After watching the first 5 chapters of the Geralt de Rivia series, we assess whether Netflix is up to the sorcerer.
Such day as today, comes the Conjunction of the Spheres. After many expectations, announcements, doubts and debates, The Witcher series is now available on Netflix. Geralt de Rivia's adventure is not unknown to us; Fantasy readers have already met the river in the novels with which Andrzej Sapkowski earned a position of honor in the grimdark genre. The CD Projekt Red studio, meanwhile, continued the story of the sorcerer in a video-saga that revolutionized the role genre. Undoubtedly, the bar is high, and today the curiosity that has been feeding us since the first announcement of the television adaptation will be satisfied: Will The Witcher live up to novels and video games? In FreeGameTips we interview Anya Chalotra (Yennefer) and Freya Allan (Ciri), who gave us some details that fueled our emotion. During this week, we have had access to the first 5 episodes and today we bring you a preview of what we can expect from Lauren Hissrich's work.
It should be remembered that The Witcher is based mainly on books, although video games receive a little nod in this version: we already saw in the trailers a reference to the mythical scene of Geralt in the bathroom and Henry Cavill himself, a diehard fan of the sorcerer, he was inspired by the voice of the video-character to give life to the monster hunter.
From paper to screen
As for the fidelity of the adaptation, the influence of the work of Sapkowski, who served as an advisor during the filming and production of the series, is perceived. Of course, as in any adaptation, there are inevitable changes, although most of these are very favorable to the audiovisual narrative. The most notable of these are the early but justified presentation of characters such as Triss Merigold or Fringilla Vigo, as well as the plot of Ciri, where some events are mixed and many others are simplified. Another significant change is the relevance of the stories of Ciri and Yennefer, whose weight in history equals that of Geralt himself. The sorceress of Vengerberg, in addition, has added episodes that deepen her past, which we met in a few lines through the novels and that will help us empathize with the magician and understand her desires and motivations.
For the rest, fidelity to the novels is maintained to a greater extent and we mention in a special way three adapted stories: The lesser evil, A question of price and The last wish. In the first, there is the misfortune that earned Geralt the nickname "The Butcher of Blaviken" and in the second, how the sorcerer and Yennefer met for the first time. In both we will see identical scenes as described in the books, with a few licenses that we will forgive even the most purist, since we will understand that they are in favor of maintaining the main plot thread and surprising the viewer.
This first season of The Witcher includes the first two books of the Geralt de Rivia saga: The Last Wish and The Sword of Destiny, with some advancement that corresponds to some of the subsequent novels. Each episode has an agile rhythm, where the plots of the main characters are intertwined and maintain a clear order of approach, knot and outcome, while the backbone story takes shape. There are also very different action scenes in contrast to other more reflective and emotional.
Delicacy and brutality
The Witcher also shows great beauty in his photography, with very careful plans and lighting that highlights the atmosphere of each stage: the cold and dirty Blaviken, the regal and austere Cintra palace, the warmth in the most intimate scenes. The choreography of the battles is spectacular and agile, with an enchanting rhythm that is mixed with the illusion of the spectator when contemplating that the same weapons that are used in the novels are used. And, of course, there is blood and sex. The violence is treated with the crudeness that Sapkowski transmitted, and the erotic scenes are elegant and well implemented. In addition, there will be both male and female nudes, some to give visual pleasure and others as a dramatic element. The sound section is also captivating and not only for the Slavic folk with which some scenes are set, as well as sung themes that will be emblematic: even sounds as trivial as the hiss or clash of swords have received adequate attention.
As for the costumes, scenery and characterization, it is inevitable to point out some ups and downs. We liked the characterization of characters like Geralt or Yennefer, but some details have been artificial, such as the contact lenses of Ciri or Istredd. As for the costumes, we also appreciate an unequal quality between some characters and others: although we have liked Yennefer's dresses – despite not respecting the iconic black and white aesthetic -, the Nilfgaardian's armor has left us the same no taste in your first teaser.
An interpretation imbued with magic
The aspect that has amazed us the most has been that of interpretation. It shows that Henry Cavill knows the sorcerer and enjoys his skin; It conveys the safety of the river, the coldness with which it deals with situations and the acidity with which it responds to those who challenge it. The voice, imposted, reveals the actor's inspiration in the Witcher video games and his presence on screen convinces those who were reluctant. As for Yennefer, we believe that Anya Chalotra has done an amazing job. She has understood the sorceress perfectly and conquers us with a well-marked and staggered evolution, in which she goes from being a battered and insecure teenager to a strengthened and ambitious woman, who has become aware of her power and the dangerous environment in the that moves. On the other hand, Freya Allan gives us a complex Ciri that marries the idea that the books had sculpted: innocent, with a rebellion contained towards the palatial life, impetuous and, at the same time, fearful before a world in which it must be forced to survive.
Likewise, The Witcher shows that the secondary characters can shine at the same time as the main characters, and they will leave us time after turning off Netflix. Emma Appleton brings us to a Renfri full of strength and charisma, which will make us connect with her cause; MyAnna Buring perfectly embodies the elegance and arrogance of Tissaia de Vries; while Jodhi May is a Calanthe as impressive as the one we met in the pages. But the biggest surprise we've had has been Joey Batey as Jaskier, whom he shines with his adorable clumsiness and impudence, as well as singing such catchy songs as Toss a coin to your witcher. Nor should we forget Sardinilla, who will awaken us tenderness every time it appears on the screen.
Despite its forgivable shortcomings, The Witcher is presented as a series that distills the love of an adaptation that does justice to the Geralt de Rivia saga: a story that twists fantasy to make us a bitter universe, full of lights and shadows that They are nothing more than a reflection of our society. Thus, we will connect with the world of Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, where we will recognize feelings drawn with great authenticity: loneliness, love and fear.
