The long-awaited Netflix series The Witcher is finally on the screen. A dark fantasy adventure based on the novels from The Witcher's Saga by Andrzej Sapkowski. The first season is 8 episodes long and the second season has already been commissioned.
The main character, Geralt of Rivia, is played by Superman actor Henry Cavill. Geralt is a mutated supernatural monster hunter who is caught between two warring human nations: the Nilfgaardian Empire and the Northern Kingdoms.
The Witcher movie has a fantastic setting - you'll find elves, dwarves, and lots of incredible monsters - but it's also rich in human stories. Wondering what to expect from the new saga and what are our first impressions? Read below for more details.
After watching the first episode, we think this series is perfect for you if you're a Game of Thrones fan and your soul is craving another show to fill the void with a new fantasy story.
But don't expect a Game of Thrones copycat series: the source material is very similar to it, but should evoke a different feeling in viewers. Remember that we may also have a Game of Thrones prequel show to quench the thirst of the fans.
When will The Witcher be on Netflix?
The entire first season of The Witcher is out now on Netflix, with a December 20 release date worldwide. This means that all eight episodes were presented at the same time.
The official release date for the second season of The Witcher
Despite the fact that The Witcher has just hit the screens, the series has already been renewed for a second season. Even before it was renewed, showrunner Lauren Hissrich discussed the show's prospects and that it could run for several years. It is very possible that we will see many seasons of The Witcher on Netflix.
“We don’t have a second season yet – but God willing, we will – and now it’s about how to create a story that will really capture the audience for years?” Hissrich said at the time.
"The worst thing we could do is put all our energy into just the first season and not think about where these characters might grow to next."
Let's get down to business:
- What is this series?
A fantasy drama based on the novels from the Witcher Saga series by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher will also be familiar to fans of the massively popular video game series of the same name.
- Where can I watch it?
«The Witcher will be available to watch exclusively on Netflix
- When can I watch it?
Available now, release date December 20, 2019.
The Witcher on Netflix trailers: watch the show's final trailer
If you haven't had a chance to watch the first season of The Witcher yet, check out the trailer to whet your appetite.
The full official trailer for The Witcher gives you an idea of what the show looks like. Look below:
Meanwhile, here's the first trailer for The Witcher that Netflix released. Try not to worry too much:
Netflix Italy released a shorter teaser as shown below. It's only 16 seconds and the frame jumps are pretty quick, but if you want another look at Cavill as Geralt, giant spiders and some medieval fantasy locations, that's 16 seconds of The Witcher's solid gold. Or silver...
The Witcher series: description of the plot and episodes
The Witcher series will feature lines from The Last Wish, a collection of short stories from The Witcher creator Andrzej Sapkowski. It's set before video games and introduces us to Geralt, his silver sword, and some of his monster-hunting escapades. But don't worry - even if you've only played the games, there's a lot to learn here.
The following episode titles and descriptions give us a good idea of what's to come:
Episode 1: The Beginning of the End - A slain monster called a butcher.
Episode 2: Four Signs - We look at the early days of the sorceress.
Episode 3: Treacherous Moon - Picky eater, family disgraced.
Episode 4: Banquets, bastards and burials. The law of surprise is how you can repay.
Episode 5: Bottled Appetites - Fatal Encounter, Crippled Bard.
Episode 6: Rare Species - The dragon hunt is in full swing.
Episode 7: Before the Fall - The return before the kingdom flared up.
Episode 8: Much More - The Witcher Family, as you all like to say.
In episode #1, the butcher's name is mentioned, hinting at Geralt's origins as the butcher of Blaviken.
Episode 2 is about the early days of witchcraft, so expect a lot of backstory on Yennefer.
Episode 4 mentions the Law of Surprise, an old custom whereby a person saved by another must bring good to the savior. This explains exactly how Ciri and Geralt meet and hints at the pair's connection.
The Bard mentioned in Episode 5 is supposed to be Jaskier (known as Buttercup in the games), while Episodes 6 and 7 allude to the aftermath of the dragon's attack and flashbacks before the fateful event.
Finally, Episode 8 brings Geralt, Ciri and Yennefer together, finally united - like a "family of witchers".
There's a lot going on in these 8 episodes, and it looks like the first season of The Witcher is setting the stage for a new epic fantasy hit series. Showrunner Lauren Hissrich recently revealed that she has plans for 7 full seasons, and with a second greenlight from Netflix, it looks promising.
The serial design of The Witcher series: a bit like games
In terms of design, it's impossible not to draw inspiration from the popular Witcher games, although there are some differences. The original is Cavill's makeup when Geralt was mixed - in particular, the blonde wig made him look more like a creatine-pumped Legolas than the lithe character we recognize from the CD Projekt Red series. But if you see him in motion in trailers, and Geralt's studded mail armor (apparently very uncomfortable) it seems that this is not quite what is presented in the game.
The cast of The Witcher and his team: Henry Cavill and others
Let's start with the fact that this is a prestigious production. Showrunner Daredevil and writer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and Cavill bring measured star power to the role of Geralt, a stoic, alert and refreshing protagonist exploring a world that struggles to accept it.
It helps that Cavill is also a big fan of the series - apparently he called his agent every day until the role was confirmed.
Series creator Andrzej Sapkowski is also a creative consultant, and Projekt Red's Thomas Baginski is the man behind the thrilling cinematography seen at the start of all three episodes.
As for the characters, anyone who has read the book or played the games will recognize a lot of faces.
Anya Chalotra plays Yennefer of Vengerberg, a fiery, independent sorceress and Geralt's longtime lover; Freya Allan plays Ciri, a witch who, by the will of fate, Geralt takes under his wing; and we even saw Geralt's trusty steed, Roach. (Interestingly, Geralt is over 100 years old and calls each of his next horses by the same name).
Buttercup (from the name of the flower), the bard who documents the events of this story and is Geralt's best friend.
The Witcher series: history and rumors
Anyone who is familiar with books or games knows that everything in The Witcher has moral ambiguity. The showrunners promised that the characters we initially hate when we first met could become the ones we love later. And even Geralt himself is not a classic hero: after all, witchers kill monsters for money, not out of a sense of altruism, and the trailer says that the coin is all Geralt cares about.
Cavill has already mentioned that Gerolt, being a hero, doesn't do things right. And even the show's slogan "The scariest monsters are the ones we create" hints at some thematic things. First of all, remember that if your only horse in this world is eaten by a griffon, then this is the least of your problems.
The series tells the story of a monster hunter who is trying to find his place in a war-torn world.
But it's worth reiterating that the series is based on and based on the books, and this may allay some fears that the series will be another failed video game adaptation.
Even if you are familiar with the video game, the creators are sure that there will be a lot of new things in the series and so far no one knows exactly which stories will be adapted. True, Hissrich let it slip that the tumultuous relationship between Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer would be central to the series.
There are eight The Witcher novels - plus a glut of short stories - and it looks like the show will draw inspiration from five books that deal with Geralt's relationship with Ciri. Does this mean there won't be any specific references to the Games? It depends, Hissrich said, how many seasons the show lasts and we can eventually get to the games, but that's unlikely to happen right now.