The show started with a strong season 1. It set the hook and layed the foundation. I am a bit familiar with the original works and was excited to see it come to the screen. Cavill was an excellent fit. In fact, all of the main characters are acted well. The problem is the writing and storytelling in general.

The 1st and most obvious complaint is that this is a story about Geralt. Geralt IS the Witcher. Yet, somehow Geralt is the one character whose story is barely told. He is a side character in his own story. My wife is unfamiliar with the original works and Henry Cavill aside, she thought Yennefer and Ciri were the main characters. The writers obviously want to write more about Ciri and Yenn. Maybe find some writers that also want to write about Geralt?

Because the writers don't seem to want to develop Geralt at all, the character is stuck in cement. As a result, we have overly hurried development of the side characters. We have seen massive development in Yenn, including backstory, obstacles, challenges, huge mistakes and redemption. In many ways the entire 1st season is mostly about Yenn, with a little Geralt and Ciri sprinkled in. Similarly Ciri's story is sped up too. We see family story, obstacles, failure, and redemption. By midway through season 3, Ciri is an adept killer of monsters, with none of the scars Geralt has.

While many of the costumes are a bit extravagant, they are still good. That said, it wouldnt hurt for the female characters to look a little frazzled sometimes after a rough encounter. The female characters hair is overdone and the makeup is too much. It is fine when they are at an event, but leave it out when they are travelling on horseback in the wild and fighting monsters. There really is WAY too much makeup. There is 1 scene in season where Yenn has a encounter with a dangerous attacker. She barely escapes. When it is over, her hair is perfect, her makeup is untouched, and she has a tiny little scratch on her cheek. Yet, we are expected to believe she barely lived. The characters around her rush to as if she was severely injured. The problem is she looked like a supermodel with a papercut.

Next is the departure from the original works. Not every story has to be from the original. Things do need to change for the screen. However, what shouldn't change is the tone and characters and world. Whatever season 3 is, it isn't Witcher. Episode 5 is one of the worst, most ill fitting episodes of any show I have ever seen, when you consider the talent on the screen at least. It plays more like a scene from a Bond movie, or a scene from Death on the Nile. Just awful. It is also just too dumbed down. While the scene plays out like a plot twist, or a mystery, the audience doesn't care because they know it is coming...the bard in he background song repeatedly tells us so. Get rid of this crap, it doesnt belong here.

Lastly, and most importantly, there is a huge problem of storytelling. Do not ask yourself "why is this character doing this at this time?" because your head will explode. One of the biggest mistakes writers of fantasy shows make is asking for the wrong type of suspension of disbelief. Fantasy and sci fi fans can suspend belief when it comes to magic, or mysticism. They will not suspend belief in character motivation flaws. If Geralt's main goal is to protect Ciri and he promises to do so her repeatedly. Why does he keep leaving her alone and going off on various missions that make no sense? I can give SO many examples of huge logic holes in this weird storyline. If the writers cannot convincingly explain to the viewer why the current course of action by the characters makes sense, then the writers are bad at their job.

I am afraid I am done with this garbage series. The bad writing ruined it for me. I now understand why Henry Cavill left the show. I think he made the right call.