Today The Witcher TV Show confirmed its second season, but the true question I keep asking myself is how confident Netflix is with the show’s success to not only make this announcement a month before the first season launches, but also with the worst possible release date for it – December 20!
I am such a huge fan of The Witcher. I have read all books twice – the first time in Bulgarian and an year later in English.If Sapkowski had not confronted CD Projekt Red, the developer of the fantastic trilogy detailing Geralt of Rivia’s adventures beyond the books, I think he could have been my favorite author.
When, about two years ago, Netflix confirmed the rumors that they are about to make a TV Show based on the books, I went ecstatic and a bit crazy for a moment.
I remember right around the time I was signing yet another (sadly, pointless) petition for Netflix to do a Star Wars tv show about The Old Republic, a thought popped in my mind. I think it was the Summer of 2016. I had already played through The Witcher 3 several times and was wondering how such a wonderful and rich with lore universe doesn’t have presence on the big or small screen.
Note: We, the fans of the books and games, try not to think much of the 2002 13-episodes long disaster called The Hexer.
And then in May 2017 the news arrived – Netflix is starting production of an English-voiced drama tv series based on Sapkowski’s books about Geralt of Rivia, also known as The Witcher.
Moving through time and events and another fantastic announcement arrives in late 2018 – Superman himself – Henry Cavill – will play Geralt of Rivia – The Witcher himself.
Fast-forwarding to the present year and the announcement for a release date of Season 1, which will consist of eight episodes. Why, oh why, Netflix are you acting so silly. Do you not know that December 20 (and most likely the whole week after that, if not longer!) will be 101% reserved for Star Wars?
Come on, Netflix. Everybody can predict what every single reporter, journalist, blogger, fan and their dog will be writing and talking about. That phenomenon called Star Wars is simply too big for anything else to even attempt to compete with it.
Even worse – Disney know how to advertise. They are never sparing any resources and passion when it comes to advertisement. Well, a small exception may be made for Solo: A Star Wars Story‘s advertisement campaign and their post-launch talk and presence.
And what do we learn today – The Witcher TV Show gets its second season confirmed. It will go into production in early 2020 and is expected to launch some time in 2021. Fantastic! This means that the company has great expectations of it and is confident in its success.
“I’m so thrilled that before fans have even seen our first season, we are able to confirm that we’ll be returning to The Continent again to continue telling the stories of Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri,” showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich said in a statement, quoted by tvline.
Netflix, take my advice, please. You cannot beat Star Wars. Do not launch the second season in such a competitive time like you are doing with the first one.
Netflix always releases their TV Shows’ seasons in bulk – the whole season becomes available on the said date. I am glad they don’t do the “one episode per week” cycle. That’s another minus for The Witcher’s season 1 launch date.
Netflix is known to suffer with this strategy from lack of proper media coverage. When something good comes out, everyone talks about it… for a day or two. Then the next thing occupies their attention.
I love being able to sit down and watch a whole season in the span of a weekend. It’s not a secret that this is the way TV Shows are meant to be watched. And I don’t state this as just a personal opinion.
Have you tried watching the biggest shows as of late all in one go? The story-driven ones, not the sitcoms. Things like The Walking Dead, Stranger Things, Game of Thrones – they are all best experienced when watched in a bundle.
What I don’t understand is how exactly does Netflix benefit from this move. It sure is a fantastic opportunity for the viewer (that’s you and me, yay!), but I am sure this hits them in the pockets hard.
Back on The Witcher’s December 20 release date. I am certain that the show would get more than enough attention whenever it releases. Except for the time Star Wars is in everybody’s mind and mouth.
A momentary distraction: I personally will be in London to see the end of the Saga with my brother. “We started it together, we should end it together” – he told me and I booked the insanely expensive flight tickets during this time of the year. I will do my best to watch and enjoy The Witcher. But even as huge fan as I am of Geralt’s adventures, I would most likely end up putting it on the sidelines for at least a week.
You have to really, really hate one of the following things to be able to fully enjoy The Witcher’s season 1 when it launches. You must hate Disney (understandable), hate Star Wars in general (what the hell?!) or not care at all. I think Netflix aims for the last segment of viewers with The Witcher.
I don’t think the show is doomed, far from it. I just wish they’d picked a better date for its release, so it would get the proper attention it deserves. In today’s digital world it is so hard to get noticed if you don’t get decent media coverage. The Witcher will receive its spot on page one everywhere, but for a very short time, I fear.
Netflix’s early confirmation of Season 2 means this show is absolutely going to be great and I do believe so. I want it to be. Or… things might fall apart and fall into the unknown territories following a poor season 1 launch. Kind of where Rian Johnson’s Star Wars trilogy is right now. Ouch.
In the end, I hope you don’t get me wrong. Some of you followed my walkthroughs, live streams, news articles and guides on The Witcher 3 video game. You know how much of a fan I am. That is why it hurts very much to write what you have been reading for the past few minutes. It’s a strange mix of happy feelings that this show is finally ready and I can watch it, mixed with the worst feelings of me not be willing to split my attention between two giant topics in the span of only a week.
Your turn. How do you feel about The Witcher TV Show’s season 1 release. Are you happy with the announcement of the second season more than a month before we even get to see the first one?
