Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has defended these inclusive decisions by referencing America's history of racial abuse, and the casting director admitted to using DEI practices to manipulate viewer biases. While the narrative adapts Blood of Elves with a focus on Ciri's training, Yennefer's arc, and sorceress politics—retaining some source themes of discrimination against non-humans—these elements feel amplified by modern sensibilities without dominating the plot. Audience reception improved over Season 1 (IMDb ~8.0, RT audience dipped due to review-bombing over lore changes and casting), but complaints persist about forced diversity clashing with the Slavic-inspired fantasy world, contributing to broader backlash against the series' ideological intrusions that prioritize representation over authentic storytelling.