The special effects in these fight scenes are also a step up this year, as are the production values, sets, and props. Geralt, at least, does play to his strengths and finds time to clash with some fearsome monsters and beasts as a terrifying new threat emerges on The Continent. Two late inclusions to the story feel similarly undercooked. There are ways to appease fans while simultaneously crafting a rich fantastical world of players that come and go, but The Witcher hasn’t quite hit that sweet spot yet. It’s indicative of a show that’s still working out the kinks in terms of balance. He barely features in the first six episodes, save for a few scenes, and is only scarcely more involved in the season’s final act. The show’s treatment of Jaskier, too, is bizarre the bard’s presence is less a difficult second album and more a feeble encore. That sting is exacerbated further when, by the time the trio do get together, it’s just as fun as you’d hope it would be. Worse still, the second season spends a worrying amount of time finding excuses to keep its most compelling characters – Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer – apart. Here, it’s semi-detached window dressing that too often feels like a sideshow to distract from whatever the main cast is gearing up to do next. There, it was as riveting as any battle or betrayal. The Game of Thrones comparisons are well-worn, but The Witcher should cast a glance towards Westeros and its handling of how it weaves political intrigue into the main plot.
THE WITCHER 2 TEMPORADA SERIES
It’s only during the season’s very final moments, where the Netflix series mercifully hits fast-forward on a bunch of meandering sub-plots, do they feel relevant to Ciri and Geralt’s more captivating journey. They do, eventually, bear fruit – but only in service of the show’s future. Similarly, scenes at mage stronghold Aretuza weigh down the main narrative. These meandering side stories often sap the energy of any given episode’s often overly lengthy runtimes. Several B-plots revolve around Nilfgaard’s retreat from Sodden and the kingdom’s treatment of Elves. As the season wears on, however, you’ll want to see more of Geralt and less of what’s going on elsewhere. That’s not always a bad thing, because a well-rounded show is always better than one that hinges on its lead. But Geralt’s presence is noticeably on the wane in places, including in a finale that relegates him to a mere bystander in places. Yet, there are indications that The Witcher does not know what to do elsewhere on The Continent or, very occasionally, with its lead.ĭon’t worry, Henry Cavill is still The Man here – equal parts charm and stoic vulnerability as he shepherds Ciri to witcherdom. Cahir (Eamon Farren), meanwhile, undergoes a far more meaningful arc than the one-note glowering crusader he was prior to the Battle of Sodden and his to-and-froing on the Cintran political stage with mage Fringilla (Mimi Ndiweni) is a surprise highlight of the season. Two antagonistic forces – fire mage Rience (Bridgerton’s Chris Fulton) and spymaster Dijkstra (Graham McTavish) propel a fairly aimless middle third of the season, though fizzle out slightly by the season’s end. Fans of the third Witcher game, Wild Hunt, will revel in the Danish actor’s portrayal. Kim Bodnia’s Vesemir acts as Geralt’s mentor and is a paradoxical beacon of warmth and trepidation. It’s a simple fix, but a necessary one.Įlsewhere, there are plenty of other welcome additions. Because of that switch-up, characters’ fates matter more and cliffhangers carry weight. Instead of criss-crossing decades, the story takes place in the here-and-now, adding an extra layer of peril to the plot. This sophomore effort is also aided by The Witcher shedding its unnecessary timelines in favor of a more focused, linear story. Then it’s on to more serialized fare as they head on towards Kaer Morhen, the fortress and training ground where the witchers make themselves at home for the winter.
Hivju gives a performance that skilfully balances the sympathy and internal strife of the source material in a strong standalone adventure that will enrapture book fans with its reworking of short story A Grain of Truth. Fresh from their embrace at the first season’s end, the new season starts with Ciri and Geralt travelling to see Geralt’s old pal Nivellen, played by Game of Thrones actor Kristofer Hivju, who is hiding a monstrous secret. Yes, Ciri’s the star of the show this time around. It’s a punchy, often thrilling slice of high fantasy anchored by a star-making turn from Ciri actor Freya Allan, and occasionally let down by choosing to tell certain stories that feel more like place-setting for future seasons than anything worth watching right now. The second season has, thankfully, learned from the first’s biggest mistakes.
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