I have been waiting for this. With Game of Thrones wrapping up next year, I was wondering if anything could fill the black gaping hole of a great adult fantasy hack and slash that would soon be leaving my life. I heard that Netflix was entertaining the idea of bringing The Witcher to the screen about a year ago, and I really thought they would screw it up. Then they got more serious by bringing in Lauren Hissrich to head up the project, and I thought maybe it might happen. Netflix put up a blank page with the title, and I knew for sure they were very serious. They have some awesome Directors on board.

 

Who would play Geralt of Rivia? I thought the obvious choice would be Zach McGowan from Black Sails, or Joel Kinnaman from Suicide Squad... I mean both these guys have the body, looks, and can kill it with a bad mood, that is so very important for Geralt.

 

Now I know it is definitely happening, and they chose... Henry Cavill, you know him as Superman!

 

Okay, I can see it, but I still play The Witcher games to this very day. They better do this right.

https://deadline.com/2018/09/henry-cavill-cast-geralt-of-rivia-the-witcher-netflix-series-fantasy-books-andrzej-sapkowski-1202456451/

https://www.netflix.com/title/80189685

It's out guys!!! gonna be binge watching it tomorrow

Now I know the story behind "The Butcher of Blaviken". It's well done, but strong on fantasy... it takes some getting used to. The sword play is amazing. I'm trying to get to know the characters right now... the Bard must be Dandelion, but he goes by the name Jaskier. I am mid 3rd episode right now. Foltest is a real piece of work, and Triss is not as beautiful as you would expect. I like it so far.

Jaskier is actually the original Polish for Dandilion but they changed it for English because the translation was buttercup and they didn't want to call him buttercup

I always thought Dandelion was a bad name, but Buttercup is much worse. I'll take Jaskier over both, and he's not a bad singer.

Finished through episode 6. One thing I am having trouble with is, without warning, they mix up the timeline, and everything appears to have happened over decades. Makes it extremely hard to keep track of the story flow when you're trying so hard to piece everything together in your head... this is something that did not happen in Game of Thrones. Maybe they are trying to cover too much ground inside of 8 hours? Too bad for this. They should allow us time to develop a natural like, or dislike, for these characters. Feels like they are forcing them on us.

 

There must be an account, and an explanation, for what happened to Mousesack… to my knowledge, he's a more important character.

Just finished the series.

 

Yeah I agree Lys, I got a bit confused with the sudden timings of the story, one minute they're telling the past, then they're showing the present.. But at times it was hard to tell, like there wasn't any type of transitions to indicate we're not currently in the present/past.

 

I'm a witcher fan from the game series, would've liked to see more references from there.. Only saw Geralt use his Aard sign? He's meant to have like 6 different signs. Witcher's are meant to be good trackers, the scene where he was about to meet with Ciri, was expecting him to track her footsteps or something. I liked seeing the toxicity references though - like after he's taken some potions and his skin goes pale white & veiny and his eyes go pitch black.

 

Overall i'm quite satisfied with the whole series, I want more! Should've ended it with more of a cliffhanger though

 

 

There must be an account, and an explanation, for what happened to Mousesack… to my knowledge, he's a more important character.

 

Didn't they kill him in Cintra just before the Doppler took his form?

 

 

Didn't they kill him in Cintra just before the Doppler took his form?

The doppler took his form and stabbed in the heart! I was trying not to go spoilers, but this is way out of the game story. I still haven't watched the rest, and I probably won't until I get back from the holidays... unless I can watch it at my daughters house.  Aard was used a lot, but he sealed the tomb with one, and threated to use Igni I think.

Have watched upto Ep 3 so far. Loving it.

 

Actually really liking the mixing up of the timeline. The Geralt timeline so far has been from the short stories while the cirilia timeline is from the main novel. Its easier for those who have read the books, but its pretty awesome how they have kept so close to main content of the books (so far) and not deviated too much.

the reviews so far sound amazing.  everyone is saying it makes the fights/battles in game of thrones seem like childs play.  granted that might just mean they do them during the day so u can actually see the battles

 

Agreed with this. The fight scenes have been amazing (specially the blaviken sword fight in Ep. 1). 

 

the reviews so far sound amazing.  everyone is saying it makes the fights/battles in game of thrones seem like childs play.  granted that might just mean they do them during the day so u can actually see the battles

 

Agreed with this. The fight scenes have been amazing (specially the blaviken sword fight in Ep. 1). 

 

You have to cut GoT some slack because when you go for authenticity you are using real steel and iron, which is heavier and slower than aluminum and plastic. You can see this difference in live shows too. Medieval Times uses slow real weapons, and Tournament of Kings at Excalibur in Las Vegas uses fast fake weapons. The Blaviken fight with Renfri is amazing! That must have been a real bitch to choreograph.

 

 

the reviews so far sound amazing.  everyone is saying it makes the fights/battles in game of thrones seem like childs play.  granted that might just mean they do them during the day so u can actually see the battles

 

Agreed with this. The fight scenes have been amazing (specially the blaviken sword fight in Ep. 1). 

 

You have to cut GoT some slack because when you go for authenticity you are using real steel and iron, which is heavier and slower than aluminum and plastic. You can see this difference in live shows too. Medieval Times uses slow real weapons, and Tournament of Kings at Excalibur in Las Vegas uses fast fake weapons. The Blaviken fight with Renfri is amazing! That must have been a real bitch to choreograph.

 

The part where he split the guys head open had me and my girl jump outta bed

So basically if u don't have prior knowledge of the materials the timeline thing will be confusing as fuck and it will take probably half the series for u to have any clue what's going on lol

 

Also I think they miscast triss by a mile

Also his use of signs is questionable. He's only used I think two signs, Ard and Yrden. Kind of shocked he hasn't used Axii or Quen at all

So basically if u don't have prior knowledge of the materials the timeline thing will be confusing as fuck and it will take probably half the series for u to have any clue what's going on lol

 

Also I think they miscast triss by a mile

Also his use of signs is questionable. He's only used I think two signs, Ard and Yrden. Kind of shocked he hasn't used Axii or Quen at all

Hi tried to use Axii on Renfri, but magic doesn't affect her. I don't recall seeing him use Yrden?

Also I couldn't help but notice he doesn't carry 2 swords? One steel for humans/beasts, one Silver for magical creatures?

 

But there was a scene in the bar where he met Dandillion where it should 2 swords in his backpack thingy, weird

Just watched the first two episodes last night and am halfway through episode 3. I think they've done a pretty awesome job so far. It is surprising that he hasn't used magic more frequently but that hasn't ruined anything for me at this point.

 

I agree that they miscast Triss. I was expecting more.

 

I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season and what's to come after it.

He used a sign to seal the tomb so the stryga couldn't get in it. I thought it was Quen. I asked about the sword thing a year ago, and I guess he only has one on his back in the books. This is definitely a show I must watch more than once to absorb the details... and the timeline. I like it... some will not... but it's a fantasy show, and you have to accept that going in. I love all the politics.

I probably will not be on until the 26th... Merry Christmas everyone!

https://youtu.be/J12piNzOVuI?t=60

 

Anyone notice at 1:01 how he deflected another arrow shot?

I don't see an arrow lol

I don't see an arrow lol

gotta watch it carefully, notice the guy that shoots the arrow is reloading just before Geralt gets to him.. He isn't reloading from the first shot lol

but no arrow is actually deflected.  looks like an editing/continuity error to me 

Our new show has been given a second and third season already. It's the number two most popular series on Netflix for 2019... second only to Stranger Things 3. I hope they can keep it up without falling on their face like GoT did. I'm ready for more now.

Our new show has been given a second and third season already. It's the number two most popular series on Netflix for 2019... second only to Stranger Things 3. I hope they can keep it up without falling on their face like GoT did. I'm ready for more now.

imagine and it was literally released at the end of the year

One thing I noticed… it was widely reported that anyone that was cast in Game of Thrones was banned from The Witcher.

 

Queen Calanthe is played by Jodhi May, who played Maggy the Frog in Game of Thrones. She was the witch in the woods that told a younger Cercei her future in the first episode of season 5. That was only a few minutes in the show, so let's not count that one.

 

But... this one we have to call BS on. Francis Magee plays Yurga in The Witcher. He's the travelling merchant Geralt saves from necrophages on the road, who also turns out to be the husband of the woman who takes in Ciri after her incident with her old "friends" from Cintra. Francis Magee also plays Yoren of the Night's Watch, and guardian of Arya, for 7 episodes in seasons 1 and 2 of GoT.

 

So what do you think? Season 2 with Peter Dinklage as Zoltan Chivay? …. no, I don't think so.