Seasons 1-2: 8 stars Season 3: 4 stars

Seasons 1-2 were surprisingly good. I'd played one game (the third) and read one book (the first), and wasn't expecting The Witcher to live up to either. I even thought Cavill would turn out to be a bad choice. But, I was thoroughly impressed by the series on every respect - and Cavill especially so.

The mini-stories, overarching plot, characters, monsters, setting, abilities, politics, etc, were in line with both the book and game, while also adapted properly into an addictive show. Almost all acting was solid. Special effects were mostly worked in naturally, and integrated into combat in ways that made it feel even more like the game. Characters were developed over time. And the direction did it all justice.

If you can decide in advance to watch just the first 2 seasons, and never worry about what might happen in the end - do it.

Unfortunately, season 3 is a complete dud that feels like an entirely different show altogether. It's more like generic fantasy series that just happens to borrow from the Witcher here and there. Direction is amateurish. Actors struggle to perform well, as the dialogue has become bland and/or stereotypical. Witcher-style mini-stories have been replaced with hedonistic, artsy parties, romance, and characters constantly staring at each other with sexual intensity. It's like some kind of daytime soap-opera, except modern and woke, and there's an occasional monster fight.

Worst of all, when the overarching plot does start to take hold, it's full of random, out-of-character changes. Since character development was set aside for love scenes, there was never any chance learn that characters were conflicted, gradually convinced of an alternate view, secretly a spy, etc. Instead, just 'bam, now I'm on your team / on the other team - yay/boo'.

It's not like the classic 'the first season is always the best', either. It's such an extreme difference with season 3 that it really doesn't feel like the same show at all. So very disappointing.

If you can't stop after just 2 seasons, I'd recommend it watching it at all. It really is that bad.