SLB1904
Banned
Yeah. I cant wait. Geralt will teach her some shit i bet
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TheShocker
Member
Watched the first two episodes. Thought it was great. I’ve only read the last wish and part of the sword of destiny, but I feel like they capture the essence of the books well. From a visual standpoint, it’s hard not to compare to the games as that’s what I’ve had in my head a these years. I have a preconceived idea of what a character should look like and not seeing that will just take some getting used to.
GreyHorace
Member
Just finished episode 4.
Alongside the continuing side stories of Yennefer and Ciri, Geralt's part was an adaptation of the short story A Question of Price. It's probably the most important story in the Witcher saga because it deals directly with the theme of destiny and of course, the birth of Ciri. This was an excellent episode with some great acting all around. Especially from Cavill, who captures Geralt's disdain for royal gatherings and the concept of destiny, particularly in one hilarious scene near the end. I'm still aghast that some critics consider his acting bad. He's perfect in the role.
Oh, and for those who've played The Witcher 3, yes, Duny Urcheon is Ciri's father. Which makes him Emhyr Van Emhreis aka the White Flame dancing on the Graves of his Foes, the future emperor of Nilfgaard.
Alongside the continuing side stories of Yennefer and Ciri, Geralt's part was an adaptation of the short story A Question of Price. It's probably the most important story in the Witcher saga because it deals directly with the theme of destiny and of course, the birth of Ciri. This was an excellent episode with some great acting all around. Especially from Cavill, who captures Geralt's disdain for royal gatherings and the concept of destiny, particularly in one hilarious scene near the end. I'm still aghast that some critics consider his acting bad. He's perfect in the role.
Oh, and for those who've played The Witcher 3, yes, Duny Urcheon is Ciri's father. Which makes him Emhyr Van Emhreis aka the White Flame dancing on the Graves of his Foes, the future emperor of Nilfgaard.
GlassAwful
Member
Only watched the first episode but.... whew, not sure I care to continue. They really fucked up the dialogue, acting and story telling. There are no stakes throughout the entire premier making all the happenings on screen weightless and boring. Pretty impressive feat considering how many people died.
Every character interaction was cringey and stilted like it was adapted for sci-fi ch circa 2000. Could tell from scene 1 the King and Queen were gonna die and couldn't wait for it to happen either to get their corny asses off the screen... Didn't matter though as the adventures of corny wizard man and the honorable guard replaced them, followed later by corny blonde girl in town... Yeesh at this acting and dialogue.
Maybe it's my own fault for having high expectations but TV has changed in the last decade and this feels closer in execution to a series from twenty years ago but with misunderstood inspiration of modern high production tv epics. It's hard to explain.. It's difficult not to draw parallels to similar scenes and story bits in the first season Game of Thrones and the comparisons just highlight the all around poorer execution of everything in The Witcher. Further, people keep talking about the production value but to me it looked cheap, fake and too "new" in many scenes... though I'm willing to give that much a pass.
From this single episode, I predict this will get a 2nd season with dwindling viewership and then be cancelled due to costs. Or... like the Resident Evil movies somehow get progressively shittier and more popular... I dunno, I'm not a fucking wizard, I just know the quality and the talent to execute isn't there at the beginning as far as I can tell.
The one fight scene was good though.
Every character interaction was cringey and stilted like it was adapted for sci-fi ch circa 2000. Could tell from scene 1 the King and Queen were gonna die and couldn't wait for it to happen either to get their corny asses off the screen... Didn't matter though as the adventures of corny wizard man and the honorable guard replaced them, followed later by corny blonde girl in town... Yeesh at this acting and dialogue.
Maybe it's my own fault for having high expectations but TV has changed in the last decade and this feels closer in execution to a series from twenty years ago but with misunderstood inspiration of modern high production tv epics. It's hard to explain.. It's difficult not to draw parallels to similar scenes and story bits in the first season Game of Thrones and the comparisons just highlight the all around poorer execution of everything in The Witcher. Further, people keep talking about the production value but to me it looked cheap, fake and too "new" in many scenes... though I'm willing to give that much a pass.
From this single episode, I predict this will get a 2nd season with dwindling viewership and then be cancelled due to costs. Or... like the Resident Evil movies somehow get progressively shittier and more popular... I dunno, I'm not a fucking wizard, I just know the quality and the talent to execute isn't there at the beginning as far as I can tell.
The one fight scene was good though.
jufonuk
not tag worthy
Denton
Member
100% on point.
I wish CDP writers like Szamalek and Stepien were hired to adapt this. Would have done much better job.
The way Netflix writers butchered Something More is kinda unforgivable.
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LordOfChaos
Member
Liking it so far a few episodes in.
That Dandelion side quest was a very Dandelion side quest, didn't quite like him at first scene but he does add that comedic punch further in.
That Dandelion side quest was a very Dandelion side quest, didn't quite like him at first scene but he does add that comedic punch further in.
As someone who has only played the games (about half of Witcher 2 and over 100 hours of Witcher 3), I watched the first episode and really enjoyed it. I would consider myself more a 'casual' Witcher fan, not so invested in the lore etc. though so the negatives more hardcore fans may see probably weren't even things I'd pick up on. Overall I liked what I've seen so far.
VanEs
Member
This Netflix Witcher is an even 50/50 love/hate split for me so far.
Geralt and Yennefer are amazing. Don't like how Triss looks. Ciri will probably be quite meh untill her real storyline in season 2. Fat Axl Rose playing Foltest can fuck right off. As can warrior queen Calanthe (wtf?). Forced diversity everywhere. Everything meaningful in the books is either rushed, changed or non-existent in this series, and that, above all else, is really my biggest gripe with the show.
Geralt and Yennefer are amazing. Don't like how Triss looks. Ciri will probably be quite meh untill her real storyline in season 2. Fat Axl Rose playing Foltest can fuck right off. As can warrior queen Calanthe (wtf?). Forced diversity everywhere. Everything meaningful in the books is either rushed, changed or non-existent in this series, and that, above all else, is really my biggest gripe with the show.
Denton
Member
Absolutely. I think people who played the games and enjoyed them but never read the books will enjoy the show the most. They will not be as confused by the world/timelines/characters, and they will not be pissed at how fucked up the book narrative is and how much smaller emotional impact it creates as a result, since they don't have that frame of reference.
Lister
Banned
Yeah at least the two episodes I've watched so far have come off like mediocre episodes of hercules the legendary journeys.
The sets, the acting, the dialog, it's almosy like they were aiming for it...
"Game of thrones season 1? The last kingdom? Nah, we want some corny ass Hercules vibe going on in here."
The dialog especially is pretty bad. So obvious and on the nose. Even one of the first lines when Geralt comes into the tavern and the girl asks if he wants something to eat. He replies I'm full. Which would be a fine line, immediately you get that the guy just ate that baby deer. But they can't leave it at that.
Venison.
Get it, I ate the baby deer herp herp. Like yeah we got it, there's no need to say venison, it's just awkward dialog aimed at the presumably stupid audience, not really something the character is likely to say.
And that's just a tiny little thing, but these are everywhere.
Going back to the last kingdom, that is what they should have e tried to ape a bit, imho. Uhtred of Bebinburg is more badass, more interesting than this Geralt any day of the week and twice on ascention Sunday.
So far pretty dissapointed. I mean I guess I'll have it on the background as a sort of fill in for hercules nostalgia, but I really don't care if we get a season 2 at this point. Maybe things will start to change next episode?
The sets, the acting, the dialog, it's almosy like they were aiming for it...
"Game of thrones season 1? The last kingdom? Nah, we want some corny ass Hercules vibe going on in here."
The dialog especially is pretty bad. So obvious and on the nose. Even one of the first lines when Geralt comes into the tavern and the girl asks if he wants something to eat. He replies I'm full. Which would be a fine line, immediately you get that the guy just ate that baby deer. But they can't leave it at that.
Venison.
Get it, I ate the baby deer herp herp. Like yeah we got it, there's no need to say venison, it's just awkward dialog aimed at the presumably stupid audience, not really something the character is likely to say.
And that's just a tiny little thing, but these are everywhere.
Going back to the last kingdom, that is what they should have e tried to ape a bit, imho. Uhtred of Bebinburg is more badass, more interesting than this Geralt any day of the week and twice on ascention Sunday.
So far pretty dissapointed. I mean I guess I'll have it on the background as a sort of fill in for hercules nostalgia, but I really don't care if we get a season 2 at this point. Maybe things will start to change next episode?
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megamerican
Member
I kinda enjoyed episode one even despite the terrible writing. The dialogue and exposition are beyond awful. I wonder if anyone who doesn't have some familiarity with the universe will know what the hell is going on.
Cavill is shockingly great as Geralt, and the action scenes are very well done.
Cavill is shockingly great as Geralt, and the action scenes are very well done.
adamosmaki
Member
I like it so far.
Some minor nitpicks are like others said forced diversity ( really though not that big of an issue)
Didnt like Triss portrayal one bit
A few fight scenes and special effects feel cheap
Writing is mostly good though there are some mehh cringe moments
Most importantly though Gerald and Yen acting and chemistry is spot on. Gotta give it To Henry and Anya they did justice to the characters
Some minor nitpicks are like others said forced diversity ( really though not that big of an issue)
Didnt like Triss portrayal one bit
A few fight scenes and special effects feel cheap
Writing is mostly good though there are some mehh cringe moments
Most importantly though Gerald and Yen acting and chemistry is spot on. Gotta give it To Henry and Anya they did justice to the characters
GreyHorace
Member
Speak for yourself. I've read the books and played the games and I enjoy the show for what it is. It's not perfect and there are things in it that I take issue with but let's not pretend the source material is some sacred cow that could do no wrong. Sapkowski's writing was at it's best when writing the short stories but I didn't really care much for the novel saga. It could get boring at times and there were endless streams of pages where nothing happens. What I say next may be considered sacrilege among the Witcher fandom but I thought the people at CD Projekt Red did a better job at writing stories than Sapkowski ever did. Not dissing the man who created all this, but that's just my opinion.
I do agree that the narrative in the show is screwed up because they're interspersing Geralt, Ciri and Yennefer's together in the season and that general audiences may be confused by the timeline. I only managed to follow it because I've read the books.
TyphoonStruggle
Member
Dialog bad
Geralt good
Yennifer alright, but still not as hot as game Yenn
Triss not good
Fringilla LOL
Title screen is non-existent
Show simultaneously feels cheap and expensive. Kind of weird
Geralt good
Yennifer alright, but still not as hot as game Yenn
Triss not good
Fringilla LOL
Title screen is non-existent
Show simultaneously feels cheap and expensive. Kind of weird
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Fushitsusha
Banned
only watching for cavill roleplaying with a sword and wig in this role of passion. never played the games or read the books, so i have no idea at all what's going on half the time yet, yennefer in particular.
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xrnzaaas
Member
I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't read Witcher books, but I think it puts in me in a unique situation to judge the show not knowing the source material (other than the video games ofc)... and oh boy, it's not easy to track what's happening especially with
I'm still eager to continue (fyi I'm three episodes in so far).
different timelines involved
Silent Duck
Member
Triss? What have they done to you?
LordOfChaos
Member
Yeah that's a fair way to feel. I think it clears the bar of crap tier adaptations by a long shot while still being far from the best.
Shanarra/Legend of the Seeker......................................Witcher................................................................Game of Thrones before the gasleak years, or thereabouts
God I hope the Wheel of Time is done justice, before the show it was equal in popularity to ASOIF and could be just as epic (again before the gasleak years), but the cast seems kind of low budget so far...Hope it's at least Witcher level.
LordOfChaos
Member
Chinese productions I don't know, but...
And one can't forget
This is so common it's an actual trope, are you kidding.
What breaks my disbelief more is things like a child from the middle of bum fuck nowhere village extolling modern day feminism. Medieval Europe was already importing people from Africa and Asia, and people of color are relatively sparse in this show, doesn't break my disbelief in a medieval European setting there.
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LaughingStock
Member
Triss and Fringilla look bad. The acrtress who plays Triss is not good.
I like Yennefer though.
The series looks cheap. You know, like a tv series. I doesn't seem to have the cinematic production of something like game of thrones.
I'm enjoying it. But i had really low expectations.
I like Yennefer though.
The series looks cheap. You know, like a tv series. I doesn't seem to have the cinematic production of something like game of thrones.
I'm enjoying it. But i had really low expectations.
Fuz
Banned
I'm really offended that there are no black people in Disney's Mulan trailer.
Fuck them for Triss and Fringilla. Fuck them with a scalding hot iron bar.
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Lister
Banned
its a fantasy world for fucks sake, there’s like a billion things to criticize other than “the colored people are in my European fantasy world, heaven forfend!”
Transparent as fuck, some of you.
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LaughingStock
Member
Based on polish folkrore. Is it not?
If i create a fantasy world inspired by medieval China is it ok to cast white actors as (fantasy) chinese?
Bootzilla
Banned
Yeah, this seems... not good. They tried to zipper the short stories and Blood of Elves together in such a way that they're doing double duty on exposition and it's just all showing you shit and none of it gets to matter.
From the opening scene they get it wrong. It goes straight to action. That should have been an episode, ease into the world slowly, let people get a feel for it. Instead it just feels like you're watching Season 2 of a show that never had a season 1 and all the actors have to get you up to speed through cheesy expository dialog. Geralt narrates to his fucking horse at one point.
I will bear with it in the hopes that once it gets rolling it can find itself, but that first episode... woof.
Lister
Banned
yes? It’s your fantasy world. I mean jus look above you, plenty of films and books with an Asian setting featuring white people.
Just because the stories are loosely, VERY loosely based on polish Folklore doesn’t mean theres a no off whites rule written somewhere. Is this really hard for you to comprehend? Is thisreally something to complain about? Look at the dialg for pity’s sake.that’s something to complain about, not that tres a blackuy the movie for all of 5 seconds. I know that’s offensive to some people, but fuck those people.
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LordOfChaos
Member
Scroll up, white actors taking Asian roles is kind of an ongoing cliche...Yet a few dark and Asian characters in a fantasy setting and everyone loses their minds, for "realism"?
It's not our world, it's not set up like our world, only inspired by it, and workers were already being imported from Asia and Africa by Medieval European times at any rate. They'd be relatively fewer of them, but they are in the show too.
If you want it specific to China...
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Fuz
Banned
They're not "taking asian roles", in the examples.
Bootzilla
Banned
It draws from Polish folklore, but also a lot of other things. It's not like it's supposed to be a classic representation of folk tales, it's kind of its own thing.
I'm ambivalent to the diverse casting. I don't think it's necessary, but it seems low on the rather long list of problems with this show.
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LordOfChaos
Member
MagnesG
Banned
Y
Scarlett Jo. has been criticized for taking on the role.
You have Triss for example having predefined features of chestnut hair and green eyes.
Scarlett Jo. has been criticized for taking on the role.
Fuz
Banned
Oh, you conveniently took the only debatable one of those stupid examples.
Still, https://kotaku.com/ghost-in-the-shell-publisher-never-imagined-a-japanese-1771992584
(I personally picture her asian and wasn't happy about the Scarlett casting)
But sure "american samurai" and "beverly hills ninja" sound SO ASIAN.
LordOfChaos
Member
The statement I originally recompensed to was
Do white people appear in Chinese productions based in the medieval?
The answer is yes, white people get inserted as the leads in Asian period pieces all the time. If it was my follow up's wording of "taking Asian roles" that bothers you, fine, they were rather just conveniently inserted into the world.
The same as the people with questionable motives are having a fit over in this thread for Asian and African characters being inserted into this world...
MagnesG
Banned
Did they do a take on established characters, or just inserted?
Oberstein
Member
I know they're making changes with Cahir, but he's got a good look as a villain of the moment.
I think my opinion on the series varies from episode to episode, but they've done a good job
On the other hand, it's a shame there's forced diversity for nothing, some rather ugly CGIs with too much exposure and overall some badly cast actors. But hey, it's globally positive
Especially when you know the outcome with him.
I think my opinion on the series varies from episode to episode, but they've done a good job
of reusing characters that die quickly, to deepen them later on in the following episodes.
Strife In a Teacup
Member
While I know this is said a lot, and I haven't read the books myself, Witcher 3 at least is HEAVILY based off Norse mythology. I'm sure it has plenty of Polish folklore involved, but it also has a ton of Norse and some Celtic Mythology, at least in the Witcher games.
Fuz
Banned
Seen the second and this series looks like an elaborate joke. It's so engrossing that I can't watch an episode without pausing every 10 minutes, took me more than 2 hours to see it all.
It's so dumb. So, so stupid. The gross miscasting. The horrible dialogues. The fanfic writing. Those elves. And that satyr...
I feel bad for Cavill.
At least, "Toss a Coin to your Witcher" is catchy.
It's so dumb. So, so stupid. The gross miscasting. The horrible dialogues. The fanfic writing. Those elves. And that satyr...
I feel bad for Cavill.
At least, "Toss a Coin to your Witcher" is catchy.
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Strife In a Teacup
Member
Fuz
Banned
I didn't hate that.
DeceptiveAlarm
Gold Member
I thought it was really good. Just finished watching. Triss really bothered me. Same with Fringilla. If I didn't read this though I would of had no idea it sucked.
Cavill is amazing as Geralt. I was shocked how well I like him in this character.
Cavill is amazing as Geralt. I was shocked how well I like him in this character.
Pumpkin Seeds
Member
Finished up to ep 6 so far. Show is both good and bad. Actress for Yennifer is good, but that means a ton of Yennifer to get more good out of her. Yenn isn't exactly a likeable character. Triss is just not Triss. I don't just mean visually, but I get no Triss vibe off the character so far.
The most glaring issue is the audio. The Geralt voice often sounds unnatural. In Ep 6, theres a voice that changes bodies and it sounds mad cheesy. As well, other than the first story, the monster hunting has very little story to it. The locals are disposable in the TV series. So far, the games did a much better job at story telling.
The most glaring issue is the audio. The Geralt voice often sounds unnatural. In Ep 6, theres a voice that changes bodies and it sounds mad cheesy. As well, other than the first story, the monster hunting has very little story to it. The locals are disposable in the TV series. So far, the games did a much better job at story telling.
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SirKicksalot
Member
Oh fuck I thought it was ten episodes but it's only eight
When I was reading Pavetta's wedding and the djinn story I was wondering what it would look like on screen with a proper budget. The Sonic knight looked damn good and the djinn was cool, so great job on that.
When I was reading Pavetta's wedding and the djinn story I was wondering what it would look like on screen with a proper budget. The Sonic knight looked damn good and the djinn was cool, so great job on that.
shoegaze
Member
Never read the books, only played the games. So from that perspective, I'm two episodes in and loving the show. It's not an absolutely greatest thing ever, but utterly enjoyable nonetheless. A lot of the scenes look a tad cheap set-wise, but the characters absolutely shine.
Hopefully it stays the same or even gets better throughout. I remember the feeling I've got from the start of GOT was a lot worse.
Hopefully it stays the same or even gets better throughout. I remember the feeling I've got from the start of GOT was a lot worse.
base
Banned
According to the books there were no black or Asian people. Yeah, it's racist. Its your problem.
Scopa
The Tribe Has Spoken
Interesting. GoT had much higher production values. Everything from effects, costumes to camera style.
What particularly gave you a worse feeling than this?
Strife In a Teacup
Member
Well, I mean it does okay as far as being like the games. Again never read the books.
It's like Night Watch/Day Watch movies, I've read those books and the movies do a reasonable job of interpreting it. Now that'd be a series I'd like to see done well with a budget, but with all the current political stuff going on right now that probably won't happen considering where Night Watch originates and takes place. Plus, I can't see anyone else as Anton other than Konstantin Khabenskiy
Though technically the author was born in Kazakhstan
Justice League though, those could have been better, and I enjoyed early seasons of Arrow/S1 of Flash. DC just dropped the ball on that, though I don't blame Cavill.
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4 EP in. Meh.
I understand that it's hard to find a beautiful woman in US, but at least try, dunno, go to some Portland stripclubs.
All the witches are ugly as fuck. Ghetto Driyads. Most of the scene decorations are straight from the small town theatre.
It's OK as a game fanfic, they don't explain shit, do bunch of confusing scenes and call it a day, but at least make it look cool or something.
And that assassin scene. Really, 30 years of witchcraft, and this?
I understand that it's hard to find a beautiful woman in US, but at least try, dunno, go to some Portland stripclubs.
All the witches are ugly as fuck. Ghetto Driyads. Most of the scene decorations are straight from the small town theatre.
It's OK as a game fanfic, they don't explain shit, do bunch of confusing scenes and call it a day, but at least make it look cool or something.
And that assassin scene. Really, 30 years of witchcraft, and this?
