Evolving from its roots in books and video games to a Netflix sensation, The Witcher expanded its universe with The Witcher: Blood Origin. This sequel underscored Netflix’s strategic commitment to the franchise. Diverging from the Geralt-Ciri-Yennefer-focused main series, this spinoff immersed audiences in foundational stories, including the creation of the first witcher, the ancient Elven civilization, and the events that paved the way for the Conjunction of the Spheres. Despite its promising concept, The Witcher: Blood Origin faced scathing critiques upon its Netflix debut.

Audiences had not held back at handing out numerous one-stars or even less to the show. This collective response resulted in a disheartening 9% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes. But, what could be the underlying reason behind such widespread criticism? Let’s break it down step by step!

The Witcher: Blood Origin lacked depth 

The Witcher: Blood Origin mainly came off as a mishmash of tired fantasy clichés propelled by a lackluster plot. Despite The Witcher‘s expansive universe teeming with monsters, magical entities, and diverse conflicts, Blood Origin failed to capitalize on these elements. It missed the opportunity to spin a captivating storyline with compelling characters. This could have contributed meaningfully to the narrative set by the main series. There was another constant issue throughout the series. 

There was limited time afforded for characters and plot progression within the span of four episodes. Moreover, the conclusion of Blood Origin lacked a sense of closure due to the severely underdeveloped plot and characters following predictably generic arcs. Although the series effectively introduced a social hierarchy, it faltered in unpacking its intricacies and sidestepped the nuanced ethical quandaries associated with social structures.

Underwhelming cast

The series had a cast of mostly fresh faces, except Michelle Yeoh. She played a member of a secret sect of Elven and joined forces with the collective to counter the threats facing her group. While Yeoh brought her seasoned talent to the series, a few of the other actors in the ensemble came across as either overly dramatic or subpar in their roles. The producers, therefore, could not secure the cream of the crop for this series. 

Meanwhile, some fans were still upset about Henry Cavill’s departure from the series. The Witcher: Blood Origin became a target of Henry Cavill’s fans who flooded IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes with negative responses. A significant portion of the reviews on these movie-reviewing platforms focused less on Blood Origin itself and more on expressing frustration about Cavill’s exit from the franchise. 

Cheap costume and aesthetics

The costumes and hairstyling did not meet the expectations either. The overall aesthetic of the series appeared akin to a low-budget Lord of the Rings knockoff with a cheap aesthetic. Costume designer Lucinda Wright, who also contributed to The Witcher Season 2, played a role in crafting some looks, while others were borrowed from Iris van Herpen, a Dutch designer recognized for blending technology with couture. Hair and makeup designer Deb Watson then added the finishing touches to each piece.

Instead of opting for the conventional approach of assigning each character a generic armored costume, in line with fantasy show traditions, showrunners Declan de Barra and Lauren Schmidt Hissrich took a different tack with Blood Origin. For example, every time Merwyn graced the screen, she was seen in a completely new and over-the-top dress, something that came off a little absurd. 

Underdeveloped production

The Witcher: Blood Origin appeared to have raced through its production. A prime example was the CGI portrayal of the unnamed monster in the pilot episode. While some animations are well-executed, the CGI problem persisted throughout the series. This issue was even present in Hissrich’s The Witcher season three. Fans were totally into the look of Seasons 1 and 2, but Season 3’s CGI was a bit off.

At times, it felt like it should have been released in the late 1990s. People also caught onto the quality shift between the first two seasons and the third. In Blood Origin, however, there were some visually appealing scenes in picturesque locations. Yet, the overall production felt somewhat corny when combined with generic writing. This underdevelopment further seeped into even the show’s strengths, making it a highly criticized show. 

What do you think about the criticism of The Witcher: Blood Origin? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!