The Witcher season 2 has already screwed up a major character and fans are angry

The Witcher season two has already screwed up a major character and fans are angry

henry cavil as geralt in the witcher season 2 in a shadowy location

(Image credit: Jay Maidment)

While The Witcher season 2 has been hotly anticipated after the showtime's aggressive, if flawed, opening season, this new batch has already been met with sharp criticism. So fifty-fifty while serial atomic number 82 Henry Cavill and bandage accept said in interviews that he'southward a bit of a walking encyclopedia (having worked with series writers to make sure the live action adaptation is every bit shut to the books as possible), at that place is one big issue.

It'southward so frustrating to fans, in fact, that nosotros can't assist but wonder where Cavill was when writers decided to make a major modify to a fundamental character.

Spoilers alee for The Witcher season 2, episode 2!

In flavour ii, episode 2 of The Witcher, we see Geralt of Rivia return to Kaer Morhen along with Ciri. At that place, he meets up with all of his old Witcher buddies, including fan-favorite grapheme Eskel.

But Netflix'due south accommodation of Eskel isn't the warm blood brother-by-your-side-type constitute in the books or game series. Heck, in the books, even Eskel has his own Kid of Surprise, like Geralt. Instead, Netflix's Eskel is kind of creepy, rude, short tempered and a womanizer.

In episode 2, things go bad when Eskel makes the foolish and careless decision to invite a brothel up to Kaer Morhen to political party with the Witchers. After almost getting into a fight with Geralt, he runs off with i of the women. Unfortunately, he's been infected by a Leshen, a tree-like monster, which kills her and begins wreaking havoc. In a moment of desperation, Geralt is forced to kill Eskel before he could exercise more than damage.

And just similar that, a critical character in the Witcher lore is killed off, given no character development and sent to the grave far from the man fans knew.

His passing is also a shock considering Eskel plays a critical role in future events in the books and games. It's led to a lot of fans request what the writers were thinking, and if they do care nearly being truthful to Andrzej Sapkowski's original vision. Not only that, why choose Eskel for this story, and not the numerous other nameless Witchers that were mulling about Kaer Morhen?

At that place have been multiple threads on Reddit trying to answer this question. User prazulsaltaret believes the writers did then for shock value, which are "the markings of a poor writer."

User Franiu_ also believes that in that location was no nifty reason to impale off Eskel, writing "They could just accept any of their made upwards Witchers and supervene upon Eskel in story with leshen. I was actually disappointed not seeing real Eskel there. I loved his contrast in books against other Witchers in Kaer Morhen."

In another Reddit thread, user Deep-Doughnut-9423 said, "I completely agree, it made no sense at all. They could've chosen him annihilation, except for [sic] eskell. It's like calling the devil Jesus."

TheHarkinator besides made a expert betoken, stating "It's similar they killed him off so demonstrated they knew how to get it right all forth. Why, you wonder, would they go Eskel wrong and the, in a flashback, get him correct?

Cavill, who fans have fallen back on as a savior for the show, feel that he only has and then much power over the final production.

"The sad unproblematic fact is information technology's a poorly written show, said user AlwaysKindaLost. Henry Cavill can practise a lot just he tin't make the writers anything other than sci-fi hacks."

User Jagick said in another thread that they're not surprised with what the writers put together. Since season ane, "ridiculous changes" to characters, lore and story arcs had been made. Now the show just has amend production values.

"I really, really wanted this show to be good but it's just non. I hope Cavill is trying to urge them in a ameliorate direction since he'south such a big fan of the books and games."

Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, who often interacts with fans on Twitter, said that she's open to talking about Eskel: "Sending dear and also excitement for futurity Reddit debates with everyone watching @witchernetflix! I've never been one to shy away from excavation in, and so love information technology or hate information technology, keep those passionate opinions coming. And yep, we'll talk about Eskel..."

And but like on Reddit, fans on Twitter are also throwing criticism at Netflix regarding adaptations.

#TheWitcher spoilersEskel: *is a kind-hearted, reliable, reasonable self-aware man and Geralts closest honey brother. Described as "...calm, patient, stable, thoughtful and polite."*Netflex: no ❤December xviii, 2021

Come across more than

Even and then, some fans are belongings out promise that this is less a misstep by the writers, and more of cerise herring. One Reddit thread posits that the Eskel we run across dice was a doppler. This is because Witchers know very hands on how to impale a Leshen, but it took Eskel 6 hours to do and so. Another Twitter user also has the same theory:

I think I'll go with the headcanon that the witcher who died here wasn't Eskel. I'm sorry just he had NONE of Eskel'due south personality and then it's not even a large stretch of imagination.My Eskel lives and is a kind-hearted, beefy, soft, skilled, loving man ❤️ #TheWitcher #WitcherSpoilers movie.twitter.com/kyWAT8h7xODecember 17, 2021

Either way, fans seem to be mixed about season 2 of Netflix's The Witcher so far. There'due south universal praise regarding Cavill's portrayal of Geralt. Others are back-and-along near the residuum of the casting.

Regarding flavour 2, apart from episode 2, it seems that fans liked it more than season i. We'll see if the writers can keep this passionate and dedicated fanbase happy.

Imad Khan is news editor at Tom'south Guide, helping direct the day's breaking coverage. Prior to working at the site, Imad was a total-time freelancer, with bylines at the New York Times, the Washington Post and ESPN. Outside of work, you lot tin detect him sitting blankly in front of a Give-and-take document trying desperately to write the first pages of a new volume.