The Witcher

:

Season 2
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Dec 20, 2019
Season #: 4, 3.5, 3, 2, 1
User Score
3.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 803 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 231 out of 803
  2. Mixed: 106 out of 803
  3. Negative: 466 out of 803

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User Reviews

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  1. Mattheusheck
    Dec 23, 2021
    3
    As an adaptation of a book, the series is terrible. As a generic fantasy - at best mediocre. Nice filming and CGI, but very poor script full of logical inconsistencies. Also, it shares with the books only character names and 3-4 minutes per episode (except for the fisrt one). I'm dissapointed!
  2. theTRUTHson
    Dec 29, 2021
    3
    Season 2 is disappointing. This is not how you do Witcher.

    Not enough action, not enough tension, not enough epic moments, not enough humor, not enough Geralt.

    Too much filler, too much build up, too much information thrown at the viewer, too many actors that don't fit the part (Yennefer).

    It's a pity but at least it's a motivation to pick up the books again.
  3. Qgal5kap
    Jan 9, 2022
    3
    Massively disappointed with this season. S1 was decent enough, but this was just well and truly boring. It could have easily been fixed with some better dialogue and proper writing. Boo! 3/10
  4. playahater
    Feb 16, 2022
    3
    I really hope Netflix is paying attention to these reviews! Stop adding character arcs that don’t exist! Stop pissing on the source material! You have a fantastic cast. Let them play the parts as written at least close to the books. Half the season never happened in the books!
  5. TKO
    Dec 30, 2021
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Terrible.

    This season destroys more original characters than it kills monsters.

    Everyone is dumb, 100 years mages and witchers act like teenagers. The show spends most of it's time on B team subplot, with B level actors and CW level writing. Prepare to skip forward a lot.    … Expand
  6. Paul_M_Dema
    Dec 19, 2021
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Good thing is that good amount of monsters fighting (some lazy but some are good). Again Geralt and CIri are best parts of the show and everything else is pretty much trash.
    Elves always start conversation from talking **** about humans ("they hate our ears"... gods..). Interesting how they excuse wars between humans.
    Overall story makes no sense. Everyone knows where everyone is. Stories lead to nowhere. Hookers in Kaer Morgan... no comments.
    Eskel destroyed as character. etc etc etc    … Expand
  7. hoodie_666
    Dec 18, 2021
    3
    This is anything but an adaptation. It's like they skimmed through the books, wrote down what they remembered and then built a story around that. Only a handful characters are the same as in the books, only some of the plots are the same.

    Maybe I would've been fine with it if this new story was actually interesting and if it made sense, but it isnt
  8. Rhadamanph
    Dec 19, 2021
    3
    Awful, I could not even imagine they are possible to make things worse. Won't be awaiting the next season.
  9. Daermon
    Jan 6, 2022
    3
    Pro: - Some fight scene
    - Henry Cavill
    - Joey Batey
    - Kaer Morhen

    Other things just bad. But still very bad: - Yen, Triss, Ciri cast…. And the writing (Lauren Schmidt Hissrich & team fail).
  10. mikobit
    Dec 19, 2021
    3
    I'm really trying to like the show, which is more than most shows get from the get go, but overlooking the poor writing, mostly poor casting and acting, and mediocre-at-best CGI became even more difficult this season.
    If it wasn't for Henry Cavill - I don't think I could've finished this season, unfortunately.
    Having not read the books, I can't believe I was THAT much more emotionally    I'm really trying to like the show, which is more than most shows get from the get go, but overlooking the poor writing, mostly poor casting and acting, and mediocre-at-best CGI became even more difficult this season.
    If it wasn't for Henry Cavill - I don't think I could've finished this season, unfortunately.
    Having not read the books, I can't believe I was THAT much more emotionally invested in the video games vs. the live action - even with the pixelated 3D characters - the dialogue was so well written and the plot made so much more emotional sense - it was able to rise to heights this show unfortunately never does.    … Expand
  11. ofash
    Dec 23, 2021
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. ngl my boy Henry Cavill is pretty much the only good thing about Witcher season 2. vesemir acting was so bad.. Story has nothing to do with either the books or the games, Triss and Yen feels like woke propagenda because we cannot have white women nowdays on Netflix shows now can we..
    and why the hell did they kill eskel so early on. Season 1 was pretty good but 2 is pretty much **** up big time. Can't wait for black Letho and Indian Shani    … Expand
  12. portobellojim
    Jul 30, 2023
    3
    This show isn't good. No one could possibly argue that it was anything other than poor. Cavill carries it to some degree, but the amateurish story telling and action is just too much.
    Having said that, giving it 0 or 1 is just ridiculous; these are rage scores. I'm giving it 3 because Cavill is good and because bad as it was, I still sat through it all. This is a below average tv    This show isn't good. No one could possibly argue that it was anything other than poor. Cavill carries it to some degree, but the amateurish story telling and action is just too much.
    Having said that, giving it 0 or 1 is just ridiculous; these are rage scores. I'm giving it 3 because Cavill is good and because bad as it was, I still sat through it all. This is a below average tv show and it could have been much much better with the right writing.    … Expand
  13. Nemos
    Jan 29, 2022
    3
    Way to ruin something. Fantastic game, decent season 1... and now just poor writing and extremely boring.
  14. Bruterake
    Mar 3, 2022
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Até que diverte um pouco, o momento no bar com o Jaskier com o truque da Yeneffer cuspindo fogo foi muito legal e nossa o cg melhorou 10x no mínimo. Agora que já foram os positivos, a série ta muito mal escrita nossa, tudo muito muito previsível e chato os personagens são muito caricatos e unidimensionais. Eu não li os livros mas o que fizerem com o menino Vesemir to vendo as reviews e todo mundo concorda é uma afronta aos personagens ninguém tem profundidade todo mundo é preto no branco. E nossa dessa vez ta incomodando as lentes são muito feias vei se tirassem elas dava pra ter uma cena séria sem olhar como ta esquisito a cara do Geralt.… Expand
  15. DrIlic
    Dec 20, 2021
    3
    For the fans of books is not okay. Lauren you lied to us, Why did you say this show will be based on the books. Like, you posted a tweet that shows pictures of books and says '' This is what adaptation looks like.'' You clearly creating a new story.
  16. Warspender
    Dec 29, 2021
    3
    Зачем нужно было так поступать с книгой, бездарная работа сценариста и эта постоянная повестка. Это славянское фантази, если вы собаку назовете кошкой она ей не станет. Это славянское фантази
  17. happymaik
    Dec 19, 2021
    3
    I'm utterly disappointed by this entirely generic fantasy TV series. First of all, it is, in fact, an improvement since the previous season. However, the showrunner has assured us that it will be "a translation" of the novels into the TV series format (check IGN interview). Correct me if I am wrong, but I've read the books two times, and frankly, this has nothing to do with them. TheI'm utterly disappointed by this entirely generic fantasy TV series. First of all, it is, in fact, an improvement since the previous season. However, the showrunner has assured us that it will be "a translation" of the novels into the TV series format (check IGN interview). Correct me if I am wrong, but I've read the books two times, and frankly, this has nothing to do with them. The original material is fairly easy to adapt as a film/series, everybody has been telling this, but nevertheless, the producers decided to resign from 90% of the plot to use their own, unfortunately, terrible ideas. Fringilla Vigo? Boring. Cahir? Boring. Yennifer? Boring. Why have you made a childish idiot from a mature and confident sorceress? Ciri is just unlikeable, no proper development, no positive energy has been transferred to her plot. Furthermore, you failed to comprehend all those little details that made the universe unique. For example, you could have learnt this mistake during the first season thanks to the infamous doppler. It's one of the first major mistakes you committed. Dopplers were rather positively presented in the books, that's why we could sympathise with them when they faced human rejection only because of their uniqueness. You utterly fail to show details like this. No one would feel compassion for elves, dopplers and dwarves for the racism they experience in your show. Also, you failed to acknowledge that the world and politics are rather irrelevant to the story when it does not concern Geralt. Of course, some political details can come in handy, plans of the sorceresses, the kings, Djikstra, etc. However, it should not be 60% of the scenes! The core of the universe is Geralt's charisma, his personal experiences with humans, his development with his friends and family and it is underdeveloped in the series to the point that the characters are shallow. Everything seems rushed and does not add up! It's a shame that the author is a lazy retried businessman who clearly does not understand the phenomenon he has created and let this abomination to be created.
    I could pick some positives, but whatever. Certainly NOT recommended.    … Expand
  18. danglan
    Dec 21, 2021
    3
    Sapkowski jak to oglądał płakał podcierając łzy studolarówkami............
  19. qziem6
    Dec 28, 2021
    3
    I've read the books and i love them. This is no adaptation. Only 10 - 15% material in series is from book, other is invented by creators. But, I try to be honest and try to rate series without thinking about books and its terrible. Actors are bad, costumes are bad, dialogues are terrible, plot is dissaster - full of logical mistakes and not engaging intrigues (elfs and nilfgaard). I hateI've read the books and i love them. This is no adaptation. Only 10 - 15% material in series is from book, other is invented by creators. But, I try to be honest and try to rate series without thinking about books and its terrible. Actors are bad, costumes are bad, dialogues are terrible, plot is dissaster - full of logical mistakes and not engaging intrigues (elfs and nilfgaard). I hate it. I'm frustrated because i know that if they wouldn't change everything it has potential to be a good series.
    Only one thing i like: monsters and action scenes, thats all.    … Expand
  20. MetacriticOnur
    Jan 14, 2022
    3
    bad
    [ bad ]

    adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
    not good in any manner or degree.
  21. Jubus
    Dec 28, 2021
    3
    This second season was very poorly done, a big disappointment after what was a promising first season.
    The writers have tried to strike out and put their own spin on the original plot and characters but have done a poor job overall which has led to a story that is boring at best and utter nonsense at worst, I quickly lost interest in what was happening and really had to force myself    This second season was very poorly done, a big disappointment after what was a promising first season.
    The writers have tried to strike out and put their own spin on the original plot and characters but have done a poor job overall which has led to a story that is boring at best and utter nonsense at worst, I quickly lost interest in what was happening and really had to force myself through those last episodes.
    I think Henry Cavill is portraying a great version of Geralt still. It is rumoured he did have to influence some of the writing of his own character during filming, which is likely why his character is the the most enjoyable and consistent throughout but highlights he himself saw how flawed the writing was.
    No other characters stood out unfortunately, mostly keeping me bored anytime Cavill was off screen.
    Ultimately wherever all that extra budget money went for the second season, it definitely wasn't put towards the writing, and the show suffers because of it.
    A real shame as with better thought out writing for their new plot or alternatively just sticking much closer to the original source material the show had the potential to be something special. I won't be tuning back in for a third season    … Expand
  22. rJIucT
    Dec 17, 2021
    3
    Актерский состав желает лучшего, но хуже всего то, что нигеров в сериал понагнали столько как будто там плантации сахарного тростника.....
  23. Perseus69
    Dec 17, 2021
    3
    I tried hard again to like this show, but it was hard trying. Again. Childish and corny dialogs, confused plot that leads nowhere, silly characters. The witchers become a group of dumb idiots, the bards play teenage music from the worst playlist on Spotify. They even managed to shove in a black elf for good "wokiness" measure. I really wish they just asked the writers of the Witcher 3 gameI tried hard again to like this show, but it was hard trying. Again. Childish and corny dialogs, confused plot that leads nowhere, silly characters. The witchers become a group of dumb idiots, the bards play teenage music from the worst playlist on Spotify. They even managed to shove in a black elf for good "wokiness" measure. I really wish they just asked the writers of the Witcher 3 game to work on the show. They would have done a much better job. Writing is so poor that I found myself compelled to skip dialogues. Another wasted chance to bring a great story to life. I fell asleep after 2 episodes.… Expand
  24. Lehu
    Dec 17, 2021
    3
    I'm freshly after watching the season 2. Frankly speaking I'm seriously disappointed. While CGI, and acting might be criticized by some (for me it wasn't that bad), I have the most problems with the plot. They changed it so much that for me it's no longer the same story. It's something that's "inspired by" not "adaptation of". I could accept it if the plot was good. Unfortunately thereI'm freshly after watching the season 2. Frankly speaking I'm seriously disappointed. While CGI, and acting might be criticized by some (for me it wasn't that bad), I have the most problems with the plot. They changed it so much that for me it's no longer the same story. It's something that's "inspired by" not "adaptation of". I could accept it if the plot was good. Unfortunately there were so many things that did not make sense or were just boring that last episodes I just skimmed through...

    To sum up: if you don't know the books you might enjoy it (if you are willing to overlook some plot issues). However, if you are fan of the books, you will probably be disappointed.
    I will probably watch season 3 if it comes out but at this point I only expect more disappointment.    … Expand
  25. Monotyp
    Dec 18, 2021
    3
    Absolute garbage, the acting is bad, the cgi is even worse! Only a handful characters are the same as in the books, only some of the plots are the same.
  26. alexmordan
    Dec 19, 2021
    3
    Ужасный сезон. Ждал с нетерпением, а по итогу вышло одно разочарование. Нелепая сцена с проститутками в Каэр-Морхене, куча нелепой отсебятины, которая порой вообще не коррелировала с событиями вокруг. Но самое отвращение вызывает каст актеров. Нэннеке – чёрная лысая женщина? (Лол). Дийкстра – брутальный и накачанный дед с бородой? Ну, про чёрных эльфов я вообще промолчу. Равно как и проУжасный сезон. Ждал с нетерпением, а по итогу вышло одно разочарование. Нелепая сцена с проститутками в Каэр-Морхене, куча нелепой отсебятины, которая порой вообще не коррелировала с событиями вокруг. Но самое отвращение вызывает каст актеров. Нэннеке – чёрная лысая женщина? (Лол). Дийкстра – брутальный и накачанный дед с бородой? Ну, про чёрных эльфов я вообще промолчу. Равно как и про чёрных ведьмаков. Эра толерастии достигла апогея. Последняя серия сезона вызвала недоумение. Сценаристы попытались в креатив, а вышло недоразумение с непонятным сюжетом и примитивными монстрами. Спасибо, что хоть Эмгыр не лысая чёрная женщина! 3/10 чисто за переработанную подачу «сюжета» без рваного повествования и за улучшенную съёмку экшн-сцен.… Expand
  27. ericrouse12345
    Dec 19, 2021
    3
    I don’t know who is writing the story and plot lines for the series, but they should be fired. I don’t know if it’s a combination of the writers and show runner, or what, but it’s a disgrace. The acting and the actors are all great and they do fantastic work. Henry Cavill, his co-stars, and all the extras / side characters absolutely killed it and did their jobs spectacularly. The problemI don’t know who is writing the story and plot lines for the series, but they should be fired. I don’t know if it’s a combination of the writers and show runner, or what, but it’s a disgrace. The acting and the actors are all great and they do fantastic work. Henry Cavill, his co-stars, and all the extras / side characters absolutely killed it and did their jobs spectacularly. The problem is that this tv series adaptation absolutely butchers and massacres Anderzej Sapkowski’s genius and we’ll established universe/cannon. The entire story-line makes no sense whatsoever and the characters do things in the series that the characters would never ever do. What has been written for them completely undermines the nature, and essence of what we know and expect our characters to portray. What us Witcher fans know, wanted, and expected compared to what we got is utterly insulting and a complete slap to the face. If it wasn’t for all the fantastic actors, vfx/special effects artists, and stunt coordinators that absolutely carried this show, i would give it a big fat 0%. It’s utterly disgraceful, unforgivable, and because of how badly they ravaged the story line, seemingly unredeemable.… Expand
  28. higemori
    Dec 20, 2021
    3
    This is not an adaptation, it's a completely new story that is not very interesting, nor complex, nor enjoyable. Personalities of some characters were also altered and not in a very good way. The only two things they improved this season are graphics and variety of landscapes.
  29. wrathofguts
    Dec 21, 2021
    3
    It’s clear they're just using the Witcher name to tell their own mediocre story without any respect for the source material. Let me be clear, you don’t have to make a 1:1 adaptation of a work to be respectful to it but the changes have to make sense and not drastically take away from what made the original work so great. With that said, a lot of the characters from the original stories getIt’s clear they're just using the Witcher name to tell their own mediocre story without any respect for the source material. Let me be clear, you don’t have to make a 1:1 adaptation of a work to be respectful to it but the changes have to make sense and not drastically take away from what made the original work so great. With that said, a lot of the characters from the original stories get a complete change in personality and aside from having the same names as their book counterparts they are almost unrecognizable. Judging the show on it's own merits, it plays like a generic fantasy that's trying too hard to be GoT without the clever dialogue or interesting character development. Seriously, the writing is atrocious at times and some of the choices characters make are downright illogical. Often it feels there are scenes that don’t add a whole lot to the main story, there are characters that travel between places that are supposed to be thousands of miles away in minutes and conveniently arrive in time to meet other characters. On a side note, Henry Cavill and Freya Allan do a fantastic job despite the script they are given. It’s a shame really, this feels like a huge missed opportunity to show what made the Witcher books so great. If you’re completely new to it and haven’t read the books, there will probably be more to enjoy here.… Expand
  30. sakoulas
    Dec 21, 2021
    3
    This is not an adaption. This is bad written fan fiction. Disgraceful and disrespectful.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed TV Season of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Polygon
    Reviewed by: Joshua Rivera
    Jan 6, 2022
    80
    The show has earned a sizable amount of goodwill in an impressively short time, and even if we can no longer see the destination, The Witcher still feels like a hell of an adventure.
    Read full review
  2. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Dec 19, 2021
    67
    Watching the foundation get laid isn’t always exciting, but it does feel like showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich is building toward rousing sequences and cares about each of the characters equally. Whether you feel the same doesn’t really matter. “The Witcher” is in it for the long haul, and even if Season 2 feels longer than it should, you won’t regret the ride.
    Read full review
  3. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Brian Tallerico
    Dec 17, 2021
    50
    “The Witcher” constantly struggles to balance its dialogue-driven scenes with pushing the plot forward. It can be an exhausting show in terms of pace—every single episode feels longer than it actually is.
    Read full review
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