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