`The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep`

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The Witcher returns once more, but remains as contentious as before. The new anime series, titled Sirens of the Deep, hails from the universe of The Witcher, aiming to replicate the success of last year’s Nightmare of the Wolf. However, like the live-action The Witcher series featuring Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia (with Liam Hemsworth taking over), Sirens of the Deep has sparked a wide range of opinions and critical reviews.

The animated film “The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep” is now available on Netflix and has received a 64% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. This movie is inspired by the short story “A Little Sacrifice” by Andrzej Sapkowski, following Geralt’s mission to prevent a conflict between an underwater kingdom of merfolk and a coastal city. While critics generally enjoyed “Sirens of the Deep,” audiences have been less receptive, with the film currently holding a 45% audience score. The majority of reviews commend the action sequences and animation by Studio Mir. For instance, Alan French from Sunshine State Cineplex stated, “Although The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep doesn’t excel in every aspect, as a visual and action extravaganza, it still delivers.” Chris Gallardo from Tell-Tale TV echoed similar praise, writing:

The vivid graphics and skillfully crafted camera work make each brutal, gory fight distinctly unique from the others.

Callie Hanna from FandomWire concurred, indicating that the film “Sirens of the Deep” mirrored the divisive character of The Witcher’s initial seasons. In her words, “The one thing I can say about ‘The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep’ is that it encapsulates both the best and the most perplexing elements from the show’s first two seasons.” Similarly, Jonathan Wilson of Ready Steady Cut expressed a similar viewpoint, describing the movie as oscillating between being engaging and mystifying, stating “Sirens of the Deep” swings between being entertaining and creatively confusing.

From a casual perspective, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is generally okay. However, it demonstrates that Netflix may not fully understand how to handle this franchise effectively.

‘The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep’ Is a “Boilerplate” Action Movie

In “The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep,” Doug Cockle lends his voice yet again to Geralt of Rivia, a character he has voiced for more than a decade in CDProjektRed’s video games. Alongside him are Anya Chalotra and Joey Batey, reprising their roles from the live-action series as Yennefer and Jaskier respectively. Cockle’s inclusion was one of the key attractions for the film. However, as per Jarrod Jones of IGN, this casting alone is not sufficient to make the movie truly stand out; they wrote that it falls short of expectations.

The comeback of Doug Cockle as Geralt of Rivia is an impressive choice that deserves recognition, but it’s unfortunate that the film he appears in is just another typical one.

According to Marco Vito Oddo from ComicBook.com, Sirens of the Deep falls short, reflecting Netflix’s “second screen philosophy” through its lackluster storytelling. In simpler terms, he finds the series to be flawed with some enjoyable moments scattered throughout, providing enough amusement for a relaxed viewing experience.

Beyond its animated counterparts, it’s been announced that “The Witcher” live-action series will continue for two more seasons, wrapping up the contentious show. If the franchise wasn’t already in a precarious position following Henry Cavill’s exit from the live-action production, which has also seen many fans leave the series, the lukewarm response to “Sirens of the Deep” has further complicated matters. As of now, a release date for season four hasn’t been disclosed as filming is still ongoing.

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2025-02-12 16:01