tatompkins

Netflix squandered a golden opportunity to create the next "Game of Thrones" and, unfortunately, they completely missed the mark. Henry Cavill is the show's saving grace, carrying the series on his shoulders and compensating for its many shortcomings. If the rumors are true, we owe much of the show's standout moments to his influence.

Season 1 was solid, staying relatively true to the source material and captivating fans of the books.

However, Season 2 veers drastically off-course. Only about 20% of the events reflect what's in the books, and the decision to strip Yennefer of her powers is perplexing. She was already a strong, compelling character, and reducing her to a fragile state for the sake of drama feels unnecessary and undermines her character development. This shift turns her into a far less empowering figure and, frankly, makes her more frustrating to watch.

Season 3, sadly, is a significant decline. There are a few bright moments, most of which, as expected, are linked to Cavill's involvement. But the decision to make Dandelion not heterosexual feels like a misstep. The books showcase plenty of diversity, and yet, the change feels forced, especially since Dandelion is a well-established heterosexual character in the original material. It's possible to portray masculinity with depth and complexity without needing to alter core characters in such a way. I'd rather see more exploration of the diverse characters who already exist in the books.

Overall, this adaptation does a disservice to Sapkowski's original work, and it's disappointing to see such potential wasted.