Wheel of Time Season 2 has concluded. This is a short article to collect my initial impressions. Spoilers.
Overall - Definitely an improvement from Season 1 on many levels. There are still many plot points where the show chooses to deviate from the books. Some are quite understandable, some are jarring for book readers like me. So why are we using Falme as the location and proof that Rand is the Dragon Reborn? Wouldn't Tear have been the better location to keep, then, if we're going to cut one out? Hm.
Rand - Mostly fine. Especially in the beginning of the books, Rand is just a very bland character, which makes sense for the Chosen One protagonist. This is mirrored here in the series. In general, I think his arc here works fine and I have no complaints.
Mat - The beginning here is kind of forced upon them by the actor change at the end of Season 1. So he is obviously named a hero of the horn at the of the series. Something that is only really confirmed in AMOL, the last book. Fine, though. The dagger on the staff thing works, just to see Mat swing about a spear. I do hope will get a proper Ashandarei later, because that construction should not hold up as well as it does. Job safety is important.
Perrin - I think Perrin's arc in the show is the weakest of the super boys. He does get his moments with Hopper and offing Geofram, which is fine. Having him and Loyal stuck hunting the Horn with Ingtar... eh.
Nynaeve - My favourite supergirl had her one amazing episode with the Testing. That was really epic. The only thing missing was the "Be Steadfast!" in the ritual. Why did she not get Heal Rand in the end? In general, her time in Falme didn't add up to much.
Elayne - Same as Nynaeve, really. The introduction is fine, but contrary to Nynaeve, she doesn't get to do much in the Tower. Then they spend two episodes in Falme that don't amount to much trying to rescue Egwene only to find her having already rescued herself. Elayne gets to Heal Rand. To spark their romance or something? I guess we'll see if there's a payoff in season 3.
Egwene - Her capture by the Seanchean is one of Egwene's defining moments in the book series. And they actually manage to show that remarkably well in the series. Well done. He standing up all by herself vs Ishy in Season 2, though, that seemed a bit much. Everything else: Bravo.
Moiraine & Lan - Could've done without their relationship issues storyline. I guess you need something for your most prominent cast member to do. Can't just kill them off like Sean Bean in S1 of GoT, since Moiraine makes it to book 5... Lan's warder bond stuff might've been just taken from the later books, so they can just send him straight to Nynaeve later. Who knows...
Aviendha, Bain & Chiad - Nothing much to say. Their introduction was fine, but not great. Doesn't work as well when it's Perrin and not the supergirls. I guess we'll have to see what happens in the third season.
Forsaken - I think they kind of stole the show. Good job. Moghedien was certainly interesting. Can't wait for the conflict with Nynaeve.
Seanchean - They do feel the right kind of alien and some of the customs and whatnot from the books are well presented. The damane and sul'dam are portrayed very well.
Might add more or change my mind after giving it some more time...