Fantasy Netflix's The Witcher - General Discussion Thread

[TheVileOne]

I dont know the

Spoiler

Wild Hunt

has me pretty pumped for future seasons.

Hard for me to get excited about that with all the WTF'ery of that ending.

 

[DKDetective]

I have no memory or attachment to this character, sorry.

But...

Spoiler

I'm mad as f*** about Roach and take back my nice words.

This is Eskel in the games if it refreshes your memory...

With respect to the other character,

Spoiler

I am damned happy that you warned me about Roach. It was literally the next episode after I read your post. It helped dull the pain of that bull****. Does the showrunner not realize the importance of some of these characters to the fans?

 

[Punisher_MAX]

I'm only on Episode 2...

Spoiler

Did they REALLY kill off Eskel??? What the actual ****???

I've said this before but I took a Film Adaptation of Literature where we discuss the issues in translating written word to film, obviously you have to change certain things, but so far this feels like a botched job by someone who claims to "have read the books" and is obviously lying about it.

I hate everything about this series.

 

[TheVileOne]

Writers have to justify their existence somehow. *Shrug*

 

[Iceman]

I like Vesemir’s look. Glad to see him get time. I’m still very early in season 2.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Wait, did they randomly give Triss red hair? Or was the coloring so bad in the first season, I couldn't tell?

 

[DKDetective]

Wait, did they randomly give Triss red hair? Or was the coloring so bad in the first season, I couldn't tell?

Yep, another part of the soft reboot.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Yep, another part of the soft reboot.

I will say, the designs are a lot better. The monster hunts, so clearly inspired by the games, far more enjoyable. Too bad all the storytelling outside of Geralt and Ciri has been garbage through three episodes.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

The song for this season should be, "Toss a coin to CDPR!"

 

[Iceman]

Wait, did they randomly give Triss red hair? Or was the coloring so bad in the first season, I couldn't tell?

It looks good so I’ll pretend I didn’t notice.

 

[BlackFox]

The song for this season should be, "Toss a coin to CDPR!"

It was kind of them to lend the Nilfgaard armor design this season, perhaps next we can get the Witcher costumes from them and make some real progress.

 

[BatmanBeyond]

Books and games-lover here - very much enjoyed the season, pretty much share BlackFox's takes earlier in the thread. It felt and looked like a grander and more-well put together S1 (and I felt that was pretty good as well) and, at this point, I just see it as a different interpretation of the already-established story from the books (maybe from the games too, eventually).

A few of the changes and choices made this season I didn't really care much for;

Spoiler

no, Eskel is not one of them. Yes, I liked him in the games, he's a cool character; there's some interesting bits in the books about him, although his page time is really limited. In the grand scheme of things, I don't think his place in the story from either medium justifies the online hate for killing him off.

Then again, at least he did summon the *****es during his limited screentime. But that part was actually one of the things I didn't like, so what can you do.

Dijkstra's entrance

Loved that scene.

Spoiler

Philippa in the background throughout several episodes, with the reveal at the end was pretty sweet as well.

Triss was great this season too.

 

[DKDetective]

I will say, the designs are a lot better. The monster hunts, so clearly inspired by the games, far more enjoyable. Too bad all the storytelling outside of Geralt and Ciri has been garbage through three episodes.

Agreed, with the exception of Geralt's BDSM armour. The studded black leather armour has not worked for me either season. I actually wish they had gone for a less armoured look for Geralt, something along the lines of his base Witcher 1 outfit.

The production still has a big problem with properly distressing and aging their costumes though.

 

[Iceman]

I really like what we’re getting of Ciri this season. Like the actress too.

 

[Iceman]

Books and games-lover here - very much enjoyed the season, pretty much share BlackFox's takes earlier in the thread. It felt and looked like a grander and more-well put together S1 (and I felt that was pretty good as well) and, at this point, I just see it as a different interpretation of the already-established story from the books (maybe from the games too, eventually).

A few of the changes and choices made this season I didn't really care much for;

Spoiler

no, Eskel is not one of them. Yes, I liked him in the games, he's a cool character; there's some interesting bits in the books about him, although his page time is really limited. In the grand scheme of things, I don't think his place in the story from either medium justifies the online hate for killing him off.

Then again, at least he did summon the *****es during his limited screentime. But that part was actually one of the things I didn't like, so what can you do.

Loved that scene.

Spoiler

Philippa in the background throughout several episodes, with the reveal at the end was pretty sweet as well.

Triss was great this season too.

I’m glad to hear of a book reader who has enjoyed this season. Thanks for the insight.

 

[Neno_Kos]

I done half a season 2 at this point. And I must say even though I love some moments, story overall moves too slow for me. To much of screentime feels like filler for now. Too much of it is slow burn even if those moments later get important.

I hope it picks up pace dramatically and hope this season is not another teaser for new season. Season is for now definitely improvement over season 1. But given how plot slowly moved in S01 and we were forced due timelines and world building to grandiose backtours to eventual meet between Ciri and Geralt I expected bit better pace after 4 episodes in second season.

 

[TheFuture]

I really like what we’re getting of Ciri this season. Like the actress too.

Yes Freya was very good this season, I was impressed. Henry too...in fact the general quality of the acting seemed improved markedly from Season 1.

I don't know the ins and outs of the lore, never played the games nor read the books, but I enjoyed Season 2 a lot more than 1. It's hard to get lost in anything these days but this really pulled me in.

Great job.

 

[BatmanBeyond]

I really like what we’re getting of Ciri this season. Like the actress too.

Same here. Hot take, probably, but overall I found Ciri to be one of my least favourite characters while playing W3 and reading the books. I couldn't really relate to her Chosen One-like nature in a medieval fantasy setting.

Show Ciri is different - the actress is quite good and I think that seeing her reactions to what's been happening in her life since the fall of Cintra made it easier for me to empathise. Ultimately, she doesn't come across as aloof (?) as she does in the books/game for me. Don't know if that's exactly the right word.

I’m glad to hear of a book reader who has enjoyed this season. Thanks for the insight.

Don't know if the order of things has anything to do with it, but it was S1 of the show which finally got me to play W3 first (W1 and W2 subsequently, as well) and then read the books (haven't finished the series just yet, still got 2 books to go). Before watching S1, I had always been kind of skeptical because of the hype surrounding the third game.

Needless to say, I'm happy with my subsequent choices.

 

[BlackFox]

Some more thoughts on the season as a whole and moving forward:

Frangilla was really good this season and her whole Gaunter O'Dim moment was great and really well done.I hope Nilfgaard get fleshed out more next season, they had some nice moments but we need more from them, with

Spoiler

Emyr

on the scene hopefully thats the case.

I think the Elves/Scoia'tael need a lot more beefing up, not only for their cause but they need an Iorveth like character, who is BA and easier to get behind just someone to root for them more what we got this season was a bit weak even if I did like the Nilf taking them on as a means to rebuild and the friction it caused internally. I need to see more of them being down trodden and harshly treated to sell their cause.

Loved the little nod to The Witcher 3 hanging from the Kaer Morhen tree.

I like we actually got some investigation work from Geralt this season, the fight scenes and monster hunting are great and well done but he needs more stuff like this to do as well to keep things interesting.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Agreed, with the exception of Geralt's BDSM armour. The studded black leather armour has not worked for me either season. I actually wish they had gone for a less armoured look for Geralt, something along the lines of his base Witcher 1 outfit.

The production still has a big problem with properly distressing and aging their costumes though.

Yeah, the show never shakes the idea that it's obviously "not real". Which you'd think wouldn't be a thing post-GOT, but here we are.

 

[Iceman]

I will say, the designs are a lot better. The monster hunts, so clearly inspired by the games, far more enjoyable. Too bad all the storytelling outside of Geralt and Ciri has been garbage through three episodes.

Yes, agreed, that part definitely feels better now and really calls out the games.

 

[DKDetective]

Yeah, the show never shakes the idea that it's obviously "not real". Which you'd think wouldn't be a thing post-GOT, but here we are.

That's still too kind to suggest that it is a lesson from Game of Thrones. I would say that it is a much older lesson that goes back to Star Wars, Raiders, and Blade Runner in terms of influential genre franchises, and at the very least to the LOTR trilogy in the fantasy genre specifically. All of those franchises had beautifully lived in aesthetics with costumes and props that appropriately looked real and worn.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

That's still too kind to suggest that it is a lesson from Game of Thrones. I would say that it is a much older lesson that goes back to Star Wars, Raiders, and Blade Runner in terms of influential genre franchises, and at the very least to the LOTR trilogy in the fantasy genre specifically. All of those franchises had beautifully lived in aesthetics with costumes and props that appropriately looked real and worn.

See, I would have named those, if they weren't movies. I love the Mando and use to watch Young Indy. And neither of them came close to what we saw in the films in that regard. Television is making strides, but you aren't going to find one on the level you are suggesting, not yet. So I think it's fair to compare it to the best television has to offer, and it isn't close.

 

[Iceman]

Yes Freya was very good this season, I was impressed. Henry too...in fact the general quality of the acting seemed improved markedly from Season 1.

I don't know the ins and outs of the lore, never played the games nor read the books, but I enjoyed Season 2 a lot more than 1. It's hard to get lost in anything these days but this really pulled me in.

Great job.

Yeah, same here. I own all the books but have barely started them. Been very easy to steam through this so far. Episode 5 has been great.

 

[Iceman]

Same here. Hot take, probably, but overall I found Ciri to be one of my least favourite characters while playing W3 and reading the books. I couldn't really relate to her Chosen One-like nature in a medieval fantasy setting.

Show Ciri is different - the actress is quite good and I think that seeing her reactions to what's been happening in her life since the fall of Cintra made it easier for me to empathise. Ultimately, she doesn't come across as aloof (?) as she does in the books/game for me. Don't know if that's exactly the right word.



Don't know if the order of things has anything to do with it, but it was S1 of the show which finally got me to play W3 first (W1 and W2 subsequently, as well) and then read the books (haven't finished the series just yet, still got 2 books to go). Before watching S1, I had always been kind of skeptical because of the hype surrounding the third game.

Needless to say, I'm happy with my subsequent choices.

I’m really happy she has moved on to the next level here and it encourages me on the future prospects of the show with her as a key character.

Despite crazy backlogs I intend to be fully up to date on all Witcher media asap.