The Witcher Season 3: Unraveling the Truth Behind its Controversial Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Witcher Season 3's Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score suffers due to Henry Cavill leaving, but other significant issues plague the show Critics' score has also declined Can the downward trend on Rotten Tomatoes be reversed?
Content: The Witcher season 3 has recently premiered on Netflix, but it's not living up to the success of its predecessors. Surprisingly, there are multiple issues plaguing this latest installment beyond just the departure of its lead actor. The Witcher is a fantasy series based on the 2007 video game and book series by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, created by Netflix. It revolves around three main characters - Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg, and Princess Ciri - whose stories intersect.
The Witcher garnered positive reviews and audience reception with its first season in 2019. Audiences gave it an impressive 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the second season experienced a significant drop, earning only 58% audience score. Now, with The Witcher season 3, the audience score has hit an all-time low of 49%. Even the critics' score, which remained strong in the first two seasons, has decreased from 95% to 81%. This raises the question of what factors are contributing to The Witcher's decline in enjoyment for both fans and critics.
The Witcher Season 3's Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Is Partly Because Of Henry Cavill Quitting
The primary reason for The Witcher's dramatic decline in its Rotten Tomatoes score this season can be attributed to Henry Cavill's departure from the show. In October 2022, Cavill, who plays Geralt of Rivia, announced that he would be leaving the series after season 3. He also revealed that Liam Hemsworth would be taking over the role in season 4. This decision did not sit well with fans, as they held a deep affection for Cavill in the role and were apprehensive about a change in lead actors mid-series. As a result, viewers of The Witcher expressed their dissatisfaction with the show's direction and overall quality. Despite Cavill's continued presence in season 3, his impending departure casts a negative shadow over the series, potentially leading to a decline in reviews. The controversy surrounding Cavill's decision to leave had a significant impact on the show's fan base, which is reflected in their anticipation for his departure and its subsequent effect on their reception of the show.
The Witcher Season 3 Also Has Other Big Problems Beyond Henry Cavill
In season 3 of The Witcher, and throughout its entire run, a notable issue it faces is its inaccuracy to the source material. Despite its attempts to remain faithful to the original Polish fantasy novels, each season seems to stray further from the primary source. This departure has resulted in significant criticism. Particularly, the characterization in The Witcher season 3, or lack thereof in favor of other elements, has received strong backlash from viewers.
Fans who were displeased with the numerous changes from the books faced a particularly challenging season in The Witcher season 2. One instance is Yennefer's storyline in season 2. Despite being one of the most powerful characters, Yennefer loses her powers, which leaves her without a clear storyline or objective. Furthermore, she contemplates sacrificing Ciri to regain her magic. This decision disappointed fans as it undermines the loving relationship that Yennefer and Ciri are meant to have, and also creates unnecessary conflict among Yennefer, Geralt, and Ciri. As a whole, the series appears to have lost sight of its characters and their true nature.
The Witcher Season 3's Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score Has Also Dropped
The surprising thing about The Witcher's Rotten Tomatoes score after season 3 is that the critics' score also went down. The first two seasons had a Certified Fresh score of 95%, but it dropped to 81% now. It's not a terrible score, but it's not Certified Fresh anymore. The more than 10% drop shows how much the perception of the series changed in season 3. While fans are usually more critical, the fact that even the professionals are recognizing negative developments is evident in The Witcher's critics' score.
This significant change in critics' ratings during season 3 raises questions about how season 4 of The Witcher will perform. If the series is already experiencing a downward trend based on declining audience scores, it's likely that this trend could continue in season 4. The decline in critics' score for The Witcher demonstrates a shift in the series. Previously, only fans were vocal about their issues with The Witcher, but now the critics' score speaks volumes. The series may not be terrible, but it is certainly declining based on its Rotten Tomatoes ratings.
Can The Witcher's Downward Rotten Tomatoes Trend Be Fixed?
The crucial question for the creators and devoted fans of The Witcher is whether the low Rotten Tomatoes scores can be improved. Fundamentally, the answer is yes. The upcoming release of five more episodes for season 3 in late July on Netflix gives the opportunity for The Witcher to impress viewers and potentially raise its Rotten Tomatoes scores. The same applies to season 4, although the inclusion of Liam Hemsworth as Geralt may have a dampening effect on the series, leaving its fate uncertain.
Ultimately, part one of The Witcher season 3 has placed the popular fantasy series in a challenging position. With Henry Cavill's departure after this season and ongoing unpopular changes from the books, it's unsurprising that the Netflix show is facing difficulties. However, there is still hope for positive change. The remaining half of The Witcher season 3 has the chance to make up for what was lacking in the first part. While the future of The Witcher remains uncertain, there is still potential for success, and hopefully, it will follow a brighter path rather than a darker one.
