THE WITCHER
The Witcher released on Netflix December 20th 2019 Created by Lauren Schmidt Starring Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra
“Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.”
Despite at times having an incoherent structure and tone, The Witcher remains an entertaining, addictive fantasy spectacle with protagonists who lure you back time and time again.
Season 1 of The Witcher is best enjoyed upon a second viewing. Once you’re familiar with this new fantasy world and it’s politics, it soon becomes an immersive, entertaining and addictive spectacle you’ll revisit time and time again. (Trust me, I haven’t re-watched a show so often in such a short space of time!)
The first few episodes are brimming with exposition, struggling to build a comprehensible world for newcomers as the audience struggles to navigate the different kingdoms, societies and cultures (perhaps less so for those familiar with the source material and game adaptations); a struggle deepened by the nonlinear narrative which reaps few storytelling benefits on the 1st watch (again - I highly recommend re-visiting it to fully enjoy). Nevertheless, the main protagonists Geralt of Rivia the monster hunter, Yennefer the mage and Ciri the princess are captivating enough to carry the show through its wobbly moments until it finds its footing several episodes in. Season 1 also has a handful of intriguing secondary characters, such as the singing bard Jaskier, the mage Tissaia De Vries and more.
The Witcher toes the line between dramatic, epic-medieval-fantasy-world with gorgeous CGI landscapes, to not-taking-itself-too-seriously - which works in its favour because it’s an entertaining delight that we can’t get enough of. Visually it is a treat: from aerial shots of kingdoms to the depiction of magic, the cinematography and music create an immersive and visceral viewing experience. Not to mention the songs by the bard Jaskier which are highly enjoyable.
The Witcher’s greatest aspect is the space it creates for its female characters, giving the necessary time to establish their backstories and arcs.
From Yennefer’s recruitment and training to become a mage to Ciri’s journey as a refugee (which in turn allows us to discover the various realms of their world), these women aren’t tokens or accessories but complex individuals with their own stories to tell. The Witcher is a series for all, and judging from the feedback we’ve received from other female friends, it is safe to say that the creators have succeeded in crafting an inclusive world to be enjoyed by many.
Despite its flaws, The Witcher remains a fun and entertaining piece of escapism that the world needs right now. We can’t help but love it. It has the potential to grow and mature along with the characters (however old they may be), and it’s certainly thinking ahead by laying the groundwork for future seasons. I’m sure the different threads will eventually weave into a richer tapestry of epic proportions.