Cavill almost glides through the air despite being hench AF, and he makes stabbing people while pirouetting look easy. The fight choreography remains brilliant. This season's slow-motion swordplay includes an unfortunate meeting between a blade and a guy's face. The brutality hasn't diminished since Geralt's Butcher of Blaviken moment in the first episode of season 1. Geralt single-handedly fights off a gang of mercenaries, using their own weapons against them. The setting up of things takes time, but the pace quickens by episodes five and six and there are some excellent fight scenes, including a hand-to-hand combat scene in the Temple of Melitele. In season 2, the power-hungry-like Yen and captured Nilfgaardian Cahir-have lost their status and aren't adapting particularly well to this new prospect, whereas other characters, like Fringilla and Vilgefortz, are making moves to become more powerful. Nilfgaard has been the bad guy until this point but the North is proving to be a shitty place, too. The persecution of the elves is violent, disturbing and very uncomfortable to watch. There's not so much wholesome family fun in Yennefer's story (though there are sweet moments). It's always welcome when Geralt and Ciri's training sessions pause for a check-in with Yen's many problems.
This is a new Yen who's consumed by defeat, rather than one hellbent on proving herself. She says "Fuck!" more times than Geralt does, but she's also become more thoughtful. Meanwhile, Anya Chalotra transforms Yennefer of Vengerberg from a powerful and vengeful sorceress into an outcast. Otherwise, the Witcher's winter downtime is fun to watch. It's hard to think these jolly, aged warriors need to be told not to mock a lonely orphan to tears. They bristle at the presence of Princess Ciri, which is expected, but their occasional nastiness toward her is unconvincing. It feels as though opportunities were left on the table by not making that transition more of a struggle.įor the opposite reason, the other Witchers at Kaer Morhen can feel unbelievable at times, too.
In his attempts to guide Ciri and protect her from his uncouth colleagues, his charming gruffness does reappear fleetingly, but he's a more thoughtful and less sweary Witcher overall. The sudden appearance of a more fatherly Geralt creates a bit of whiplash if you're coming directly from a season one rewatch.
Henry Cavill's portrayal of Geralt of Rivia remains stalwart, but he's a bit of a sad dad right from the off of the season. Carrying the fate of the world on your shoulders is no easy task, and Allen brings a wonderful mix of childishness, focus, and determination to the role. (It's a mystery who she got that from given that Calanthe was her grandmother and she's hanging about with the White Wolf.) She switches wildly between overconfidence and not believing in herself, and it takes a whole bunch of Witchers and sorceresses to help her realise that she can control the Chaos within her, even if it won't be easy. In keeping with the books and games, Ciri is witty, outspoken, and stubborn. She's frightened of herself and still distrusts Geralt, but desires his strength as a way to protect herself and express her fury at the forces which destroyed her home. Her story is at the centre of the season-a lot of time is spent in Kaer Morhen, the Witcher hideout where Geralt and brothers train her-and her arc begins with fear and denial.
#THE WITCHER REVIEW SERIES#
The best performance of the series comes from Freya Allen, who plays Ciri.
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