The Witcher is one of Netflix's most popular series ever. The story of Geralt of Rivia and his relationships with the sorceress Yennefer and the mysterious Princess Ciri captivated millions of fans worldwide, welcoming them into the terrifying and monster-filled Continent.
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Still, not everyone is as universally accepting of the show. Some fans have more divisive opinions about the fantasy series, and they take to Reddit to express their comments and complaints. And while not every thought is necessarily negative, they are all unpopular enough to earn scorn from the rest of the fandom.
Henry Cavill Isn't Geralt
Since the beginning, much ofThe Witcher's promotion centered around Henry Cavill. The actor, straight out of playing a wildly beloved Superman in the DCEU, traded the Man of Steel's cape for Geralt's sword. His casting attracted many fans to the show, and the finished result turned out great.
Some fans remain unconvinced of Cavill's take, like Redditor hutxhy. In the user's opinion, Cavill wasn't Geralt. "I feel like they needed an actor with RBF--someone who seemed more stoic, serious." The Redditor is alone on this hill, because most fans agree that Cavill was spot on as Geralt. If anything, some think he wastoo stoic. WitcherCon teased a more talkative Geralt in season 2, and while many fans will delight in the prospect, hutxhy probably won't be one.
The Actors Don't Do A Great Job
Joining Cavill's Geralt are several pleasant surprises. Anya Chalotra's Yennefer, Freya Allan's Ciri, and Joey Batey's Jaskier all became instant fan favorites due to the passion and care they put into their performances. The supporting players also earned acclaim, particularly MyAnna Buring as Tissaia and Jodhi May as Queen Calanthe.
But Reddit user Epinier didn't like the cast, thinking they lacked chemistry. "I have (the) impression that they are simply delivering their lines and not really acting with each other." A valid observation, but one that fails to take into consideration the ensemble's layered portrayals. Chalotra's performance and chemistry with Cavill in the episode "Bottled Appetites" are enough to debunk the user's statement alone.
The Show Has Too Much "Girl Power"
At its core,The Witcher is a story of three individuals tied by destiny. Geralt, the infamous witcher, Yennefer, the tragic sorceress, and Ciri, the lost Princess. Each storyline has equal weight in the show, but Geralt is the clear protagonist of the show.
Still, some viewers dislike the amount of female content inThe Witcher. Redditor JustGameOfThrones, for example, thinks there's "so much girl power in this show, it's annoying." The Witcher indeed hasmore than one capable and prominent female character, but there's nothing wrong with that, on the contrary. Stories need complex and layered female figures to represent the current state of the world accurately. Because of the lack of reasons to support his statement, the user's opinion comes off as sexist. It's also a confusing take, considering the show's username. After all,Game of Thrones has its fair share of empowering female moments and characters.
Toss A Coin To Your Witcher Is Cringe
The unexpected star ofThe Witcher wasn't any particular character but a song that came out of nowhere. "Toss a Coin to Your Witcher" was a bonafide hit, amassing a massive 7.8 million views in the SonySoundtracksVevo channel on YouTube, plus millions more on other users' profiles.
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Alas, there will always be someone who dislikes even the most popular of things, and in this song's case, it's Reddit user Apex_fan25. "Am I the only one who finds the "Toss a Coin to Your Witcher" song to be cringe?" the user asks, without giving any explanation as to why they dislike the tune. Considering the overwhelmingly positive reception to the song, it's safe to say the answer to Apex_fan25's question is a firm "yes."
Jaskier Is An Annoying Character
The Witcher's take on Dandelion also received acclaim from critics and audiences. Jaskier is a dynamic and hugely entertaining character who provides humor to an otherwise overly serious plot. His dynamic with the titular witcher is also one for the ages, and it wouldn't be an overstatement to say Jaskier is Geralt's best friend.
Some fans were less enthusiastic about the bard's role and personality in the show. SS3Dclown, for example, thought that Jaskier was obnoxious. "I honest to God wish Geralt would have necked him or left him after he f***ed up the genie jug." The user has a point about Jaskier's behavior often being intense and invasive. However, he still played a vital role in the story, contributing to Geralt's eventual humanization.
Ciri's Story Isn't Interesting
Even the most casual fans of the books or games know that Ciri is crucial inThe Witcher. Her role is vital for the plot, thanks to her destiny bond with Geralt.
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However, some long-time fans of the books complained about Ciri's inclusion in the show. They felt her intervention felt rushed and contributed nothing to the story while also stating her role felt unnecessary and repetitive. For instance, Reddit user moh_zzthinks that Ciri "has a lot of screentime and really nothing going on." However, Ciri's storyline is compelling and vital to the show's central thesis. The Witcher'sclumsy choices make her role seem more confusing than necessary, but the fact remains that she is a critical character in the franchise. She is also one of the most relatable figures in the story, making her the perfect vessel for audience relatability.
Anya Chalotra Was The Wrong Choice For Yennefer
When fans spend so much time with a particular franchise, they become incredibly invested in it. How could they not? They tend to have an idea of how a character should look and sometimes get disappointed when movie or film adaptations don't match the image in their heads. Indeed, many fans often enjoy talking about famous movie roles that they feel were miscast.
Case in point, Redditor bassman9999, who thinks Anya Chalotra was miscast as Yennefer of Vengerberg. "While Anya is attractive, she looks like she is right out of high school." The user makes a good point by saying there is a marked age difference between her and Cavill. However, Chalotra looks mature beyond her years and more than holds her own against the seasoned Cavill, at times even outshining him. The user also makes an incredibly unfair suggestion about Chalotra's casting, adding a layer of sexism to his already problematic opinion.
The Timelines Weren't Confusing
For all the fan acclaimThe Witcher received, it also garnered its fair share of criticism due to the confusing nature of the show's timelines. Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer's stories were all decades apart, but the show presented them simultaneously in the same episodes. Thus, fans took a while before they understood each character existed in different timelines.
But Reddit user AK_656 didn't find the stories confusing at all. "It wasn't an ideal creative decision, but I don't think it was as bad as people say." The user seems to be forgetting that not all fans were aware of the books or games and went into the show with no knowledge ofThe Witcher's world. To those people, the intertwining timelines were an unnecessary distraction from an otherwise engaging plot.
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