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The Witcher |OT| Something More (Dec. 20th Netflix) - TAG SPOILERS WITH EPISODE
- Thread starter WadiumArcadium
- Start date
- OT
My biggest criticisms:
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Yennefer's time jump sacrifices some development I rather would have seen. I think they do a decent enough job of portraying her as a disillusioned mage, but I thought it was difficult to understand how she went from being a "ready to fuck things up" mage in ep 3 to so world weary in ep 4. It also felt like the desire for a baby came out of nowhere, though the way they wrapped it into the idea of legacy in ep 7/8 was nice.
[*]I think the time jumps work, but Ciri's storyline bogs down after episode 2. The doppler was a mildly interesting twist, but didn't amount to a whole lot, although I did like how we got to see a little inside Cahir's head when the doppler fooled him. Oh, and it gave us Mousesack with an OVERTLY EVIL "Oh princeeeeess...I brought you something" moment XD
[*]Complex lore, relationships, concepts (like the Law of Surprise) are sometimes explained too quickly or their importance is not made clear. Either through the editing or just a lack of reinforcing dialogue. These issues are way lessened on a rewatch and a lot more forgivable for me.
[*]Occasional poor set design and cinematography. Episode 3 has a lot of ups and downs, IMO. Much the episode looks great (Striga fight, the son's death and the miner scenes), but some of it (Foltest's throne room at times, the mage ball) is ugly.
[*]I'm on the record as enjoying ep1 and 2 a lot more than most people, but they ARE really messy in a lot of ways. Ep 1 seemingly cuts out important parts of the story (like the the villagers would turn on Geralt so quickly after he saved the young girl)
[*]Occasional iffy wigwork (I think ep 5 is worst Geralt hair), some super generic costumes at times (Reavers or whatever in ep 6; Nilfgaard, obviously).
I think it is fair to say that something feels off about the show without having the insight to properly articulate what specifically is off. It's like if you get a bad meal at a restaurant, you probably can't properly explain why it tastes bad because you don't know the process of making it. You don't have to be a chef to know if something tastes bad. I like The Witcher but a lot of that admiration comes from the fact that I WANT to like it and I'm able to see past it's flaws.
Just glanced at the album on spotify and started playing it, thought I read 55 minutes, then reading this that they'd 8 hours of music, figured man they must've left so much out of the album...
Album is 55 songs, not minutes, over 3 hours on the album, teaches me to actually pay attention hehe.
Yeah, it took them long enough but they didn't skimp on the amount of music that's for sure lol. Gonna put it on today while I'm working.
Girlfriend and I finished this a couple of weeks ago now and I can't remember the last time I saw such a jump in quality from the first episode to the second. After the first I was feeling pretty meh about it and she pretty much actively hated it. By the second episode we were both hooked and she is wishing we had more episodes to watch.
Also, she is outraged by the plethora of bare breasts vs. the complete lack of Henry Cavill's bare butt (or much male nudity at all) which seems like a fair complaint. I don't remember the games having quite as glaring a disparity.
Seeing how popular it has become is surreal (probably in the same way it as for fans of the Game of Throne books). I'm hoping the popularity comes with an added budget and maybe some leeway to slow the pacing down a bit and let the characters shine, as the acting has been excellent across the board even when the writing has not. I'm very much looking forward to more.
Also, she is outraged by the plethora of bare breasts vs. the complete lack of Henry Cavill's bare butt (or much male nudity at all) which seems like a fair complaint. I don't remember the games having quite as glaring a disparity.
Seeing how popular it has become is surreal (probably in the same way it as for fans of the Game of Throne books). I'm hoping the popularity comes with an added budget and maybe some leeway to slow the pacing down a bit and let the characters shine, as the acting has been excellent across the board even when the writing has not. I'm very much looking forward to more.
Cavill was a pretty big get, I'd imagine he's in full control on that front.
Finally finished it. Having not read the books or played the games, thought it was good. Glad there's more on the way!
Gotta say it's a little concerning that people took so much issue with the structure. Had a good time piecing everything together once they made it obvious we were in different timelines (iiirc when the King's ball or w/e was happening with Yennefer, maybe I missed earlier clues). I don't think it would have been nearly as strong if it was chronological.
Gotta say it's a little concerning that people took so much issue with the structure. Had a good time piecing everything together once they made it obvious we were in different timelines (iiirc when the King's ball or w/e was happening with Yennefer, maybe I missed earlier clues). I don't think it would have been nearly as strong if it was chronological.
I had no problem with the timelines. I just wish they hadn't rushed through Yennifer's time learning to be a sorceress and her time serving in Vengerberg. One or two more episodes focused on Yen would have been nice so her character arc didn't feel so compressed. Could have mixed it with a B-plot Geralt adventure (with or without Jaskier) as I don't feel like we saw enough of those.
Nothing's stopping them from doing flashbacks in the next season.
Yeah I didn't feel like the timelines were a case of "look how clever I am giving you stuff out of order" syndrome (cough cough Pulp Fiction) but a way of interleaving different character's journeys in an interesting and contrasting manner. To make that final scene work you have to have built up to it, and the timelines helped prevent an episode from feeling like it was just laying groundwork.
I started out really liking Yen but episode 5 soured me on her big time, what with the whole Orgy of Dubious Consent. Episode 8 picked back up. I still prefer game!Yen which is a shame because Anya Chalotra does such an amazing job. The real standout of this show for me is Jaskier (have y'all seen tumblr? Geraskier thirst is real and I am guilty of it. Plus "Her Sweet Kiss" is.. yeah. Gay). Overall I fully recognise it has plenty of (sometimes glaring) flaws but fuck man, I don't care, I love this show.
Now to read the books and replay TW3 while sadly waiting for season 2.
Now to read the books and replay TW3 while sadly waiting for season 2.
As someone that recently beat Witcher 3, the game is exactly the same. I have seen countless of tits and asses and not Geralt bare butt once (the most i seen is the unicorn scene where he is sitting nude on it).
Some good info here from the showrunner: https://redanianintelligence.com/20...owrunner-describes-deleted-scenes-season-two/
On Fringilla:
On the critique that the show was trying to do too much (with all 3 characters):
On deleted scenes and wanting to see more of Yen as a young woman:
Also, Graham McTavish is auditioning for Dijkstra (!!!): https://redanianintelligence.com/20...on-2-the-hobbit-actor-auditions-for-dijkstra/
Video at that link and transcript of the script (which has King Vizimir, but may not be an actual shooting script)
On Fringilla:
On the critique that the show was trying to do too much (with all 3 characters):
On deleted scenes and wanting to see more of Yen as a young woman:
Also, Graham McTavish is auditioning for Dijkstra (!!!): https://redanianintelligence.com/20...on-2-the-hobbit-actor-auditions-for-dijkstra/
Video at that link and transcript of the script (which has King Vizimir, but may not be an actual shooting script)
Just listened to the latest BTS podcast, the one on Ciri.
I didn't even think about the farmer (who is married to the woman who takes Ciri in) offers Geralt the law of surprise after he saves his life, essentially "winning" Ciri for him a second time.
I didn't even think about the farmer (who is married to the woman who takes Ciri in) offers Geralt the law of surprise after he saves his life, essentially "winning" Ciri for him a second time.
I thought it was weird they did that as a throwaway when it was a big deal in the books
Is that the actual album design? I thought it was this and the above was a joke.
I enjoyed the season a lot. I think the production values are decent for the kind of show it is. Music was really great and the costumes look fine. I agree about the complaints about Yennefer's story so far. They really had a problem trying to paint her as obsessed with power, disillusioned with the conclave, being super powerful, wanting a baby and both loving and reviling her mentor. It seems her personality and power level vary completely one episode to the next.
Is that the actual album design? I thought it was this and the above was a joke.
Yeah it's a joke, they're calling it the "alternate cover".
He would be fantastic in any fantasy series. I would love to see him in a bunch of adaptations, especially since he is the spitting image of Bayaz from The First Law series.Some good info here from the showrunner: https://redanianintelligence.com/20...owrunner-describes-deleted-scenes-season-two/
On Fringilla:
On the critique that the show was trying to do too much (with all 3 characters):
On deleted scenes and wanting to see more of Yen as a young woman:
Also, Graham McTavish is auditioning for Dijkstra (!!!): https://redanianintelligence.com/20...on-2-the-hobbit-actor-auditions-for-dijkstra/
Video at that link and transcript of the script (which has King Vizimir, but may not be an actual shooting script)
I just watched the last episode, and I think I will need some time to determine how I really feel about it. The world its set in is very interesting, but the story doesn't really fill in many details, so in the end it feels kind of hollow.
One major source of confusion is in classification of magic. I think I understand what the sorcerers are, but then there are Druids. I can't really tell the difference between people like Yenn and people like Mousesack. They both seem to use the exact same magic. Maybe I missed some exposition, but it was kind of a source of confusion.
One major source of confusion is in classification of magic. I think I understand what the sorcerers are, but then there are Druids. I can't really tell the difference between people like Yenn and people like Mousesack. They both seem to use the exact same magic. Maybe I missed some exposition, but it was kind of a source of confusion.
LMAO. What makes it better is these were clearly written questions which he wrote responses to and not a back and forth interview so after each answer you just get another banal question.
I didn't even catch the distinction from the show, only knowing Mousesack as a druid from the books. I think the show just treated him as a regular sorcerer, with him being the 'only way into Brokilon' a hint at something else. I don't think they even went into why that was even the case when everyone else that enters is held and put through testing, if not outright killed. That is if I didn't miss anything between Cahir and the doppler.
The show did rush through quite a bit, and I can't agree with further flashbacks to attempt to stop the momentum to provide context or build up that would have been smoothly integrated from the start. That doesn't make it a bad show as most of it works just fine, but it's a flaw that I hope is smoothed over with the fairly straightforward narrative ahead.
I can't get mad at him, really... But this dude seems to give zero shits whatsoever.
I don't know if he's an asshole or if it's adorable.
He's not an asshole. He's 71, he completed his work, and has allowed others to continue his universe and it has turned out well.
We get so entitled with media. This man has earned a couple of decades of retirement to be enjoyed with family, friends, and leisure.
Well he lost his only child, his son last year... so yeah, I understand why he probably doesn't give a shit about anything right now
And this part: "Sapkowski: Allow me to quote Joe Abercrombie, the author whose books are very much to my liking: "Life is, basically, fucking shit. Best to keep your expectations low. Maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised" is precisely where I am.. I like the show and I'm looking forward to the second season, but as an adaptation, good it isn't
For sure! Not saying otherwise. I don't want or need the man to sing and dance for me. just struck me as odd how hands off he is and how utterly neutral he seems to be on all the other material that sprang from his books. Nothing wrong with the author caring only for his books though, so hey.
Oh my god this looks like the Irish folk albums my parents would buy. Hilarious.
Good video. Netflix seems to really be producing a lot of content for The Witcher which is great to see.
Just for people who don't click on the link, the info comes from an hour long interview with Lauren about writing The Witcher which is available on SoundCloud
Gonna have a listen now.
