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. Arcello
    Dec 23, 2021
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It’s just bad. I read all book and payed games long before the series. Creators told us about books but the series has nothing to do with them. Terrible attitude of the authors. Many illogical moments in the script. Very bad graphics. The death of Eskel, constant teleports of the characters over long distances, the loss of Yennifer's magical abilities, and so on, much can be said. I am very sorry that my favorite universe was destroyed in Netflix’s creation. After watching the eighth series I was extremely disappointed and there was only one thought “Just how? How?”. Only people that didn’t read books or played games can barely enjoy the series. But even as a stand-alone product it’s awful. Of course 140 million views (2 minutes of watching counts as view already lol) is an indication of good job (no). Funny that nothing will change and they will continue to make another strange things in their series.… Expand
  2. Przybyslaw
    Dec 22, 2021
    0
    2 season - one word : CRAP [or joke? does not matter]

    ish = total talentless
    scenario = tragedy, tragedy, tragedy.... ...tragedy
    parody of the witcher's world.

    don't watch without a large dose of alcohol or thc
  3. CEOofPwnage
    Dec 20, 2021
    1
    The only positive about this season is Geralt’s casting. The show simply isn’t an adaption of the books and takes extreme liberties in butchering the stories told in them. There was no need to shoehorn in an entirely new plot into blood of elves when you have such strong source material to work with… I don’t get it…
  4. Woffae
    Dec 26, 2021
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. To those who read the books, the series is broken, incoherent and full of pale drama.
    I will dive directly into the ****

    1-Vesimir is weak in morals, physic, and personally. And gess what...he wants to make NEW witchers !!!.
    2-Elskel starts a whore party at Kaer Morhen...really!!!, Kaer Morhen should be kept secret and only very selected few have access to it. The get killed by Gerald. A major wicher get killed in one episode by Gerald. This is bad joke.
    3-Yennifer has weak non arogant personality, she almost betrays Ciri under the effect of a Gaunter O'Dimm-like female devil. That devil then possesses...gess who...the Wild Hunt.
    4-Cahir gets arrested and tortured then saved by.. Yennifrr…WTF.

    Only point goes for Henry C. Who puts his best in this show...but that will not save it unfortunatly.

    For me this is a dead series. It seems to me that NETGLIX stuffed the writers mouth with dollars that he can’t speek about this terrible drama

    This reminde my how another ''modern era female'' show runner destroyed STAR WARS. This will happen again.

    My hope: non exist, but to make my last wish: wished the show was run up by a fan who played the games and read the books and made a faithfull adaptation, coz as they keep saying ''there is alot of source material''' yet they keep inventing a pale non-exciting drama out of those epic materials.

    Feel really sad to witness my beloved franchise being mutilated and twisted.    … Expand
  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. Orzel94
    Dec 25, 2021
    4
    Technically good, good actors(Henry cahil well done) but the plot.... Forget what you read on books... Season one had strange ideas but season two is ****
  7. oneofmany
    Dec 27, 2021
    1
    I enjoyed The Witcher games, the books, even enjoyed Season 1 of this show. Season 2 however feels like a huge disappointment. It's like the showrunner, writers and netflix asked what the true fans of the books and games like about them and changed 70% of that just to "capture a wider audience". The sad part is I would not mind changing the story if the changes they made were good, but theI enjoyed The Witcher games, the books, even enjoyed Season 1 of this show. Season 2 however feels like a huge disappointment. It's like the showrunner, writers and netflix asked what the true fans of the books and games like about them and changed 70% of that just to "capture a wider audience". The sad part is I would not mind changing the story if the changes they made were good, but the writing and execution was very poor.… Expand
  8. 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
  9. blackjohn
    Dec 25, 2021
    3
    To co Netfilx zrobił z książkami Andrzeja Sapkowskiego to jakaś tragedia. To taj jak przy przy ekranizacji biblii uśmierciło się jednego z apostołów, jezusowi odebrało prawo do czynienia cudów, a na końcu się go opanowało przez szatana. Bo po co opowiadać historię kochaną przez fanów książek. Przecież scenarzyści Netflixa wiedzą lepiej !!!
  10. WJ4
    Dec 27, 2021
    3
    I waited 2 years to see blood of elves adapted to tv. That's 24 months, 104 weeks, or 730 days. I'm still waiting. After episode 1 the source material goes out the window, and an entirely original plot with entirely original characters takes its place. The acting wasn't bad, and I didn't hate everything about it, but they certainly weren't awe inspiring. The books live in my memoryI waited 2 years to see blood of elves adapted to tv. That's 24 months, 104 weeks, or 730 days. I'm still waiting. After episode 1 the source material goes out the window, and an entirely original plot with entirely original characters takes its place. The acting wasn't bad, and I didn't hate everything about it, but they certainly weren't awe inspiring. The books live in my memory forever. I hope I forget about this season in a month or so.… Expand
  11. lavnes123
    Dec 29, 2021
    3
    The Witcher as a series should not describe itself as an adaptation of A. Sapkowski's prose, but as a creature in the witcher-like world. However, ignoring this, judging the series without going into the source material, it is nothing more than an average, banally simple, not requiring thinking and commitment creation, differing only in slightly better special effects than fantasy seriesThe Witcher as a series should not describe itself as an adaptation of A. Sapkowski's prose, but as a creature in the witcher-like world. However, ignoring this, judging the series without going into the source material, it is nothing more than an average, banally simple, not requiring thinking and commitment creation, differing only in slightly better special effects than fantasy series from the 90s, such as Xena: Warrior Princess. It is a bit sad to see such a wasted potential.… Expand
  12. Delryc
    Jan 2, 2022
    1
    An insult to the work of Andrzej Sapkowski. The new plots are uninteresting. The characters distorted by these changes. I felt like I was watching a fan fiction.
  13. MichalMajka
    Jan 4, 2022
    3
    I've been waiting for this 28 years since I first read these books, I dreamed of a wonderful film adaptation of the books that somehow shaped me when I was growing up
    However, I got something that has little in common with books, poorly written, full of imaginary threads and then put together without logic. It is a disrespect for the author, viewers and source material
  14. KryptoHuman
    Jan 4, 2022
    1
    the only thing that has to do with the witcher are the names of the characters
  15. Kapitanhak27
    Jan 5, 2022
    0
    I did not expected 1:1 with the books but jeyzus this is bad written show, dialogues, main characters, eskel, jaskier, kaer morhen, show is too vulgar too plastic and completely doesn't make sense . Waste of time.
  16. Nadia_Moss
    Jan 5, 2022
    0
    It almost physically hurts to look at what they are doing with our beloved universe.
    Who was this show filmed for? It is difficult to look at it as a unique product, because the bloopers and holes are so large that if I didn’t know the Witcher, I would have turned off the series in the first episodes and forgot about it as if it were a bad dream.
    It is impossible to look like a product    It almost physically hurts to look at what they are doing with our beloved universe.
    Who was this show filmed for? It is difficult to look at it as a unique product, because the bloopers and holes are so large that if I didn’t know the Witcher, I would have turned off the series in the first episodes and forgot about it as if it were a bad dream.
    It is impossible to look like a product written in the universe of The Witcher, because there is only one name from The Witcher, and a huge bolt is put on the universe.
    And even more so it is impossible to watch, as a film adaptation of the events of the books, because from the events of the books there ... uh-uh, nothing? They would have made an original product based on motives, but I just don't understand why what is happening is happening. Hissrich and Co. just spit in the soul and face of the fans of the saga, both books and games.    … Expand
  17. Mirikki
    Jan 11, 2022
    0
    Netflix will never make the story better than Sapkowski do. The idea of making their ~~own vision of the story~~ was just fatal, and the only way to rerutn fans' support is to use the books' plot
  18. ForGreatDemacia
    Jan 11, 2022
    1
    It's hard to believe they could have made this story terrible considering the source material, but hands off to the showrunner for doing it. The series is NOTHING like the books or game, and none of it is improved over the original.

    Yennefer is clearly a Mary Sue for the showrunner, having more story than Geralt. You know...the namesake Witcher. She's amazing and perfect and everyone    It's hard to believe they could have made this story terrible considering the source material, but hands off to the showrunner for doing it. The series is NOTHING like the books or game, and none of it is improved over the original.

    Yennefer is clearly a Mary Sue for the showrunner, having more story than Geralt. You know...the namesake Witcher. She's amazing and perfect and everyone loves her, and oh yeah, there's this Witcher guy who gets a scene or two. Cavill does a herculean job with impeccable acting but it's not enough to save it from the utterly terrible dialogue and writing.

    Won't be watching season 3. This isn't a good show.    … Expand
  19. ScienceAdvisor
    Dec 20, 2021
    1
    Witcher in name only. This does not have anything to do with the books or games. The intersectional feminism and bad CGI duel for being the worst part of the show, but are just elements of the entire team making this. They chose to corrupt a great story just for their own person agenda like a cultural cancer.
  20. 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
  21. xbudx
    Dec 20, 2021
    1
    cons - another show that suffers from being too woke. the writing in witcher seems like they just tossed out everything great about the books and asked a 4-year-old what an encounter between fantasy characters might be. (fire **** this fire **** that mixed with the bards cringe commentary) this show also decided to include classic Disneyesque quick quips that are so lame it makes me wondercons - another show that suffers from being too woke. the writing in witcher seems like they just tossed out everything great about the books and asked a 4-year-old what an encounter between fantasy characters might be. (fire **** this fire **** that mixed with the bards cringe commentary) this show also decided to include classic Disneyesque quick quips that are so lame it makes me wonder if the creator isn't 4 but is actually a 55-year-old suburban woman ripping from big bang theory. Netflix likes to "consult the algorithm" and see how many random demographics they can attract while making the show just good enough to be not good but passable. you would think with GoT being so huge and LotR being the best trilogy of all time they'd actually hire someone who isn't a dullard to make the show. some of the acting is so bad my head hurt as I thought I was in some sort of distorted mental hell but realized this is just the current state of tv. they should have just given geralt blue hair, made him trans, and then cast anyone from a google search of "woke actors" and called it complete because they're not far off. dummy bird brain **** for little guys.

    pros - cool monsters    … Expand
  22. Maz567
    Dec 19, 2021
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Well as a show that is based on the books, it manages to completely miss the mark. The characters are nothing like their counter part in the books (Cahir being mostache twirling evil, Vilgifortz, Yen losing her power and then trying to sacrifice Ciri, Vesemir wants to make witchers using ciri, Geralt using Ciri as bait, Cahir getting captured and Eskel to name a few). This basically changes many things from the books as mentioned. Even without considering the deviations from source material the changes make no sense and make things far worse.… Expand
  23. elZane555
    Dec 20, 2021
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What a train wreck. I won't rehash all the issues that have been addressed regarding the show no longer being an adaptation. I solely want to evaluate and judge what was in front of me.

    First the good. The first episode was pretty enjoyable. Certainly it missed some of the motifs and deeper conversations the short story had. But I never expected those things from this show. Season 1 was flawed but it was entertaining and had a fairly coherent plot. Which is more than can be said about season 2.

    Also I will say that Henry Cavill and Freya Allan did their best to portray a deep and sincere connection between Geralt and Ciri. The writing and plot certainly didn't make that relationship feel earned. But I will credit those two for their efforts. I could tell they were trying hard to convey the emotional connection between the two characters.

    Unfortunately that is where the positives end.

    Now, let's talk about Yennefer. Nothing encapsulates the utter disaster that was this season better than following Yennefer's arc throughout the season. I can't fault Anya Chalotra. As far as I know she could be a very talented and serious actress. But the writers absolutely dragged this character through the mud.

    Never have I seen a character that is supposed to come across as powerful, complex, and independent come across as so weak, one dimensional, and easily manipulated. So the writers decided to create a subplot that deviates from the books where Yennefer loses her magic. Ok cool.

    So she goes through an arc where being stripped of her power leads to her becoming a stronger and more dynamic character, right?

    Nope! Instead Yen goes on an adventure where she pulls off what, in theory, is a string of badass escapes - fleeing during the attempted execution of Cahir, burning Rience's face. I say in theory because the execution of those scenes is just so absurd it defies even magical fantasy logic.

    The escape with Cahir is done so sloppily that we are to believe Yen, with no magic power, is able to one chop the chains, one chop the towers, and flee before an audience of knights and sorcerers are able to do anything.

    For plot convenience Rience holds Dandelion in the middle of the same tavern he performed at earlier where Yennefer is able to casually stroll in. The two go on the run only for them to be sold out by the prostitute Yen foolishly showed her face to even though she's wanted and spent the prior episodes purposely hiding her face.

    But indulge me. Let's pretend these are badass Yennefer moments where she learns to use her cunning and courage to defy the odds even without her magic. Ok cool. In theory that would be a fine subplot to give to Yen if we're deviating so far from the books.

    Except all that is abandoned when Voleth Meir is somehow able to pluck Yen out of thin air. It was supposed to be a character statement when Yennfer turned down Voleth Meir when Fringilla and Francesca were unable to turn down the power she offered.

    But instead Yennefer decided she'd do anything to have her power back. Not only is Yen willing to sacrifice Ciri and betray Geralt but she is willing to risk all kinds of unknown disastrous consequences by handing over Ciri.

    This all culminates in my most loathed dialogue in a season of terrible dialogue. When Geralt, somehow arriving just in time to fend of the Nilfgaardians despite a vast geographical difference, calls out Yennefer for her actions, Yennefer screams:

    "I was stupid. I was selfish. I was stupid and selfish."

    Yennefer. One of the most powerful and badass women in all of fiction reduced to a whiny teenager who lost all ability to think for herself. And instead of making bold and risky decisions for the greater good as she is supposed to, she risks everything for her own selfish ends.

    The hallmark of a bad show is having main characters do dumb things solely for the purpose of moving the plot. Yennefer, Geralt, Vesemir, Dandelion all had a field day doing that the entire season. Like Vesemir's desires for Ciri's blood resulting in it getting stolen by Rience.

    Now let's talk about that ending. So the all powerful demon who was able to manipulate 3 expert sorceresses, pluck Yen out of thin air thousands of miles away, and summon hell beasts can be vanquished by kind words? Huh.

    So are Yen's actions forgiven now because she said kind things to bring Ciri back?

    Regardless, no kind words could bring this show back to relevancy or anything resembling an intriguing story.

    The irreparable harm done to these characters make it so that no future seasons or writing can make any of their motivations make sense. The plot holes and plot contrivances can not be undone by any further explanations or added events.    … Expand
  24. slawomirus
    Dec 20, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 10 for Lauren showrunner
    "This is the person I care about the most — that our adaptation protects his novels, honors his stories, shares his world with a wider audience — and that he loves how we’re doing it? "    … Expand
  25. ron2244
    Dec 20, 2021
    1
    Done watching the season 2. Its awful. The storyline is a drag. Actors and actresses talking awkwardly. Geralt fight scenes from episode 1 to 5 and also the ending is anti climatic. The characters feels disconnected to the first season. Huge dissapointment !!
  26. Andy164
    Dec 21, 2021
    0
    All those people watching the Witcher serial and loving it (what is totally ok, maybe i would enjoy it more too but it's also not very good anyway imo...) , but never touched one of the books or played the games. Won't understand the hate real fans have and how bad it actually is... Even worse than the stretching of the Hobbit for example... It's a based on not a Adaption. The ShowrunnerAll those people watching the Witcher serial and loving it (what is totally ok, maybe i would enjoy it more too but it's also not very good anyway imo...) , but never touched one of the books or played the games. Won't understand the hate real fans have and how bad it actually is... Even worse than the stretching of the Hobbit for example... It's a based on not a Adaption. The Showrunner and Cavill calling themselves big fans of the books and games who also told they will stay very close to the lore... Are only liars who are telling **** Otherwise they wouldn't deliver such a rape of a show...btw the diversity cast don't fit the Witcher universe also is sapkowski very clear how the people look in the books... I think also Sapkowski saying he likes the show is only very good paid. Because if somebody would do something like this to a fantasy world i would have created i couldn't enjoy one second of it, period!… Expand
  27. Lord_Volta
    Dec 20, 2021
    0
    If you know anything about the source material, don't watch this.
    (Episode 1 is ok though)
  28. Shrigma
    Dec 20, 2021
    0
    Is it a good fantasy show? It's decent. Is it a good witcher adaptation? Definitely not. If you're new to the witcher franchise you might enjoy it but if you played games or read the books, watching this show will be very painful. The plot is ridiculous and has nothing to do with original story. CGI is mediocre and the casting is just bad.
  29. MorriganPet
    Dec 30, 2021
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bad news!...instead of creating the world and characters that we viewers can identify with and share the journey together, Netflix has gone for cheap tricks of shock and awe (killing of Eskel -by Geralt, what's more -Geralt would never do that,last resort he would offer himself)and then Yennefer cutting her wrists!...Again!...well, shock is there bvut no awe...disgust is what we are left with.
    One good change...Geralt looks delicious the girls say...and the boys would like to be like him!
    The ugly scar is gone...and Geralt is not an arrogant prick and an imbecile to boot, lioke he is in the game Wild Hunt.
    One thing though about the scar...when we get to Skellige i'll miss ("nice scar, want to see mine")    … Expand
  30. Akri
    Dec 22, 2021
    2
    We have amaying stories in books, but they did this... Some actors are amazing tho.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed TV Season of 2021

Critic Reviews

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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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