Sports Betting Is Here to Stay

The landscape of sports has shifted. It’s no longer just about the final score; it’s about the “spread,” the “parlay,” and the “prop bet.” In less than a decade, sports betting has transformed from a back-alley hobby or a Nevada-exclusive novelty into a multi-billion-dollar global juggernaut that is now woven into the very fabric of the fan experience.

As of 2026, the rise of sports betting isn’t just a trend—it’s a fundamental restructuring of sports media, technology, and personal finance.

For decades, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) effectively banned sports betting in most of the U.S. That changed in May 2018 when the Supreme Court overturned the law, ruling that states had the right to legalize and regulate the industry.

What followed was an economic explosion.

  • Rapid Expansion: Since 2018, Americans have legally wagered over $500 billion.
  • State Adoption: By 2026, 39 states and Washington D.C. have operational sportsbooks.
  • Tax Windfall: In 2024 alone, state governments collected approximately $1.8 billion in tax revenue from sports gambling, with New York leading the pack with a 51% tax rate on mobile betting.

The Digital Revolution: A Casino in Every Pocket

The true engine of this growth isn’t the flashy retail sportsbooks in stadiums—it’s the smartphone. Today, approximately 94% of all sports wagers are placed online.+1

1. The Rise of “Micro-Betting”

The most significant shift in how we bet is the move toward in-play or live betting. Rather than just picking a winner before kickoff, fans now bet on the outcome of the next drive, whether a player will make their next free throw, or if a specific pitch will be a strike. In 2024, DraftKings reported that live wagers accounted for over 70% of their total betting handle during major events like the UEFA Champions League.+1

2. AI and Data Personalization

Modern betting apps use sophisticated AI to analyze your behavior. They provide:

  • Tailored Recommendations: Suggesting bets based on your favorite teams.
  • Real-Time Odds: Algorithms that adjust odds in milliseconds as game dynamics change.
  • Predictive Models: Tools that process player stats and weather conditions to help bettors “find an edge.”

The “Gamification” of Sports Media

The line between a sports broadcast and a gambling advertisement has almost entirely vanished.

  • Broadcasting Integration: Major networks now feature betting tickers at the bottom of the screen and dedicated “betting experts” during halftime shows.
  • League Partnerships: Once-hesitant leagues like the NFL and NBA now have official “sportsbook partners,” integrating betting directly into their official apps and stadium experiences.
  • Social Betting: New platforms allow users to share “betting slips” with friends, turning a solitary activity into a social competition.

The Dark Side: Financial and Social Costs

The meteoric rise of the industry has come with a steep human cost. As access has become frictionless, the barriers to addiction have fallen.

Impact CategoryStatistical Trend (2025-2026)
BankruptcyRates up 25-30% in states 3-4 years after legalization.
Addiction HelpOnline searches for “Am I addicted to gambling” rose 23% post-legalization.
DemographicsYoung men (under 30) are the most at-risk; 31% placed a bet in 2025.
Credit HealthAverage credit scores dropped by 0.3% to 0.5% in betting-heavy regions.

Research indicates that online sports betting drains household finances more aggressively than traditional casino games. The psychological “illusion of control”—the idea that one’s sports knowledge can beat the house—often leads bettors to wager more than they can afford to lose.

The Future: 2026 and Beyond

The industry shows no signs of slowing down. The global sports betting market is projected to reach $325 billion by 2035, driven by the expansion into markets like Brazil and the continued growth of Esports betting, which is particularly popular among Gen Z.

As we move forward, the conversation is shifting from how to grow the market to how to protect it. We are seeing increased calls for:

  • Strict Ad Regulation: Similar to tobacco and alcohol, to protect minors from constant exposure.
  • Mandatory AI Safeguards: Using AI not just to set odds, but to flag “problematic usage patterns” and force cooling-off periods for players.

The rise of sports betting has permanently altered the way we consume sports. It has turned every viewer into a stakeholder and every game into a financial event. Whether this “Third Wave of Legal Gambling” is a sustainable economic boon or a brewing social crisis is a question that regulators, and fans, are still trying to answer.

The Power of Resilience: Overcoming the Odds in Sports and Business

The Denver Broncos organization, led by coach Sean Payton, is facing a significant challenge heading into the AFC Championship game after starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending fractured right ankle in their dramatic overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. Despite this “devastating” news, as described by Nix, the team and the larger world of sports and business demonstrate a powerful capacity to overcome adversity.

The Broncos’ Immediate Challenge

Bo Nix, who underwent surgery to repair the fracture, will miss the remainder of the postseason, forcing backup Jarrett Stidham to take the helm against the New England Patriots. This abrupt change has caused the Broncos’ odds of winning the Super Bowl to drop significantly, but the team is focusing on refocusing and responding to the challenge with confidence in Stidham’s abilities.

Historical NFL Examples of Overcoming Adversity

The Broncos can look to a history of NFL teams that have risen to the occasion despite losing key players, proving that collective resilience can triumph over individual setbacks.

  • 1990 New York Giants: After starting quarterback Phil Simms went down with a broken foot late in the season, backup Jeff Hostetler stepped in and led the team to a Super Bowl XXV victory.
  • 1999 St. Louis Rams: A preseason injury to star QB Trent Green opened the door for Kurt Warner, who went on to win MVP and lead “The Greatest Show on Turf” to a Super Bowl XXXIV win.
  • 2017 Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles lost starting quarterback Carson Wentz late in the season, and backup Nick Foles famously took over, eventually leading the team to a Super Bowl LII victory over the Patriots and earning Super Bowl MVP honors.

Companies Who Overcame the Odds

The spirit of overcoming adversity extends far beyond the football field, with numerous examples in business and personal life highlighting the strength of resilience.

  • Apple: In the late 1990s, Apple was near bankruptcy. The return of Steve Jobs and the subsequent launch of innovative products like the iMac, iPod, and iPhone transformed the company into one of the most valuable brands in the world.
  • Starbucks: Facing financial difficulties in the early 2000s, CEO Howard Schultz temporarily returned to the company and refocused on the core customer experience, leading to a massive resurgence and global expansion.

The situation in Denver is a potent reminder that while plans may be disrupted by unforeseen circumstances, the ability to adapt, maintain belief, and rally as a unit is often the true measure of strength in the face of daunting odds.

The Power of Precision: Why Clear Goals Matter in New Year Resolutions

Setting clear goals is the foundation of any successful resolution. Without a specific destination, it is easy to lose focus and drift off course. To succeed, you must move beyond vague intentions and define exactly what you want to accomplish and how you plan to get there. This clarity acts as a GPS, guiding your daily actions and keeping you aligned with your ultimate vision.

However, a goal without commitment is merely a wish. Motivation may get you started, but commitment drives you forward when the initial excitement fades. By fully committing, you make a non-negotiable promise to yourself. This dedication is the engine that transforms a simple resolution into a tangible achievement.

Designing a Roadmap for Success

A resolution is only as strong as the strategy behind it. Once you have defined your goals, you must develop a robust action plan. This roadmap should break your primary objective into manageable steps and identify potential obstacles before they arise.

Planning ahead minimizes friction. When you have a clear path to follow, you are less likely to be paralyzed by indecision. Remember: even the most ambitious goals are reachable when broken down into a series of consistent, intentional actions.

The Role of Consistency and Persistence

Consistency is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. High-intensity effort is rarely as effective as steady, daily progress. By establishing a routine, you turn discipline into a habit, making it easier to stay motivated over time.

When you encounter hurdles, persistence becomes your greatest asset. Setbacks are not signs of failure; they are a natural part of growth. A persistent mindset allows you to view challenges as temporary detours rather than dead ends. By staying the course, you ensure that small wins eventually compound into significant results.

Creating a Culture of Support

No one achieves greatness in a vacuum. Surrounding yourself with a strong support system—whether it’s friends, family, or a mentor—provides a layer of accountability that is hard to maintain alone. These individuals offer encouragement during difficult times and celebrate your victories with you.

Your internal environment is just as important as your external one. A growth mindset—the belief that your abilities can be developed—is crucial. By focusing on progress rather than perfection and maintaining a positive outlook, you protect your momentum from self-doubt.

Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stones

The path to success is rarely a straight line. Rather than fearing failure, treat it as a source of valuable data. Each setback offers a lesson on what isn’t working, allowing you to refine your strategy and return even stronger.

By analyzing your mistakes instead of dwelling on them, you turn obstacles into opportunities for growth. Resilience is born from the decision to keep going, adapting your plan as you learn. With a clear goal, a solid plan, and the willingness to learn, success is not just a possibility—it is an inevitability.

A Fan’s Journey to the 2023 Texas Rangers World Championship

The Texas Rangers are World Series Champions. I hope you read that right. World. Series. Championship.

Past pain and suffering (2011) has been erased. All is right in the world.

After 52 years as the Texas Rangers, they have finally secured their first World Championship for the fans.

The Texas Club won 11 straight road games in the postseason to bring home the win. It was an historic run.

“Any World Series is great, but to be able to win it for Texas, that first one, it’s incredible,” said  Nathan Eovaldi according to MLB.com. “It’s hard for me to put it into words. I feel like I’m just rambling. But it’s very special to me.”

Texas Rangers fans have waited a very long time for this, and it was an amazing moment for sure.

My Journey

My family moved around a bit when I was a child, but in 1988 we finally settled in Texas for good.

The love for baseball I have began with names like Geno Petralli, Steve Buechele, Pete Incaviglia, Ruben Sierra, Jim Sundberg and of course Nolan Ryan a few season later.

I remember the Rangers winning the West in the 1990’s. I remember Kenny Rogers, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, Mark MacLemore and others celebrating.

Yankees hate became a real thing after those post season appearances. Then came the lean years.

From 2001 through 2006 the Rangers won more than 80 games only 1 time. They would not do it again until 2010.

I began blogging about the Rangers in 2008, my first piece was on starting pitcher Kevin Millwood. It was terribly written and researched.

I started podcasting that same year with my friend Nathan Hague. We had a general sports podcast called “The Hague Sports Podcast”.

That gave me the podcasting bug and I began doing my own Rangers podcast called
The Ranger Fan Dieter Podcast”. Creative, I know.

In January of 2011, I decided I really enjoyed doing this a created my own website, called “The Ranger Report”.

That meant that my podcast name would also change. My first article here was on Adrian Beltre.

We went strong that season and of course were completely heartbroken after the 2011 World Series. I failed an 8 hour certification test the next day because of the Texas Rangers.

In 2013, I joined NolanWritin.com to cover the Rangers to a broader audience, but back surgery and a career change meant I would have to give that up.

I stopped the podcast for a while, but continued writing. I’d found it to be a good outlet for me.

After settling in to my new career as a teacher, I got back into Podcasting in 2018. The Ranger Report Podcast was reborn then.

I had made friends on that app formally known as Twitter. I had loyal followers who enjoyed reading and listening.

Expanding the Vision

In 2020, the COVID year, I decided that going solo was not the best option for me, so I put a plea out on Twitter (X) asking a simple question: Anyone want to do a Texas Rangers podcast with me?

January of 2021 I was joined by CJ Berryman. I was very excited to have a co-host to help me continue the show. We made crazy predictions, talked about everything from minor league logos to the Texas Rangers.

I was growing as a fan and as a podcaster, getting better at it (I hope). When the Ranger signed Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, I began feeling hope again.

We had not seen winning baseball in Texas for 5 years at that point. It was difficult to find good things to say during the seasons. But we pressed on.

As a long time Texas Rangers fan, I was ready for disappointment in 2023. In our preseason predictions show I had the Rangers finishing third behind the Astros and Mariners.

Winning became a repeated occurrence, and I began to have a little hope this team may be good. Still, I held my excitment.

The All-Star break rolled around and the Rangers had 6 players in the game. Five of them were starters (Jonah Heim, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Josh Jung and Adolis Garcia).

Nathan Eovaldi got into the second inning and the Texas Rangers had 6 players on the field at the same time. A Major League Baseball Record.

Rangers fans know that after the All-Star break is were the team usually fails us, and I was ready.

Failure Expectations

The team instead came out on fire after the All-Star break winning 6 games in a row. My excitement began growing, they finally had me believing.

They began August with 8 straight wins, and 9 out of 10. I finally believed that this team could be a threat.

As expected, the bottom fell out. They fell out of first place and lost 75% of their games over the next four weeks. I was ready to tell everyone “I told you so”.

All Rangers fans were discouraged. They looked ready to take the next step but once again disappointed fans.

After a weekend series in Arlington were the Houston destroyed the team and they lost first place to said Houston, they were all but out of it in my eyes. I was ready to begin my off-season podcasts.

Somehow, they scraped their way back into first place until the final game of the season.

The Seattle Mariners had been eliminated and had nothing to play for. Instead of rolling over, they played a brilliant game and held the number 1 offense in baseball to 0 runs.

Postseason was clinched but division lost, the Rangers had to fly to Tampa Florida and face off against he 99 win Rays.

The Amazing Turn Around

I knew it was over, but I tried to stay positive. In my mind I was ready for more disappointment.

At least they made the postseason, right? I had my end of the season article all ready to go.

The Rangers went to Tampa and swept the Rays in two games. I was shocked to be honest.

Next, the Texas team had to travel to Baltimore and face off against the 101 win Orioles. The Rangers took game 1. Then game 2.

The series moved back to Arlington, and the Rangers finally got to play in front of their home crowd.

They did not disappoint, sweeping the Orioles in 3 games and advancing to the American League Championship Series.

The only solace I took at this point was that the Rangers had never lost an ALCS. They had only played it 2 as a franchise.

Who else but the Houston Astros would also advance. The Astros owned the Rangers during the season to the tune of 9-3. Ouch.

Much to my surprise, the Rangers took both games in Houston, making their road winning streak 6 in a row. Could it be?

I didn’t let myself believe yet. I had been disappointed too many times before.

The series traveled back to Arlington where the Astros had owned the Rangers. The Astros owned the Rangers again, winning all 3 games in Arlington including a back breaking come from behind win in game 5.

The series headed back to Houston with the Astros up 3-2, and the Rangers season would come to an end at the home of the reigning world champs.

Adolis Garcia became an offensive force to be reckoned with and the Rangers took game 6. Game 7 loomed.

Garcia put the Astros away in game 7, making the Texas Rangers 3-0 in ALCS contests and dethroning he defending World Champions. They were headed back to the World Series.

Finally 2011 is No Longer A Painful Memory

The Texas Rangers took game 1 in Arlington against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Game 2 was claimed by the Arizona club, and the Rangers managed only 2 wins out of 6 tries in front of their home crowd.

The Road warriors traveled to Arizona and won game 3. Then they won game 4.

Game 5 rolled around and I still wasn’t able to have a lot of hope with Texas leading the series 3 games to 1.

For 6.1 innings, the Rangers were dominated by Arizona starter Zac Gallen. No hits through that point of the game.

My initial thought going into the seventh of a 0-0 tie was here come the Rangers. Just like 2011, they are going to blow it.

Frustration set in. They were going to lose that game and then the series.

The first hit, then the first run came. Hope.

The Rangers blew it open in the top of the 9th taking a 5-0 lead. I was once again cautiously hopeful.

I thought about my dad who passed away in 2013 and gave me my love of sports. He would have enjoyed this.

My mind continued to muse over friends I’d made online and in person. They were 3 outs away. Just thinking that gave me PTSD.

In the most iconic strikeout in Texas Rangers history, Josh Sporz ended the 52 years of disappointment and suffering for Rangers fans and Eric Nadel was finally able to declare the Rangers as the World Champions.

Emotion flooded me as I lost it, the realization hitting me that they had won it all.

Texas had come out on top. They were the World Series Champions. People who don’t watch or follow sports don’t understand the significant role it plays in our lives.

I had waited since 1988, many had waited longer. I sat there half watching the television for the next few hours. It was an unbelievable moment.

For the first time, 2011 didn’t bring back pain anymore, it was just an event on the way to an eventual World Series Championship. The wait was finally at it’s end.

Hopefully now I can watch sports with less cynicism and less negative expectations.

The enjoyment of this Championship will not end anytime soon for myself or Rangers fans.

You can read all of my Rangers related content at www.therangerreport.com

Holiday Blues

This time of year is supposed to be joyous and wonderful, but it isn’t for everyone. Not to be a complete downer, but it is difficult for a lot of people around you and me.

My father passed away during the holidays 9 years ago, and since then the season just has not been the same. I smile and go about my day with Christmas cheer, but inside I am aware that a big part of my celebration is missing.

Lots of people suffer loss around the holidays, and we all wish it wasn’t so. We are lol so busy and hectic this time of year that it is sometimes difficult to see past our current problems.

It takes slowing down and really listening to people to see where they are at. I’m out world of everything online, sometimes it is difficult to interact with real people in the real world.

Be sure to be mindful of those around you. Not all of them are happy. Not all of them are okay. Some of them are really struggling to just make it until January.

I’m glad that depression and mental illness has been brought to many more people’s attention recently. It’s important to know that it is a real problem and not just a “mood” or “bad attitude”.

Nobody has a perfect life. They are all messy in one way or another. Addictions, sadness, marriage trouble, family issues, there is always something.

Be sure to be mindful during this season to the people that you come in contact with. You can make a world of difference in someone’s life simply by listening to them.

The best way to forget about what you are struggling with is to help others. Be the good part of someone’s day. You never know the impact it may have.

Writers Block

In all my years of writing and podcasting I have learned that writers block is indeed a real thing. There are times that I have no idea what to write or talk about.

Being that this blog is done for entertainment and not for a job, I can just wait till it passes. I don’t have to worry about deadlines or paychecks.

Sometimes that makes it difficult to come up with topics to discuss with you all. Other times that makes it easy, just talk about what I want to.

Also, it makes it easier for me to avoid topics that I do not want to discuss like politics and the Yankees. Being your own boss without deadlines has its advantages.

However it is not all fun and games. I have referenced the story I have been writing on this site for years, and it took me far longer than it should have to complete the first draft.

With no one to check in on me or ask me about it, I sometimes went months or even more than a year without writing anything. Makes it difficult to keep a train of thought.

In trying to come up with my article for this week, my ideas were limited which is why it is about writers block. Sometimes you just have to be real with everyone.

I believe that deadlines are good things. They help the world go around. Also, some information needs to get out there in a timely manner.

I write about sports on my other site, and there are some stories that I just flat out miss. I don’t have the time to do the story justice.

In conclusion I thought I would drop some gems of wisdom from other authors on writers block. Enjoy.

“When you face writer’s block, just lower your standards and keep going.” — Sandra Tsing Loh

“You can’t think yourself out of a writing block; you have to write yourself out of a thinking block.” — John Rogers

“Writer’s block is only a failure of the ego.” — Norman Mailer

Ideas are strange and temperamental things. We all have them, and sometimes we need to write them down, even if we think that we are blocked.

The Difficulty of Change

Change is never easy. People get comfortable with where they are or what they are doing.

I started thinking about this today as Tom Brady decided he is now un-retired and back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Stepping away from something you have been doing your entire life can’t be easy.

We seem to be built for consistency. I know that I have been in the same job going on 8 years now. It hasn’t always been easy or good, but sometimes it is easier than trying to find something else and inviting change.

But back to Brady. Professional athletes seem to have the most difficult time letting go.

I can understand it. The fame, the money, the competition, the drive that the good ones have.

No matter what you personal opinion of Tom Brady is, he is one of the best to ever play the game. Also, he will be 45 next season.

When I was 45 I couldn’t even get out of bed without grunting and groaning. Yet Brady is still playing football.

So why do we find it difficult to accept change? I know for me, I am an extreme creature of habit.

I get up around the same time everyday. I leave for work around the same time, eat the same things for breakfast, do the same routines all day at my job.

There is a comfort to routine. We like to be comfortable, feel like we are in the zone.

People have stayed in horrible situations before simply because they did not want to make a change. All of us have accepted we weren’t totally happy about for the sake of not changing.

Sometimes change is necessary. Often it is required. Usually, for me, change is something I fight longer than I should.

Only time will tell if Tom Brady is waiting too long to retire. So far it sure doesn’t look that way.

Do you like change? Let me know why or why not on Twitter, Facebook or in the comment section below.

Why is Everything Political?

No matter what is happening in the world, it always comes back to being political in America. The days of caring about people and ideas are long gone, now we live in the days of lining up with a party.

Here I sit, an American who loves his country and the people around me. I do not line up with either political party. I feel like I’m not alone in this problem.

“Regular” people are sick and tired of it. We want legislators that care about what’s best for us and our country, not what is politically expedient for their careers.

I believe there is no one left in politics in either party that gives a flying flip about their constituents. They use their base to get elected and then stop caring.

It reminds me of how teachers are State employees when it is convenient for politicians. The rest of the time we are expendable and useless.

Unless you are already rich, you can’t even run with a chance of winning. And try being honest? You’ll be laughed out of the arena.

There is a war going on in Europe, but all our leaders want to talk about is how everything is the fault of the former administration and not their fault.

They will smile and tell you how much better everything is, even as the World is falling apart right in front of us. There is no actual compassion for our fellow man.

The older I get, the more I realize what a joke all our politicians are. I hate to be the one to break this news to you, but none of them care about you. At all.

Even if you die, there is a chance they can still cast a vote for you. Being elected is much more important than compassion or decency or truth.

The cynic in me believes that this is never going to change. The realist in me knows that to be true. The hopeful side of me is long gone.

It is up to you and me to effect our world, not the clowns pretending to govern us. As more of us figure this out, the world might actually become a more civil place again.

I pray you still have some hope left. Get out there everyday and be the difference in someone’s life. WE can still change the world, in spite of the jokers in “charge” of the country.

The Importance of Overcoming A Toxic Environment

Everyone has worked or been in a toxic environment at some point in their lives. If you are older than 21, it is almost a given.

Working in an environment that is uncomfortable is not something anyone sets out to do. A bad boss, bad co-workers, bad location, terrible office, etc. What I have learned in thirty-plus years of working is that it less about the environment and more about how you react to or handle it.

As far as I know, we are all human. Humans make mistakes and get angry. We don’t all like everyone we meet, and they don’ all like us. Here are some things I’ve learned over the years.

It’s not me, it’s you

Attitude, in my humble opinion, is the most important thing in this situation. If you are in a very uncomfortable work or school environment, how you react to it is much more important than how they handle it.

If you allow the toxic environment to control you, it will. For example, if you have a supervisor that belittles or demeans you on a day to day basis, you can either take what they say to heart or you can realize that their opinion of you isn’t the issue. The issue is usually their opinion of themselves that is the problem.

Calmness is the Key

It’s easy to get ticked off in a situation where you are right and they are wrong. Learn to be the bigger person. At the end of the day, you have to live with you, not them. If you stick to your convictions and stay true to yourself, everything else will work out in the end.

Does that mean the situation will get better? Rarely. Usually there is not much that can be done for someone who makes it there life goal to make sure everyone is a miserable as they are.

Decision Time

I’ve learned throughout my lifetime that I have the final say on how my day is going to be, no matter what the circumstances. We’ve all heard the stories of people with chronic diseases that just want to help as many people as they can before their time is up.

Be that person. You never know who you are going to effect with a positive attitude. While things my be awkward and angering, if you choose to let it all roll off you had have a good day, you will.

Now it doesn’t work every time, but the majority of the time your day will turn out better if you decide it is going to. I’ve been in some terrible situations in my life that didn’t bother me, and I’ve been in some easy ones that turned out to be awful because I convinced myself they were awful.

Conclusion

In the end, you should be the only resident in your brain. Don’t let other people move in with negativity or sour attitudes. If you do, remember YOU are the landlord and you can evict them.

It is up to you to clean up your thoughts. No one else can do that for you. Make every day a good day, ultimately it is up to you. You are the key to any situation, always remember that and you will keep the toxic situations to a minimum at worst. At best, you will remove your mind from any toxic thoughts.

The Wheel of Time: A Review

*This article contains spoilers for the Wheel of Time Amazon series and the Wheel of Time Book Series*

I started reading the Wheel of Time in the 1990’s. Book six had just been released when I began the series. For those of you that do not know, The Wheel of Time is a fourteen-book series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.

Amazon Prime did a made for television verson loosely based on the book series. Very loosely based. To be honest, it is very difficult to take a beloved book series and turn it into a on screen production that book lovers will adore. It rarely happens. That is one reason it took so long for this to happen.

Amazon wanted to make it more adult themed by making the characters older than they are in the book series. That seems to happen a whole lot with teenaged characters and on-screen portrayals. Think Percy Jackson who is in his early twenties in the movies and 16 in the books. The main character Rand Al’Thor is a teenager in the book and in his mid-twenties in the series, as are Mattrim Cauthon, Perrin Aybara, Egwene Al’Vere and Nynaeve al’Meara is slightly older.

While those changes can be done well, my opinion is that the characters picked for some were not good. As in every modern show or series, the characters were picked to fit a certain narrative in the directors/producers’ political views and not true to the original series. The description of the characters in the books and their onscreen counterpart are not the same thing. I was pleasantly surprised by the acting of some of the people portraying people I grew up reading about, but some missed the mark by a long shot.

Josha Stradowski, who plays Rand, did a very good job at the role in my opinion. He looked the part and he played Rand pretty close to how I had him in my mind. Again, Barney Harris as Matt also did a good job. The writing for him could have been better, but they had to move his character along much faster than in the books and that bothered me a bit.

Rosamond Pike and Morraine Damondred and Daniel Henney as Lan Mandragoran also did a very good job. Lan was not exactly as portrayed in the book, but for me Henney did a very good job capturing the essence of Lan.

On the not as good side, Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara acted the part well, but he was not given an accurate representation of his character. From him having a wife to begin the series to him killing her by accident and being all torn up about it, it was nothing like the Perrin from the books. Perrin was one of my favorite characters from the series, so to be honest it would have been hard to please me on this one.

Zoe Robins as Nynaeve captured only one side of the character, the sassy, always angry side. She played it well, but they made the character way too one dimensional. Not the fault of the actress, the fault of the director and the writers for being short sighted.

Min Farshaw was possibly the worst written character in the on-screen version of the story. Kae Alexander acted well, but she was not at all Min. the description of Min is happy and mischievous, where the Min from the Amazon series was somber and downright depressing. I was very disappointed in their interpretation of her.

Thom Merrilin was another major disappointment. Alexandre Willaume, who played the character, said they wanted to have a different Thom Merrilin than in the books. A darker, more brooding character. That seems like a bad idea for a gleeman. Thom is another of my favorites from the books, and they missed him by a mile on the series.

Now, the story was rushed at best, and the real story was neglected at worst. They had to add things like lesbians and political correctness to make sure all the critics who lean left politically would really love the series, leaving the series readers in the dust with shattered dreams of what could have been.

If you have not read the series, you were most likely lost, and the plot didn’t make a ton of sense to you. It felt rushed to a reader like myself, but I knew what was going on because I had read the entire series. If you had not read the series, they assumed you would get vague references to the series, which is incorrect.

The season finally was extremely loosely based on something that happened in book 3, but it was not nearly as good or understandable as the book version. I tried to hold my judgement for a period of time after watching the series, and now as I look back on it, I am disappointed but not completely turned off to the next season.

It can be salvaged with some better writing and some more time spent explaining the world to newcomers. It can be a good series, but they have to be either more true to the original, or they have to explain things better to the new people they are trying to bring into the Wheel of Time world.

Overall, I am disappointed. It was what I feared it would be but hoped it would not be. A modern telling of a well-loved book series with a political and social skew to it. It is never possible to do a book series of this magnitude complete justice with an on-screen version, but Amazon didn’t really try very hard to be true to the original. They, unfortunately, made it to be “modern”, which, to be honest, I am never going to enjoy completely.