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Unforgettable moments from The Wheel of Time season one
Mumbai: In its debut season, The Wheel of Time journeyed to a world where magic and destiny come together for an engaging fantasy drama. The Amazon Original series introduced viewers to a group of young villagers whose lives changed changed when a formidable sorceress, Moiraine (played by Rosamund Pike) arrived, bringing along with her chaos as she and the relentlessly hunted for the elusive Dragon Reborn, a figure of immense power and destiny. As we eagerly await the upcoming season, here’s a quick recap of all that went down in season one!
Introduction to a world of magic and destiny
The season began with the arrival of Moiraine Sedai (Rosamund Pike) and her Warder (magically linked bodyguard) Lan Mandragoran (Daniel Henney) in the peaceful village of Emond’s Field. They’re on a mission to find the Dragon Reborn, a prophesied individual who could either save the world or bring its destruction.
Trolloc attack and the flight from Emond’s field
Chaos erupts as Trollocs, monstrous creatures serving the dark one, attack Emond’s dield. Moiraine identifies Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski), Mat Cauthon (Barney Harris), Perrin Aybara (Marcus Rutherford), Egwene al’Vere (Madeleine Madden), and Nynaeve al’Meara (Zoë Robins) as individuals connected to the prophecy. The friends, along with the wisdom Nynaeve, flee as Dark friends pursue them. The thrilling chase is what catapults the story forward, engaging the fans in an exciting journey.
Journey and self-discovery
The group embarks on a treacherous journey to the city of Baerlon, facing dangers like Whitecloaks and Shadar Logoth. Along the way, Rand channels the One Power, Nynaeve exhibits strong channeling abilities, Mat becomes affected by a cursed dagger, and Perrin grapples with his connection to wolves. Egwene’s potential as an Aes Sedai is hinted at, and brings forth potential mysteries for the characters.
The Quest for the Eye of the World
The group’s journey leads them to the Green Man, guardian of the Eye of the World. He sacrifices himself to protect the Eye from forces of darkness. In a climactic showdown, they confront the Forsaken Aginor and Balthamel. Rand inadvertently channels immense power, and the Forsaken are defeated as the Eye is sealed. Rand’s confession to Egwene about his channeling marks a pivotal moment of vulnerability.
Embracing destiny and setting the stage
As the season concludes, the friends find the Dragon Banner in Fal Dara, revealing Rand’s acceptance of his role as the Dragon Reborn. The Horn of Valere is discovered, hinting at greater battles to come. The group’s unity grows stronger as they face their intertwined destinies and prepare to confront the challenges that lie ahead.
Based on the best-selling Robert Jordan fantasy series, the second season of The Wheel of Time is slated to premiere on 1 September. Building upon the foundation of the first season, the new installment promises even more exciting twists and revelations. With the original cast reprising their roles, including Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Zoë Robins, Madeleine Madden, Josha Stradowski, Marcus Rutherford, Barney Harris, featuring in pivotal roles. Directed by Sanaa Hamri and Thomas Napper, fans can brace themselves for another captivating chapter in this epic saga streaming exclusively on Prime Video.
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Snapchat parent Snap cuts 16 per cent of workforce in AI-driven restructuring
The Snapchat parent is axing around 1,000 jobs and closing 300 open roles to save $500m, as artificial intelligence makes smaller teams the new normal
CALIFORNIA: Snap is snapping. The Snapchat parent has confirmed plans to cut around 1,000 employees, roughly 16 per cent of its full-time workforce, as it bets that artificial intelligence can do what headcount once required. Shares jumped more than 10 per cent in premarket trading on the news, a brisk vote of confidence from a market that has watched the stock shed about 31 per cent this year.
The restructuring, which also closes more than 300 open roles, follows pressure from activist investor Irenic Capital Management, which holds an economic interest of about 2.5 per cent in the company and has been loudly pushing Snap to tighten its portfolio and lift performance. The firm got what it asked for, and then some.
Chief executive Evan Spiegel told employees the cuts would reduce annualised expenses by more than $500m by the second half of the year. The company expects to incur charges of between $95m and $130m related to the layoffs, mostly severance, with the bulk landing in the second quarter. Staff in Snap’s North America team were asked to work from home on the day of the announcement.
The financial backdrop is not without bright spots. Snap expects first-quarter revenue to rise around 12 per cent to approximately $1.53 billion, broadly in line with analyst estimates. Adjusted core profit for the January to March quarter is forecast at about $233m, comfortably ahead of Wall Street’s expectation of $186.8m.
The harder question surrounds Specs, Snap’s augmented reality smart glasses subsidiary, which Irenic has urged the company to spin off or shut down entirely. The unit has absorbed more than $3.5 billion in investment and burns through approximately $500m in cash annually. Snap is pressing ahead regardless, with a consumer product expected later this year, even as Meta leads the market in the segment.
Spiegel is betting that leaner teams, smarter machines and a consumer AR play can restore Snap’s credibility with investors who have run out of patience. The redundancy notices have gone out. The harder restructuring, the one that requires a hit product rather than a headcount reduction, is still very much pending.
