Drama
The Wheel of Time
While no Game of Thrones, Amazon Prime’s lavish take on the popular fantasy series adds some problems to an already adult-oriented saga.
Middle schooler Anna Wilson doesn’t want to leave life in the big city, but she doesn’t have a choice.
Her dad’s business partner stole company profits and gambled them away. Now, the company is being sued, and Anna’s parents, James and Rose, can’t afford to live in the city anymore.
They pack up their home and move in with Rose’s parents, PawPaw and Gram, in Spring Hill, the small town where Rose grew up.
It’s not that there’s anything wrong with Spring Hill. In fact, it’s a pretty nice, quaint town. Here you don’t need to lock your doors, and your neighbors will let you know if there’s a job opening somewhere. It’s just that Anna’s used to 21st century living. She wants, y’know, reliable internet access and cell service (two things the town has in short supply).
But again, she doesn’t really have a choice. Looks like she’ll need to learn to adapt quickly.
Luckily, Anna’s not alone. Her younger brother, Michael, is right there with her.
Born with Fanconi’s Anemia, a rare bone marrow disorder, 10-year-old Michael is used to adaptation. Because he has no wrist bones or thumbs, he’s had to adapt to using pencils, utensils and even cell phones differently than his big sis. And since he doesn’t have a lot of stamina, he’s never really been able to run around all day like Anna can.
But Michael has learned not to focus on the negative. Even when he was bullied out of school, he chose to pray for his enemies instead of staying upset with them. And even though country living presents some new challenges for him, he’s ready for the new adventure—and he encourages his sister to change her own attitude about the move as well.
And things really begin to look up when Anna meets Shadrach, a horse belonging to one of her grandparents’ neighbors.
Mr. Macleod wasn’t a kind owner to Shad. And he was adamant that the horse wasn’t for sale. But PawPaw managed to convince the man to trade Shad for a prized, vintage motorcycle.
And just like that, Shadrach was theirs.
The siblings still have quite the adventure ahead of them. But they’re certain that God brought Shadrach into their lives for a reason. And they’re ready to face whatever comes next.
Shadrach is the latest in Great American Pure Flix’s original programming. And it’s fun for the whole family.
Anna is a caring older sister, doing what she can to make sure Michael has the same childhood experiences that she does. And although Michael is the younger brother, he seems to inspire his sister with his faith and contentment. Their parents are loving but firm, trying to teach their kids discipline and manners while still granting them some freedom to make their own decisions.
Gram and PawPaw add to the dynamic with their old-school, country flair. They take the whole family to church—something Anna only ever previously did on Christmas and Easter—bringing their daughter and her family close to Christ through their own example of faith.
The only potential content concern might be some frightening themes. For instance, Anna and Michael find themselves hurt and lost in the woods after Shadrach gets spooked and bucks, throwing the siblings to the ground. They’re eventually found, but it’s pretty scary for the siblings and the adults frantically searching for them.
Shadrach has a Hallmark-esque quality to it. Add in the strong Christian themes and, for many families, it’ll be a home run.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at [email protected], or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
After being forced to declare bankruptcy, James Wilson and his family move to the small town of Spring Hill for a fresh start. And Anna finds hope in her new home after rescuing a horse named Shadrach.
A horse’s owner is cruel, yelling at the animal and whipping it harshly. Anna is disturbed by the man’s actions. And her grandfather makes a personal sacrifice to rescue the animal.
Elsewhere, Anna claims to be vegan, worried that the chicken her grandmother is cooking was one of the hens from their farm.
Anna narrates a bit about Michael’s medical condition, explaining that he’s had many surgeries and hospital stays throughout his life. We learn he was bullied at his old school (kids would purposely trip him) and that he’s been homeschooled ever since. However, Michael is a very content young man with a loving and protective family.
A woman’s smooches her husband on the cheek.
Anna displays a bit of a typical teenage attitude. However, her parents and grandparents keep her in check. PawPaw is a bit rude to his wife’s friend, making some unkind remarks after she leaves. Someone ignores a sign warning “No trespassing.” Anna’s dad lets her have coffee even though her mom doesn’t want her to have any. A cup breaks after someone accidentally drops it. Someone says, “heckuva.”
Rose, Anna’s mom, is supportive of her husband, James, after learning what happened to his company, insisting everything will work out. We later learn James’s brother bankrupted the company after stealing and gambling away profits.
Anna believes that God is too busy to focus on her family, and she states some cynical ideas about church. However, Gram is a strong believer. She insists on introducing the family to the new pastor after church. And she gifts her cross necklace to Anna in the hopes it will inspire Anna’s faith. And Anna’s heart seems to soften when she names the family’s new horse Shadrach after hearing the story from Daniel in the Bible.
The family prays before meals and attends church.
Anna and Michael are excited to have Shadrach in their lives. However, they’re put to the test after getting lost on a ride.
PawPaw allows Anna and Michael to ride Shadrach up the road to their new house on their own. However, Shadrach gets spooked just as they’re arriving and takes off running. He eventually bucks the kids off, and Anna injures her leg in the fall.
Lost and unable to call for help, the kids search for a solution to their predicament. They encourage each other. And, at Michael’s suggestion, they sing a hymn to make themselves feel better. Anna is surprised to learn that Michael still prays for the kids who used to bully him. People praise God when the kids are eventually found.
A husband and wife smooch. Song lyrics mention wine going to someone’s head. Rose sets out to find a job in Spring Hill, but she’s embarrassed to tell folks why her family is there.
Taking care of Shadrach turns out to be a lot of work. However, the responsibility helps Anna adjust to country living since she loves the horse more than she misses her old life. Many people learn to make the best of their circumstances and be grateful for what they have.
Folks come together to help the Wilsons search for their kids. Gram listens earnestly to a request from Anna after her parents make a hard decision about Michael. And she advocates for her grandkids’ wishes, eventually leading to a healthy compromise. Anna makes a personal sacrifice to ensure Michael receives the same treatment as herself after a dangerous incident involving both of them.
Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.
While no Game of Thrones, Amazon Prime’s lavish take on the popular fantasy series adds some problems to an already adult-oriented saga.
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