The Witcher Season 3 Trailer Is Unimpressive To Say The Least

Remember eons ago when the Continent seemed so full of promise? "Game of Thrones" had only recently ended, and it seemed that Netflix was hitching its horse to a fantasy property that was too big to fail. Written by Andrzej Sapowski, "The Witcher" was a series of popular novels based on European folklore that spawned a sprawling video game series of its own. "The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt" is an expansive open-world game that has become beloved to fans. With self-proclaimed nerd, Henry Cavill, cast as Geralt of Rivia himself, "The Witcher" seemed that it could do no wrong. Unfortunately, the creatives behind the Netflix series accepted the challenge, and Season 3 looks lackluster as ever. Season 1 received an onslaught of criticism for confusing timelines while betrayals in Season 2 seemed wildly out of character. Now, the Season 3 trailer isn't doing the brand any favors.

At just over a minute long, the teaser contains recycled shots from Season 2. The viewers are already aware that the Wild Hunt is pursuing Ciri (Freya Allan) — arguably the most known plot point in "The Witcher" lore. To add lemon juice to the wound, we only see characters wandering around dark corners shouting each other's names with no inkling of plot in sight. Though this is only a teaser, and there should be much more to come, this is not a great omen for Cavill's final season.

Henry Cavill's farewell tour is not off to a great start. In a public upset, Cavill revealed that Season 3 would be his last as the monosyllabic Witcher. Let's put aside the fact that getting your lead actor to quit a show he clamored for is a feat to begin with, now that Cavill is leaving and being recast, is this the legacy "The Witcher" wants to leave behind? After news that Cavill rewrote scenes himself to honor the source material, this disrespect almost seems purposeful.

Watching Geralt take his potions and draw his sword is just more of what fans are already accustomed to. If Cavill has to hand the Witcher medallion over to Liam Hemsworth, the least viewers deserve is some pomp and circumstance. No one is asking to give the entire plot away, but people should be excited to see their favorite characters share the emotional ties that the series is predicated on. At the end of the day, "The Witcher" is about the found family between Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra). Cavill's last season should be leaning into these dynamics, not steering away. Every time we see the characters, they are alone in the frame, and any action scene is shared with unimpressive villains. (Sorry, Rience.) 

Next time around, let's turn this party up to a 10, and tease the villain who will change everything.