The Witcher Season 2 Explained | Witcher Series Review and Spoilers Netflix | The Witcher Books? 

Merry Christmas Sweet Summer fam🎁!!!

I still enjoyed the season, but the 3 main problems I had with it were: 1. How they took Yennefer's character to the point where she was sacrificing Ciri to get her power back. They tried to "fix" it in the finale but it's till leaves a sour taste. 2. Death of Eskel 3. Ciri's possession led to the death of a lot of Witchers. None of that was necessary.

I wholeheartedly agree with your analysis. Looking forward to the next video. Usually I don't want to be the "But in the books"-person, but they strayed so far from the storyline and turned things on their heads that it doesn't make sense anymore. I am determined to love the show, I really am, but they need to do better next season. The overall production of the show and great acting made up for a lot of its flaws though.

The witch in the woods is Baba Yaga, from slavic folklore, so, even if not from the books, it fits the overall theme, i am just slightly disappointed that her hut was not on giant chicken leg 😅 yep, that's the stories and animation I grew up on, so it was nice for once to see some Eastern European folklore represented in pop media

It should also be noted that the Nilfgardians had a strong Elven influence dating back to its very founding. They are humans with a bit of elven ancestry (which is not unusual in the north either) but an almost entirely elven culture. They were founded when a group of humans was adopted by the Black Seidhe, a group of elves closely related to the Aen Seidhe of the north. They have always respected elves more than other humans. Their common tongue is a dialect of the Eldar Speech.

I was so excited to see my favorite GOT lady doing a review of my new favorite show! I never read the books or played the games so your insights are great! Love you girl!

Thank you for the recap. I can't muster up enough enthusiasm for season 2 to sink what precious little leisure time I have into watching it. And now I feel like that is absolutely, positively OK.

Can't wait for more Witcher videos. I do enjoy listening to your views and opinions. Merry Christmas!!!

Maybe since i watched wheel of time directly before witcher s2, yet i loved witcher s2 as a book/game player, even with weakness of show, it has room to grow I do think show runners are listening ala season 1, i think season 2, episode 1 is a good scope of what it can do.

Thanks Gray! I agree with a lot of your points. Just reading the final book in the series and I can't believe how many changes there are. I hope they can tie everything together into a decent story long term. Yennefer doesn't come across as a Bad azz b*tch like she is in the books, and yet she's willing to sacrifice Ciri. She's supposed to be hard and cold most of the time but still deeply care for Ciri (like a daughter). I really don't like her arc this season or the introduction of the deathless mother.

I agree 100%. You forgot to mention how they made eskel and lambert so hostile towards Geralt and ciri. That pissed me off almost as much as vesemir not only nearly putting her through the trial of the grasses but stabbing her in the last episode.

*It's almost like they need to hire GrayArea to get this story right. Makes sense to me atleast.*

Thank you for adding " The Birth Of Dragons" Obsidian Nights episode on Spotify!!!! This is all I wanted for Christmas, Im so excited to listen!!! I've been dieing for that episode!

I never read the books, but I do like the show and this season to me was good. But, I guess after this I will read the books.

it was the drinking the sweat from his ball sack for me! Love ya Grey! the books are so much better though.....but i thoroughly enjoyed this version of the story. Merry Christmas! and please go over the book differences vs the show. Infact, those books are good enough for you to break down as deep as you do the game of thrones books. Tip: check out the audio books....Priceless!

Wait question.. is Francesca the elf that Geralt head butts in season one??

I did think the Witchers being frat boys was a let down and killing Eskel before we even knew him didn’t work.

The best commentary and voice for series!!! I'm watching you since the times of Game of Thrones... And I just love what you do. 😍

I just finished Blood Of Elves and I am so disappointed with season 2. They changed too much. Yen would never put Ciri at risk

i didnt read the books and i was disappointed with season 2, so i can only imagine how people who did read the books must feel. for me it was just a big let down after waiting so long for it, plus expecting it to be as good as season 1.

Wait another thing in season 1 when Geralt encounters the Strzyga he sees the body of another witcher.. He seemed to have no recognition of that particular witcher which implies he’s from a different witcher school Furthermore in that anime done by Netflix Kaer Morhen is sacked but only Kaer Morhen.. So maybe I think the show is Trying to say since the sacking they have been unable to create more Witcher’s for the school of the Wolf??

Omg I missed your voice! Lost track of your channel after GoT ending and really happy to find it again. Merry Christmas! 💫

Please do episode breakdowns?!?!?

When Yen asked Filavandrel if he was in fact himself He answered something like “ah the bloody bard” I’m assuming meaning Jaskier

Honestly, I loved it. I loved season 1 and this one topped that. Its getting me into the books. I've read the two short story books these seasons were based on. I can see the changes but can also see why they were made, for both the medium and the difference in audience. A 1990s Polish audience and a 2020s American audience are going to be very different. I thought the Baba Yaga story arc fit in well with the authors twisting of fairy tales

She did not need to invent so much, first season was pretty cannon. My take is they alredy had the witchers actors and the set and wanted to make good profit. But the baba yaga arch, and Yen treason. I dont get it. It was not bad but unnecessary. Let's hope they get on track next season.

Great video on Not the Witcher!

Never read the books or played the games, but it seems like how comic book movies are to the comic's canon. It has the basic idea of the characters, but it's pretty much it's own thing.

I have not finished the book yet but I’m scared that if I like the books then I may hate the show. Whit the GOT I really love the books

I love how you casually mentioned Dune.

~ GIRL...you made me holler out at 4am lol LOVE "that" line! ~

Oh my God you made me laugh so hard about the ball sack joke I am right on board with you girl. And I totally agree I really like the season but I feel like unlike game of thrones not being a book reader I'm a little lost. I'm wondering if I watch it over again if it will help. The first season I totally understood the time jumps so it's kind of weird that I don't understand what is going on in the season with the witch and the Hut and it was kind of all over the place. However I will watch anything with Henry in it. I thought the first episode was the best I kind of wish they would just focus on short stories like that. It would be nice to see Geralt, Ciri and Yennefer traveling around battling monsters and making magic I am hoping that is what the next season will bring.

Omg a map!, Has this been shown in the show? Because it just has made the world-building harder. And I’ll help, the world 🌎 building has been rough. S1 was almost impossible. S2 got better. Consumable pieces, more focused. But lore and rules? Still hazy. But needs to be said how that entering into that dream slash vision thing with Triss, is copy paste Dany in the books, House of the Undying. I mean they copied it. Anyways thank u! I got invested by ep6 ending. I feel better! Been a struggle.

Ive read the Scoia-tael as S-coy-a tell

Yessssssss Stregobor does hate women because Falka took his hands

This season was much better than the last. It was more intriguing and less corny

being a normie GOT fan, i have to admit i have been loving the witcher. pretty cool story

Yennefer, Geralt and Ciri ARE NOT a family unit at the point of Blood of Elves. That doesn't happen yet. Why are people finding this so hard to grasp. That family relationship isn't firmly established until time of contempt which they haven't adapted yet. They can basically do whatever they want with Yennefer and Ciris story as long as by the next season they have a mother/daughter relationship - in blood of elves, they still haven't got there by the end of the book. By the end of the season Yennefer has redeemed herself because not only did she not hand over Ciri in the end, but she even tries to sacrifice herself to save Ciri. The entire point of her story in this season is they wanted to focus on Yennefers realisation last season that her magic is no longer driving her, what she really wants is what she thinks she can't ever have, a child. So this season they strip her of her magic to really see if a child is more important to her than anything. And she realises just how much her magicbis important. She completely breaks down without it and feels useless, pointless. She can't even defend herself without it, she has no sense of confidence and no sense of self. So the influence of the demon witch gets her second guessing what she wants and she starts to believe that the opportunity of a child is not worth giving up the opportunity to be gifted with magic again. But the important thing is she makes the right choice in the end, she can't bring herself to sacrifice Ciri and attempts to give her own life to protect her - she picks the child over her magic and does what any mother would do to protect their child. The show just wanted to give her an arc and I don't see why the book fans are so up in arms about it. By the end of the season she is in a place where she can cement a mother daughter bond with Ciri because despite nearly giving her up she protected her in the end and showed what she was prepared to do to ensure that. It's a different, more dramatic way of adapting their relationship from blood of elves where they can barely stand each other. But that book plot isn't going to be all that interesting to put onscreen.

I liked the first season better than the second.

Your the best Gray

I totally agree. I understand it's hard to translate a book into a movie and sometimes it needs some changes..but ..... Kaer Morhen full of hookers ??? it was a mysterious place known only to witchers and Triss Merigold. Eskel enters Kaer Morhen with Leshen and none of the medallions reacts .... strange, not to mention there was an obelisk in the tree and again none of the medallions react. I do not think that adaptation consists in a complete change of characters, their personalities, motives and actions ... this whole season is one big shit ... illogical, full of plot errors, boring at times. For example, the road of Geralt and Yennever from Cintra to Kaer Morhen should take a week or two weeks on horseback and they ride there in the next scene :) it's just one of a thousand idiotic examples. I could talk for hours about what's wrong with this season and point out scene by scene the lack of logic in the understanding of Netflix's creators. I will say this ... if you think that this season was tragic, wait for the next one ... even if Netflix wants to return everything to the right logical track, it is due to so many mistakes and tragic ideas that we have received in this season ... the next seasons will not be able to fix it anymore. If Lauren Schmidt Hissrich were to do an adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, Frodo would have reached Mordor in two or three days and the whole movie would have closed in 10 minutes.

Damn. Can't believe how all over the place you are in this. Never seen/heard you so much in disarray before! Guess a reflection on S2

just like you i have this love and hate relationship with this season esp bc of how they handled the elven plotline like what was that………

Idk. I do not like the portrayal of vesemir and eskel and the other named one I can't think of. Like why did they kill eskel it was actually pretty bad. Henry cavil and yenn, and triss are good, but the secondary characters are not up to snuf.

This season, was disappointing to say the least, Vesimir wanting the trial of grasses makes no sense and they should not do close ups of the characters because their eyes are too obviously fake which took me out of it. The only highlight for me from this season was seeing Philippa, once I seen the owl I already knew it was her.

Thank you.. I couldn’t stay interested. Wanted to like it, but ….🙈

I got to disagree with your take on what Tris would allow to happen to Ciri. Tris is very willing to let bad things happen to Ciri.

Its 3:21 am

I love my Gray🥰🥰

Changed things that didn’t needed to be changed which made the story as a whole much much weaker than it’s original. I think that sums up my thoughts on this awful season IMO

episode 2 had my daughter and I like WTF?

season 2 writers have not read the books, that is obvious.

Thank you Grey for your reviewing! I thought season 2 wouldn't be as good as season 1 we have painfully seen when there aren't source material that these writers of shows come up with crap that makes no sense whether it's GOT or this Witcher show and that's why I haven't watch it as yet but I will eventually.

can we talk about how lame triss is. like damn, they just straight butchered so many charecters; eskel, vasimir, fringila, yen, even ciri is like wtf. i really cant look at yen the same, here so called redemption for attempting to sacrifice ciri is just so cringe.

U talked about the books more than season 2

Love ur videos but u need too re do this one

Sometimes u ramble on too much and say like too much

U ok? That cough didn’t sound good.

this season was a mess

I agree with most of your comments! The Francesca story reminded me of Dany in GoT. Her innocent baby was killed and so she went on to kill innocent babies herself. What??? And Eskel was such an a*hole in the show, that I did not feel that sorry that he was killed. Also, I did not like the amount of swearing. Especially when Ciri did it. This does not happen in the books. And especially when Ciri does it - in Blood of Elves, she still is an innocent child. That's so out of character. The same as Eskel - he is much more likable in the books as well - as are all the other witchers. In the books they also made their jokes, but they were much more inviting to Ciri and did not come across as vulgar as in the show.

They did that because the books are just so boring!

Yay I've been waiting for this review. I enjoyed season 2, I have read the first 5 books but I forgot most of it because I wasn't reading for comprehension so I must reread. However, I hope the showrunner doesn't stray too far from the books making the story completely different. I don't mind changes as long as the chore stays the same.

Honestly, watching this video is like being in an echo chamber. All you’re issues with the show are my issues too. As well as the fact that I did think it was good. The second season is really well made. I enjoyed it a lot. Such good production values!!! And although I’m all - WTF !!! - about Eskel the biggest crime done in regard to the source material is what they have done with Yennifer. Yennifer has many character flaws (all of which makes her a compelling character). Yenniferr can be deeply selfish but she’s not evil. And what she was gonna do to Ciri (sacrifice her?!!!) motivated out of a pure selfish desire is sooo out of character. She is selfish but she’s not that selfish. How the writers redeem Yennifer in the eyes of Ciri and Geralt and make it actually believable will be a challenge. Yes, she didn’t go through with it. Had a changed of heart - but she WAS going to! I do think it would have been fine to do this storyline with Geralt, Ciri and the audience thinking that Yennifer was intending on sacrificing Ciri only to have Yennifer trick the Deathless Mother (or attempt to) in some way with a well thought out plan, never truly intending on sacrificing Ciri but definitely putting her in harms way, taking a great risk with someone else’s life as well as her own. Afterwards Yennifer dismissively rolling her eyes at Geralt “do you really think me capable of such a thing?! You know me better than that”! Geralt wide eyed with anger and frustration over Yennifer’s selfish, reckless actions. That would be very Yennifer.

I saw season two and currently going through the books. I enjoyed the season, I see it's fauls and changes people will dislike. I see the books the show and the games as separate and after hearing the show runners reason I can find some of her changes acceptable. I wish the eleves were done better though. I think the game of thrones season 8 comparsion is a bit over exaggerated.

I've been patiently waiting for you to get to the Witcher season 2 .. you rock

Nailed it!! I agree 100%!! I had so much stress watching this season...

what they did to Jenna was despicable....she would never! i had to pause and get a glass of wine and then wait until it was safe to drink post blood pressure pill....then finish watching. how dare they! but i just appreciate them making it a tv show to spread awareness of the awesomeness of this franchise so i guess i digress but still....HOW DARE THEY!

Had I not read the books upwards of 20 times I would love the show. And I do love it but it's not the story I love. I'm trying not to be so upset over the crazy changes. They really aren't building any characters at all. The on the trail talks Yarpen and Ciri have about neutrality are vital in who ciri becomes later on. They changed things that make the events in the books impossible. Cahir cannot become who he is supposed to. Uncle vesemir never would have put ciri at risk. The aloof, I am an island, Yen is what make the connections so important. All of the character cores are different but Geralt. So much heartbreak for not getting the stories I love so much.

If you don’t know the books or the games season 2 was great!!

I loved yenifer’s storyline

Jaskier was the best part of the show 🙌🏽

This season was 🔥 lol

This NOT an adaptations any more. It is just some bad fanfic. The only good thing about this season is that first episode. The rest is nonsensical garbage. Writing is really really bad. Nothing to do with the books. Nobody expect 1 to 1 adaptation but this... It is just awful. And we can see that they got more money. The production has a higher quality, the acting is fine, the music is ok and even Leshen looked fine (until they decided to totally disrespect it by some mutated monster thing) but...this season is only 5/10 and only beause of that first episode.

I've not read the books, so I missed the points made in S2E1. It didn't get interesting for me until E5. When I rewatched I skipped 1-4. Overhaul S2 was not as interesting as S1. I was disappinted in the Yenifer character of S2. She was much diminished, while the Siri character was expanding.

It fell so wrong to me when Vesemir wanted to make Ciri pass through the Trial of the Grasses. He would be the last dude to come up with something like this, in my opinion.

Overall I liked it, but i cant get over that it has so much potencial to be actually great. I mean is the fucking witcher give the witcher more screen time or at least if they are going to make shit up then do it with better plot and dialogue. I hate what they did with the elves

Well, i really liked the season 2 . There seems to be a divide between book readers and casual fans that really dig it. I take it as an interpretation of the books. Love it for what it is. I understand your point of view but does it necessarely need to be a straight adaptation of the books,?...A.S himself does not believe it has to be and seems pretty satisfied with it...

Season 2 was fun and disappointing. I hope the showrunner gets fired because she’s like Dumb and Dumber.

Do a video on the hunt! I have no idea what that is

I did think the monoliths were bit Space Odyssey and kinda liked them but now you tell me they weren’t in the books but the games so wonder if it to do with the cross promotions the game and show been doing.

Why'd they do Eskel like that?

This review summarized all my thoughts perfectly!!! Never read the books, or played the games. Became a fan through the show. But, everything that bothered you, irked me as well! Even if you don't know the source material, you can still recognize poor storytelling :/ (especially if you've seen good story telling before).

Love gray area's reviews! She always educates us!

Why do the Witcher’s react like they’re having a heart attack whenever there’s “Danger” nearby? I get it that they have extra senses similar to Spider-Mans Spider Sense.

Season #2 like Season #1 before it was not perfect but I still loved it. All the scenes with Geralt & Ciri together, the scenes at Kaer Moren with Vesemir & the other Witchers and those scenes featuring Jaskier were unquestionably where Season #2 shined plus more monsters featured this season was also great to see & the entire cast once again was brilliant except for Vilgefortz who I still think was horribly miscast. The Elves arc however was extremely boring and new character Francesca was simply unlikable. I get that they're trying to makes us sympathize with the plight of The Elves but they dropped the ball big-time as the Elf characters in Season #2 are simply annoying & unlikable except for Filavandrel who so far is the only Elf character I do like. This is not a perfect adaptation but than again no adaptation is ever perfect and that's what fans should always remember. Season #2 is flawed for sure but is still endlessly entertaining & bada@$ to watch. Hopefully Season #3 will stick a little closer to the books more than these first two seasons have. Either way, I absolutely love Netflix's The Witcher✌

I definitely need to read the books!😅 That being said, as a person of Slavic decent, I did enjoy the Baba Yaga, and the “little hut” reference!

Witcher Juice time yay!!!!

Its doing its own thing. I liked it. Yes, I read the books and played the games.

Aahh.. This is exactly like I felt watching this show ! 😕😕😕 First episode was great. My favourite. And .. Henry should write a plot for season 3...

yes i totally agree that this season was way of. It was basically a fanfic, not an adaptation. Also you missed that Ciri has access to the full powers of the elder blood at the end of season two. When she teleports them back she hits the place and time, so she is in control. How are they going to portray anything after thanned? Like every story after thanned makes no sense when Ciri can just teleport. How will she grow since she will never experience Bonhart or the Rats? Without cheap writing it is impossible for them to actually adapt the books anymore. So dissapointing!

I'm not a book reader but I really liked this 2nd season as much as I liked the first season, sorry you hated so much of it but it was great hearing your diverse opinions and the Easter eggs

Okay. I've seen all of season 2 but haven't read books or played through the games yet. All I can say is there's a lot of potential in this series but it's getting wasted with sloppy writing and sloppy scripting as well. I'll bookmark and come back because you usually have great insight but I want to do some more reading first.

Make more whicher stuff please. The show is awsome honestly i like it a hell of alot more then the last season of game of thrones

Finally! The review I've been waiting for!

Haha you had me at “I just want to drink the sweat from his ball sack.” 😂😂😂

I have began to read the book in the Witcher and scared that I will not like the show because of it. Happy New Year 🎉🎉🎉🌞🌞❄️❄️❄️❄️everyone and I hope everyone has a safe, healthy Year ❤️‍🩹💗💜❤️💙🎉💥🎉💥🎉❄️

Finally, someone saying the truth! This was a confusing stupid run-through of images that barely holds as a story. The traveling distances make no sense. Everything is 10 minutes away. Haven't read the book but now I am embarrassed I kept Netflix waiting for this poorly written nonsense. Never was able to track any of this. It's not you whining it you stating how terrible they can make something that people want to watch, but like GOT last season junk is made instead.

i've never read the books, and watched w/ a couple of others who haven't either. the main take-away was that while it was enjoyable the narrative was not clear at all, and we kept saying "all right; what just happened?" so in terms of things to cover: anything that helps us understand anything.

Netflix will ruin the Witcher. That's what Netflix does. The writers suck. Don't be surprised if HC leave the series.

Luv what you do in general, but may I suggest if you review a show or episode you hate this much, begin with a synopsis of the entire thing, without interjection of opinions, and then at the end discuss your issues with it. Was hard to follow this and sounded more like a complaint rant than a review. Again, luv u