After a long two years, Netflix’s The Witcher is back and better than ever! Full of more hype music, tight action choreography, and surprisingly solid CGI, those who liked the first season will have even more fun with this one. The expanded cast adds fan favorites to the ensemble such as Vesemir and the other witchers, as well as giving expanded roles to established characters, including the notable mage Triss. Season 2 is certainly not without its problems, but it slows the hectic and sometimes confusing pace of the first season, establishes its footing, and commits to telling a patient, more drawn out story closer to the likes of Game of Thrones. The season is aided by more plotting and interesting politics, and less of the episodic structure seen previously. Most impressive, however, is that Season 2 is able to not only tell a complete story but also feel like a prequel for the real story, which is yet to come.
Season 1 felt as if it was frantically trying to hook both new and established fans by giving them every aspect of The Witcher franchise at once, without giving characters time to breathe. This was mostly successful, as the first season is a rollercoaster of events that keeps the audience engaged, but it failed to create the tightly woven web of character motivations seen in the books and games that make them so compelling. However, when the season ended with Ciri and Geralt finally meeting, it was time for the wild script to take a step back.
Season 2 smartly accomplishes this. It’s by no means a boring season, but it relies more on quiet character interactions than bombastic moments of shock and awe. The first episode in particular is a standout as more of a standalone story that establishes Geralt and Ciri’s relationship. The tired trope of the rough-around-the-edges father figure not getting along with his new quirky surrogate child is thankfully sidestepped, as both of them know the importance of tolerating the other’s presence. However, Geralt, who at times seems invincible, is for the first time in the series unsure how to help Ciri. He’s never been an emotional person, so seeing him try to connect with her is eternally entertaining. The growth of their relationship is the best part of the season.
This season isn’t perfect however, and there are a few aspects where I think Season 1 has the edge over the new episodes. Yennefer had a more interesting arc in the first season, but her plotline this time around is functional enough. Far more egregious are the few instances where characters make pretty terrible decisions to advance the plot that feel out of character. Vesemir, meant to be Geralt’s wise and trustworthy teacher, makes more than one rash decision that doesn’t match his otherwise intelligent and tempered attitude. Additionally, the portrayal of the other witchers doesn’t quite live up to their potential. Fans will likely begrudgingly accept the loose adaptation of Coen and Lambart, but might be disappointed by Eskel’s portrayal. The other witchers seem, while not quite incompetent, a bit less than they could have been. Those who have no experience with the series may not see any problem with this, however, as it mostly stems from comparison to the source material.
Overall, Season 2 of The Witcher seems like it’s in the transition period between a great hook of a first season and a sprawling epic yet to come. There are noticeable growing pains, but Season 2’s slower, more introspective pace works for now, so long as the future events are worth the wait. Luckily, we’ve already got some hints for what’s to come. The credit scene in Season 2’s finale teased a spinoff series called Blood Origin, so if we’re in for another several-year wait before Season 3, hopefully this new prequel can hold us over. Let your friends know what you thought about Season 2 of The Witcher on BingeRoom, and add The Witcher: Blood Origin to your Watch List if you’re looking forward to it as much as I am!
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