Netflix Review: The Witcher
The Witcher is a new Medieval series that starts off cheesy, but turns out to be an interesting show with diverse characters.
I didn’t want to get obsessed with yet another Netflix show (goodbye, GPA), but The Witcher had all the elements of fantasy, hidden prophecies, and complex female characters that make television enjoyable.
For all the Game of Thrones fans who are feeling withdrawal or just plain disappointment after the final season, The Witcher is the new show for you. There’s incest, dragons, and a broody, long-haired hero who fights with a sword, so what more do you need?
The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) as he travels across The Continent slaying monsters to make a living. Ciri (Freya Allen), a young princess with inexplicable powers, is on the run from enemies who overtook her kingdom. We also see Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), a beautiful sorceress, chase her ambitions while powered by rage and spite. Their storylines overlap and weave together, making it clear that they must be connected by fate.
The first thing that caught my eye — or rather, my ear — was the music. I’m used to the haunting and tension building compositions of Ramin Djawadi (the music was the only consistently good thing about GOT season eight), but I have a feeling the music in The Witcher will become iconic in its own way. “Toss A Coin To Your Witcher” is an absolute bop and Jaskier (Joey Batey) should be protected at all costs.
As for the actual plot, I had no background information on what was happening because I’ve never read the books or played the games. The first two episodes were confusing since the storytelling jumps between timelines, but once I realized what was happening it became rather enjoyable to try to piece everything together. The main characters are fleshed out as little side stories reveal more about their pasts and Tragic Backstories™. It was also refreshing to see a diverse cast with people of colour in main roles who have their unique motivations and act as more than simple plot devices.
Despite all its comparisons to Game of Thrones, this Netflix show is unique and should be judged on its own merits of storytelling and plot. Season one mostly laid the groundwork for introducing the main characters, but there are still many questions left unanswered. What exactly is the “mutation” that turned Geralt of Rivia into The Witcher? What the heck is the significance of the Black Sun and Lilit? Did Renfri only exist to whisper an ominous — and slightly cheesy — prophecy to Geralt? Are we going to get more dragons in the upcoming seasons?
Although the series started off with some cliche lines, I’m genuinely looking forward to having a new medieval-fantasy show with convoluted plotlines and diverse characters. I just wish I didn’t play myself and binge-watch the entire season in two days, because season two won’t be out until 2021.