Who You Ask
Lots of people say lots of things about the viva. It depends who you ask. It depends on their experience.
If you ask your supervisor about your upcoming viva they might tell you not to worry. They could offer a small piece of experience-tempered wisdom.
If you ask friends also working towards their PhDs about your upcoming viva they might share some things they’ve heard. Rumours, half-truths and apocryphal stories of possible vivas past.
If you ask friends who have had their viva already then they might offer some interesting details. You might have to ask specific questions and give them space to remember. You will have to be mindful that all vivas are different, even if there are trends and patterns in the process of how they happen.
If you were to ask yourself about your upcoming viva, what would you say? Would you be positive? Would you be concerned? What would you focus on?