Fantasy Netflix's The Witcher - General Discussion Thread

[TheVileOne]

The good news is that The Witcher 1 game is getting a remake, so fans at least have something to look forward to outside of this dumpster fire of an adaptation.

I hope one day The Witcher will be rebooted with a more competent team and cast.

 

[Erik20]

Just end it after season 3. Netflix is always quick to cancel something, but this is the show they want to save...

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Just end it after season 3. Netflix is always quick to cancel something, but this is the show they want to save...

They thought they had their GoT.

 

[TheVileOne]

They thought they had their GoT.

They could have, but they squandered it.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

They could have, but they squandered it.

True. But considering who they put in charge, this was always the way it was headed.

 

[TheVileOne]

As far as the fandom grifting thing goes, I'm willing to give Henry Cavill the benefit of the doubt, but it does sort of feel like Cavill shifts his loyalties whichever way the wind blows.

Which I man, fair play to him. You got to look out for yourself in show business. The industry does not look out for you.

At the same time, as a fan of The Witcher, I do feel like I got conned here, but not necessarily by Cavill. Moreso by Netflix.

 

[Iceman]

True. But considering who they put in charge, this was always the way it was headed.

Who’s in charge?

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Who’s in charge?

People who don't like the source material.

 

[Da-Scribe]

I’m not really clear on what Cavill did wrong here. He played Superman until WB decided they didn’t wanna work with him anymore and found another franchise in The Witcher. Now the new WB leadership wants to work with him again so he’s gone back to Superman.

Since it sounds like he wasn’t happy with the direction the show was going, which many folks here agree with, what exactly should he have done? Stay on a show he doesn’t like and pass up the job he does like?

 

[blackdragon6]

I’m not really clear on what Cavill did wrong here. He played Superman until WB decided they didn’t wanna work with him anymore and found another franchise in The Witcher. Now the new WB leadership wants to work with him again so he’s gone back to Superman.

Since it sounds like he wasn’t happy with the direction the show was going, which many folks here agree with, what exactly should he have done? Stay on a show he doesn’t like and pass up the job he does like?

Yeah, after the rumors about the writers not liking the source material I was not surprised at all he bolted.

 

[Iceman]

People who don't like the source material.

Oh right, well that’s terrible.

The IP is kind of messy with the author being an ass about the games and now the show creators not respecting the source material. LotR rights are also messy. Come on fantasy IPs, get your act together.

 

[TheVileOne]

Who’s in charge?

Netflix and Ted Sarandos I suppose. Lauren Hissrich is the main showrunner.

 

[TheVileOne]

I’m not really clear on what Cavill did wrong here. He played Superman until WB decided they didn’t wanna work with him anymore and found another franchise in The Witcher. Now the new WB leadership wants to work with him again so he’s gone back to Superman.

Since it sounds like he wasn’t happy with the direction the show was going, which many folks here agree with, what exactly should he have done? Stay on a show he doesn’t like and pass up the job he does like?

That's why I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. But the details on this are still hazy. All we have to go on are the corporate double-speak press releases and Instagram posts the actors probably didn't even write.

 

[Yellow Cyclone]

Cavill is such a tool. Grifter of fandoms is spot on.

imagine calling cavill a grifter of fandoms when JJ Abrams walks this earth

 

[flickchick85]

Just end it after season 3. Netflix is always quick to cancel something, but this is the show they want to save...

If it makes it to S5 I’ll be shocked, ngl.

 

[TheVileOne]

If it makes it to S5 I’ll be shocked, ngl.

There's still time to cancel Season 4. It hasn't started production yet. Netflix cancelled GLOW after it was already renewed.

 

[Iceman]

If it makes it to S5 I’ll be shocked, ngl.

Not sure what the likelihood was anyway, but the odds have taken a deep dive after today’s news.

 

[Comicbookguy339]

Last I heard they were planning on shooting seasons 4 & 5 back-to-back (they recently did that for Locke & Key as well).

 

[Iceman]

There's still time to cancel Season 4. It hasn't started production yet. Netflix cancelled GLOW after it was already renewed.

Oh so they’ve got form on this. Really wouldn’t be surprising at this point. If Hemsworth is as bad as people say, then I expect we’ll be getting some angry takes from fans in this interim period. I would have thought if Netflix has more ambition for this show they would have gone further to try and convince Cahill to stay, or failing that made sure the replacement would go down well with audiences to prevent mass running for the exits.

 

[flickchick85]

Not sure what the likelihood was anyway, but the odds have taken a deep dive after today’s news.

Honestly, considering the numbers already dropped from S1 to S2, I would have been surprised to see it make it to S5 even without this news. The ship had already started sinking before Cavill jumped.

 

[Iceman]

Honestly, considering the numbers already dropped from S1 to S2, I would have been surprised to see it make it to S5 even without this news. The ship had already started sinking before Cavill jumped.

I’m quite clueless on TV show numbers. Is it rare for a show to have a lower second season and get renewed? Even if I season 1 is very big?

 

[Comicbookguy339]

I’m quite clueless on TV show numbers. Is it rare for a show to have a lower second season and get renewed? Even if I season 1 is very big?

Arguably the vast majority of shows (especially ones that start out very popular) lose viewers as they go on. Shows like The Walking Dead, GoT and Stranger Things are the exception.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

People who don't like the source material.

This is what pisses me off the most about the series, the showrunnner made a huge deal about reading the books and sticking true to the source material and got ******** when fans rightly called her out for straight up lying, and then crying about the criticisms fans made of the show, pulling the sexist card etc etc. Don't get me wrong there were some awful sexist takes, but she botched the amazing source material.

This is why I give Halo a pass despite it being just OK because at least their showrunners right off the bat said they'd take some liberties with the source material.

 

[DlAMONDZ]

Seems like the perfect storm tbh. Superman is back on the table and the people running The Witcher don't like the source material (whereas as Cavill loves the source material)

 

[flickchick85]

I’m quite clueless on TV show numbers. Is it rare for a show to have a lower second season and get renewed? Even if I season 1 is very big?

Netflix works differently than most other networks/outlets. A viewership drop is expected in most places, before viewership hits a plateau, and that’s where your steady, loyal viewers keep you afloat. For broadcast networks, if you have a solid enough loyal viewership that advertisers can depend on to show up, you’re good. For Netflix however, they are notorious for cancelling shows once they stop bringing in new subscribers. Which is why there are barely any Netflix shows that get to finish their planned runs. Season 2 is usually their shows’ breakout season - where they peak. Because enough viewers caught up on S1 that they built up quite a buzz for the return season. Then the shows kinda level out and start losing viewers from season to season and face cancellation. That was not the case for the Witcher. The buzz from S1 simply did not give them that usual sophomore season boost, which puts them in that usual cancellation danger a little earlier than their other hit shows.