Those Watching Netflix’s ‘The Witcher’ Have 3 Major Complaints: Viewers Weigh In
The Netflix original series The Witcher — based on the novel by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and subsequent video game — follows Geralt (Henry Cavill): a mutated monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a world in which humans prove to be more wicked than beasts.
Opening to a 93% audience score and a 65% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the critical reception remains mixed. While noting Cavill’s charisma in the lead role, many have derided the film for its lack of proper development, pointing to its “half-formed” narrative and incohesive progression. However, critics haven’t been the only ones to denounce the series.
Fans have taken to Reddit to express their dissatisfaction with the show; hitting play with high expectations (following several viewers’ positive comments), those more familiar with the source material feel the series has gone astray. Three major complaints arise when discussing The Witcher.
3. Poor storytelling subverts ‘The Witcher’s’ few strong elements
In short, The Witcher is a bit confusing, as it fails to provide adequate explanatory dialogue in-tandem with its heavy-handed action sequences. One viewer explained:
The Witcher is very complicated and they did a horrible job explaining it. The scenes where Yennefer is in school is decades before the scenes with Cirilla. They jump over well over half a century back and forth like a…ping pong ball. I have read all the books many times over as well as all 3 games and I can’t see how anyone that hasn’t read all the books will have a clue of what’s going on. And those who have will see how bad they butchered it.
Reddit User
The story’s lack of cohesion and failure to provide background information has disappointed fans familiar with the books and video games. Not to mention, without forming a proper foundation, the story has no origin point from which to build, proceeding without cause and reason throughout the entire season. Other fans note that the season is simply “rushed,” stating:
It’s rushed. I wish they spent more time developing each character’s back story. So much potential wasted… There’s no explanation whatsoever on the whole group of mages.
Reddit User
While the narrative failure is a major problem with the Netflix original, fans aren’t too thrilled with the acting either.
2. Poor acting runs rampant in the Netflix original
Many viewers watching The Witcher at home agree that overacting is one of its main flaws. Fans stated:
Overacting and obvious attempt to be cliched “querky”. Kind of how I felt about Dirk Gently.
Reddit User
…C’mon now. Its the little details that threw me off immediately, and the acting, dialogue within the first 20 mins just made me turn it off. My wife wondered how I lasted so long, she immediately also saw it, said it was more like a SyFy movie…
Reddit User
Somehow characterized by both melodramatic and flat acting, the show feels like a movie made for the SyFy channel (explains one viewer), in which over-the-top screams and cheesy dialogue often define the entire production. And, if the poor acting wasn’t enough, the lead character (who boasts a semblance of likeability via a charismatic performance) receives the short end of the stick.
1. Geralt doesn’t really feel like the main character in Netflix’s ‘The Witcher’
Many viewers watching The Witcher at home noted that Henry Cavill seems to lack adequate screen time. He’s the main character, but is he? He’s barely there! Fans explained:
I have no idea what is going on. Is this show about the Witcher or the two other girls. It cuts back and forth. Its laid out so bad.
Reddit User
…Is this show even about the Witcher?! Geralt is in 30% of the scenes hahaha
Reddit User
When it comes down to it, many viewers feel that Netflix’s The Witcher underdevelops the lead character, fails to provide a cohesive narrative, and relies on poor acting to seal the deal.
