When *The Witcher* first appeared on Netflix in 2019, many people predicted it would be the next big fantasy hit, similar to *Game of Thrones*. The ending of *Game of Thrones* had just disappointed a lot of viewers, and *The Witcher* offered a fresh start, backed by a complete series of novels. The show is based on the rich world created by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, drawing heavily from Slavic mythology. These books became incredibly popular and even inspired the award-winning video game series from CD Projekt Red, with *The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt* winning Game of the Year and remaining a fan favorite.
Bringing *The Witcher* to life as a live-action series in the West was a huge challenge, and viewers had high hopes, especially after the disappointing ending of *Game of Thrones*. Initial reactions to *The Witcher* weren’t always objective. While Henry Cavill was perfectly cast as Geralt of Rivia and fully dedicated to the role, many fans disliked the first season. It’s unclear if this was due to overly high expectations or changes made from the original books, but viewers were generally unimpressed. However, with time, the first season of *The Witcher* deserves to be recognized as a complex and ultimately rewarding television experience.
Viewers Complained About the Different Timelines
Andrzej Sapkowski created a richly detailed world, so any adaptation needs a clear strategy for explaining its history and rules. His fantasy world stands out because of its complex magic system, which began with a cataclysmic event called the Conjunction of the Spheres. This world, known simply as The Continent, wasn’t always a place where magic existed.
Centuries ago, a magical world merged with ours, bringing with it monsters and other strange beings. The Continent was overrun with dangerous creatures like Werewolves, Botchlings, and Leshings, and humans were helpless against them. In a desperate attempt to survive, they developed a plan to transform young boys, giving them the strength to fight and the ability to live forever. However, these enhanced individuals, while powerful, were often ostracized and feared by the rest of society.
Witchers were monster hunters with magical powers. However, as fear of magic grew and people realized Witchers accepted payment for their services, they began to be seen as outsiders and were often treated with prejudice. Geralt was one of these Witchers, trained by the School of the Wolf, and he generally tried to remain impartial, even showing concern for the monsters themselves. Despite this, Witchers were often labeled as mutants and thought to be incapable of feeling emotions.
The Netflix series *The Witcher* needed to lay a lot of groundwork, including explaining the ongoing war between the Northern Kingdoms and Nilfgaard, who are trying to conquer the entire continent. The show did this by dedicating several episodes to developing each character and establishing the world’s central conflicts.
As the show went on, it became apparent that the episodes weren’t happening in chronological order. The story actually unfolded across three different time periods, skillfully woven together. This might have been a little confusing initially, but there were subtle clues for attentive viewers to pick up on.
The Law of Surprise Gave the Game Away
The story of Renfri, a princess Geralt met early on, was a major hint about the larger world. She was born during an eclipse and was one of several young girls believed to have special, potentially dangerous mutations. The sorcerer Stregobor thought these girls were inherently evil and tried to kill them all. Geralt got involved in this situation, handling it in his usual way, but Renfri’s story wasn’t finished – viewers would encounter it again later.
When Princess Cirilla was first introduced, the mage Mousesack shared a story about a group trying to eliminate girls with magical abilities – a story that took place long before Ciri was born. This moment signaled that the narrative wasn’t unfolding in a straightforward, chronological order.
As the story progresses, Geralt investigates a Striga, discovering it was born from an incestuous relationship between King Foltest and his sister. By this time, Foltest is a regretful man in his middle years. We also learn about Yennefer‘s past, and during a flashback, we see a young King Foltest already fixated on his sister.
The key moment came when Geralt unintentionally invoked the Law of Surprise as payment for a favor. This made it clear to viewers that Geralt and Ciri had a history stretching back years. He traveled to Cintra during a royal feast where Princess Pavetta was seeking a husband. After aiding Pavetta, Geralt received a unique reward: something he already possessed but didn’t realize – Pavetta’s future daughter, Ciri.
It became very clear that *The Witcher* used flashbacks and different points in time to build its world and explain why Ciri was so crucial to Geralt. Geralt spent a long time trying to escape his fate and avoid accepting Ciri, which only caused him more suffering. His life really began when he embraced his role as a father figure to her.
The first season of *The Witcher* built to a pivotal moment when Ciri and Geralt finally crossed paths in the forest, a meeting determined by fate. Their connection is the heart of the entire series, and even when later seasons struggled, their relationship remained a strong point. Geralt and Ciri provided the show’s emotional core, and that powerful moment wouldn’t have worked without the carefully woven storylines. In a landscape of repetitive streaming thrillers, audiences weren’t quite prepared for the show’s complex and layered approach.
Netflix Was Not the Right Place For The Witcher
Popular shows like *Stranger Things* fit neatly into what people expect from Netflix – a straightforward story aimed at a younger audience. While fantastical, it always followed a clear timeline. If *The Witcher* was intended to be a major fantasy hit, Netflix wasn’t the right home for it, given the platform’s history of canceling expensive fantasy series, even when fans love them. *Stranger Things* and *Squid Game* are exceptions to this trend. Netflix does offer some mature and violent content, but it’s not known for complex or sophisticated storytelling.
It might have been a better fit for *The Witcher* to air on HBO, which previously handled a similar storyline well. When *Westworld* debuted in 2016, it received high praise for its season-ending reveal that William and The Man in Black were the same person. *Westworld* also created a complicated, thought-provoking plot – a maze – that ultimately led to Dolores becoming self-aware.
Netflix’s other fantasy shows weren’t as intricate as this one. While *The Witcher* followed three different storylines at the same time, it didn’t require viewers to figure out a strict order for them. The multiple stories simply showed that events spanned a longer period than initially apparent, and helped explain how long Geralt spent wandering alone before letting someone close to him.
If *The Witcher* had been on HBO instead, it probably would have been better received. The show’s mature themes would have been a good fit for the network. Andrzej Sapkowski’s stories explore ideas that resonate with today’s audiences, like the mistreatment of those who are different – the way magical creatures are viewed in the series clearly mirrors how refugees are often treated in our world.
While Witchers often face prejudice, Elves suffer far more. When worlds collided, Elves were brought into a new, hostile land and immediately subjected to widespread killings. Their homes were destroyed, and their children were murdered in an attempt to wipe out their entire people. This world differs from many fantasy stories by realistically portraying the difficult consequences that magic could have on society, rather than idealizing Elves.
The world created in *The Witcher* is full of well-developed characters and meaningful themes, making it disappointing to see the show struggle on its streaming platform. It was particularly surprising to see Henry Cavill finish his role as Geralt after Season 3, considering how passionately he’d fought to get the part initially. His replacement in Season 4 was a controversial decision, and many fans will find it difficult to watch the show without him, as he had become so strongly associated with the character.
Many viewers often speculate about what could have been if *The Witcher* had premiered on a network like HBO. The show’s creators made the right choice in building a complex and fascinating world, even though some viewers initially disliked it. Season 1 remains the strongest and most rewatchable season, and it deserves another look – it’s likely to be appreciated more over time.
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2025-10-15 06:08