Netflix just released a new Netflix Original TV series based on the The Witcher book series by Andrzej Sapkowski.

The Witcher is played by Henry Cavill (Superman in DC universe movies) where Yennifer is played by Anya Chalotra a new actress first working on a TV series in 2018.

The series is eight (8) one hour episodes which I ~~watched~~ binged over the course of the last few days.

The Witcher is an eight book series but is also well known from the The Witcher video game by CD Projekt (which is excellent by the way).

The Witcher is based on adventures Geralt of Rivia, a mutant monster hunter known as a Witcher. A Witcher is someone who taken as a child and brutally trained in combat and magical arts. While a Witcher is able to cast a few spells known as signs, they are heavily trained in alchemy and use potions to enhance their combat ability.

I have not read the books, but the show seems to follow the games pretty well. There are a few things I didn't like that prevent me from rating it a AAA. In the games The Witcher depends on using signs to protect himself during combat, there is rarely a fight you do not at least use Quen (a personal shield) spell. In the show, The Witcher rarely uses signs which really irks me. He is seen using a sign in some of the larger fights, but for the most part he doesn't use them. Signs are a really big part of the game and I assume equally so in the books. They would also be a really good opportunity for cool effects and scenes. Quen surrounds The Witcher in a orange translucent circle (shield) and has a large shattering sound when it is broken.

The series does show The Witcher using the Aard sign, which is a telekinetic blast that throws victims a few feet. The Witcher is also able to shoot fire with the Igni sign, create a protection circle ward with Yrden sign, and finally the Axii sign that is able to force an enemy to fight for you temporarily. These signs would be really fun to watch using Hollywood magic. Unfortunately there isn't much of this in the first season.

Another thing that disturbed me is The Witcher's medallion is frequently used to warn the Witcher of near by magic, curses, and creatures. In the show, there was really no significance displayed by the medallion. The medallion in the show also looks a lot different than what is portrayed in the game and the books.

I do like the show a lot, and would normally give it a five star or AAA rating, but these things bother me a lot. There are also a few other things like the casting for Triss and Yennefer and the shows direction.

I really don't want to see the show turn into a Monster of the Week show either. I refer to shows as Monster of the Week when they have a new enemy each episode but very little story development. It doesn't literally mean monster (although that fits for The Witcher series) but any enemy introduced in an episode. A lot of detective shows I refer to Monster of the Week and I lose interest fast as I like story development. The Witcher has the potential of falling into this category but the first 8 episodes showed some good story development.

I highly recommend the show, but I am a bit disappointed so far.

Trailer

Name: The Witcher Review
Item: The Witcher
Author: @themarkymark

Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/71912-the-witcher?language=en-US Critic: AA

_{All images are from IMDb}

Comments · 12

@sancho1981(34)· 2415d

I watched 5 episodes so far. Sometimes its kinda slow when the focus moves away from Gerrald towards Yenifer and especially Ciri. Overall pretty cool and I'm enjoying it a lot.

@phgnomo(65)· 2422d

One small interesting thing that made me laugh was the line "you made a choice, but you will never know it was the right one".

If you played any of the games, you will know that every time you choose a path you can never be sure if it was the good one.

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@spellmaker(66)· 2422d

That's exactly what I think as well. Let's hope the next season brings more story with better directing. I want it to be good because I just loved the games.

@gtg(76)· 2422d

Read the books! :-D

Ostatnie życzenie
Miecz przeznaczenia
Krew elfów
Czas pogardy
Chrzest ognia
Wieża Jaskółki
Pani Jeziora
Sezon Burz

@ocupation(71)· 2422d

Just watched the whole season and to be hinest its kinda dissapointing. I was waiting for him to meet that girl for fuckig 7 episodes and its nothing to be bragged about. However, i think upcoming season might be better, at least i hope so

@vikvitnik(73)· 2422d

I never played "The Witcher" but i think is so cool! I want to watch this :P

@gniksivart(69)· 2422d

I've heard if you don't read the books it gets a little hard to follow as the time jumps around quite a bit, but some of the characters don't age or age really slowly, so it makes it hard to understand what "time" you're in if you're not paying close attention.

@ticopurelife(46)· 2423d

For a season 1, I thought the show did a pretty good job. Some of the cast like Triss didn't convince though. I'm glad they were monsters and some humor. It did feel a little rushed. Season 1 was just intro so season 2 should be better on paper. We'll have to wait and see.

@drakos(70)· 2423d

One episode bothered me when Yennefer was fighting side by side with Geralt... using swords!? WTH she's a powerful mage, why didn't she use her magic to kick everybody's ass? As much as I would like to love this show, I find it somewhat lacking in consistency and logic on many occasions.

@slobberchops(82)· 2423d

Played the game (but not quite finished it) and listened to all the unabridged audiobooks.. they are fantastic and not to be missed.

I heard about this series but havent picked up on it yet.

@propak454(50)· 2423d

$trdo

@tarazkp(86)· 2423d

I was going to do a rating on this show as I am bout 4 episodes in. Haven't read the books, nor do I game, but so far the only thing really going for it are the fight sequences. It does look good, but a lot of the acting is sub par (I think Cavill is pretty good in the role). The worst thing however is that the dialogue is atrociously written and clumsy. I don't see it lasting, but then it also seems targeted toward millenials, and they have no taste.

I will keep watching it because there are so few episodes and the seasons are so far apart, and the fight scenes are decent.