Geralt of Rivia has finally dusted off his sword and leather boots to hunt down new monsters in the recently released first part of The Witcher season 3. As fans have already noticed, Netflix has released only five episodes out of eight of The Witcher season 3. Why has the streamer dropped only volume 1? Here’s what you need to know.
Why are there only 5 episodes of The Witcher season 3?
The Witcher producers wanted fans to have a midseason cliffhanger experience with season 3.
As revealed in an interview with Collider by The Witcher executive producers, they followed the Stranger Things season split route. This way, the streamer can maximize the views while generating more hype for the upcoming volume 2.
The popular streamer has made binge-watching popular by dropping all the installments in a new TV series at once, as opposed to the traditional weekly release schedule many other streamers and TV networks follow. Fans have been used to wait for 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT and then enjoy their favorite Netflix series. However, the streamer has been experimenting with its release schedule recently to understand better what works best. Netflix has often divided its most popular shows into two halves or volumes. Before The Witcher, Stranger Things season 4 received the same treatment.
The Witcher season 3 volume 2 is composed of three episodes and is premiering on July 27, 2023. It will also be the last chance to see Henry Cavill as Geralt, as it has already been announced Liam Hemsworth will take over the role starting season 4. The story has yet to explain the change, and it’s expected to happen in volume 2. Still, original cast members Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra, and Joey Batey will likely return as Ciri, Yennefer, and Jaskier, respectively, in season 4.
