Trailer of The Witcher
Property of: Netflix
I went into The Witcher a little intrigued, but with generally low expectations. I had heard a lot about it online and that it had rave reviews but I was not particularly optimistic. In fact the comparisons to Game of Thrones were actually quite off-putting due to the horrendous state of its last season.
As much as I was not expecting much, I was pleasantly surprised. However, the only similarity between this show and Game of thrones is that they are both High Fantasy. If you go into this show anticipating Game of Thrones you will be disappointed (despite competing levels of nudity). This show despite trying to imitate the tone of GOT is fundamentally different with a much clearer cut good/evil narrative and a relatively hard magic system.
The Synopsis of The Witcher
So basically IMDB describes it as:
The Witcher is an American fantasy drama web television series created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich for Netflix. It is based on the book series of the same name by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. The Witcher follows the story of Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than monsters and beasts. But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress, and a young princess with a special gift, the three must learn to navigate independently the increasingly volatile Continent.
The Good Points of The Witcher
I’ll start out by saying that in my opinion; The Witcher is a good show. I am genuinely looking forward to watching the second season. It is not however the best show. That’s where it ultimately lies in my estimation. I like it, it captures my imagination, but it lacks a certain wow factor that could elevate it to the next level.
The Acting
Among the best parts of this show is the acting. While the writing of the show is weak and might lag in some areas, the acting shores up these weaknesses admirably; pushing scenes through with sheer magnetism and charisma where otherwise they might have fallen flat. In particular the actors playing Gerault and Yenefer are so engrossing and believable that it is hard to dislike them.
The Setting
One of the main strengths of this show is the simultaneously running timelines surrounding the main characters, it really adds to the intrigue and mystery of the show; leading to the creation of anticipation and excitement.
The Atmosphere
The grimdark fantasy atmosphere is pulled of well enough and quite convincing. The individual settings are quite good.
The Bad Parts
I don’t have many negative thoughts about this show, as for the most part it’s a fun and compelling watch.
Characterization
The main lacking of this series is that the characterization and dialogue writing is not robust enough to support the plot. The authors are sometimes forcing events through without allowing characters the proper time to process and change their feelings, so the character moments sometimes feel abrupt and jarring. The character motivation are many times unclear and kind of vague.
Overemphasis on Theme
The story places overt emphasis on prophecy and fate, almost literally bashing the audience in the face with its destiny shtick. It gets overbearing and intrusive at several point, jarring the audience out of the story.
Rambling Writing
Oft times the story adds some rambling elements that do not seem very relevant to the main plotline. This can be distracting and frustrating as you are eagerly looking forward to the protagonists’ meeting.
Overall Thoughts
Overall The Witcher is an interesting watch which I will be returning to for the second season. Watch it if you like fantasy. If you want another recommendation try my review of “Anne with an E”.
I rate this show a 7/10.
Disclaimer: The Witcher and all of its materials are owned by their Netflix. We are merely using some of them in this post to illustrate a point (fair use). If you wish for your materials to be taken down please contact us and we will remove them immediately.
Leave a Reply