The Witcher

On Rotten Tomatoes, 23 critics have rated it 96%, and it has a 79% audience score from 704 ratings. Top critics rate it 83%. So even the most critical consensus says it's saying it's 20% away from being one of the best works in human history.

I don't understand it.

I'm not a die hard fan of the books or games. I'm happy for them to deviate from the story if it makes for a better adaptation. But I also know when something is good. And season 2 isn't it.

Season 1 wasn't perfect, but it was a strong start that had something to say and--whether you liked it or not--the sequencing was a creative risk. It felt like a fantasy-themed version of Star Trek, as a Witcher series should. You cared about the two main characters and felt involved in their journey.

Season 2 feels like a fantasy soap opera. The writing is poor, overly melodramatic, the messages take a back seat, it frequently tells rather than shows ("show, don't tell"), the chemistry between the characters is lacking, the other Witchers feel like forgettable extras, and we're frequently invited to care about characters and their relationship when we've not been given a reason to.

The only things that save it are Cavil being committed as Geralt, the brief moments where the messages of the show shine through, and the good production values. There are good actors, but their talent is wasted on the script.

The Witcher books and games are, like Berserk, a fantasy epic with a deeper message. If that is not centre stage, there's almost no point. And it shouldn't feel like Days of our Lives. Even with the other issues, good writing with a tighter focus would improve it significantly.

I have 4 episodes of season 2 left, and I'm struggling to summon the desire to finish it. Episode 1 was, by far, the best episode.

So how in The Continent is it getting the reviews it's getting? What is it that everyone is finding appealing?

Have you not seen better shows and so don't have something to use as a benchmark?