Shaonak Kolte

First of all, I'm a big fan of the witcher Universe and I am glad it is getting some recognition especially amongst the non gaming fraternity as for gamers, they'd stand by me as I say Witcher Universe is one of the best universes ever made. Netflix has done an amazing job and shown us that it is capable of telling us the meandering and branching stories set in the witcher Universe. This review is based on accuracy of the portrayed content and season 1 is pretty accurate to say the least. Positives: 1. Geralt is portrayed perfectly by Henry Cavill. Great job. Though Henry is a lil bit more animated but I guess it's just because of what the screen demands. 2. I had my doubts about Anya chalotra's portrayal of yennefer but she proved me wrong. 3. Geralt-yennefer section is pretty accurate with us already getting the taste of a long on-off relationship saga. danger (destiny) brings them together and their insecurities with being vulnerable pushes them away from each other, just like in the books. P.S. geralt can feel love n it's pretty spot on. 4. Ciri is the most accurate of all castings. 5. Dandelion (jaskier) is my favourite character in the witcher Universe and he is bloody what he is. Great job with the portrayal n great job jaskier! making geralt famous. Negatives: 1. As it's a Netflix series, the season one slowly explores approximately only 5% of the story n thus there's problem with pace or it might occur later but for a neutral eye, the pacing of season 1 is characteristic Netflix and it does make a statement at the end. The actual problem with pace is that some parts of the season are rushed where audience needs to understand certain concepts of the witcher Universe (Though it's a minor inconvenience as one can look it up on Google n get stuff immediately) and other parts are slow, emphasising emotions. 2. Timeline of season one should be understood. Yennefer's origin and the chapter of mages (beginning from ep2) is set many many years before the actual events. Geralt's story is set in 2 parts which are 12 years apart (when or before ciri was in womb and when ciri is 12 year old), the adventures with dandelion (upto episode 6) are set before the 12 years skip and from episode 7 it is in the present. Ciri's events are all in present. None of it is clearly told to us by the series. It's easy for a fan though clues like young and old foltest are provided. 3. Triss merigold is portrayed inaccurately with respect to how she looks (bad casting), her powers and her treatment (she's portrayed an unimportant side character) but the actor does a brilliant job as her behaviour, fragility, naiveness is on point. Eventually they will explore the geralt-triss arc and I think they gotta do something about the triss. (As mages can change looks, recasting won't be a problem) Geralt-triss > Geralt-yennefer trust me. Verdict: leaving aside the minor flaws, the series does justice to the origin stories and the "begining of the end" and as it is only season 1 now, I'm sure there's more (accurate stuff) to come.