Based on the Andrzej Sapkowski book of the same name, The Witcher, a dark fantasy drama on Netflix takes place in an undisclosed time, date, and location where witches, beasts, superpowers, and black magic are a real thing. Starring Henry Cavill in the titular role, the show also stars Anya Chalotra and Freya Allan in prominent positions as the first season primarily concentrates on the development of their characters from the beginning till the very end.
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Because the entire eight episodes of The Witcher focuses on three primary characters, it’s narrative takes us through different timelines and in separate locations with at least one component interconnecting each one of their stories. Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) is, by and large, a bounty hunter who gets through his everyday life collecting paycheques and killing mystical beasts. Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra) sees a transformation from being abused and disrespected by her stepdad to a sorceress with magical powers. Cirilla (Freya Allan) portrays the role of a young princess on a search to find Geralt after her family and kingdom is invaded by a gargantuan savage army called Nilfgaard.
Similar to The Watchmen, I went into The Witcher, not knowing anything about the source material. Therefore, following the entire mythology, and the narrative was a bit of a stretch. And that brings me to the main gripe I had with this season inside and out. The vague screenwriting and the zero mention about the timelines and stuff got me more confused than intrigued in the storyline. And I had constantly had to pause after every episode, go to my drawing board, connect the dots, and move on to the next one.
However, despite the convoluted mess of a screenplay, The Witcher had the potential to tell compelling stories that are backed up by strong and influential characters. Serving as an introduction to the entire show, I appreciated the fact that it didn’t dive too deep storyline-wise until the final few episodes. We got to watch the three primary characters come to their own by the end of the first season, thanks to the extensive character work done by the writers from start to finish.
The comprehensive stories utilized to highlight their emotions and lifestyle were appealing, coupled with the character arcs that revolved around the themes of legacy and destiny. As a result, as a viewer, I got a good grip on their roles and the importance that they bring to the show and begin to care about them by the very end.
Moving on to the performances, for the first few episodes of the season, the characters (the primary ones) seemed very one dimensional and didn’t seem to advance in a handful of aspects. However, that didn’t seem to be the case for the final few episodes as the writers took an ample amount of time to develop their protagonists. Henry Cavill did a splendid job as this stoic, ultra-talented individual who didn’t give the impression to open up very easily. And the entire season did a decent job in making his introverted character stand out alongside Anya Chalotra and Freya Allan.
More on the technical side, the production design of the show is grand and breathtaking throughout the runtime. It looked, felt, and was showcased like a historic show on-par with Game of Thrones. The camera work and the excellent background score by Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli complemented the visuals and the epic vibe of the show.
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Overall, The Witcher did suffer from a clear screenwriting issue that dampened down the overall quality of the show. But, the remarkable character work, compelling storyline, magnificent performances, and the kickass action sequences kept me engaged as I never felt bored or disinterested. With Season 2 already greenlit by Netflix and the characters fully-developed, it should be interesting to watch where the show goes from here with a well-established introduction. Watch ‘The Witcher’ on Netflix here.
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