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When we were given early access to Netflix’s ‘The Witcher’, I made sure to watch the episodes provided to us three times before compiling this review. If you didn’t know, ‘The Witcher’ is an upcoming eight-episode Netflix series that is based on video games and novels of the same name. Another neat fact is that the star, Henry Cavill; beat out 207 actors who also pined over the role of Geralt of Rivia.
The Witcher Review
I can now see why. Pushing aside his obvious physical qualifications for the part, Cavill embodies this stoic character. With a smooth purr and a fluidity to his every step, Cavill is Geralt. I don’t believe anyone would be able to bring this character to life the way he did. Geralt is a very serious character, most of the time; but, in certain situations; he can be humorous. It comes out very infrequently, but when it does, it is not out of place. It feels perfectly plausible for Geralt and is almost a contradiction to the common belief everyone has about Witchers: that they can’t feel emotions.
You probably want to know about two things though. The monsters and the fighting. I can say that, I was initially worried about the monsters. In the beginning scene, we encounter Geralt fighting a beast. One that not only looks generic, as far as monsters go; but not the best CGI-wise. There are other moments where I believe that the monsters were not constructed the best, but it did not take away from the story, nor did it distract you.
The fight sequences were the thing that stood out to me the most. Cavill must have trained very hard to master each move. He executed them flawlessly. Superman, who? Cavill feels so comfortable in Geralt’s skin that it is amazing to watch his swordsmanship. The fight scenes are really well done. The fight sequences are smooth and shocking. Each action-packed and hitting hard. Cavill excels every time he swings his sword.
The Ladies Are Kickass and Geralt Knows It
Cavill as Geralt may be God’s gift to men and women (and you will thirst for every shirtless scene of his), but this show is just as much, if not more; about powerful women. The series is called ‘The Witcher’, but you will become more enthralled in certain storylines that involve badass women. Not only do you have a queen who fights at the front of battle alongside her husband and a powerful witch who has some truly amazing abilities, but Renfri, Princess Ciri, and my favorite, Yennefer of Vengerberg. Renfri can go toe to toe in a duel with any man, Princess Ciri literally goes through hell trying to survive war, and Yennefer’s (I should say Anya Chalotra) ability to command the screen is intoxicating.
Yennefer’s transformation and journey are so captivating to watch that I sometimes forgot that this is Geralt’s show. As you see what she had to endure and who she becomes, you want nothing more, but to be trapped in her web. When Yennefer and Geralt finally meet, it is like two tidal waves crashing against each other. It also, though; is like two pieces of the puzzle finally fitting together.
‘The Witcher’ is many things. It is a monster show, a Medieval show of knights and war, a whimsical series of witches and magic, a comedy with bards and silliness, and a tragedy full of deaths of children, suicide, and the loss of innocence. At the heart of all of it, are outsiders and misfits rewriting destiny, but also not able to run away from it.
Rating: 4.5/5
‘The Witcher’ may be too new to fill the Game of Thrones hole in your heart, but it may make room for itself. The show involves much more magic and wizardry than its HBO brother from another mother. The first episode starts off a little slow, but because there is a vast world needing to be explained. Things pick up in the second half to the first episode and the show seems to fall into itself as each episode goes on.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndl1W4ltcmg” align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
A girl with too many fandoms to count.
