After a long shutdown, production on season two of The Witcher's Netflix adaption is finally back underway. It's great news for fans of the show, although it's likely to be quite some time before the show is ready for transmission. The streaming giant had originally planned for a 2021 release, but, due to the disruption and the potential for more to come, there are no guarantees.
With this in mind, now might be the perfect time to return to the first season of the show and relive some of its wonderful moments. Just like The Witcher 3, it provides something a little different the second time around and the story can be a lot easier to follow too. Sadly, however, some of its flaws are still just as noticeable.
10 Got Right: The Casting
The vast majority of the show's characters were really well cast and the actors seemed to have done a bit of research into their characters before production began too. Henry Cavill's portrayal of Geralt is fantastic and his voice is nigh on perfect for the role. Likewise, Anya Chalotra does a fantastic job as Yennefer and really does the character justice. That said, there are a few characters who don't quite hit the mark.
Most of these are minor characters, but, given Triss' importance to the story, her casting in particular leaves a lot to be desired. Anna Shaffer is a fine actress, but she really isn't a good fit for the character. The two look nothing alike and there are some huge differences in terms of both personality and mannerisms.
9 Got Wrong: The Character Development
One of the things that makes the characters in the Witcher series so wonderful is the exceptional writing. Unfortunately, however, this is something that the show's writers struggled to emulate. The dialogue can at times feel incredibly anachronistic and the character development is minimal, to say the least. As a result, the earlier iterations of the show's characters feel far more alive.
With the exception of Geralt and Yennefer, the show's characters are incredibly one-dimensional. For those who were already familiar with the series before going into the show, this may not have been too much of an issue. For anyone who is new to the franchise, however, it can make some of the characters incredibly unrelatable.
8 Got Right: The Humor
One area where the writers didn't disappoint is in the humor department. In spite of the the show's heavy tone, it has some hilarious moments that really help to break up the tension that's slowly building throughout the season. Jaskier is particularly great in this regard and his contribution is strengthened by his relationship with Geralt.
The chemistry between Henry Cavill and Joey Batey is palpable and translates into some fantastic on-screen moments that at times are simply delightful. What's more, the timing of the show's humor is generally spot on too. It never feels inappropriate, nor does it ever interrupt the flow of the narrative.
7 Got Wrong: The Production Values
Nobody is suggesting that a Neflix show should be on par with a Hollywood blockbuster when it comes to its production values. There were a few moments, however, when it felt more like a low budget indie film than a Netflix production with a multimillion-dollar budget.
The color grading is inconsistent throughout the season and some of the CGI doesn't look at all good. While there is a nice variety of shot types used during action sequences, the cuts, well-paced though they may be, can often break continuity which in turn can completely destroy the immersion.
6 Got Right: The Storytelling
Some people weren't happy with the writers' decision to use multiple timelines to tell the story. Considering how much narrative content needed to be crammed into the show though, this approach was definitely the right one to take. Sure, it makes for one or two confusing moments, but it also provides its fair share of intriguing ones as well.
Given that the alternative would have been to feature a linear timeline with huge time skips, it's hard to argue too much with the writers' choice. Most fans seem to be in agreement on this matter, but those who aren't can at least rest easy with the knowledge that the second season is all but certain to opt for a more linear approach.
5 Got Wrong: The Armor
When early photographs taken on the show's set first began circulating, there was one huge talking point amongst the Witcher fanbase. It wasn't how great the casting was nor how in keeping the show's settings were with the ones found in the books or games. No. The first thing that fans took note of was the god-awful Nilfgaardian armor.
The grey shapeless suits look nothing like they do in the games, with producers instead opting for a design that looked like something that could be easily mass-produced. Although this does make sense, fans still weren't happy. Thankfully, early pictures from the set of season two show that this issue has now been rectified, with the armor now looking much more like it does in the books and games.
4 Got Right: Jaskier's Songs
For all of the show's flaws, one thing that just about everybody can agree on is that Jaskier is a brilliant character who was both well cast and incredibly well-acted. His name may have been changed for the show, but he is every bit as likable as he is anywhere else in the series. A big part of this is down to his songs.
Toss a Coin to Your Witcher became a source of memes almost overnight and made its way onto many peoples' Spotify playlists. It's just one of a number of fantastic songs found throughout the show though, all of which are pleasant on the ear and incredibly catchy to boot. Together with Jaskier's humor, these songs really help to provide balance to the show.
3 Got Wrong: The Soundtrack
While the young bard's melodious tunes are all top-notch, the same can't always be said of the show's soundtrack. Most of the tracks are fine and remain in keeping with the fantasy vibes of the series. Some, however, can feel incredibly out of place. These conflicting styles often make the show feel a little tonally disjointed.
The tracks in question sound like something out of a Hollywood action movie and, as a result, can be quite jarring. While this may well have been a case of the show's creators catering to the expectations of the viewer, the idea that all action scenes need the same high tempo bed of music beneath them is a dated one that does not mesh at all well with the Witcher franchise.
2 Got Right: The Ending
The show has its fair share of issues when it comes to pacing, but things really come together perfectly for the show's climax. While there were no doubt some viewers who had already figured out that there were multiple timelines in play, the 'eureka' moment provided to everybody else landed really well and justifies many of the writers' earlier decisions.
From here on out, the writers are able to focus on driving the show forwards and provide some great moments that are both visually and thematically stunning to behold. It offers just the right amount of story progression to feel like a satisfying conclusion to the season whilst still holding enough back to have viewers salivating over a second one.
1 Got Wrong: The Cuts
When dealing with so much source material and a fixed runtime, it's only natural that certain things are going to be cut. Unfortunately, some of the show's biggest omissions were moments that the books had used for character development. Frustratingly, some of the stuff that did make the cut felt a little redundant in comparison.
In the books, for example, the bond between Geralt and Ciri is predominantly formed during their time in Brokilon. It's at this point that readers really begin to get an idea of the kind of person that Ciri is and are also exposed to her mischievous side. Without these moments, it's difficult for the show's viewers to become too invested in her character, which, given her significance to the story, could prove to be problematic a little further down the line.