The Witcher

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Dec 20, 2019
Season #: 4, 3.5, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2682 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,028 out of 2682
  2. Mixed: 201 out of 2682
  3. Negative: 453 out of 2682

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User Reviews

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  1. lisamariejm
    Dec 21, 2019
    0
    Terrible cast. Absolutely horrible acting. Doesn’t feel like Witcher at all. Horrible writing.
    Horrible pacing. Henry Cavill is terrible as Geralt too......
    Yennefer’s actress is a good newcomer - but she’s a horrible choice for Yen. No. Just, no.
    This makes me so sad.
  2. Droidorat
    Dec 21, 2019
    1
    Do you know the original books and the acclaimed game series? Now forget everything and taste this rubbish loosely based on the original content
  3. ravineh
    Dec 21, 2019
    9
    it's quite good. Music, scenography, battle scenes, It would probably help if some of the plot points
    were more clearly pointed out, as a lot of them are not given enough time to stay in the mind of a viewer.
  4. golibethesda
    Dec 21, 2019
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Terrible show with badly cast actors, awful writing, awful lighting (everything looks grey), FX, scenography, etc. etc. Dialogues were poorly written, they've added some new scenes which are atrocious (like Yennefer's training), plus they omitted some good ones from the books. There are constant jumps in space and time which makes this show hard to follow for those who don't know the books. Not to mention that going from one place to another and from one time to another diminishes the roles of each character and in the end we don't get to know either of them.… Expand
  5. Akinori
    Dec 21, 2019
    3
    Black elves? Alright, why not. Ugly Triss? Well tastes are arguable (check Triss in the game and compare). But I understood why I've got this feeling of disgusting, the TV Show was made as those modern girl's novels like Twilight, Divergent, Maze runner, Hunger games and so on. The script and play have no sense, it filled with stupidness like when Ciri rescued, why all other havent thereBlack elves? Alright, why not. Ugly Triss? Well tastes are arguable (check Triss in the game and compare). But I understood why I've got this feeling of disgusting, the TV Show was made as those modern girl's novels like Twilight, Divergent, Maze runner, Hunger games and so on. The script and play have no sense, it filled with stupidness like when Ciri rescued, why all other havent there was a hidden path, it may be used by anyone, but no they overdramatically stuck knife into their throat. Dialogues made very poor and so smug. They do so many events in one time so they have to do a lot of cutoffs, like for example the fight with Falka, who without knowledge of the book will understand the motivation of Geralt to kill her, she didnt kill anyone in tv show, where are the reasons of characters' actions? Also the way creators make us hate 'evil' characters is very teenager-ish. On the moment when they showed Yennifer's womb I was started to laugh, creators think the viewers are so stupid that they will not understand what she paid for the beauty so they decided to show us bloody womb. I can enlist minuses of this show for hours. I saw 4 episodes and this is enough. No more Witcher TV Show for me thank you. I'd better go play the game again with reasoning, good dialogues, wonderful script and pretty women… Expand
  6. Pokeltols
    Dec 21, 2019
    1
    a crumpled plot, Superman plays emotions from all his films. the graphics are terrible. the actors are wrongly chosen ... and of course the poor habit of writing tolerance. 1 point for Boevka and music.
  7. lilkillpappy
    Dec 21, 2019
    0
    I tried to love this show and I could tolerate many of the problems with it but the acting is horrible. Dull, uninspired acting that has not been seen on a show for decades. Thank you for reminding me of how bad television acting used to be.
  8. sariustorys
    Dec 21, 2019
    3
    Nędzota, festiwal poprawności politycznej. Czarne driady, murzyni rycerze i czarne elfy w strefie klimatu umiarkowanego tworzą niewiarygodny świat. Wisienką na torcie jest olewcze podejście do fabuły książek i kiepskie efekty specjalne. Jedyne plusy: sceny walk i role henrego cavilla i Jaskra
  9. wolf1300
    Dec 21, 2019
    9
    + Henry as Geralt (he is great)
    + action scanes
    - not canonical
    - chronology of time (you can get lost)
    - unnecessary flashbacks.

    It was enough to start with the saga and not loose stories.
    I look forward to the second season.
  10. kuxi777
    Dec 21, 2019
    10
    Honestly this is one of the best series i have ever seen trying to capture a book/game.Keep up the good work guys, and let me praise netflix for such courage to make this.Even though some of the casting is weird and totally different from the original, but be that the biggest problem of these awesome episodes.Thank you!
  11. Hlk666
    Dec 21, 2019
    10
    Simple amazing. Pictures, acting, choregraphy, music, everything great. Can't wait for season 2.
  12. masterdirk
    Dec 21, 2019
    9
    The negative reviews are from the hardcore fans. And it is their right to be critical if it does not right to their beloved books. But damn I like this show and I want more of it!
  13. Lifebloom
    Dec 21, 2019
    10
    Not perfect but very enjoyable and fun to watch , i would love to see more seasons.
  14. vijay11
    Dec 21, 2019
    10
    good script..well acted..brilliant action..good cast. loved every episode. was confused about cintra story at beginning but in final episodes things become clear.

    cant wait for season 2.
  15. TheTelis
    Dec 21, 2019
    10
    This is obviously a love project. The creator's passion and love for the source material oozes through the screen. It has no right to be that good and yet I believe it can only get better.
  16. Poisonedblade
    Dec 21, 2019
    4
    Henry Cavill did a great job as Geralt, and the effects and music are pretty good.
    But the writers are the Butchers of Blaviken. The story skips back and forth so much, it feels like you're reading chapters of the books in random order. I doubt people new to the series can follow the story. When you do this, you ruin the character and story arcs, so the audience stops caring.
    Another    Henry Cavill did a great job as Geralt, and the effects and music are pretty good.
    But the writers are the Butchers of Blaviken. The story skips back and forth so much, it feels like you're reading chapters of the books in random order. I doubt people new to the series can follow the story. When you do this, you ruin the character and story arcs, so the audience stops caring.
    Another issue is the forced diversity. Every group of people needs 1 black person. This is historic fantasy, not the Twitter offices in SF. It becomes a distraction and you aren't going to get black people to watch the show just because a few boring side characters are black. Nobody is that racist. This is like remaking the 7 Samurai with a Mexican, Black dude, a Woman, Gay White Guy, and 3 Japanese guys. Nobody cares about race quotas and it ends up being a distraction.
    The Witcher features:
    1 black dryad. Just one.
    1 black elf . Just one.
    1 black elite guard in Cintra. Just one.
    1 black sorceress. Just one.
    If Vesemir was in this, he'd probably be played by Kevin Hart to fill the 1 black guy quota.
    Netflix should have had Geralt kill a monster per ep, and in the season story arc, fill in the progress of the Nilfgaardian Army. Also post the year when you need to skip a head. 1272 Temeria... 1273 Cintra...    … Expand
  17. Foxxxyxxx
    Dec 21, 2019
    0
    Дань уважения всему славянскому эпосу в виде огромного, черного, толерастического болта
  18. OldSchoolG8mer
    Dec 21, 2019
    8
    I still don't understand how critics review movies or series, from the moment the series starts it has a lot of the elements that made the game so popular, yeah it can be better but that would be adding too much fantasy into the series; the way it is, i think it keeps balance it doesn't go too much over board into the fantasy realm and for me that balance is great. From the moment theI still don't understand how critics review movies or series, from the moment the series starts it has a lot of the elements that made the game so popular, yeah it can be better but that would be adding too much fantasy into the series; the way it is, i think it keeps balance it doesn't go too much over board into the fantasy realm and for me that balance is great. From the moment the series starts until the last episode i was interested through and through. I thought the acting was good, costumes were in par with how it is in the game not really the same but it is there. Though the way the story was depicted i was lost a bit at when Geralt's and CIri's story line was happening until i understood how it was i guess that could've been shown better or at least given a time of when things were happening; but still i liked the whole series a lot. I would re-watch the whole thing again and wait for more episodes to come out or next season we will see.… Expand
  19. nnXstnc
    Dec 21, 2019
    1
    Since when are African Americans Slavs? I, as a person with Slavic roots, are very offended by the fact that the authors of the series are trying to violate the sovereignty of my nation.
  20. Theclutch3
    Dec 21, 2019
    9
    Great quality for debut season, only some strange cast choices, for some worldwide appeal, that this big franchise doesnt need.
  21. Schinkensprimge
    Dec 21, 2019
    8
    Its not a 1 to 1 from the books- wich is good so people who read em can still watch it- BUT it can be very confusing and outright dumb at times. Can be confusing for viewers new to the witcher lore etc. The eefects are not the best and some could be way better but in general thy are good enough.
    When they learn from the mistakes of the first season it could be a good show.
  22. Johnysh
    Dec 21, 2019
    7
    So finally finished.

    Whole season is pretty good. It gets from me on the great shows scale rating so that's something at least. I agree with people saying that as a book adaptation it kinda sucked. Had it's ups and downs. Ending was underwhelming. Show felt very modern for example Dandelion calling his lute "sexy" took me very by surprise. Some music too felt very modern.    So finally finished.

    Whole season is pretty good. It gets from me on the great shows scale rating so that's something at least.

    I agree with people saying that as a book adaptation it kinda sucked. Had it's ups and downs.

    Ending was underwhelming.

    Show felt very modern for example Dandelion calling his lute "sexy" took me very by surprise. Some music too felt very modern.

    Nilfgaard looks like some crazy religious fanatics.

    Most short stories here are very rushed and sometimes completely miss what book wanted to say/show.

    Dandelion was amazing.
    Geralt was amazing. BUT, he never uses his medailon.
    Yennefer sometimes great sometimes not. She's too cute for her role. And her relationship with Geralt wasn't very convincing that they love each other. Or at least Geralt her.
    Ciri, I'm disappointed with her storyline. I think it would have been much, much better if they made it according to books. The viewers would get much better feeling from it.
    Foltest was a joke.
    Triss... at least she had a bit of red in her hair.
    Tissaia was great.
    Calanthe too, but they could change her hair. Everyone in her family has blonde hair but only she has black or brown? Why?

    So some picked actors weren't that great.
    And now imagine, you're new in the series, watched show and now you're going for a book and get to part where Geralt sleeps with Fringilla because she reminds him of Yennefer. You will probably be "Is he smoking something? How? She looked nothing like Yennefer."

    The timeline... confusing af at first. I think some newcomers will be confused too and maybe will stop watching before everything gets explained.

    CGI meh.

    Some scenes like from Yennefer or Ciri seemed unnecessary.

    Fightning scenes great.

    I enjoyed details like Geralt picking up herbs.

    There's much more, but I'm too lazy to write everything. 7 or 8 /10.... can't decide. I wanted to give it an 8 but then I remembered fuked timeline, oh and they disappointed me in adapting my favourite story with Sylvan, so 7/10.

    Shortly said: Show was good when it was going according to book. And not because I have an issue with being it bad adaptation, but because how it's written in book, it would much better develop releationships in the show and feeling the audience has for these characters.
    Making it 15-20 episode show wouldn't hurt it at all.

    Not gonna lie, I wouldn't shed a tear if the show didn't have second season, but I'll give it another chance.    … Expand
  23. onetwotry
    Dec 21, 2019
    0
    As a slavic person I find this show utterly racist.
    Slavic nationality has no history with black people.
    There were not any black servants or warriors in Eastern Europe.
    There were tatar asians but those which are depicted are from different ethnicity.
    On top of that acting is horrible.
    Plot is horrible.
    This show does not deserve a 2nd season.
  24. gallorunivers
    Dec 21, 2019
    0
    Я ждал 4 года,а в итоге это.Плюсы 1.Лютик ,который хоть как-то создает атмосферу и радует глаз. 2.Сцены сражения Ведьмака с людьми ,все сцены фехтования очень хороши ,но против людей !!.На этом плюсы закончились .Минусы. Плохой кастинг актеров от первого плана до массовки(кроме Лютика и Цири и иногда Геральда ).Плохая работа костюмеров.Плохие декорации и локации,можно было снять дешевлеЯ ждал 4 года,а в итоге это.Плюсы 1.Лютик ,который хоть как-то создает атмосферу и радует глаз. 2.Сцены сражения Ведьмака с людьми ,все сцены фехтования очень хороши ,но против людей !!.На этом плюсы закончились .Минусы. Плохой кастинг актеров от первого плана до массовки(кроме Лютика и Цири и иногда Геральда ).Плохая работа костюмеров.Плохие декорации и локации,можно было снять дешевле ,ближе и на родине славян и без личного самолета.Все пейзажи не из европы 13 века,а из новой зеландии про Хоббитов. Костюмы и спец эффекты связанные с чудовищами ,это либо плохой костюм ,либо отвратительный хромакей.Сценарий отвратителен, никому не нужные скачки во времени и просто иногда тупые развязки событий,сценарист при прочтении книги ,должен был понять что Сабковский так себе писатель и нужно было только вдохновляться его книгой ,а не делать сериальную копию.Сабковский стал известен только благодаря играм !!!,его интересуют только деньги !!!почитайте его интервью иму пофиг на сериал ,он даже не знает как должны выглядеть его персонажи .CD PROJECT RED сделали хорошую игру потому что взяли идею ведьмака,а не книгу .Даже в Польше не многие слышали о ведьмаке.Многие игроки даже не знали что игра сделана по книге .NETFLIX зачем вы дали Лоуренс такие права и столько денег ,на что ,зачем .Я посмотрел залпом 8 серий и остался очень разочарован этим сериалом .И даже тот факт что 8 серий вышло ,все равно не является концовкой первого сезона,они даже не пытались подарить микроконцовку ,они настолько были уверены в себе ,что позволили себе перенести финал первого сезона во второй .Этот сериал ,это не история о ведьмаке который убивает и охотиться на чудовищ,это не историю о ведьмаке который спит с каждой женщиной ,это история о подкаблучнике Геральде и его Предназначении .Один Лютик сделал больше чем весь каст актеров.И Геральд даже и от него избавляется .НЕТФЛИКС вы убили мечту ,которую я ждал с выхода 3 ведьмака.!!!!!!Этот сериал вышел, стало быть где-нибудь сидит же на белом свете и тот кто оформил подписку на нетфликс .… Expand
  25. Ishansinghal
    Dec 21, 2019
    7
    The music sucks, casting could’ve been better. Henry is great at being Geralt. Show otherwise is pretty decent.
  26. user24
    Dec 21, 2019
    10
    The show is absolutely amazing, I read the books a long time ago and the show really brought me back to that time. Henry Cavil does an excellent job as a Witcher and the rest of the cast is great to.
    Don't pay to much attention on the people saying there are to many Africans in the show and that some things don't follow the books, bad acting and other things. None of that maters if the    The show is absolutely amazing, I read the books a long time ago and the show really brought me back to that time. Henry Cavil does an excellent job as a Witcher and the rest of the cast is great to.
    Don't pay to much attention on the people saying there are to many Africans in the show and that some things don't follow the books, bad acting and other things. None of that maters if the show makes you feel great.
    Just watch it with an open mind and you'll enjoy it!!    … Expand
  27. Baluz0r
    Dec 21, 2019
    4
    Отвратительный каст актрис, только Цири хорошо вписывается (правда с возрастом косяк), Кавилл нормально вписывается, но ТРИСС, ЙЕН ПРОСТО УЖАСНЫЕ, это просто шок.
  28. Janusz_Riese
    Dec 21, 2019
    8
    Fascinating series. If you have read the books or played the games you will be rewarded with a deep look into the world of the saga. For all the others: be patient and try to understand all the context. You will see a deep an moving story with a really complex lore.
  29. rud
    Dec 21, 2019
    0
    Слабая актерская, ноль уважения к первоисточнику. Перевран сюжет потеряны важные моменты.
  30. Fieldy_o
    Dec 21, 2019
    10
    Just like the game series and the books, #TheWitcherNetflix manages to pull me completely into this world.

    I'm really excited about this successful interpretation of the Witcher universe.
    It doesn't bother me at all that some characters look different because they all play their roles very well. Since I can separate series and game series well.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed TV Season of 2019
77
#77 Most Shared TV Season of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 17
  3. Negative: 3 out of 17
  1. The Independent
    Reviewed by: Nick Hilton
    Jan 3, 2020
    40
    The Witcher is a messy tangle of plotlines in a world underdeveloped to the point of obscurity.
    Read full review
  2. The Telegraph
    Reviewed by: Ed Power
    Jan 3, 2020
    60
    As a mindless fantasy rollercoaster, Geralt’s journey is five stars all the way to tea-time. Sadly, for those who like brains with their brawn, it may be more of a slog.
    Read full review
  3. Time
    Reviewed by: Judy Berman
    Dec 20, 2019
    30
    It takes a while for viewers to learn how these characters are connected, via an exasperating Westworld-esque narrative knot that takes much of the season to unfurl. ... The Witcher heightens our confusion by fumbling details that would have helped it set a cohesive tone. Dialogue vacillates, from line to line, between theatrical fantasy-speak and modern colloquialisms (“Dragons are, in fact, a thing!”).
    Read full review
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