2019 has come to a close, but just before the year ended, Netflix gifted us with the premiere of season 1 of the Witcher. Video game fans and fantasy fans have been itching to get a new series to immerse themselves in. Is the Witcher that new hit? Here is my review of season 1 of the Witcher.

So what is the Witcher? For those who are new to the world of the Witcher, the Witcher world is explored in a series of books by the Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Spanning five main novels, and two short story novels, this series chronicles the epic adventure of a Witcher, Geralt of Rivia. The Witcher is also a well loved video game series. The television series is based off of the book series. Steeped in magic and Eastern European mythology, this is a high fantasy that fantasy fans have been craving.

As for my own personal experience with the source material, I come into the Witcher television series with reading only a small part of Last Wish, and seeing some scenes from the video game. That is it. I am not an authority on how well the show adapted the source material. I wanted to have a clear and unbiased view before going into watching the television show. I think it’s only fair I state this before I give my review.

So what is my rating for this season? I would give this first season a solid B+ to A-. It’s not perfect, but it has its really spectacular moments in it. It has a nice mixture of sarcastic comedy and tear jerking drama. The characters are interesting and the actors/actresses who portray them do a splendid job in bringing these characters to life.

But let’s talk a little about the Witcher himself portrayed by Henry Cavill. Henry Cavill did more than a splendid job. From what little I know of the Witcher character himself, Henry Cavill’s performance is spectacular. It is very clear that he, not only, really liked the character he was portraying, but that he really understood him. He embodied Geralt so well. I was impressed from the very moment he came onto the screen. I will get into the other actors performances a little later, but for me Henry Cavill deserves an A+ for his acting in this.

Now there are a few warnings/ bits of advice I would give to anyone who is thinking of watching this series. So let’s start with:

This is not Game of Thrones

With Game of Thrones being many people’s first foray into fantasy on television, it becomes an easy show to compare the Witcher to. They’re both fantasy, and they’re both set in a medieval setting. They also both have a large cast. The biggest divergence is the use of magic. Game of Thrones is more of a political drama with a dash of magic, but the Witcher really dives into a diverse and fascinating world of magic and mythical creatures. It doesn’t shy away from the strange and different. For many people not used to this use of magic, this can be harder to adjust to. I think so many people want the Witcher to be the next Game of Thrones and are thrown by the use of strange creatures, strange names and magic that takes some getting used to. For experienced fantasy lovers, this is something that we love to see and is an integral in the Witcher universe.

Basically, the Witcher may look similar to Game of Thrones, but the tone and vibe of the story is different. The Witcher also has a level of humor and sarcasm that is woven into the show which Game of Thrones only had sporadically. I know I’m drawing comparisons between the two shows after advising not to, but I think it is important to point out why these two shows should not be compared. They are like apples and oranges: both round and both fruit, but very different flavors. When you have an expectation of seeing Game of Thrones 2.0, you are bound to be disappointed through no fault of the Witcher. They are different and that is not a bad thing.

Now the second bit of advice I give for this show is to be an active watcher. You may ask what is an active watcher versus a passive watcher? Certain shows are light and fluffy and can be watched passively in the background. You could walk away from it or half pay attention and still know what is going on. This is not the case for Season 1 of the Witcher. This is a very active watcher show. This is both a strength and a weakness in season 1 and here is why:

The show jumps around in time.

What I really liked about this first season that some people may have not liked is the way they structured the story. This is not a linear cause and effect type of story. Most plots have a linear progression of events with all the characters in the same time period, and the occasional flashback for character back story development. Well, the Witcher threw that typical way of storytelling out the window. This story is told from many people’s perspectives and, more importantly, in different places in time. When you first meet Geralt and Cirilla in episode one, you think that the events seen in episode one are all taking place simultaneously in the same time, but in different places. That is not the case as you discover further in the series.

For example, the scene with Geralt and Renfri in episode one is one of the earliest events that happens in Geralt’s life and takes place before Cirilla is even born. This is shown in episode one alongside the events of the fall of Cintra and a fifteen-year-old Cirilla fleeing the city. There are a lot of moments like this in the first season.

Is it a clever and unique way to tell a story? Definitely, but can it also be confusing for those who are not paying close attention to the details? Most certainly. It becomes more clear in episode 3 that we have several stories taking place in different time periods despite the little clues given in prior episodes. They’re subtle, but they’re there. This makes a rewatch even more interesting as one will discover things they didn’t in their first watch through.

But suffice to say that watching this show as background instead of paying close attention to the details of the world and the story is not advised. This story has a lot of names, places, creatures and magic systems to absorb as well as trying to keep the time line straight. Could they have been more clear with the time jumping? Yes, I think they could have. That is one of the flaws of this first season. But was I pleasantly surprised by the refreshing way of telling a story? Yes I was. I like putting pieces of a story together like piecing together a puzzle.

Spoilers Ahead.

Now my advice when it comes to the time jumps is having certain events and characters as your nexus point. For me, I used the fall of Cintra as a focal point. The fall of Cintra and Ciri’s storyline are in the present day. The events that take place with Yennefer when she is learning magic and her run ins with Geralt are in the past. Geralt’s run in with Renfri is probably one of the older events in the time line. Renfri and her effect on Geralt leaves a lasting impression on his character, and that event is often referenced in the rest of the season.

Now let’s talk for a moment about the acting and the cinematography. I am very impressed with both. All the main actors and actresses did a wonderful job in their roles. I really liked Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and how the actress really brought her complicated character to life.

I also loved the bard Jaskier (Joey Batey). He is such a welcome relief of comedy that pairs well with the Witcher’s more sarcastic tone. And then there is the young actress who played Cirilla (Freya Allan). She did a phenomenal job showcasing a range of emotions that felt relatable.

And the fight scenes in it are fantastic. The group battles could easily rival Game of Thrones, but the one on one combat is really what is impressive here. Henry Cavill really put a lot of work in doing the stunts and his sword work. Episode one showcases the best one versus a group fight that I have seen and what is most impressive about this fight scene is when Geralt is fighting Renfri’s men, it is all one continuous shot. This is not an easy thing to accomplish as it takes extraordinary skill not only from Henry Cavill, but also from his fighting counterparts to execute the fight perfectly.

And then there is the battle for Cintra which is horrifying and heartbreaking as well. In one episode the show runners were able to evoke strong emotions in me. The final battle in episode 8 also is spectacular to watch as well.

Overall, the cinematography is fantastic, the acting is extremely well done, the use of magic is neat, the story telling is unique and fresh and the battle/fight scenes are awesome to watch. Is the Witcher worth a watch? I would say definitely yes no matter what your familiarity with the book series or games is. It is a rich world that is well worth diving into!