Television The Witcher | Netflix | There are book spoilers here



Part me thinks it looks like cheap shit, another part of thinks it looks awesome. And then yet another part of me gets some real Legend of the seeker vibes out the production.

Meh Seasons 1 and 2 were already tough to sit through. Without Cavill, Im all the way out after this season. If I even bother at all. Is anyone looking forward to discount Hemsworth?
 
FattyFooty said:
I think its skillful to have such good material to make a show of. Then crap out this thing.

Its really really weak.

Everything from the Nilfgardien ballsack armour to the awfully dull sorcreseses.
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If you give the IP to showrunners, who don't respect the source material, even make fun of it, you get that thing they call Witcher show.
Hollywood has mastered the exploitation of successful IPs these days. Pick a successful IP with a large fanbase, produce something shallow and cheap with the knowledge people will watch it anyways because of the name, milk it until people realize the shallow and cheap production, cancel it and move on to the next one. A locust behaviour and it works sadly.
 
Donut said:
You’re already done with the new season? Tell us more.
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Half way through. The second half isn't out until July.
I like the parts played by the three main actors and they were ever present throughout the first half of the season. I really like the way that Geralt and Yen bounce off of each other.
Because of this I really liked episode 1, and 5. 2,3, and 4 were okay but didn't have the chemistry of those 2 episodes.
 
S3 is proper garbage so far.
I am watching episode 2 and it feels dull like a dran. Also, it seems to be quite incoherent.
 
The characters look like b-level cosplayers making a witcher movie at a private cosplay party.

The acting, the first meeting with Jaskier, Radovid and Philippa. Its insane. Its a sight to behold.

The elf that wispers, really looks like a dude from a rave party that found some funny ears.

Oh... And story wise actually story wise, the sorcresses is suppose to be pretty. They look completely normal, ignoring the bad costumes. And the bad acting.

Why the hell would they even part it in 2? Thats usally when something great comes out.

I knew it was gonna be bad. But nothing like this bad.
 
Damn I already didn't have high hopes for S3 but some of these comments have me question whether I should even try it at all. Really hope during my lifetime HBO or something gets the rights to it instead.
 
FattyFooty said:
The characters look like b-level cosplayers making a witcher movie at a private cosplay party.

The acting, the first meeting with Jaskier, Radovid and Philippa. Its insane. Its a sight to behold.

The elf that wispers, really looks like a dude from a rave party that found some funny ears.

Oh... And story wise actually story wise, the sorcresses is suppose to be pretty. They look completely normal, ignoring the bad costumes. And the bad acting.

Why the hell would they even part it in 2? Thats usally when something great comes out.

I knew it was gonna be bad. But nothing like this bad.
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Modern entertainment mate, can't have anything in that might appeal to the male gaze or whatever.
 
I honestly enjoyed season 1. Season 2 was just okay. Cavill leaving didn't fill me with any confidence for this one, not sure I'll bother. Shame what they've done with it.
 
I will slog through it, but it looks like people cosplaying in their backyard.
 
Watched the first couple of episodes and it seems like more of the same, actors doing a good job with painfully mediocre material.

Oh, and Jaskier is totally gay for Radovid, which must be super odd for book fans.
 
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I am not sure I can remember a show runner decimate his own product like this. It's almost like he hates the source material and is determined to make sure no new fans arise to read the books.
 
WI_Red said:
I am not sure I can remember a show runner decimate his own product like this. It's almost like he hates the source material and is determined to make sure no new fans arise to read the books.
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That Witcher Blood Origin tripe should have humbled them somewhat, because if they really held the original material in contempt and wanted to show they could do a better job it was a miserable failure. A lot of it comes from creators ego's, not wanting to adapt someone else's work, have to make it their own. There is a reason why stuff like The Witcher or Wheel of Time had so much success, you can critique the writers of those stories as much as you like but they are/were levels ahead of the staff writers shitting out the stuff they have.
 
Watched the first two episodes…a bit painful..

Some elements true to the books but it all feels like an entire clusterfeck.

But sheesh, Anya is so attractive :drool:
 
Eh, it's okay-ish. More of what you got in S2; if that was watchable this will be the same.

It is a shame they fouled the rest up because Cavill and Chalotra worked so well as the core of the show. Screentime without them usually feels like a waste.
 
Organic Potatoes said:
Eh, it's okay-ish. More of what you got in S2; if that was watchable this will be the same.

It is a shame they fouled the rest up because Cavill and Chalotra worked so well as the core of the show. Screentime without them usually feels like a waste.
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Yep, those 2 developed an excellent chemistry, shame to waste it.

It looks really cheap at times as well, my GF keeps pointing out how awful the makeup is, especially on Ciri, and some of the green screening looks really low effort. That point when Yen took Ciri to see where she grew up and they just chucked in a random field with no building was super high levels of not giving a feck.
 
FattyFooty said:
The characters look like b-level cosplayers making a witcher movie at a private cosplay party.

The acting, the first meeting with Jaskier, Radovid and Philippa. Its insane. Its a sight to behold.

The elf that wispers, really looks like a dude from a rave party that found some funny ears.

Oh... And story wise actually story wise, the sorcresses is suppose to be pretty. They look completely normal, ignoring the bad costumes. And the bad acting.

Why the hell would they even part it in 2? Thats usally when something great comes out.

I knew it was gonna be bad. But nothing like this bad.
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:lol: :lol: that elf is so irritating!

I also cant stand Yennifer's voice. It reminds me of that vocal fry, which i absolutely cant stand.

On the bright side, we wont see the elf again.
 
Organic Potatoes said:
Eh, it's okay-ish. More of what you got in S2; if that was watchable this will be the same.

It is a shame they fouled the rest up because Cavill and Chalotra worked so well as the core of the show. Screentime without them usually feels like a waste.
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Yeah I said something similar. There was a chemistry when they were together that made those episodes better. The episodes where they parted though...
 
I liked S1, disliked S2 and thought the spin off was embarrassing.

I'm watching this season out of curiosity and a hope it gets better. Episode 1 was good.

Bebe said:
Modern entertainment mate, can't have anything in that might appeal to the male gaze or whatever.
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But you can have Geralt shirtless all the time.
 
Bobski said:
Oh, and Jaskier is totally gay for Radovid, which must be super odd for book fans.
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It's especially odd if you played the games where Radovid is essentially a genocidal lunatic.

WI_Red said:
I am not sure I can remember a show runner decimate his own product like this. It's almost like he hates the source material and is determined to make sure no new fans arise to read the books.
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Afaik, the show runner is a woman; Lauren Hissrich I think. The author is a funny guy though. He's pretty open that he'd happily let anything happen with the Witcher if they paid him enough and he's admitted he isn't going to say anything critical about it as long as his name is on it and his cheque clears. Apparently he's moaned about the games despite them being much better because they paid him less than the show. He seems a bit of an arsehole tbh.

Bobski said:
That Witcher Blood Origin tripe should have humbled them somewhat, because if they really held the original material in contempt and wanted to show they could do a better job it was a miserable failure. A lot of it comes from creators ego's, not wanting to adapt someone else's work, have to make it their own. There is a reason why stuff like The Witcher or Wheel of Time had so much success, you can critique the writers of those stories as much as you like but they are/were levels ahead of the staff writers shitting out the stuff they have.
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Agreed. That show was hilariously bad. Every character was generic, their motivations were weird and the world was bizarre. I did find it funny that the side that ended a 1,000 year long war was portrayed as the villains.

Halo is similar. The people who made that are open that they didn't give a shit about the games despite the show only existing because of the fanbase of the games. Unsurprisingly, the show's hated. Sad to see the witcher go the same way.
 
Tyrion said:
Agreed. That show was hilariously bad. Every character was generic, their motivations were weird and the world was bizarre. I did find it funny that the side that ended a 1,000 year long war was portrayed as the villains.

Halo is similar. The people who made that are open that they didn't give a shit about the games despite the show only existing because of the fanbase of the games. Unsurprisingly, the show's hated. Sad to see the witcher go the same way.
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Not enough writing talent around to fill the demands for content. TV fantasy has been hit hard by this trend, whatever gains the LOTR movies and then GOT made in legitimizing the genre as a serious story telling medium have been squandered, back to not far beyond Xena level stuff now. Then you add in all the toxicity around political messaging (not helped by the unsubtle third rate hacks writing for these shows) and you have a shitshow. Wheel of Time, Rings of Power, The Witcher, Shadow and Bone, Willow, a great deal of time and money wasted on tripe end product.
 
I watched it and didn't hate it. Its weaker than the second season but i found it kind of enjoyable regardless. I think theres just good chemistry with the actors and they make it quite fun. Its a low quality diversion at this point. Wont survive without Cavill.
 
Bobski said:
Not enough writing talent around to fill the demands for content. TV fantasy has been hit hard by this trend, whatever gains the LOTR movies and then GOT made in legitimizing the genre as a serious story telling medium have been squandered, back to not far beyond Xena level stuff now. Then you add in all the toxicity around political messaging (not helped by the unsubtle third rate hacks writing for these shows) and you have a shitshow. Wheel of Time, Rings of Power, The Witcher, Shadow and Bone, Willow, a great deal of time and money wasted on tripe end product.
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I am going to give WoT a pass, barely, as the pandemic, and a main actor walking off the set, wrecked chaos on season 1. That said, they better nail this season.
 
led_scholes said:
:lol: :lol: that elf is so irritating!

I also cant stand Yennifer's voice. It reminds me of that vocal fry, which i absolutely cant stand.

On the bright side, we wont see the elf again.
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And Yennifer is the best of the sorcresses, that says alot about this show.

Season 1 had its moments, but overall that also could have been so much better.

Season 2 and 3 is just wrong. It certainly dont feel like the Witcher universe.
 
I like it, it's an easy watch. Geralt, Yenn and Ciri are a good trio to watch and Geralt going all witcher-y is entertaining.
 
Bobski said:
Not enough writing talent around to fill the demands for content. TV fantasy has been hit hard by this trend, whatever gains the LOTR movies and then GOT made in legitimizing the genre as a serious story telling medium have been squandered, back to not far beyond Xena level stuff now. Then you add in all the toxicity around political messaging (not helped by the unsubtle third rate hacks writing for these shows) and you have a shitshow. Wheel of Time, Rings of Power, The Witcher, Shadow and Bone, Willow, a great deal of time and money wasted on tripe end product.
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I do remember hearing that the number of ongoing shows nearly doubled over the last several years because of streaming. The audience definitely didn't grow that much so its almost a bubble.
 
Bobski said:
Not enough writing talent around to fill the demands for content. TV fantasy has been hit hard by this trend, whatever gains the LOTR movies and then GOT made in legitimizing the genre as a serious story telling medium have been squandered, back to not far beyond Xena level stuff now. Then you add in all the toxicity around political messaging (not helped by the unsubtle third rate hacks writing for these shows) and you have a shitshow. Wheel of Time, Rings of Power, The Witcher, Shadow and Bone, Willow, a great deal of time and money wasted on tripe end product.
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Spot on.
I'd rather have a masterpiece of a fantasy movie worth rewatching 10 times once every 2-3 years, than generic cheap treadmill productions. I want to have nice things in the fantasy genre again :(
 
That last double episode made me think that they really want to be Bridgerton. Forget about story, lets have society romance drama with pretty clothes.
 
Ragnar123 said:
Spot on.
I'd rather have a masterpiece of a fantasy movie worth rewatching 10 times once every 2-3 years, than generic cheap treadmill productions. I want to have nice things in the fantasy genre again :(
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Isn't HOTD that? 2-3 years per season of high quality fantasy
 
I finished s3 vol 1 today. I didn’t hate it, though am a little disappointed so far. I liked episode 4 but wasn’t that fussed about the previous 3 other than some nice set pieces here and there. Again, I didn’t hate it, but it’s not as good as season 2 by a long shot.
 
Ragnar123 said:
Spot on.
I'd rather have a masterpiece of a fantasy movie worth rewatching 10 times once every 2-3 years, than generic cheap treadmill productions. I want to have nice things in the fantasy genre again :(
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We will. There's been a surge of trash to tempt people into subscribing to streaming services. When some of them fail because the idiots running things never bothered to think if their streaming would pay for itself, then the bubble will burst (as is happening now tbh). Honestly I doubt Witcher will make its 4th season. Rings of Power might because its Amazon but it'll probably be a nonevent.

Bobski said:
That last double episode made me think that they really want to be Bridgerton. Forget about story, lets have society romance drama with pretty clothes.
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That happens alot with these streaming shows. They take a property and try to turn it into something else. Witcher, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek. All turned into something more generic by writers who hate the originals they're adapting/ripping off.

MiceOnMeth said:
Isn't HOTD that? 2-3 years per season of high quality fantasy
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True. Honestly HBO is the only producer of quality stuff I'd trust. Maybe that's silly but they've a better track record than anyone else
 
My wife is watching s3 so I'm catching bits of it. Granted I'm not seeing the full storylines but from what I am getting it looks like one of the worst shows I've ever seen.
 
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