Fantasy Netflix's The Witcher - General Discussion Thread

[Marvolo]

The Witcher Season 3 Filming Start Date Reportedly Revealed

Starts in March supposedly.

 

[Iceman]

I’ve got some game friends who don’t use forums and they really loved the show.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

The Witcher Season 3 Filming Start Date Reportedly Revealed

Starts in March supposedly.

Great news, can’t wait to hear more.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

I've read all the books and played the games multiple times and still loved this season. I think you've got to really approach it as a remix of the two, as well as it's own thing.

As an adaptation of the book, there's really no compelling reason I can see NOT to kill Eskel, or any of those Witcher, if it serves a dramatic purpose. I thought killing Eskel straight away created a nice cloud of grief over Kaer Morhen, and helped establish the bonds between all the Witchers, the stakes of not being able to make more, Vessemir's arc as a grieving father and that contrast with Geralt's own role as a new father.

TBH, I think most people who seem upset are probably muddying the waters a little with the game version of Eskel. In the books, we meet those characters once and once only. We only get a small amount of time with all of them. The biggest difference I can see that they made, was instead of showing us a fortress without only a tiny handful of 6 remaining Witchers (which is much bleaker) they showed us closer to a dozen Witchers and showed us the actual toll their deaths had on Geralt and Vessemir.

I dunno, I thought that stuff all hit home for me. By the end, I felt Vessemir's grief but also thoroughly bought into the whole family dynamic of the remaining Witchers. Which I think was the greatest success of this season, because as Geralt moves forwards on his journey, if we never end up seeing any of those Witchers again (ala the books), then they'll still have left a lasting impression.

Also, I think it's dumb to dismiss Eskel's death as "fridging". You could dismiss any fictional death as fridging, if you want to completely disregard it as a dramatic choice in a world (and profession) where death is commonplace. But in this instance, he didn't just die... He was specifically killed by Geralt to protect Vessemir, which I think is a far more interesting character choice which makes his decision to not give up on Ciri even more compelling.

Overall, I really enjoyed this season, although it wasn't perfect. I thought the Demon subplot with Yennefer could've been a bit clearer, and in fact that could've been a really cool, creepy character that they left vague for too long.

And I thought Dijkstra was a bit underwhelming. Clearly they intended to mainly tease him over actually giving him anything meaty to sink his teeth into, but I felt like he must have been a slightly confusing character for new audiences, since the writers acted like he was this scary, menacing figure and then he didn't really do anything?

 

[TheVileOne]

I’ve got some game friends who don’t use forums and they really loved the show.

Yeah I imagine that's likely how it is in many cases. They are catering to new fans and a global audience, along with people who know nothing about the books.

 

[Iceman]

Yeah I imagine that's the likely how it is in many cases. They are catering to new fans and a global audience, along with people who know nothing about the books.

I'm obviously on the internet a lot on things like this compared to a bunch of other friends my age and they are seeing it from a new perspective as you say without much to compare it to (some have played Witcher 3, some haven't). So there is no *this character didn't meet this expectation etc, they just judge was it overall fun for a new fantasy show. I've been desperate for adult-orientated sword and sorcery style fantasy shows for a long time so I am stoked we are getting this and Wheel of Time at the same time and am probably a bit more forgiving than most.

 

[TheVileOne]

I'm obviously on the internet a lot on things like this compared to a bunch of other friends my age and they are seeing it from a new perspective as you say without much to compare it to (some have played Witcher 3, some haven't). So there is no *this character didn't meet this expectation etc, they just judge was it overall fun for a new fantasy show. I've been desperate for adult-orientated sword and sorcery style fantasy shows for a long time so I am stoked we are getting this and Wheel of Time at the same time and am probably a bit more forgiving than most.

They want the Nikki & Steven reaction audience, LOL. You got to drive that engagement.

 

[Iceman]

They want the Nikki & Steven reaction audience, LOL. You got to drive that engagement.

Haha yep. I’ve read a lot of mixed opinions particularly on season 2 so wasn’t sure what they would think. One even gave it 10/10

 

[TheVileOne]

On one hand, I'm not really happy with a lot of the writing choices on Season 2. On the other...I mean...Henry Cavill as Geralt, so win?

I think the good thing is that more people will discover the books because of this series. We'll probably get more Witcher games from CD PR as well, and I mean if the next Witcher game is half as good as Witcher 3, I can accept that.

 

[Deck Rickard]

I restarted Witcher 3 again last night and I definitely found it to be a more engaging game now that I’ve seen this show. Going in blind like I did before was tough because unlike a game like Skyrim or Dragon Age, you kind of have to know some of backstory to understand what the hell is going on. Definitely feel like I’ll be more into it now on this playthrough.

 

[Iceman]

On one hand, I'm really happy with a lot of the writing choices on Season 2. On the other...I mean...Henry Cavill as Geralt, so win?

I think the good thing is that more people will discover the books because of this series. We'll probably get more Witcher games from CD PR as well, and I mean if the next Witcher game is half as good as Witcher 3, I can accept that.

Did you mean "*not* really happy"?

I ordered all the audiobooks after playing TW2 & 3 and watching large parts of 1. Now the shows will put finishing the audiobooks higher up the list. I also think the show, the games and the books can all boost each other. All have had at least some level of success which doesn't seem to be that common for most franchises/IPs.

 

[Iceman]

I restarted Witcher 3 again last night and I definitely found it to be a more engaging game now that I’ve seen this show. Going in blind like I did before was tough because unlike a game like Skyrim or Dragon Age, you kind of have to know some of backstory to understand what the hell is going on. Definitely feel like I’ll be more into it now on this playthrough.

My friend who gave the show a 10 said exactly the same thing yesterday. Watching the show encouraged them to install the game again and they are loving it now a fair amount more than they already did.

 

[Deck Rickard]

My friend who gave the show a 10 said exactly the same thing yesterday. Watching the show encouraged them to install the game again and they are loving it now a fair amount more than they already did.

Yeah, the game starts out in kind of a confusing way (probably a lot less confusing if you’ve played the other games but I don’t think they are available for PS4) and I just couldn’t get into in when I tried a few years back. But I’m really into it now.

 

[Iceman]

Yeah, the game starts out in kind of a confusing way (probably a lot less confusing if you’ve played the other games but I don’t think they are available for PS4) and I just couldn’t get into in when I tried a few years back. But I’m really into it now.

Is Witcher 2 still not available on PS4? I thought it would have been by now. Witcher 3 is the best but Witcher 2 is still great even if some of the controls are clunkier. I really want a full-on remaster of the first game. For all the Cyberpunk issues, at least CDPR are a large dev that can give Witcher a lot of focus given they aren't working on tons of games at the same time.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Is Witcher 2 still not available on PS4? I thought it would have been by now. Witcher 3 is the best but Witcher 2 is still great even if some of the controls are clunkier. I really want a full-on remaster of the first game. For all the Cyberpunk issues, at least CDPR are a large dev that can give Witcher a lot of focus given they aren't working on tons of games at the same time.

Yeah as far as I know, it’s not available. Though maybe they’ll eventually do a conversion for PSNow like they’ve done with some other older games.

 

[TheVileOne]

Is Witcher 2 still not available on PS4? I thought it would have been by now. Witcher 3 is the best but Witcher 2 is still great even if some of the controls are clunkier. I really want a full-on remaster of the first game. For all the Cyberpunk issues, at least CDPR are a large dev that can give Witcher a lot of focus given they aren't working on tons of games at the same time.

No it's not. I did once ask someone from CDPR about a PlayStation port for Witcher 2 many years back at I think E3 2013. I wasn't able to find he interview again. But from what I recall, it's an issue of architecture. He also suggested fans try making a port not telling anyone and then showing it to them later. And if it was good enough, they'd approve it. That wasn't said word for word, but that was the basic gist of it.

 

[Iceman]

In that case it might be worth them doing a full (all systems) remaster of Witcher 2 as well as my request for 1. If a big chunk of gamers won't have played it I think many of them would buy it.

 

[BlackFox]

The Witcher Season 3 Filming Start Date Reportedly Revealed

Starts in March supposedly.

Good news for those of us that like that show at least.

I do hope they are not rushing things though, as much as Season 2 was a step up for me there is still a lot of things I want to see improved and expanded upon.

The Elve's need beefing up as a faction to make their story more interesting and compelling, their characters are the weakest of the factions so far.

They need to sort out Geralts armor and general look, two attempts and not really nailed it yet, too soldier looking and over armored and also plain black is very uninteresting. I'm not saying they should copy CDPR but they should definitely copy CDPR.
The final episode of season 2 his armor gets damaged by acid anyway so its a perfect excuse for another upgrade.

The general world and feel of things needs expanding and improving on, things like Inn's and City's need to feel bigger and more "lived in". I want to see more colors as well, army flags and banners need to be more prevalent, world still feels a bit empty at times.

 

[Deck Rickard]

One thing that confused me. That episode where Geralt and Ciri hunt that flying rock demon thing… just where the hell WERE Geralt’s swords? Why didn’t he have them with him? At the end, he’s like “Where the **** are my swords?” but was there a reason he left them behind somewhere? I feel like a scene was missing.

 

[BlackFox]

I restarted Witcher 3 again last night and I definitely found it to be a more engaging game now that I’ve seen this show. Going in blind like I did before was tough because unlike a game like Skyrim or Dragon Age, you kind of have to know some of backstory to understand what the hell is going on. Definitely feel like I’ll be more into it now on this playthrough.

I'm so glad I played Witcher 2 first to get into the world before 3 landed, helped a great deal as well as being able to make choices that effected number 3 at the start so you knew who some people were at least.

Currently replaying Skyrim with every Witcher mod I can find.

 

[Deck Rickard]

I'm so glad I played Witcher 2 first to get into the world before 3 landed, helped a great deal as well as being able to make choices that effected number 3 at the start so you knew who some people were at least.

Currently replaying Skyrim with every Witcher mod I can find.

There was a rumor a little while back that Netflix was developing an Elder Scrolls series. It was probably BS but after watching this season of The Witcher, I would love to see it happen. I think they have the budget to adapt something ESO related. Maybe not Skyrim because that would require a big Dragon effects budget but… maybe.

 

[TheVileOne]

One thing that confused me. That episode where Geralt and Ciri hunt that flying rock demon thing… just where the hell WERE Geralt’s swords? Why didn’t he have them with him? At the end, he’s like “Where the **** are my swords?” but was there a reason he left them behind somewhere? I feel like a scene was missing.

It looks like he left his gear with Roach and it got separated from Roach after the Chernobog attacked her. Why he waded into the lake without his silver sword, dunno. He was able to kill the Chernobog using what appeared to be a short dagger and a makeshift wooden stake.

This is just pure speculation and theory on my part. The creature looked like it had hard rocky skin, so Geralt had to get to its soft underside to wound and kill it. So I'm assuming he possibly thought he needed a more surgical attack and hacking away at it with a sword would've done him little good.

Dunno, but that's just my theory...a TV THEORY!

 

[Wolvieboy17]

The Elve's need beefing up as a faction to make their story more interesting and compelling, their characters are the weakest of the factions so far.

Yeah, I imagine they're doing a lot of that with Blood Origins. I saw the Elves arc in S2 as more of a Scoiatel origin story.

 

[BlackFox]

Yeah, I imagine they're doing a lot of that with Blood Origins. I saw the Elves arc in S2 as more of a Scoiatel origin story.

Yeah the Scoi'atel are probably like my favourite faction in the Witcher lore as for a change Elve's arent the race superior, seemingly above everyone else but actually down trodden and the outcasts being mistreated by humans and so they are like gorilla warriors who are viewed as almost terrorists to human's but freedom fighters to the Elve's/Dwarfs etc because of the dirty tactics they will employ but to them they are just trying to survive and re-astablish themselves after being misstreated by humans.

They really could do so much more with them in that regard, show them being these nasty warriors that take no prisoners but then show why they feel the need to (I like the bits we got in Season 2 but it was probably the weakest part). Its probably why I find this interesting take on the Elve's in Witcher lore more appealing and interesting, you dont know whether to root for them or not and its again not just black and white but very morally grey which fits in with a lot of the Witcher world in the books and games in general.

Its also probably why Iorveth is like my second favourite character in the Witcher game world as following his path in W2 was such a good insight into their plight and struggles, the show could really do with a BA elf character like him, its a shame they cant use him.

I wasnt impressed by the Blood Origins tease but there's no doubting I will at least watch some of it just because of the Witcher name but I dont expect great things from that.

 

[TheVileOne]

In that case it might be worth them doing a full (all systems) remaster of Witcher 2 as well as my request for 1. If a big chunk of gamers won't have played it I think many of them would buy it.

Well I don't see why not. Just for example, another studio did a full-remake of Demon's Souls for PS5.

There's a whole generation of gamers that never got to play Witcher 2 because it was only on PC and Xbox. They should be investing in ports or remakes of Witcher 1&2.