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THE WITCHER
netflix.com
The second The Witcher season is upon us! Man, it’s been so long (the first season aired in 2019!), I have forgotten much of the first season. I do recall that I loved it… however the critics hated it because they just couldn’t follow the three different time lines. Those same “critics” didn’t really watch the entire season, and they’ve even admitted it so.
There’s even a jab/joke at the critics in Season 2, where a guard said that he didn’t like Dandelion’s song, citing it was too complicated, that he didn’t realized there was three different timeline until the third verse. I laughed so hard at that joke. Sure, it was out of place, but I thought it was funny.
For Season 2, there are no multi-timeline, it’s all one (or actually two) storyline and played out pretty straight forward. I would have to complain that the first episode felt like “Monster of the week” and didn’t seem to fit with the rest of Season 2.
In typical Netflix fashion, we get all the episodes to binge at once, and I really appreciate that. I just don’t have to patience to wait for the full story – I want to see how it ends.
Since I played the excellent video games from CD Projekt Red, I had an idea of where the show was heading… but it was still really fun to see how it unfolds. For example, when they introduced all the other Witchers (including Geralt’s father figure), at the Witcher Keep, you knew many of them weren’t going to make it to the end of the season. This was fairly obvious, at least to me.
The second and third episodes, we find that Geralt had decided to train Ciri to defend herself when he’s gone.
We also finally meet Triss Merigold, to help find out about these monsters that Ciri had unleashed. I have to say that I’m so used to seeing Triss in the video game, that her appearance is … a little different in the TV show. I suppose I have to get used to it. Her hair is curly, but at least they dyed it red. I think the internet would be entirely upset if her hair was not red.
In the game, you romanced with her (or at least you have the option), so it’s implied that she’s a former ex, but in the show, they played it like they’ve never gone in that way, even though Triss wants a relationship.
Personally speaking, between Yennifer and Triss, I’ve always been partial to Triss, as she’s often friendlier and relatable.
There’s also this other plot about the war between the Elves and Humans, which was somewhat confusing… but if you pay attention, there is an evil force that is pulling the string. Since Yennifer lost her magic powers, I felt the show didn’t know what to do with her. Her motivation is to sacrifice Ciri so she can get her powers back, which is spelled out to the viewers – but I’m not sure how everyone else figured out the plot.
There is an amazing human vs Witcher fight sequence that is beyond unbelievable. It was great and gritting, and honestly was so much better than that CGI-dragons/lizard fight that the Witchers had in the end.
Anyway, I love the ending, even though it’s setting up The Wild Hunt for next season, and I’m all on board! Unlike Season 1, the critics loved it at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes (that’s because there’s only one timeline).
netflix.com
The second The Witcher season is upon us! Man, it’s been so long (the first season aired in 2019!), I have forgotten much of the first season. I do recall that I loved it… however the critics hated it because they just couldn’t follow the three different time lines. Those same “critics” didn’t really watch the entire season, and they’ve even admitted it so.
There’s even a jab/joke at the critics in Season 2, where a guard said that he didn’t like Dandelion’s song, citing it was too complicated, that he didn’t realized there was three different timeline until the third verse. I laughed so hard at that joke. Sure, it was out of place, but I thought it was funny.
For Season 2, there are no multi-timeline, it’s all one (or actually two) storyline and played out pretty straight forward. I would have to complain that the first episode felt like “Monster of the week” and didn’t seem to fit with the rest of Season 2.
In typical Netflix fashion, we get all the episodes to binge at once, and I really appreciate that. I just don’t have to patience to wait for the full story – I want to see how it ends.
Since I played the excellent video games from CD Projekt Red, I had an idea of where the show was heading… but it was still really fun to see how it unfolds. For example, when they introduced all the other Witchers (including Geralt’s father figure), at the Witcher Keep, you knew many of them weren’t going to make it to the end of the season. This was fairly obvious, at least to me.
The second and third episodes, we find that Geralt had decided to train Ciri to defend herself when he’s gone.
We also finally meet Triss Merigold, to help find out about these monsters that Ciri had unleashed. I have to say that I’m so used to seeing Triss in the video game, that her appearance is … a little different in the TV show. I suppose I have to get used to it. Her hair is curly, but at least they dyed it red. I think the internet would be entirely upset if her hair was not red.
In the game, you romanced with her (or at least you have the option), so it’s implied that she’s a former ex, but in the show, they played it like they’ve never gone in that way, even though Triss wants a relationship.
Personally speaking, between Yennifer and Triss, I’ve always been partial to Triss, as she’s often friendlier and relatable.
There’s also this other plot about the war between the Elves and Humans, which was somewhat confusing… but if you pay attention, there is an evil force that is pulling the string. Since Yennifer lost her magic powers, I felt the show didn’t know what to do with her. Her motivation is to sacrifice Ciri so she can get her powers back, which is spelled out to the viewers – but I’m not sure how everyone else figured out the plot.
There is an amazing human vs Witcher fight sequence that is beyond unbelievable. It was great and gritting, and honestly was so much better than that CGI-dragons/lizard fight that the Witchers had in the end.
Anyway, I love the ending, even though it’s setting up The Wild Hunt for next season, and I’m all on board! Unlike Season 1, the critics loved it at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes (that’s because there’s only one timeline).
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ARCANE
netflix.com
I don’t play the League of Legends video game, that Arcane is based on, so I actually had no interest in watching this new animated series… however, after seeing so many glowing reviews of the Netflix show, I had to give it a chance.
So, yeah, it’s pretty good… but, to me, it’s not that amazing. I think the animation is really cool, it has that Blizzard style… and if you can get past the animation, you might like the show.
Sometime, I just wish they kill off Jinx (Powder), as she’s clearly crazy… but the show gave her bulletproof plot armor. Same goes for her crazy father-figure Silco... there are so many moments where I just wish they get rid of these characters.
The problem is that everyone loves the show, and after watching it, I just think it’s alright. I’ve seen this type of story before, and I wasn’t all-in in all the characters. I didn’t really like anyone, except for perhaps, Caitlyn, a sniper that was introduced late in the series. I like her because she motive is pure, and in service of justice. I can see where the show is going, perhaps a romance between Vi and Caitlyn, but we may not see that blossom until season two.
Speaking of which, the response to Season One was so good that the second season is already in production – but it won’t arrive until after 2022.
Again, I think the show is fine, I’m not sure why there’s all this hype for it. I guess since I don’t play the video game by Riot Games, I am just not invested in it. Even the cliffhanger ending, I’m like “meh” and I can take it or leave it for Season 2.
netflix.com
I don’t play the League of Legends video game, that Arcane is based on, so I actually had no interest in watching this new animated series… however, after seeing so many glowing reviews of the Netflix show, I had to give it a chance.
So, yeah, it’s pretty good… but, to me, it’s not that amazing. I think the animation is really cool, it has that Blizzard style… and if you can get past the animation, you might like the show.
Sometime, I just wish they kill off Jinx (Powder), as she’s clearly crazy… but the show gave her bulletproof plot armor. Same goes for her crazy father-figure Silco... there are so many moments where I just wish they get rid of these characters.
The problem is that everyone loves the show, and after watching it, I just think it’s alright. I’ve seen this type of story before, and I wasn’t all-in in all the characters. I didn’t really like anyone, except for perhaps, Caitlyn, a sniper that was introduced late in the series. I like her because she motive is pure, and in service of justice. I can see where the show is going, perhaps a romance between Vi and Caitlyn, but we may not see that blossom until season two.
Speaking of which, the response to Season One was so good that the second season is already in production – but it won’t arrive until after 2022.
Again, I think the show is fine, I’m not sure why there’s all this hype for it. I guess since I don’t play the video game by Riot Games, I am just not invested in it. Even the cliffhanger ending, I’m like “meh” and I can take it or leave it for Season 2.
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