The Witcher season 3 has received a disappointing audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Netflix show, based on Andrzej Sapkowski's Polish fantasy novel series, features Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter with magical abilities. The show has gained immense popularity on Netflix and has expanded into a franchise, including an animated movie and a spinoff series. The first part of season 3, consisting of five episodes, premiered on June 29, with the second part of three episodes scheduled for release on July 27.
Following the release of the first part of The Witcher season 3, audiences have expressed their opinions on various platforms, including Rotten Tomatoes, where it has earned a dismal 49 percent score. This marks a significant decline for the series, as it had already dropped from 89 percent to 58 percent in season 2. In contrast, the critics' score remains positive, currently standing at 83 percent, although it is slightly lower than the Certified Fresh rating of 95 percent for season 2.
Why Audiences Are Rejecting The Witcher Season 3
The negative feedback towards the new season of The Witcher stems from various sources. Audience reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes page for season 3 indicate that many viewers are disappointed with how the series has deviated from the original books, which were previously adapted into popular video games. Additionally, some feel that the show's focus on character development and world-building has declined in these new episodes.
Adding to the controversy surrounding the series, The Witcher season 3 premiered amid ongoing debates. While season 4 has already been confirmed, Henry Cavill will be departing from the cast and will be replaced by Liam Hemsworth, known for his role in The Hunger Games. This announcement, made in October of the previous year, has given ample time for any negative sentiments towards Cavill's departure to solidify and carry over into the final season.
The upcoming third season of The Witcher is also being released following the spinoff series, The Witcher: Blood Origin, which received negative reviews from both critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, it only received a 30% rating from critics and a 13% rating from audiences. This release in 2022 may have further dampened the enthusiasm of many viewers as they await the release of the flagship series' third season after a long wait.