Fantasy Netflix's The Witcher - General Discussion Thread

[Holy Slapper]

Never played the games nor read the books. I quite enjoyed season 2.

 

[Detective Conan]

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

I didn’t realise the games were set after the books, kinda glad I haven’t tried them yet.

 

[Iceman]

Nice. We're getting more then.

 

[OutOfBoose]

I didn’t realise the games were set after the books, kinda glad I haven’t tried them yet.

Yep, if you play them before the books, you will miss A LOT of references, developments and callbacks. You can still enjoy the games on their own, but there's a whole new layer if you read them.

I brought this example before, but I'll repeat it again. Yennefer's letters in Witcher 3 sound like normal correspondence for uninitiated, but they're hilarious if you read the books.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Yep, if you play them before the books, you will miss A LOT of references, developments and callbacks. You can still enjoy the games on their own, but there's a whole new layer if you read them.

I brought this example before, but I'll repeat it again. Yennefer's letters in Witcher 3 sound like normal correspondence for uninitiated, but they're hilarious if you read the books.

I might wait until the show is done before I play them then, unless I read the books in the meantime.

 

[OutOfBoose]

I might wait until the show is done before I play them then, unless I read the books in the meantime.

The show is so much it's own thing, that it bears no influence on anything. Games try really hard to preserve the books world and continue it in organic manner. That's why there are many connections and references. The show is doing it's own thing. So you're safe starting books or games at any moment.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

The show is so much it's own thing, that it bears no influence on anything. Games try really hard to preserve the books world and continue it in organic manner. That's why there are many connections and references. The show is doing it's own thing. So you're safe starting books or games at any moment.

Ah cool thanks for the info

 

[Deck Rickard]

Regardless of the quality of the show or the games, it’s strange that the author seems to distance himself from the games despite their efforts to directly build on his story. Yet he embraces the show, which diverges significantly from it. But I guess the Netflix money is really good, lol.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

Regardless of the quality of the show or the games, it’s strange that the author seems to distance himself from the games despite their efforts to directly build on his story. Yet he embraces the show, which diverges significantly from it. But I guess the Netflix money is really good, lol.

You'd think it'd be the other way around. I'm thinking about re-reading the books and doing a brand new playthrough of TW3 immediately after.

 

[lespaul59]

I'm not sure I've ever seen Sapkowski mention gaming in a positive way. I haven't re read about his contract with CD Project Red in a couple of years at least but if I remember correctly they offered him a % of the sales or a lump sum and he chose the lump sum because he thought the Witcher 1 would fail. And would latter go on to sue CDPR because of the massive success of the games. If I'm wrong on any of that please correct me. I also heard in a review for The Hexer that Sapkowski once said that he would let Geralt be used in a toothpaste commercial if he was paid enough. I can't confirm if that statement is true or not because I don't think the reviewer provided a source. I don't even remember who the reviewer was.


I wish they would either put the Hexer show on Netflix or release it on digital, DVD or something in the US. I've seen the movie which I think is just the whole series edited into a 2hour movie.

 

[BlackFox]

Regardless of the quality of the show or the games, it’s strange that the author seems to distance himself from the games despite their efforts to directly build on his story. Yet he embraces the show, which diverges significantly from it. But I guess the Netflix money is really good, lol.

I watched an interview with him he did a couple of years back, before the show came out but had been announced where he was answering questions from the audience about the games and the up coming tv show and he said the number of times a new medium improves on the quality of the original source material/IP, ie usually a book, is like 1% or extremely rare so I dont think he is that fussed as long as he his paid for it. He thinks the books are almost impossible to beat in any shape or form for any IP, not just the Witcher, so is probably at ease with what ever comes as it cant change what he was done or effect the books directly in any way.

I guess his attitude is, Ive done my work and what you do with that after paying me is up to you, which is fair enough I guess otherwise he might get more upset otherwise. Perhaps some book fans want him to be more upset over things that are changed I guess, especially when it comes to the tv show which is more directly using the books than the games which are set after them?

 

[Punisher_MAX]

The games heavily take from the books though. Like Deck said, you CAN play the games without knowing anything about the books cause they're still good games, but having read the books just enriches the experience.

 

[metaphysician]

Regardless of the quality of the show or the games, it’s strange that the author seems to distance himself from the games despite their efforts to directly build on his story. Yet he embraces the show, which diverges significantly from it. But I guess the Netflix money is really good, lol.

You'd think it'd be the other way around. I'm thinking about re-reading the books and doing a brand new playthrough of TW3 immediately after.

Nah, it makes perfect sense to me. His every public statement reads as "I think video games are a lesser medium, barely fit to walk the same planet as my exalted artistic self". The Netflix show is both a more "respectable" medium, and also one that didn't commit the unforgivable sin of "proving him spectacularly wrong".

 

[Nathaniell]

Oh I love this series . Never read the books or played the games so my expectations were quite low. And I love Henry as Geralt. he's awesome.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yeah I really like Cavill in this role. I know that some people don’t and I understand why, but I quite enjoy him. I like his gruff, FML attitude on the surface and his obvious warmth on the inside that only a few characters can see. At the very least, you have to admire his dedication in the fight scenes. He’s a straight-up beast. That scene where he takes out the dudes in the temple that were after Ciri was badass.

 

[BlackFox]

Yeah I really like Cavill in this role. I know that some people don’t and I understand why, but I quite enjoy him. I like his gruff, FML attitude on the surface and his obvious warmth on the inside that only a few characters can see. At the very least, you have to admire his dedication in the fight scenes. He’s a straight-up beast. That scene where he takes out the dudes in the temple that were after Ciri was badass.

There's no doubting Cavill's ability to show Geralt as an incredible sword fighter and his commitment to making him as close to on the best swordsmen on the continent with his stunt team is highly admorable, its one part of the show that stands out for me amongst most others in the action department it rarely dissappoints and seems like its a part that always has 100% effort and forethought put into it, unlike some other shows I could think of.

Him as Geralt personality wise though will no doubt just not work for some who just see him as a plank of wood, but for me its been Cavill's best performance by far and he has grown into the role especially in this season making him a more rounded character and less one dimensional that he was in season 1, being a perfect ward for Ciri in the step-dad role. The only thing I want to see changed with him is a bit more of weathered look, a few facial scars or some more beardyness to really top it off as he still is a bit too "handsome" in the role but its a minor quibble and I think one that will get better in time, that and a better outfit.

 

[TheVileOne]

Cavill is clearly more invested in this character than he ever was in Superman, and you can tell.

 

[TheVileOne]

I'm not sure I've ever seen Sapkowski mention gaming in a positive way. I haven't re read about his contract with CD Project Red in a couple of years at least but if I remember correctly they offered him a % of the sales or a lump sum and he chose the lump sum because he thought the Witcher 1 would fail. And would latter go on to sue CDPR because of the massive success of the games. If I'm wrong on any of that please correct me. I also heard in a review for The Hexer that Sapkowski once said that he would let Geralt be used in a toothpaste commercial if he was paid enough. I can't confirm if that statement is true or not because I don't think the reviewer provided a source. I don't even remember who the reviewer was.


I wish they would either put the Hexer show on Netflix or release it on digital, DVD or something in the US. I've seen the movie which I think is just the whole series edited into a 2hour movie.

He did publicly threaten a lawsuit, but I don't think it ever went to court. Also, CDPR and Sapkowski later resolved their issues so CDPR can continue making new Witcher games. They ultimately signed a new rights agreement.

CD Projekt signs new agreement and ends dispute with The Witcher author

I think deep down Sapkowski was just mentally kicking himself because he took a weak gamble on selling off the game rights for a lump sum and saw how popular the games later became. I think he did deserve a bigger piece of the pie, but they signed a new contract and all is well now.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

Still hoping CDPR does a show with Starz or something

 

[TheVileOne]

Still hoping CDPR does a show with Starz or something

I don't see how they could. CDPR's agreement is to produce games, merch for their games, and board games. A TV show would be a violation of that agreement.

Sort of like if Sony Pictures wants to make a Spider-Man TV show, they'd need to work out a deal with Marvel Studios/Disney.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

I don't see how they could. CDPR's agreement is to produce games, merch for their games, and board games. A TV show would be a violation of that agreement.

Sort of like if Sony Pictures wants to make a Spider-Man TV show, they'd need to work out a deal with Marvel Studios/Disney.

Doesn't CDPR own their story of The Witcher past the books though?

Anyway I decided to finish the S2 and jfc it just got worse and worse.

-the Voleth Meir angle is just dumb.

-Everything they did with Ciri was baffling and they are wasting a perfect casting in Freya.

-Dijkstra is also wasted and a far cry from the intimidating and larger than life figure the books present him as.

-Vesemir was also butchered in his characterization. I'm probably too attached to video game Uncle Vesemir.

-The Scoiatel origin story was meh. It was handled much better in the books.

-Even though it was simply voice work, what a step down the casting of Emhyr is when Charles Dance was perfect.

- Yarpen was spot on though and honestly wish we had more of him.

- Fringilla continues to be awful and I have zero idea how they do her storyline in Toussaint in the future.

- Religious zealot Cahir? **** me.

I could go on forever but I have no idea how anyone can like this ****, especially if they have ever read the books or played the games.

 

[Marvolo]

Speaking of Yarpen, I really hate when showrunners and directors think "dwarf" in a fantasy series = "dwarf" in the real world, and that they can just cast a dwarf actor and thats good enough. It works in Game of Thrones because dwarves in GOT aren't an actual separate species. GOT dwarves are the same as real world dwarves. A genetic mutation passed down to offspring. Fantasy dwarves, like the ones in the Witcher, are built like boulders and a lot more muscular and dense than real world dwarves. They have large hands, bulky muscles, large features, big bones, they are wide, and weigh around 200 pounds depending on the franchise. They don't have any kind of waddle in their gait. They aren't thin.

I really do enjoy the dwarf actors theyve cast and actors like Peter Dinklage and I do want them to have more acting opportunities, but just sticking them as they are in the role of a fantasy dwarf is about as bad as just casting black actors as dark elves and calling it done. Its lazy and represents these fantasy races in the most superficial ways.

At the very least the showrunners should have given the dwarf actors prosthetics and costumes with padding to significantly bulk them up and change their physical features some. They could have had coaches to train them to move like they weigh a lot more. It wouldn't have been as good as some of the dwarves in the Middle Earth films but it would have been an improvement over what they are currently doing with the dwarf characters in this show.

 

[TheVileOne]

Doesn't CDPR own their story of The Witcher past the books though?

Sure they own their games but the original source material and IP is still owned by Sapkowski. They can't make a new live-action TV series themselves without his consent. It would be copyright infringement. All the names, characters, and locations from the books are still owned by Sapkowski.

 

[KillerMcQueen]

Speaking of Yarpen, I really hate when showrunners and directors think "dwarf" in a fantasy series = "dwarf" in the real world, and that they can just cast a dwarf actor and thats good enough. It works in Game of Thrones because dwarves in GOT aren't an actual separate species. GOT dwarves are the same as real world dwarves. A genetic mutation passed down to offspring. Fantasy dwarves, like the ones in the Witcher, are built like boulders and a lot more muscular and dense than real world dwarves. They have large hands, bulky muscles, large features, big bones, they are wide, and weigh around 200 pounds depending on the franchise. They don't have any kind of waddle in their gait. They aren't thin.

I really do enjoy the dwarf actors theyve cast and actors like Peter Dinklage and I do want them to have more acting opportunities, but just sticking them as they are in the role of a fantasy dwarf is about as bad as just casting black actors as dark elves and calling it done. Its lazy and represents these fantasy races in the most superficial ways.

At the very least the showrunners should have given the dwarf actors prosthetics and costumes with padding to significantly bulk them up and change their physical features some. They could have had coaches to train them to move like they weigh a lot more. It wouldn't have been as good as some of the dwarves in the Middle Earth films but it would have been an improvement over what they are currently doing with the dwarf characters in this show.

I feel like the logic casting wise is that it saves them from having to worry about using a ton of vfx, scale doubles, and forced perspective shots to sell their actors as Dwarves, but I do agree they should do some makeup work to sell that they're portraying a fantasy race, and not playing humans with dwarfism.