Netflix’sThe Witcheris the latest adaptation of of the franchise, this time premiering on the streaming platform. From original novels, immensely popular video games, and now this, it seems safe to say that fans are being treated with such a diverse portfolio of adaptations.Note: This article contains minor spoilers for Netflix’sThe Witcher.
The Witcher,as mentioned above, was originally published in Poland in the early 1990s and consisted of two collections of short stories featuring Geralt of Rivia and some of the tales that fans have come to recognize him for. After the two short story collections were published, Sapkowski then released a series of novels connected to the collections known asThe Witcher Saga.After the novels, a film and TV series were adapted from them for the screen in Poland, almost two decades before the Netflix series. Those iterations of theThe Witcherwere calledThe Hexer,which is basically another translation from the original title -Wiedźmin.
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CD Projekt Redstarted its own adaptation of the series through video games with the release of 2007’sThe Witcher,the sequels of which brought the franchise to the level of popularity that the Netflix show is currently harvesting to great success. And for fans who want more, here is what fans should consider picking up at first, be it a video game or a book, to continue scratching thatWitcheritch.
The Last Wish And Sword Of Destiny
Thefirst season of Netflix’sThe Witcheris primarily based on the first two publications in the series -The Last WishandThe Sword of Destiny.The two short story collections feature the same key plot points that are found in the Netflix show and thus would make for a great reading to get some original context (albeit via translation). One of the storylines that carried over include Foltest’s Striga problem which is portrayed in the Netflix show quite accurately.
Episode 4 of the show -Of Banquets, Bastards, and Burials- features another story, a celebration at Queen Calanthe’s palace, and is considered to be one of the most important moments in the show’s plot. The main difference between the novel and the show is thelevel of Geralt’sreluctance throughout the unfolding chaos in the palace. Going back to read these stories after watching the show should bring up interesting comparisons.
Blood Of Elves
Though it was released afterThe Last WishandSword of Destiny,Blood of Elvesis considered to be the first ofThe Witcher Saga.Season two of Netflix’sThe Witcheris more than likely going to feature a sizable chunk of source material fromBlood of Elves,so it makes sense to get a jump on the show by reading the novel in advance ofThe Witcher’ssecond season’s eventual release on Netflix. Some key plot points the show can take from this novel include Geralt’s supervision over Ciri at Kaer Morhen, the sanctuary that holds the former training ground of Witchers.
It could also feature, earlier on than in the novel,Yennefer’s introductionand subsequent relationship with Ciri as one of the main storylines. If the final words of season one, Ciri’s “who is Yennefer" are any indication, then their relationship probably will be explored a little more. The plotlines inBlood of Elvescan also be found inThe Witcherline of video games.
CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher Games
More specifically, those who have never played any ofThe Witchergames would probably have the best experience playingThe Witcher 3:Wild Hunt,due to it being the most recent and biggest game in the series. The game does show a small optional cut-scene at the beginning that allows for the player to pick pre-generated outcomes that simulate choices from the previous games. Though the more dedicated could enjoy playing the original two games first, most are better off just starting with the third.
With the complete edition ofThe Witcher 3,which includes the huge expansion packsHearts of StoneandBlood and Wine,new players can expect an enormous amount of playableWitchercontent that features many of the stories from the novels (and subsequently the show as well). For those who have playedThe Witcher 3and are looking for a similar game to get their hands on,Assassin’s Creed Odysseyis about as close toThe Witcheras theAssassin’s Creedseries has gotten. Still,The Witcher 3’snew game plus modeis always there for a replay just in case.
The Witcheris available now on Netflix.
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