Ah, Thanedd ball and coup. That's what part 1 of season 3 was building towards and apparently, it had to happen because everything is mashed together to make it happen. Yen's betrayal that happened in season 2 no longer matters, both Geralt and Ciri forgot about it now. And so do Vizimir, mages, etc. In fact, nothing matters as long as it's convenient to make things happen. Story development is forced together in a cringeworthy manner and some characters are outright forgotten (Francesca, hello?) because writer doesn't know what to do with them after they deviated from book. At the end, for most unbelievable reason, everyone needed to be Thanedd is at Thanedd... because that's what needed to happen.
Maybe there could've been more build up if they didn't spend time rewriting Radovid who was 12 years old at this time in the book, removing all his characters traits (paranoia and madness) just for it to have gay romance with Dandelion (neither homosexual nor bi in the book) without any other story purpose (yes, not even building toward Thanedd) but alas, priorities.
They say season 3 is true to the source material...correct, they stayed true to fast travel from game. Most characters moves half continent in one scene like space and time no longer matters. At some point I was wondering if there was supposed to be like 1-2 episodes in between scenes... yes, that level of discontinuity.
The only saving grace is that major actors are very good at what they do. Aside from a few awkward interactions because lines are just unworkable, chemistry among Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri is great. Chemistry between Dijkstra and Philippa is even better. Actors are the only reason season 3 part 1 is a 3/10, not 1/10.
Maybe there could've been more build up if they didn't spend time rewriting Radovid who was 12 years old at this time in the book, removing all his characters traits (paranoia and madness) just for it to have gay romance with Dandelion (neither homosexual nor bi in the book) without any other story purpose (yes, not even building toward Thanedd) but alas, priorities.
They say season 3 is true to the source material...correct, they stayed true to fast travel from game. Most characters moves half continent in one scene like space and time no longer matters. At some point I was wondering if there was supposed to be like 1-2 episodes in between scenes... yes, that level of discontinuity.
The only saving grace is that major actors are very good at what they do. Aside from a few awkward interactions because lines are just unworkable, chemistry among Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri is great. Chemistry between Dijkstra and Philippa is even better. Actors are the only reason season 3 part 1 is a 3/10, not 1/10.