Released: 17th December 2021
Number of Episodes: 8
Certificate: 15
Where To Watch: Netflix
Created By: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
Starring: Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Joey Batey, MyAnna Buring, Mimî M. Khayisa and Eamon Farren
After years of high popularity, The Witcher franchise has crossed into multiple mediums over the last decade. The first season from Netflix brought the property to the small screen with some room for improvement; I’m happy to report the follow-up has taken on the criticisms and pushed forwards.
Immediately after the Battle of Sodden Hill, Geralt (Henry Cavill) and Ciri (Freya Allan) are journeying to Kahr Morhen to teach her the secrets of monster hunting. Meanwhile, political tensions are rising across the continent as many big players look to track down the elusive child. Both factions collide as a possessive force emerges to wreak havoc on both human and elven-kind. The first thing you’ll notice here is the storytelling structure; gone are the constant jumps between time periods, instead we have a tale that’s both easier to follow and more personal. On top of being more coherent, this second season feels far more expansive; we swap between three main locations; Nilfgaard, the northern kingdoms and the Witcher stronghold of Kahr Morhen. All are well defined by their designs and characters, setting precise tones for each scenes. In Nilfgaard, much of the settlements are elaborate, while the north is more dingy and rugged. By doing this, the world expands just as much as the characters, but there is an unfortunate misstep. In a bid to run her story alongside Geralt and Ciri, Yennefer is treated to a side story that goes nowhere. Stripped of her magic in a deviation from the books, she’s shuttled from place to place with little connection to the bigger picture. While her journey does loop round to the other characters eventually, it’s ultimately a wasted storyline.
With defined characteristics and personas, the cast is able to make their roles more engaging. Henry Cavill leads the way with his gruff mannerisms, but this time he feels a higher responsibility towards his adoptive daughter. Now that the two have found each other, both Cavill and Allen deliver some great chemistry; Geralt looks to protect Ciri above all else while she wants to fight back against those who killed her family. Freya has far more opportunities to make her character more independent and forthright in her convictions. When this child of destiny starts to train with the white-haired monster slayer, you believe in their connection. Despite the insignificance of her plot, Anya Chalotra is again great as the dark-haired sorceress; Yennefer In addition to returning faces, we’re also introduced to other Witchers like the sarcastic Lambert (Paul Bullion) and wise mentor Vesemir (Kim Bodnia); both are very well-portrayed despite their lesser place in the story. With adversaries constantly stacking up, you’ll be well invested in seeing where these characters go next.
The Witcher’s dark fantasy continues to grow its landscape on both a visual and audible level. I mentioned before that the settings allow for stronger variety, but other elements work well too. The action once again has some kinetic camerawork, but it does make use of slow-motion a bit too much when characters are knocked back. The expanded location list results in many new set designs and costumes that bring out a strong sense of contrasts; whether it’s beautiful dresses or heavy combat armour, you’ll know exactly where the characters are and what they’re fighting for. We also get a set of interdimensional dream sequences which push a supernatural angle. The blend of monsters, swordplay and magic is on top form with some nasty looking creatures entering the scene. Fans of the books and games will notice many smaller details that tie in with the property at large. Barring a few questionable techniques, the immersion is still strong throughout.
Putting aside its fractured timelines for a more personal tale, The Witcher’s second season makes a marked improvement. The bonds between the characters are growing and the fantastical action remains gritty and impactful. Not every plot thread fully engages but this adaptation is taking worthy steps towards greatness.
Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)
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