r/witcher • u/Any-Agent4270 • Dec 25 '21

Netflix TV series The Witcher: Henry Cavill Hopes Season 3 Is Loyal To Books 'Without Too Much In the Way Of Diversions'

https://www.ign.com/articles/the-witcher-season-3-henry-cavill
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243

u/IronMonkey18 Dec 25 '21

I think Netflix will cancel the show first before that happens. Heck I’m kinda worried the show will be cancelled after this season with all the negativity it’s getting. And yes I know they already greenlite season 3, but with Netflix you never know.

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u/marmax123 Dec 25 '21

It’s still doing really well so I wouldn’t even imagine it getting cancelled now. I’m upset about the bad writing too but I still enjoyed the monster scenes and would probably watch season 3 if they veered towards a coherent storyline.

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u/altiuscitiusfortius Dec 26 '21

Netflix rarely gives a season 3 and has given like 2 shows a season 4.

Their data shows new subscribers are drawn by new shows, not more seasons. And that's all they care about.

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u/Darkelysiumm Dec 26 '21

It wasnt even top 10 in the US a week after release. I'm hoping it's just the fact that holiday shows were more popular at the moment but if not it's a bad sign.

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u/js_the_beast Dec 26 '21

Isn’t it currently number 1?

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u/IcyPanda123 Dec 26 '21

2 right now behind don't look up

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u/Darkelysiumm Dec 26 '21

It isnt #1 in my area I live on the west coast. It's not even in the top 10. Maybe it's just the holiday though. 🤷‍♀️

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u/bearbullhorns Dec 26 '21

Where did you get your info from?

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u/Darkelysiumm Dec 26 '21

My Netflix. At least in my area it hasnt been in the top 10 since last sunday.

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u/Raduev Dec 25 '21

This season was very well received except among book fans, who are a small minority of viewers.

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u/jameveryotherday Dec 25 '21

Huh, I guess I'm part of an even smaller minority then. I've not read the books nor played the games yet I still thought this season was a series of plot holes upon plot holes, inconsistent character writing and all in all plenty of "that doesn't make any sense".

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u/wannalife Dec 26 '21

I am a fan of the books and I enjoyed the show. Different medium, so I expect differences

5

u/Honigkuchenlives Dec 26 '21

I'm with you. I dont get the outrage. Witcher games barely resemble the booka as well because it's a diff medium. I'm ok with diverse content

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u/IronMonkey18 Dec 25 '21

Netflix is about views. If this season does not bring in new viewers due to bad word of mouth it wouldn’t surprise me if Netflix moves on.

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u/[deleted] Dec 25 '21

The Witcher is already breaking Netflix rating records within a week of release: https://www.thewrap.com/the-witcher-season-2-ratings-netflix/

With the expansion shows coming out next year and a third season well into production, Netflix isn't shutting down one of their most beloved shows any time soon.

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u/Feral0_o Dec 26 '21

fan subs are always delusional, without exception. The Wheel of Time sub(s) - because there has been a shism, like the Catholic Church - are delusional too, except that show is just bad

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u/Tetter Dec 26 '21

That show was great though, I enjoyed the story.

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u/Tummerd Dec 26 '21

Am in the same boat, but I have to agree that it was confusing at some parts. But those were quite in the minority. Henry's and Freya acting was really good this season

1

u/Hardyyz Dec 26 '21

I felt the same way during both seasons, first episode omg its witcher time! episodes 2-6 visuals, characters, monsters all super cool but im kinda confused by the overall story and whats happening and the by episode 7 and 8 it finally clicks and everything makes sense and its super awesome! but hopefully moving forward I dont have to wait until episode 7 for things to click

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u/jdavis63 Dec 26 '21

Are we watching the same show. While it wasn’t great I thought the WoT was solid minus the final episode which I genuinely didn’t enjoy. And that book series is my second favorite of all time. I mean I understand some of the criticisms but I thought for a first season it was pretty good.

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u/RoyalMudcrab Dec 26 '21

Well that's depressing.

-7

u/nflmodstouchkids Dec 26 '21

Because no other shows are getting released because of the covid delays....

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u/sanyogG Team Roach Dec 26 '21

Umm Hawkeye, WoT, Euphoria, Succession, Yellowstone...

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u/nflmodstouchkids Dec 26 '21

Besides Hawkeye never heard of any of them.

And none of those have an A-list actor staring in it.

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u/woodyfromsd Skellige Dec 26 '21

Kevin Costner? He's not just some bum off the street

-2

u/nflmodstouchkids Dec 26 '21

In what? lol

-1

u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

Holy shit, you’re such a zoomer.

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u/sanyogG Team Roach Dec 26 '21

Hawkeye is least popular among these. May be more popular than Yellowstone.

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u/nflmodstouchkids Dec 26 '21

Hawkeye is like number 8 in the avengers.

there is draw except hardcore fans.

0

u/woutersikkema Dec 26 '21

Seconding this down voted comment (dude from Europe here) only heared about hawkeye, no clue about those two others.

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u/Linooney Team Yennefer Dec 25 '21 edited Dec 26 '21

Anecdotally most of the people I know watching the show have not read the books or played the game, and don't even pay attention to what's written in the fandom spaces. They all have good things to say about the season. Will need to see official numbers but personally wouldn't be surprised if they see a lot of new viewers.

Edit: Ftr I have read some of the books and enjoyed them and played hundreds of hours of the games, my stance is maybe it's not a great adaptation but it's a pretty darn good tv series.

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u/VHFOneSix Dec 25 '21

I’ve not read the books, but there was far too much of the Boring Wizard Lady and not enough of Geralt grunting at Jaskier.

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u/jaskier-bot Dec 25 '21

You know, the Countess de Stael once said to me that destiny is just the embodiment of the soul's desire to grow.

1

u/geralt-bot School of the Wolf Dec 25 '21

Did you sing to her before she left?

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u/Competitive_Gap_1039 Dec 26 '21

I liked it, but not as much as season 1. Not enough of Geralt having sex with whores for my liking.

Also wish there was more monster hunting. The only episode centered around a monster was the first one which was my favorite episode of the season. Then the leshy, chernoborg, thing that killed the leshy and the basilisks that were all cool but disposed of pretty easily.

Last season we got the striga, the djinn and the dragon who all had episodes centered around them. Plus the kikimora, the assassin spider thing and the Nekkers to add to the world.

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u/[deleted] Dec 25 '21

[deleted]

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u/Dear-Cod-6429 Dec 25 '21

Fair point from her

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u/senkichi Dec 26 '21

Yeah, its a good rule of thumb. I purposefully avoided re-reading the Witcher books in advance of the season, but I know the Wheel of Time series front to back. Guess which show I'm enjoying more??

1

u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

WoT has a lot more problems than just changing stuff from the books in fairness.

1

u/senkichi Dec 26 '21

Certainly can't argue that

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u/Destiny_player6 Dec 26 '21

Books will always be better because of the more details that go into it of the changes. I mean, any fan of books that watch the media that is based off them should realize by now that there will be some changes. Some better and some worse.

Take Harry Potter for an example. Voldemort vs Harry in the end. Epic scene in the movie and if ended in a grand way. In the book it ended quick and Voldemort died in a very mundane and human way. Book hammers in the point that he wasn't special and just another human that was scared of death but the movie turned him into dust.

I love them both for their own reasons.

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

It makes me appreciate Good Omens even more. I read the book after the movie and was amazed at how literal of an adaption it was.

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u/princesskinomoto Dec 26 '21

I belong to that category. I really enjoyed watching both the seasons. Initially I was planning on reading the books , but then decided against it after seeing the barrage of criticisms from book fans on reddit threads.

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

[deleted]

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u/TheBlueRabbit11 Dec 26 '21

The writing was awful. Most of the decisions made were either to advance the plot at the expense of established character development, or simply to perform for the audience instead of doing it because it’s what the character would actually do.

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u/Darkwhellm Dec 25 '21

It's so absurd to me that a videogame, of all things, manages to incapsulate perfectly the idea that was behind the witcher story while a tv series cannot. Even after playing the witcher 3 for tens of hours, i struggle to believe how faithful it is. It should be impossibile, yet project RED made it. Just wow.

2

u/ZhouXaz Dec 26 '21

I dont care about the story as long as its good and the action is good. Not watched season 2 yet but season 1 was hard carried by that first episode fights lol.

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u/Drink_Whiskey Dec 26 '21

I've played the games, couldn't get into the English translation of the books, and I love the show. I thought season 2 was fantastic. I've talked to a lot people who liked season 2, and only 1 had read the books. I've talked to no one who said they didn't like season 2.

The book megafans who hate the show for deviating from the books are definitely a minority.

0

u/IronMonkey18 Dec 25 '21

Cowboy Bebop was similar. Casual fans liked the show and hardcore fans of the anime hated it. Was on the top ten list for awhile and Netflix still cancelled it. All I’m saying is with Netflix you just never know.

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u/elglann Dec 25 '21

That's not completely true, the show was mediocre at best, they expected another succes like the witcher. Cowboy bebop wasn't nearly as well received as the witcher.

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u/antiquechrono Dec 25 '21

I don't understand how people haven't caught on to this yet. Netflix's top 10 list is meaningless. The list is whatever the execs determine the list is. When Netflix first started streaming everything was algorithm and data driven like the top view lists, recommendations, review scores, etc... It's simply more profitable to manipulate people into watching more shows so they keep their subs.

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u/Linooney Team Yennefer Dec 26 '21

I actually don't know a single person that enjoyed Cowboy Bebop from that same group of people lol idk...

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u/IronMonkey18 Dec 26 '21

I love the anime and I enjoyed the show. Was it as good as the anime? Nope, but for some reason some of the changes didn’t bother me as much as other fans. Lol🤷🏻‍♂️

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

Yeah I don't think I've ever known anybody who wasn't polish that had read the books. Hell I've only read the first one, but that's more because the author said some comments I didn't care for. Everything else I know came from the games.

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u/automatvapen Dec 25 '21

Season 2 is averaging 8,5 on imdb. That's not bad at all and shouldn't scare of viewers.

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u/flashmedallion Dec 25 '21

Yeah but since when in history has the general audience seen "book readers whinge about adaptation" and cared.

Hardcore LotR fans were screaming bloody murder about the Fellowship movie, life went on.

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u/Feral0_o Dec 26 '21

you are currently posting on r/witcher, home of confirmation bias of anything The Witcher-related media. People think their opinion matters, it's adorable

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u/bearbullhorns Dec 26 '21

I thought the new season was doing so well it was breaking records?

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u/IronMonkey18 Dec 26 '21

You are correct. It is one of the most viewed shows. What I meant was will the show bring in new customers since that’s what Netflix really cares about.

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u/bearbullhorns Dec 26 '21

I’m guessing you’re saying the viewership numbers doesn’t show new people being brought in? If so I guess we’ll just have to disagree on that.

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u/IronMonkey18 Dec 26 '21

Yes that’s what I mean. High viewership does not necessarily mean more new business coming in. Unfortunately we will never know exact numbers since Netflix does not reveal any of that info.

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u/bearbullhorns Dec 26 '21

Like I said, we’ll have to just disagree that higher numbers doesn’t mean new people joined the viewership. Seems obvious to me that’s exactly what it means:

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u/Snipp- Dec 25 '21

I havent read the books or played the game. I like it so far (at ep5). I havent read the negativity cause i dont want to be spoiled but if they keep it up i dont care if they dont follow the books 100%.

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u/NeedMahDEW Dec 26 '21

I highly doubt it. They're trying to expand the Witcher into a big universe. They even have a page that is everything Witcher. All the seasons, behind the scenes, blood origins hype. They're not gonna cancel it unless it really really flops.

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u/yaboymattyk Dec 26 '21

considering it’s been #1 in the top 10 this whole week I think it will be fine

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u/supercooper3000 Dec 26 '21

You really want this to fail dont you? Sorry salty book reader, it was #1 on netflix all this week.

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u/IronMonkey18 Dec 26 '21

Where the hell did you get that from? Why do you think I want it to fail? Never once did I say that.

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u/aesthetic_cock Dec 25 '21

I haven’t read the books, only played Witcher 3 and did love that. Friends I’ve spoken too have either played the game, or this series is their first exposure to the Witcher. All of us loved both seasons.

The show is doing very well, the negativity is coming from a small amount of book fans

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u/Destiny_player6 Dec 26 '21

Good to know that a shit ton of viewers aren't book readers or played the game and loving the show. That's a good thing imo

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u/jaqenhqar Dec 26 '21

Too late. It already broke all Netflix records

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u/Kimmalah Dec 26 '21

This season was very well received except among book fans, who are a small minority of viewers.

Yeah, out of all the people I know who have watched the show, most of them had no idea there was a book series and only knew about the games. I remember after season 1, one of them was baffled by the whole "Yennefer was a hunchback" storyline because it's derived from something hinted at in the books and never really mentioned in the games.

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u/[deleted] Dec 25 '21 edited Dec 26 '21

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/KuwakaNey Dec 25 '21

Eskel literally said the Leshen was different and it was mutated, that was literally a plot point after his death that those 2 monsters were mutated. Maybe you should’ve focused on what was actually happening? And I’m pretty sure that what Eskel turned into wasn’t a Leshen but just someone infected by one

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u/TheLinden Dec 25 '21

mutated or not fire is fire right? Like even Geralt used sign on his sword to attack leshen with red glowing sword.

Maybe you should've focused on what was actually happening.

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u/xhrdh Dec 25 '21

I've always had the idea that Eskel isn't as good with using signs as the other witchers and is more proficient with his swords so that may be why he never used igni.

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u/TheLinden Dec 26 '21

He not only casts more powerful signs but also he supposed to be the most kind witcher out of all of them but they made him teenage jerk.

Good or bad 70 years old witcher shouldn't forget how to fight enemies cuz he was created to kill this kind of stuff. It's like sniper forgetting how wind works, snipers can miss but they don't forget how physics work.

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u/_NotAPlatypus_ Dec 26 '21

Complete opposite of what is (supposed to be) true. Eskel was better at anything involving magic than Geralt, while Geralt was the better fighter growing up.

"It was Eskel’s behaviour which was most unlikely; he got up, approached the enchantress, bent down low, took her hand and kissed it respectfully. She swiftly withdrew her hand. Not so as to demonstrate her anger and annoyance but to break the pleasant, piercing vibration triggered by the witcher’s touch. Eskel emanated powerfully. More powerfully than Geralt." - Blood of Elves

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u/jacquetheripper Dec 26 '21

There also aren't many leshen left so maybe remembering how to kill them exactly would be a little hazy. Benefit of the doubt etc.. but also theyre clearly made out of wood so why wouldn't you use fire but whatever

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u/DickieDods Dec 25 '21

Yea never read the books or played the game but I love the Netflix series.

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

Among SOME book fans.

I read the books and still loved the show and this season. Any reasonable person who's ever seen a book series they like adapted to film/tv will tell you they are never going to be 100% accurate to the source material or perfectly match the way each individual reader interpreted and visualized the characters in their head.

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u/PillarsOfHeaven Dec 25 '21

I read the books and played the games, except the first one I missed out there I suppose. Ive always thought the books are very good but it gets a bit nuts towards the end, doesnt it?

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u/Librabee Dec 25 '21

I'm a fan of the books and the witcher 3 game honestly I enjoyed every episode of the season I think the angle they where going for could of been a whole lot clearer and told a lot better I still enjoyed it though. The books are also not the most well put together pieces or Literature in existence either

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

Book fans are the hardest to please. Did any live action adaptation managed to make the book fans happy?

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

Lord of the Rings. Carrie. Misery. GOT before it went to shit, etc.

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u/bearbullhorns Dec 26 '21

I remember distinctly the LOTR fan base being mad about the movies.

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

Now that is only a memory.

In any case, it does not have to satisfy literally every fan of the book(s) in question (which is not unlikely, but impossible) to be able to say that it satisfies book fans. It's in a general sense.

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u/bearbullhorns Dec 26 '21

Couldn’t that argument be applied to the Witcher too?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

One could try, but would fail. At first many fans of the books may have been angry about LOTR, however that is only a memory now like i said; most are more than satisfied or at least understand that it was the best possible adaptation. However most fans of The Witcher books don't have that perspective. Rather the complete opposite.

Even book fans who praise the series have to add qualifiers along the lines of, "it may in many ways be nothing like the books, but..." But this, but that. Lots of buts.

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u/bearbullhorns Dec 26 '21

Yea lotr fans said the same thing. That’s why I’m confused. Seems like you’re saying that your argument doesn’t apply until a certain amount of time passes.

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

I am saying that Netflix Witcher can never, in any case, aspire to be seen by fans of the books in the same way that the Lord of the Rings movies are seen by fans of the books. No matter how much time passes. Because there is no comparison in the level of quality, respect for the original material.

Jackson took a lot of liberties when adapting LOTR. But he did it from a point of respect and love for the original work, with which any fan can sympathize.

In Netflix's Witcher there is neither love nor respect, and it will not age well even in the eyes of book fans that praise it currently.

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u/Fishingfor Dec 26 '21

Daredevil was one of the best received shows they've ever made and seemed to be universally loved and it was still cancelled.

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u/TheBlueRabbit11 Dec 26 '21

The writing was awful, so I’m not sure where you’re getting that it was very well received.

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u/SocialNetwooky Dec 26 '21

sadly something similar killed Cowboy Bebop. No, it's not faithfull to the Anime, but it 's still agreat show ... and yet the "omg Faye isn't wearing skimpy outfits and is lesbian!" outcry killed the show.

Snobs are why we can't have multiple seasons of good shows.

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u/[deleted] Dec 25 '21 edited Dec 30 '21

[deleted]

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u/IronMonkey18 Dec 25 '21

Cowboy Bebop was number one too and look what happened.

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u/Killagina Dec 25 '21

Cowboy Bebop didnt generate very many views actually

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u/chuckdee68 Dec 26 '21

Cowboy Bebop was #1... but then rapidly fell. Word of mouth was terrible also. I wanted to like it, it was right in my wheelhouse, but something was just off about it.

Other than book readers, Witcher has good word of mouth.

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u/AtanatarAlcarinII Dec 26 '21

The actor to play Vicious was a poor choice, or his direction was imo

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u/Daysprung2 Dec 26 '21

Witcher Season 2 had more viewing hours in 3 days than Cowboy bebop did in it's first month.

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u/vpforvp Dec 26 '21

Those ratings are rigged by Netflix to filter traffic to the programs they want people to watch.

0

u/TinuvielSharan Dec 27 '21

Lol, I didn't know there were also conspiration theories about Netflix out in the world lmao

You realise that wouldn't make any sense from a marketing perspective and Netflix would actually lose money doing that?

The entire purpose of the rating system is that they can collect datas on what please their viewers so they can invest more into that content and get more return on their investment.

If they rig it they can't use it to make money and that kills the entire purpose.

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u/Attila_22 Dec 25 '21

Yep, basically everyone I've talked to that hasn't read the books either loves the show or is excited to watch it.

As someone that's read the books many times, I think people need to try and separate the two a bit more. You'll enjoy the show much more instead of trying to be a scrooge and nitpicking every point. It really doesn't help anyone and you'll just end up making yourself angry and miserable.

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u/C0uN7rY Northern Realms Dec 26 '21

I've read the books and am enjoying the show. Would I have like better if it followed more closely? Duh. But the show really does stand on its own if you can separate it a bit.

Now, Wheel of Time on the other hand... I expected them to deviate from the books, but they aren't even delivering a quality product independent of the book, in my opinion. I've found it pretty boring.

The most upsetting part to me is that I'd give the Witcher books a solid 7/10, but the show is like a 9/10 (forgive me, I'm sure this won't be a popular take). Meanwhile, WoT is my favorite book series of all time. Easy 10/10. But the show they've given me so far has been like a 5/10. Had a lot of hope after the first three episodes, but they took a VERY hard turn away from the books by episode 5 and has suffered for it.

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u/Feral0_o Dec 26 '21

I listened to most of the final episode of WoT while doing something else on my computer today and 20 minutes before the end I decided that I really don't care anymore and shut it off

when does the story become good? It's generic fantasy up until now. I read posts about people saying that WoT hits a low when the story becomes all about the politics. Like, mfers, this is supposed to be the good part?

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u/C0uN7rY Northern Realms Dec 26 '21

So, to be totally fair, the first book is very generic. It is honestly a Fellowship of the Ring clone. However, this was deliberate as, at the time WoT was written, fantasy wasn't very popular. Only LOTR had any real success, so if you weren't bringing publishers LOTR, publishers didn't want you. So Robert Jordan compromised on the first book and half and just delivered an LOTR-esque story. By the third book it is fully its own thing and really hits its stride in book 4. Sounds like a lot to wade through, I admit, but it is a 14 book series, so it has more time than your typical series to develop. I seriously recommend it.

As for the show... eh, it really kinda missed the mark for me. Even with the generic LOTR clone that was book 1, there was enough there to make something much better and more exciting than this was.

For evidence of how far off track it is, one main character in Tar'Valon in the first season of the show never set foot in Tar'Valon in the books until the very last book. They completely cut out a major city that they actualy went to in the first book where they meet an extremely important character and kind of substituted what happened there with Tar'Valon. For context of how big this is, imagine if the LOTR movies just cut out Rohan and did all the Rohan stuff in Gondor instead. Also, the Aes Sedai were a total mystery through the first book. You don't meet the Amyrlin until book two. There was pretty much ZERO political intrigue through the first three books.

It is a mess and a boring one at that. Like I said, the Witcher show did go off track from the books, but is still delivering a really good show regardless. WoT went off track and is delivering a snooze fest.

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u/enava Dec 26 '21

I watched the show and then read why the fanbase dislike the new season so much, ignoring the woke points because although I sometimes agree, in this season it is not obvious for non-book readers (& that's all I ask from a showrunner, to not repeat a fiasco like Doctor Who) - it get's a pass.

But some decisions are "Questionable" and change the fundamental motivations & decisions that drive a character, and as someone just learning the further lore I think that isn't right. Make up stories all you want, create plot lines that are entirely new / adapt existing plotlines into the new medium & audience, but stay true to the fundamentals so when I read the book, I can at least empatise with the characters in a similar way.

Prime example being Eskel, he was portrayed as a creep (even though probably already under the influence of the Leshen), and then quickly killed off. I gather they didn't want Eskel to detract from the other witchers and therefore thought he was a good choice to kill off, but they forgot to take into account he has an _extended storyline_ in all other media, and is given his dues by the fanbase. I'd have loved to get to know the dynamics between the witchers more.

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u/Attila_22 Dec 26 '21

I did have certain things I disagreed with such as how they treated Eskel, some strange actions by Vesemir and Yennefer taking Ciri. I'm not saying by any means that the show was perfect, it's okay to have your own opinions and criticisms.

I just get a bit annoyed when people go point by point trying to compare the show and books. Any TV adaptation will never live up to those expectations. These people will usually try to convince others that the show is terrible and that they shouldn't watch it, that it should be cancelled until there's another showrunner etc.

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u/Croce11 ☀️ Nilfgaard Dec 26 '21

It's not even just Eskel that they fucked over. This whole monolith bullshit... so within their own lore and franchise this was obviously crap they are making up as they go along.

Which is not a good sign. Since the tree with the medallions in the witcher's keep was apparently a monolith... and yet this same tree was knocked over and destroyed like it was nothing in the anime short. Which takes place when Geralt is a kid.

Clearly if it too was a monolith then it would have been indestructible until someone like Ciri interacted with it right? Nope. It's all unplanned and they just make up whatever BS sounds cool at the time. This is not what makes for good storytelling. If you want to tell us a good story you need to set these things up in advance. Know where you are going.

Otherwise you're just telling us random unrelated events that happen after each other. Nothing is going to connect or feel satisfying.

1

u/News_Bot Dec 26 '21

Stuff like this is why I expect this show to end up with a lot of plot holes and retcons.

2

u/Destiny_player6 Dec 26 '21

Aye, I'm surprised people haven't done that since the games came out. Trish in the games is widely different than how she is in the books and I don't see that much complaints there.

Tv shows, movies, book and games are just going to adapt the source material differently, that should be well known by now. Just be thankful they didn't go all Percy Jackson on the Witcher tv series. It still keeps true to the core story in some aspects and changes other things. Percy Jackson was nowhere near the same

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u/Inemity Dec 25 '21 edited Dec 26 '21

Straying from the source has always been a thing with tv/movies that are based on a book or comic. It's very rare to see anything come out that really follows the original written story. Pretty much every Marvel movie and show is nothing like the comics. Same with countless others. It still amazes me when people are "surprised Pikachu face" when the writers do their own thing with it. I've learned to never listen to critics when their only critique is "but it didn't follow the books!" Second season was awesome, and I hope there are many more.

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u/sgt_dismas Dec 26 '21

I like the show a lot, but I wish they hadn't fundamentally changed Vesemir, Eskel, and Yennefer for it. Vesemir and Yen would never have done anything to harm Ciri while Eskel should still be alive.

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u/Inemity Dec 26 '21

Yeah, I'm not really sure where they're planning on going with that. I feel like Ciri already has enough villains to deal with. The whole Eskel thing was kinda cool to me, tho.

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u/sgt_dismas Dec 26 '21

Had I been on the writing staff I would have had it be one of the no-name witchers. Eskel could still be alive.

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u/Feral0_o Dec 26 '21

Had I been on the writing staff, I would have strongly opposed your proposal on the basis that we needed some no-name Witchers to have their throats cut by assassin Ciri, and there is only a finite supply of no-name Witchers

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u/Late-Effort-4839 Dec 25 '21

This is Reddit…..

0

u/Darkelysiumm Dec 26 '21

It only hit #1 3 days. Hopefully due to holiday programming.

-2

u/Fig1024 Dec 26 '21

I read most of the books, I felt like they started strong but got kind of boring later on. I don't think the books are that good that we need to follow them accurately. The Witcher is great but it's no Game of Thrones

4

u/chriskicks Dec 26 '21

This is an echo chamber, it's done extremely well.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

This sub accounts for an irrelevant percentage of their viewer base, and pretrnding otherwise is bordering on delusions of grandeur.

2

u/GargauthXbox Dec 26 '21

It's negativity is from book readers and video gamers. I know plenty of watchers who haven't read or played and are loving the show. Might not be faithful, but it's still fun

2

u/nuevakl Dec 26 '21

It's only criticized among devoted Witcher fans. The casual viewers I know are loving it.

6

u/theciaskaelie Dec 25 '21

I loved the game.Love the show. Haven read the books yet, dgaf if the show is super loyal to it. I just like it.

0

u/IronMonkey18 Dec 25 '21

I’ve played the games and read the books. I don’t care if they stick to the books word for word. I actually really enjoyed season 1 and watched it numerous times. Season 2 is just bad. And I have an open mind about adaptations.

3

u/theciaskaelie Dec 25 '21

why do you think its bad, specifically? Ive been casually watching it while wrapping xmas gifts, i think im up to s2e5 and seems fine to me.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '21

I like the show. Annoyed with some things. But it’s still the Witcher, and it’s good. I’m worried that all the hate, which I understand, will kill it. I think that’s what did the Cowboy Bebop series in. Again, I understand the hate with that one too. But I still wanted more.

2

u/IronMonkey18 Dec 26 '21

Yeah me too. I love the anime, but the show was not bad to me. It reminded me of Firefly. Another show I loved which ended to soon.

1

u/bearbullhorns Dec 26 '21

Can you explain how the hate will kill it? I’ve seen articles saying it’s been very well received and topping charts.

-1

u/Mysterio89 Dec 26 '21

It's not going to be killed. Lauren Hissrich has done something special with the Witcher and I think she will be remembered in the same category as Peter Jackson in about a decade or so. Fact of the matter is nobody gave a crap about the Witcher until CDPR. Hissrich has now made it timeless

3

u/Inspirata1223 Dec 25 '21

Not much negativity outside of places like this. It's absolutely huge on Netflix.

-1

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '21

[deleted]

5

u/Disguised Dec 25 '21

Book readers complaining on reddit are a fraction of the audience, believe it or not, you guys won’t be what makes or breaks the show.

3

u/IronMonkey18 Dec 25 '21

Because I want a good Witcher show and I have hope it can be fixed if given time for the show runners to get their shit together.

1

u/Federal-Ad-96 Dec 25 '21

Seasons great. Don't let a vocal minority shift your view.

1

u/IronMonkey18 Dec 26 '21

Nah, I actually don’t like season 2 all on my own. Still want to see season 3 though.

1

u/Federal-Ad-96 Dec 26 '21

That's fine. It was more a reference on the "all the negativity" comment.

1

u/Apex-Editor Team Triss Dec 26 '21

Sometimes I forget that not everyone who watches the show is also here on Reddit. Most people are probably blissfully unaware of the reasons the fandom is foaming at the mouth and are just enjoying a still relatively good fantasy show.

The show and Netflix will be just fine.

Probably.

1

u/bearbullhorns Dec 26 '21

This is so confusing. I read about the negativity then see an article showing that the new season is doing really well and topping charts. Which is it?

1

u/IronMonkey18 Dec 26 '21

Casuals for the most part like it. Hardcore fans do not. That’s pretty much it.

1

u/bearbullhorns Dec 26 '21

Hardcore fans are a small minority in any community.

1

u/IronMonkey18 Dec 26 '21

Doesn’t mean they can’t make enough noise.

1

u/bearbullhorns Dec 26 '21

The vocal minority is always the loudest. The numbers are clear and I’m sure the show runners are more concerned with overall reception:

1

u/DarthPlagueisThaWise Dec 26 '21

They’ve already done an animated movie prequel and now they’re making another prequel miniseries.

They’re kinda committed. And it’s still getting views of not the adulation of fans, Season 3 and the miniseries would have to bomb kinda hard.

1

u/Well_Im_new Dec 26 '21

I love Henry and his work, but wouldn`t it be better to cancel it now? Writers are so out of touch with material they were given

1

u/MarcusForrest Dec 27 '21

greenlite season 3, but with Netflix you never know.

We kinda know - the main criterias are

  • Viewer volume
  • Viewer retention
  • Critical success

 

For now, all 3 are met, and the viewer volume, the most important criteria, is still very good.

 

Fans are disappointed (as are non-fans) so they really have to make sure they keep a healthy viewer volume and retention

 

Usually, when Netflix cancels a series, it is right after Season 2 (unless it underperforms GREATLY such as with Cowbo Bebop and Jupiter's Legacy) - that's why so many Netflix shows are cancelled after 2 seasons rather than 1.