My only reference is the three games, and those are iffy at best since it's been so long since I played them. But what I can remember some of the characterization done in season 2 was so off putting, namely Vesemir. How he's written in season 2 was so disappointing and immediately soured my already low expectations of the series.

Vesemir aside, there are some weird character changes but I did not care so much as I did with Vesemir. Other than that, I felt that 1/2 of the story was quite pointless. Ciri's training / growing up was done well, I enjoyed her limited character growth here. I felt the entirety of the insanely long sub plot involving a certain witch / mage ... whatever she was ... was such a drag concluding into much of nothing.

What a huge time waster of a season. It's like they needed to pad when the real story starts in season 3.

That aside, the acting was much better, everyone was more comfortable with their roles. It's just this story, the changes they are doing is such a bummer.