By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
Grab your silver sword, drink your potions, and immerse yourself in the captivating world of The Witcher!
The return of Geralt of Rivia for a third time is a bittersweet moment, as Volume 1 marks the beginning of the end for Henry Cavill. Now, I could say A LOT about his departure, and the reasons behind it, but I will try to remain focused on the series at hand. Henry Cavill was the perfect Geralt, and his absence will be evident in Series 4!
Anyway, on to the review…
After the first few episodes had passed, it was clear that they have now entered the “saga” portion of the storytelling, with most of the first two series taken from the two short-story collections. There were familiar stories, some adapted a little clumsily some with changes that I heartily approve of! One of the horror stories, regarding some of the writers, is that they are trying to make the show more “funny”. But there is subtle humour already, and this balance was tipped too far in the wrong direction in some scenes. The fact they wanted to make Roach’s death, last season, a comedic moment, rather than the heartfelt scene Cavill pushed for, says a lot about some of the writer’s intentions – and acts as a huge red flag for Series 4! There are multiple stories and sub-plots weaved within the main narrative, and some of these are more successful in their execution than others. But as an adaption from the source material? I think, overall, it’s handled pretty well.
Of course, one cannot discuss The Witcher without mentioning the outstanding performances. Henry Cavill shines once again as Geralt of Rivia, bringing both vulnerability and strength to the iconic character. His portrayal is nothing short of mesmerising, and it’s evident that Cavill has an undeniable passion for this role. The chemistry between the cast members is palpable, further enhancing the dynamic between Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, and Jaskier played brilliantly by Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, and Joey Batey respectively. These talented actors effortlessly breathe life into their characters, making it impossible not to become emotionally invested in their journeys.
As for negatives? Firstly there were the action sequences! These are few and far between in this series, but when they do engage with them, most are nothing short of spectacular, combining swordplay, magic, and adrenaline-fueled combat that will leave you on the edge of your seat. I think this first volume moves away from the monsters and the sword fights, to build upon the multiple story threads, but again, I think the balance is slightly off. When we did see some monsters, while for the most part, they looked ok, I thought some of the visual effects were the worst the show has been so far, which is a little concerning.
With the first volume ending with a soft cliffhanger, I eagerly await its return next month to see the conclusion of The Witcher, Series 3 and have the chance to say farewell to Henry Cavill.
Despite some clumsy writing and visual choices, the incredible performance power of the cast keeps the first volume of The Witcher Series 3 on course to being a fitting final outing for Henry Cavill’s Geralt of Rivia.
X-Geeks 