
Hauterrfly got a chance to sit down and chat [pre- SAG-AFTRA strike] with actor Daniel Henney (My Lovely Sam Soon, Criminal Minds), who plays the Warder Lan Mandagoran (and heir to the lost kingdom of Malkier) on the show, about what to expect from The Wheel Of Time Season 2, his friendship with costar Rosamund Pike, and whether or not the fandom chatter around the show bothers him.
Excerpts from the interview.
Q: A lot of what Lan comes from being Moiraine’s Warder. But at the end of Season 1, with the bond there no longer, we see him as the heir to a kingdom, and in a relationship with Nynaeve al’Meara. What’s Lan’s headspace like going into Season 2?
Daniel Henney: Honestly, I think he’s all over the place because he’s falling in love with Nynaeve, and they have parted ways because he chose to go to The Eye Of The World following Moiraine and put himself in danger. And that’s, you know, never a great way to start a relationship!
I think he’s confused after what happens to Moiraine at The Eye with her being stilled [that’s what they think has happened]. The bond not being there is new. Yes, Moiraine has mastered it in the past but this is new. And so, Lan’s navigating the frustrations of not being able to understand what Moraine is doing with her time, who she’s been speaking to, and her holding things back from him.
So, on one hand, there’s the excitement of starting a new relationship; on the other, another one seems to be falling apart and he’s alone. When the Warriors lose the bond with their Aes Sedai, it’s very intense for them. Some don’t make it, some become suicidal. So there’s to a lot to unpack there.
Also Read: The Wheel Of Time Season 1 Review
Q: What was your biggest challenge playing al’Lan Mandragoran in Season 2?
Daniel Henney: It’s always a challenge making sure we’re in the right tone with the scripts and the books because the cast is getting so big, and the world is getting so big, it’s getting spread out. Of course, the physicality is always there.
Q: The Wheel Of Time fandom is so passionate. Do you look up fan reactions on the internet? Does it give you doubts? How do you iron them out?
Daniel Henney: When I was younger, it did give me doubts. I came up through the Korean television and film system and it was a boot camp, to be honest. It gave me a lot of experience, good and bad, and taught me how to compartmentalise my emotions regarding what I read, what I take into myself, and how I apply that to my life.
Short answer, I engage with some of the fan comments, especially the direct bit, like on the stuff we do on YouTube. But I rarely read comments. I just think it can get you in a lot of trouble. Everyone has different expectations and we respect that. At the end of the day, we are here to do our jobs. We do them to the best of our ability.
With Season 1, there was a lot of struggle and adversity. We had some internal stuff going on, but we do feel like, despite COVID, Season 2 is complete. The pacing and the tone are much better, and we’re excited for fans to see that.
Also Read: 10 Fantasy Shows That Will Transport You To Faraway Mystical Lands: The Wheel Of Time, The Witcher, Supernatural, Loki, And More
Q: In the show, an Aes Sedai and her Warder are a unit. How are you and Rosamund Pike on set once the cameras are off? How has your equation evolved going into Season 2?
Daniel Henney: We are very good friends. We’ve been there for four years now. And so she’s the first person I call with good news. In fact, I’m going to buy some clothes for her while I’m still in Michigan. She wants some country-style clothing, so I’ll be taking some back for her to Prague. She’s wonderful and has become such an amazing friend. I’ve learned so much from her.
Q: What are you most excited for the fans to see this season? Is there a favourite episode?
Daniel Henney: I just think these new characters have been so highly anticipated. Fans know they’re coming in and the powerful talent we’ve hired to pull these characters off… I have some favourites. I can’t wait for fans to see Episode 4, it is one of my favourites from Season 2. But like I said before, I just am excited for them to see the whole season.
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Q: I know it’s been a while since Criminal Minds ended (and returned). But as an ardent fan, I have to ask. What has been the coolest thing about playing BAU agent Matthew Simmons and what do you miss most about the show?
Daniel Henney: I miss my friends, that Criminal Minds cast is very special. Between Joe [Mantegna], Matthew [Gray Gubler], A.J. [Cook], Kirsten [Vangsness], Paget [Brewster], Adam [Rodriguez], Aisha [Tyler], and everyone… we’re all very close. That set was full of laughter every day: jokes, teasing, hot tub, wine nights! We’d hang out at Kirsten’s house and drink wine and party, and I missed all that camaraderie. We’re a very close unit, and we still keep in touch. We have our text chain going on all the time!
I know they have all gathered for the new installment of the show and I wish I could be a part of it. But unfortunately, I’ve got so much going on with my show, The Wheel Of Time, which is great. So if I could clone myself, I would!
I, for one, cannot wait to watch the new season. Check out The Wheel Of Time Season 2 exclusive clip here:
The Wheel Of Time Season 2 is all set to premiere on Prime Video on September 1, 2023. Stay tuned for our review!
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