THE WITCHER Producer Thinks Dumb Americans Are To Blame For Show's Simplification Of The Books

THE WITCHER Producer Thinks Dumb Americans Are To Blame For Show's Simplification Of The Books

The Witcher producer Tomek Baginski has decided to blame the show's failings not on the creative team, but on American audiences he says are responsible for the oversimplification of the novels on screen.

News
By JoshWilding - Aug 05, 2023 04:08 PM EST
Filed Under: The Witcher
Source: Wyborcza (via SFFGazette.com)

If you haven't read Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher novels, the Netflix series' first season was undeniably hard to follow. The story simultaneously played out across different time periods, with those not syncing up until the finale. 

Even so, it was a solid introduction to The Continent and there was definitely a lot to enjoy about the time we spent with Henry Cavill's Geralt of Rivia. 

Season 2 was more straightforward, but also nowhere near as compelling. As for the latest season, that's proven to be something of a disappointment. Spin-off The Witcher: Blood Origin was also a flop last December, and excitement for Liam Hemsworth's debut as Geralt in season 4 is now somewhat muted. 

However, if you're a fan of the books who is disappointed with Netflix's take on the property, producer Tomek Baginski believes you should blame dumb Americans rather than The Witcher's creative team.

"When a series is made for a huge mass of viewers, with different experiences, from different parts of the world, and a large part of them are Americans, these simplifications not only make sense, they are necessary," he tells Wyborcza (via SFFGazette.com). "It’s painful for us, and for me too, but the higher level of nuance and complexity will have a smaller range, it won’t reach people."

This comes after Baginski previously suggested the show was forced to simplify its story for younger viewers who are inspired only by "emotions" rather than plot after being raised on YouTube and TikTok videos. 

To say the audience is responsible for The Witcher's declining viewership and negative reviews is certainly a choice, and these comments come across as incredibly condescending and insulting. 

The simple fact is, the team working on the series has failed to adapt the material in a way which has fully connected with longtime fans or the general audience. However, that's not overly surprising when one former writer revealed the creative team frequently made fun of Sapkowski's work while adapting it. 

Let us know your thoughts on The Witcher's decline in the comments section below.

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FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 8/5/2023, 4:03 PM
It was my understanding the books were fairly simple, and it is, in fact, the show that’s over complicated the plot in a piss poor effort to emulate Game of Thrones. But I haven’t actually read the books, just played the game. So feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
CerealKiller1
CerealKiller1 - 8/5/2023, 4:08 PM
@PlusUltra - I believe on the book front, it’s less complication, more nuance and character work. But the makers of the show aren’t able to do that and in trying to substitute that nuance, they are needlessly complicating things. It’s a real shame, the show had such potential
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 8/5/2023, 4:13 PM
@PlusUltra - The books aren't that complicated plot-wise, but the characters are much more nuanced. Game of Thrones is a great example of how popular a show can be with intricately written character drama, and look what happened to that show when they ran out of books and turned everyone into caricatures of their earlier selves. Witcher showrunners are arrogant fan fiction writers.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 8/5/2023, 9:54 PM
@PlusUltra - What do you expect when you have folks on this very site who will bitch and moan about how a movie or show didn't "EXPLAIN" something properly. The concept of an American thinking logically gets tossed out the window. I'm not surprised when those same Americans support Political candidates that are focused on removing more educational standards from schooling.
EnergyVamp
EnergyVamp - 8/5/2023, 4:04 PM
I hope the writers on the Witchers lose their jobs in these strikes.
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 8/5/2023, 8:14 PM
@EnergyVamp - the [frick]ing producer needs to be switched. she's the reason why the story is so bad. she didnt like the books so she hired only writers who have never read the book to adapt her version for netflix. she said that since geralt and the witchers are already the lead in the books she chose to make it more about yennifer and ciri.

her and the feminist producers of the rings of power have to be fired
dagenspear
dagenspear - 8/5/2023, 9:52 PM
@mastakilla39 - Feminism is a nothing issue, all by itself. Weakly written and lack of engagement with source material seems to be more the issue for the show's canon and such.
dagenspear
dagenspear - 8/5/2023, 9:53 PM
@EnergyVamp - LORD willing, that they find God, be humble and do stronger written work.
tmp3
tmp3 - 8/5/2023, 4:06 PM
This would make a lot more sense if something as complex as Oppenheimer wasn’t currently on track to be the third biggest movie of 2023 worldwide, and something as dumbed down as The Witcher wasn’t bleeding audiences. Audiences don’t accept mediocrity anymore, which feels like a cause of celebration. In other words, he’s talking out of his ass.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 8/5/2023, 9:26 PM
@tmp3 - it wouldnt make sense regardless of Oppenheimer - the American audience is way to big to broadly declare they are too dumb to watch a show.
dagenspear
dagenspear - 8/5/2023, 9:51 PM
@Ryguy88 - Article title is a lie anyway. Quote never calls anyone dumb.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 8/6/2023, 8:59 AM
@dagenspear - the producer states that the show was simplified for american audiences
dagenspear
dagenspear - 8/6/2023, 9:39 AM
@Ryguy88 - LORD willing, that doesn't automatically equal insulting people directly, all by itself.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 8/7/2023, 1:15 PM
@dagenspear - the headline was a stretch but the correlation is there.
dagenspear
dagenspear - 8/7/2023, 7:35 PM
@Ryguy88 - A strecth because the what the title is saying is literally not spoken.
dracula
dracula - 8/5/2023, 4:06 PM
wow very rare that people behind crappy projects actually come out and say this stuff.

You know what didn't need to be simplified to reach a large audience? Sandman

only major alteration being the fate of Alex Burgess
tmp3
tmp3 - 8/5/2023, 4:31 PM
@dracula - I liked Sandman overall, especially considering how easily they could have botched it, but it’s definitely simplified from the comics. Especially from a visual standpoint, where the whole thing felt more like a blockbuster hollywood movie than the kind of gothic cosmic wonder of the books
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 8/5/2023, 4:06 PM
What an interesting and revealing time for these creators. Not sure if being at odds with your fanbase is a good idea. All you have to do is adapt the source material and not put too much of your own bullshit into the story, and the fans will accept it.

But I guess shit talking them when they don't embrace your crap works. Whatever. I'm feeling less and less sympathy for their cause as each day passes.
EnergyVamp
EnergyVamp - 8/5/2023, 4:28 PM
@DarthOmega - I agree. If they starve during this strike...so be it. It was well earned.
WakandanQueen
WakandanQueen - 8/5/2023, 4:06 PM
Damn that's why the show looks stupid then?
Origame
Origame - 8/5/2023, 4:10 PM
Is someone gonna tell them these stories were already adapted fairly accurately in some of the most well known and popular video games of all time?

Also, care to explain game of thrones?
DocSpock
DocSpock - 8/5/2023, 4:13 PM


Screw this pretentious a$$hat.

If not for the USA, this polish d!ckhead would be chowing down on sauerkraut or working a coal mine in a USSR ghetto instead of making a great free living.

He can kiss my big white wrinkly old a$$.
tmp3
tmp3 - 8/5/2023, 4:15 PM
I know it’s technically based on the books, but given how much Cavill’s performance is inspired by the game then it kind of feels like Witcher fans just missed out on what feels like a new wave of insanely successful video game adaptations. Last of Us broke the curse critically, mario did it financially, and after seeing talk to me, street fighter feels like it could be the next huge thing. I feel like if Netflix didn’t get the rights back then, there would eventually be a much higher quality production in the works. Mortal Kombat feels like another one that just about missed the trend, given how those movies were just given to a first-time director
TheMandalorian
TheMandalorian - 8/5/2023, 4:16 PM
First off, [frick] you, no, that is a huge excuse for poor decision making and adapting the books.

Second “and excitement for Liam Hemsworth's debut as Geralt in season 4 is now somewhat muted.” - there was never any excitement for this recast. From the get go people were and still are pissed about Cavil’s departure.
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 8/5/2023, 4:43 PM
@TheMandalorian -

OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 8/5/2023, 4:20 PM
It always amazes me when a network says they're gonna adapt something, only to deviate from it at every opportunity.

The [frick]in thing is pre written for you ffs, you don't need to reinvent the wheel.
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