Unveiling the Untold Secrets Behind The Witcher Season 3's Massive Viewership Plunge!
The Witcher season 3's decline in viewership stems from multiple factors, including Henry Cavill's potential departure, divisive season 2, numerous production issues, split into two parts, deviation from source material, Netflix's password sharing policy, and an ill-fitting summer release
The viewership of The Witcher season 3, which premiered on June 29, 2023, has significantly declined compared to previous seasons of Netflix's popular fantasy series. It's not just Henry Cavill's departure that is causing the show to struggle, as there are multiple factors at play. The Witcher, released in 2019, is based on a series of fantasy novels by Andrej Sapkowski and a collection of video games with the same title. The storyline revolves around Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg, and Princess Ciri in the fictional world known as the Continent.
To provide specifics, The Witcher season 3 experienced a 15% decrease in viewership compared to its second season. However, the situation worsened as the show's viewership dropped by a staggering 60% within the first five episodes of the season. Although there is a possibility of improved statistics as the season is divided into two parts, the current situation indicates that the latest installment of The Witcher is facing challenges, with numerous potential reasons behind this decline.
7 Henry Cavill's Exit Has Put People Off The Witcher Before He's Even Left
The decline in viewership for The Witcher season 3 can be attributed to the departure of Henry Cavill, who portrays Geralt. Fan reactions to Cavill's portrayal of the character have been overwhelmingly positive. However, in October 2022, Cavill announced his departure from the show after season 3. It was then decided that Liam Hemsworth would be taking over the role of Geralt for seasons 4 and 5. This decision was met with dissatisfaction from fans, and the impact of the change is evident. Despite Cavill still appearing as Geralt in The Witcher season 3, viewership has already seen a significant drop.
Another factor that could be influencing viewership is the reason behind Cavill's departure from the series. Initially, Cavill's exit seemed justified as he had been cast as Superman. However, this opportunity was later lost when James Gunn became the new co-CEO of DC Studios. This is undoubtedly a disappointing situation for Cavill, which may have influenced fans and their decision to continue watching The Witcher. Additionally, rumors have circulated suggesting that Cavill left due to tensions with the showrunners, as he believed the show had deviated too far from the source material. However, there is no evidence to support these claims.
6 The Witcher Season 2 Was Divisive
5 The Witcher Season 3 Has Too Many Problems
The challenges faced by The Witcher series extend beyond just season 3. Despite the first season receiving critical acclaim and an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 89%, the second season experienced a significant decline, with a rating of only 58%. Consequently, The Witcher's issues started well before the introduction of season 3. Particularly, season 2 of The Witcher was plagued by storytelling problems, including inconsistent writing and perplexing alternate timelines. Undoubtedly, these shortcomings in The Witcher season 2 could have had a profound impact on the viewership of season 3, as fans might have lost interest in the series prior to its release.
Moreover, the storytelling issues persist in The Witcher season 2. Initial reviews for The Witcher season 3 are satisfactory, but not exceptional. Opinions among viewers are divided, with some claiming that season 3 surpasses its predecessors, while others argue that it is the weakest installment yet. Detractors mainly criticize The Witcher season 3 for its lack of exposition. Instead of demonstrating character behavior, the show resorts to characters explicitly stating their actions. This heavy reliance on narration diminishes the latest season's impact, placing it in the realm of mediocrity. While it may surpass The Witcher season 2, it falls short of being remarkable.
4 The Witcher Season 3 Is Split Into 2 Parts, So Viewers May Just Wait
A possible reason why The Witcher season 3 has been experiencing a lack of viewership could be due to the decision to divide the season into two parts. As a result, many viewers might be choosing to wait until both sections are released before watching. Netflix's tactic of splitting popular series into multiple parts is not entirely new, and it has proven successful for shows like Stranger Things. However, considering the controversy surrounding The Witcher, it is understandable that instead of binge-watching the first installment in anticipation of part 2 of season 3, fans are opting to wait for the entire season to be available. Audiences may have a preference for watching the entirety in one go or delaying the start of season 3 until they have read the reviews.
3 The Witcher Is Veering Too Far From Its Source Material
The Witcher has long grappled with a significant problem: its relationship with the source material. While audiences usually appreciate faithfulness to the original work in an adaptation, The Witcher often fails to adhere to this principle. Season 2 of The Witcher introduced new storylines, some of which added depth while others seemed unnecessary. Although season 3 is rumored to be more faithful to the books, the series' deviations from the source material have already been established. This decision may potentially hinder the series moving forward, despite the current attempts to stay true to the books.
2 Netflix's Clampdown On Password Sharing Could've Hurt The Witcher
Though a larger issue, Netflix's recent crackdown on password sharing potentially had negative repercussions for The Witcher. In the past, audiences could freely access Netflix content using an account they didn't personally pay for. However, with the cessation of password sharing, Netflix aims to drive more individuals towards subscribing at a cost of 16-20 dollars per month. This development has not been well-received by the public, with boycott threats emerging against the streaming service. Consequently, Netflix's controversy may result in reduced viewership for its series, including The Witcher.
1 The Witcher Doesn't Suit Being A Summer Release
The release date of The Witcher season 3 also played a crucial role in potentially impacting the show. Unlike seasons 1 and 2, which were released in December, season 3 took a different approach and premiered during the summer. This departure from the established pattern could have affected the viewers' experience as the dark visuals of The Witcher are perfectly suited for winter viewing. Additionally, by releasing the first two seasons in December, Netflix created a strong association between the series and the winter season. Therefore, the decision to release season 3 in the summer may have caused confusion among fans and even diminished the overall enjoyment, as it deviated from the thematic alignment between the show and the external season.
