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. bartiorama
    Dec 19, 2021
    9
    Congrats to Lauren for brave and successful plot changes. If you want the book's story, just read a book.If you want sth fresh, just watch it! Huge improvement comparing to season 1. Beautiful sets, fantastic special effects and great expansion of the original story. Thats so cringe when people complain about about the plot :))).
  2. AlexTell
    Dec 19, 2021
    2
    It's funny how the showrunner constantly says that she likes the source material and call herself the witcher fan, yet her """"adaptation"""" has nothing to do with the witcher books and just represent her wet dreams of believing she's better at storytelling than Sapkowski. Henry, darling, I know you tried your best. It's not your fault.
  3. 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
  4. SOHI
    Dec 19, 2021
    10
    i loved season 2 more than season 1. better story telling, better Special effects and more... remember The series should not be a copy of the books or games. there should be some differences. and to those who have no idea about the Witcher world, remember its just the beginning...!
  5. Clay-declaire
    Dec 19, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I don't think this should be getting the hate it deserves. I've read the books and played the games. While it's not 100% accurate and necessarily sticking to source material, it's fresh, it's new and it's exciting. The characters became more 3 dimensional (eg, a brand new side to Yen losing her magic). I very much enjoyed it. CGI was fantastic, acting was great. Loved the Leshy.… Expand
  6. Artyon
    Dec 19, 2021
    0
    I didn't like they went over the whole original story of books and games and tried to create a new story that destroyed the foundation of lore So they forgot that aren't the I didn't like PATHETIC
  7. Ergi
    Dec 19, 2021
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Eskel is dead
    Yen meets Cahir
    xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD    … Expand
  8. Blackjohny117
    Dec 19, 2021
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Even if we pretend the show is something on its own and has nothing to do with the source material, its still a bad show.

    -ACTING: Other than Geralt and Jaskier everything else was bad to mediocre. No joke, Fringilla is the worst actor I have ever seen. She has the same dead emotionless face throughout the whole show.

    -WRITING: Absolutely terrible, weird unnatural and cringe dialogues (with a few exceptions) and a story full of plot-holes and holywood cliches. The pacing of the series is horendous. I am sure like at least half of the people who watched the show have no idea wtf is going on with the politics, the mages, the races and stuff cause the writing is so weird and confusing you dont even bother trying to anderstand.

    -CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Absolutely trash for the most part. Yen spends the whole season trying to get her powers back and is willing to secrifice Ciri to a **** demon. Then we have Vesimir, who has zero personality in the show and is portrayed as an old weak dumb Witcher who has no idea what he is doing, then for some reason he wants to use Ciri as a blood vessel to make new generation of Witchers and doesn't mind **** poisoning Ciri to see if works? Triss ,after all the bonding scenes with Ciri, is disgusted with her all of a sudden because she is powerfull? Also Geralt uses Ciri as bait at some point? Like wtf is this? All the other characters (except Jaskier) have no character development or personalitty. Tell me do you even care about any of the characters of the show other than Geralt, Jaskier and Ciri?

    -PRODUCTION: Other than some landscape shots, maybe Kaer Morhen and the city which looked pretty good everything else is laughable. Like seriously can't they afford some qualitty contact lenses instead of using the 2$ version from Walmart? Also the costumes look like they came out of a fairy tale Barbie show. They look super clean and fancy and that makes it super akward to watch. Some special effects also looked so so weird and badly made. Like when Geralt chopped the head of that monster and it rolled in front of the camera or when Geralt punched a dude's tooth off.

    -ACTION: How much action was there? Like 4-5 scenes in the whole season 2? And were they even mindblowing or something? No, they were just ok.

    I would give the show a 6 or maybe an overated 7, but if you watch this show having in mind the source material the books and the games this is a 3-4.

    It's a shame cause Henry is a great actor and a really good Geralt but almost everything around it is just bad. Don't even know if I will watch season 3, probably not.    … Expand
  9. Iksbrown
    Dec 19, 2021
    10
    Season 2 is **** excellent. Don't listen to the negative reviews. Their arguments are all about how it's "different from the books" and nothing else. Yes, it's different, but it's amazingly good.
  10. GospoRadn
    Dec 19, 2021
    10
    A phenomenal show that continues to improve. Better direction, VFX, writing and an all-around success.
  11. Hekke
    Dec 19, 2021
    1
    I'm huge fan of witcher universe. First I read all books (in summary six times now) then I played all 3 games, each of them on the premier day. 1 season of the Witcher has a lot of flaws but they managed to show the roughness of the world and a bit of dry humor similar to that found in Andrzej Sapkowski's prose. In Season 1, the stories were very flat, but it stuck more or less to theI'm huge fan of witcher universe. First I read all books (in summary six times now) then I played all 3 games, each of them on the premier day. 1 season of the Witcher has a lot of flaws but they managed to show the roughness of the world and a bit of dry humor similar to that found in Andrzej Sapkowski's prose. In Season 1, the stories were very flat, but it stuck more or less to the source material.

    All what was good in season 1, season 2 is lacking. Yes few things improved like CGI, costumes but that is all. After 1 episode of season 2 i was exited, yes they change a lot but it felt ok and I was hoping for more. However, the following episodes were some kind of misunderstanding. All characters except Geralt and Jaskier depict completely different characters that have nothing to do with Sapokowski's prose. The same goes for the story, the writers stick to the overall frame of the story, but at the same time turn everything else into empty and weak stories. When Henry Cavill who is a huge fan of the witcher world, in interviews says that he had to intervene in order to smuggle more Geralt from book, you should know that something is going wrong with the show. If in subsequent seasons they continue to maintain the level of departure from the source material and a simultaneous misunderstanding of it, the series will be a disaster or another weak Netflix adaptation.    … Expand
  12. plen
    Dec 19, 2021
    0
    Ужасно. Выключил сериал на 2 серии, когда увидел развалившегося быдлана Эскеля и толпу шл*х в Каэр Морхене. В том самом Каэр Морехене, куда ведьмаки собираются на зимовку по сокрытым от лишних глаз тропам...

    Персонаж Эскеля просто отвратителен. В книгах - спокойный и разсудительный, тактичный и "брат-близнец" Геральта (так как почти одного возраста), в сериале - гопник 20 лет,    Ужасно. Выключил сериал на 2 серии, когда увидел развалившегося быдлана Эскеля и толпу шл*х в Каэр Морхене. В том самом Каэр Морехене, куда ведьмаки собираются на зимовку по сокрытым от лишних глаз тропам...

    Персонаж Эскеля просто отвратителен. В книгах - спокойный и разсудительный, тактичный и "брат-близнец" Геральта (так как почти одного возраста), в сериале - гопник 20 лет, агрессивный, отчужденный. Про доброго "дядюшку Весемира" вообще молчу.

    Цири в фильме получилась уже совсем не той маленькой девочкой, которую обучали ведьмаки. С виду ей лет 20, мне кажется в таком возрасте уже физически проблематично изучать все те пируэты которых требует ведьмачье ремесло..

    Забавно как авторы умудрились полностью скопировать из игр дизайн крепости ведьмаков, при этом полностью изуродовав личности его обитателей на свой манер. Это как вообще??    … Expand
  13. G-Rivia
    Dec 19, 2021
    10
    Watched season 2 in one day and loved it!
    Yes, it's different than the books but it is still a great story. Acting was ok.
    I would give this season a 8, but to offset those morons with there zeros I'll give it a ten.
  14. D1monn
    Dec 19, 2021
    0
    Первый сезон был отвратительно толерантный, второй ещё и феминисткий, где 80% всего времени показывают бабсовет магов с пустой болтавней и ну просто омерзительными актерами, жаль что сумели испортить сериал с неплохим потенциаломПервый сезон был отвратительно толерантный, второй ещё и феминисткий, где 80% всего времени показывают бабсовет магов с пустой болтавней и ну просто омерзительными актерами, жаль что сумели испортить сериал с неплохим потенциалом
  15. 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
  16. Xander212
    Dec 19, 2021
    10
    Great acting, effects, cinematography, drama and action. What you want from a TV show. Watched it in one go. Best I have seen on TV this year. Brilliant.

    No it isn't a faithful adaption of the book. Judge it on its own merits.
  17. salp
    Dec 19, 2021
    1
    They destroyed all characters from books and logic of they actions. One point only to Henry.
  18. MrMic
    Dec 19, 2021
    0
    WTF!? This is non logical super stupid piece of **** Please someone take back rights from netflix!
  19. Sto98
    Dec 18, 2021
    0
    Мда, я не смог досмотреть сезон, остановился на 4 серии. На сом деле нужно было очень постараться чтобы снять так плохо, такого бреда я давно не видел, сюжет ужасный, персонажи неинтересные, ведьмаков превратили в сборище каких то идиотов, ну и конечно было невероятно важно подчеркнуть актуальную повесточку.Мда, я не смог досмотреть сезон, остановился на 4 серии. На сом деле нужно было очень постараться чтобы снять так плохо, такого бреда я давно не видел, сюжет ужасный, персонажи неинтересные, ведьмаков превратили в сборище каких то идиотов, ну и конечно было невероятно важно подчеркнуть актуальную повесточку.
  20. mariuscris9019
    Dec 19, 2021
    10
    A very good show and this is coming from someone who has played all the games and read all the books. There are some changes, yes, but nothing that would make me not love this.
  21. Flessless
    Dec 19, 2021
    0
    Not loyal to source material, total trash filled poc:s. Elves that are fat, ugly and black, wtf is wrong with netflix.
  22. 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
  23. sassy_girl
    Dec 19, 2021
    0
    Beautiful books source material destroyed and degraded to a marvel level. And to top it of they made some really bad casting choices.
  24. FlappyMy
    Dec 19, 2021
    10
    Сперва скажу, что второй сезон на порядок лучше первого и намного интереснее, в плане графики в плане сюжета.
    Oчень много было вырезано и добавлено от себя в отличии от книг ,которые, я читал. Чувствуется что решили уйти в самостоятельность, но в то же время это смотрится на одном дыхании и интереса от этого не убавляется, понравился каст ведьмаков, особенно ламберт и эскеля. По началу не    Сперва скажу, что второй сезон на порядок лучше первого и намного интереснее, в плане графики в плане сюжета.
    Oчень много было вырезано и добавлено от себя в отличии от книг ,которые, я читал. Чувствуется что решили уйти в самостоятельность, но в то же время это смотрится на одном дыхании и интереса от этого не убавляется, понравился каст ведьмаков, особенно ламберт и эскеля. По началу не нравился каст йенифер и трисс, но по итогу глаза ко всему привыкают, и могу сказать что смотреть дальше не противно.
    В заключение хочу сказать, что рекомендую к просмотру именно 2 сезон ведьмака и тем кто читал книги, и тем кто не читал.    … Expand
  25. MERT22
    Dec 19, 2021
    0
    Watching this after reading the books and playing the games feels like having a frontal lobotomy done by a rusty metal **** attached to Lauren Schmidts hips.

    Seriously, if you had even limited experience with the source material and you still think that this is a quality show then you have some problems, most likely with assessing the quality of the product that you are being fed.    Watching this after reading the books and playing the games feels like having a frontal lobotomy done by a rusty metal **** attached to Lauren Schmidts hips.

    Seriously, if you had even limited experience with the source material and you still think that this is a quality show then you have some problems, most likely with assessing the quality of the product that you are being fed.

    After watching first season I thought that Lauren Schmidt, director of the show is just lazy and therefore doesn't care much about the accuracy to the source material. After watching the 2nd season I am convinced that she must actively hate both the books and the games and most likely even their fans.

    There is no logical explanation to any of the drastic changes that she has done in the script compared to the books. The changes serve no purpose to the story, they don't simplify it for the wider audience, they don't make it more compelling, cool or attractive. They made changes for the sake of changes and all of them made the story worse compared to if they would just copy & paste. Utter lack of talent from the shows creative team.

    The director had it all for this season, budget, great source material for the story (books) great source material for the costume design and how the original characters should behave outside of the original story (games), Henry Cavill, etc. but she still couldn't do even half decent job of bringing this to the screen.

    I have honestly tried to like it but this is beyond disappointing for the fans.    … Expand
  26. AlfaMode
    Dec 19, 2021
    9
    Much better than the first season. Good cast acting. But the actress who plays Ciri is very bad. Where are the emotions? Always the same facial expression no matter the situation. Many commentators don't even understand what they saw. This is not an adaptation, but a series based on books. I don’t want to see a simple retelling of books, it’s boring.
  27. Tetrion
    Dec 18, 2021
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is not a good plot writing to take a character from the book and just make him opposite. Crafty Riens, helpless Yennifer, emotional Tissaya, clumsy Franceska? Fire magic does not require self-destruction, just talent? Ancient witch (reference to game 3 Mother and 3 Sisters characters) to fiil the gap in plot? And Ciri, who has to remain incognito to avoid tracking, but declaring her princehood and name to all and everyone along the road? Well it was a monumental task for a team but they really managed to make worse season than previous one.… Expand
  28. vitmush
    Dec 18, 2021
    1
    Story is boring most of the time, if that's not enough - dialogues are awfull, very cheap. Fight scenes are dumb, original story and atmosphere is ruined. Instead of this just some nonsense unrealistic action most of the time. Don't spend 8 hours on this
  29. BloodAndWine
    Dec 18, 2021
    0
    By the end of the season it has deviated almost completely from the books. Entire plotlines gone. Pivotal characters dead. Completely new characters invented. Dynamics and relationships altered entirely. All these awful changes are written together sloppily and with poor talent. Absolute disrespect for the classic and beloved stories. Why not just make an original show if you don't wan'tBy the end of the season it has deviated almost completely from the books. Entire plotlines gone. Pivotal characters dead. Completely new characters invented. Dynamics and relationships altered entirely. All these awful changes are written together sloppily and with poor talent. Absolute disrespect for the classic and beloved stories. Why not just make an original show if you don't wan't to actually adapt the story? Netflix once again proving to be a joke. Might as well have called this 'WitcherDale'.… Expand
  30. BigDegs29
    Dec 18, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Interesting…..

    I was very impressed by this season, only to come here and find so many people complaining about it. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Metacritic user scores are more about people with tiny voices spouting off than giving an actual decent review. I even hear people talking about wokeness. You want to see actual wokeness, go check out that piece of trash Wheel of Time series on Amazon. You want to see an adaptation that pointlessly and detrimentally deviates from its source material? Same place.

    The Witcher though, went from good in season 1 to great in season 2. This season really focused on the relationship between Geralt and Ciri, which is the crux of the entire series, and delved into Ciri’s bloodline in tantalizing snippets. The moment to moment is harder hitting, the politics are interesting, and so is the world. While I had some reservations about the cast originally, no longer. They’re nailing it! The writing and directing are both excellent. I do have some complaints about the narrative deviating from the source material, but that certainly doesn’t negate how great this season otherwise was.

    Season 2 leaves plenty of intriguing threads to weave into season 3 that I just can’t wait to see!    … Expand
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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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