Netflix's Witcher vs. The Games vs. The Books

What differences and similarities you can expect between Netflix's Witcher series, Sapkowski's books, and CD Projekt Red's popular games.

[Masterchief_thegoat]

The Witcher tv is based on the book??? So how can this be vs the book. Beside the (characters skin color).. to me games will always will be better. Since is not limited to budgets, creatively, longer story. When it comes to the Witcher. I go with games first, second tv show and Third with the book. In order

[smolinsk]

What are you talking about? What are you trying to say?

[TheKingKratos]

God i thought it was only me who didn't understand

[Masterchief_thegoat]

The game is better than the book and tv show. But I like three of them. That what I was trying said. My bad I was drinking when I wrote that.

[william_cade]

Were you complaining when Johnny Depp played a Native American? I doubt it. You have to be an idiot to think skin color matters when dealing with make believe characters in an extension of theatre. Now if this show were to be some kind of portrayal of historical accuracy then you might have a point about skin color.

[DragoonUS]

When Johnny Depp played a Native American did this matter to you? And when Scarlett Johansson played
Motoko Kusanagi in Ghost in the Shell, did this matter to you? Did matter to you that Laurence Olivier played Othello on theater?
For me, if you have Japanese Actors to make a japanese character makes the most sense, is just respect for the real creator of the book you are basing your work. If your character is White, your actor should be white, don't you think? The same for any other race.

You would get angry and call people idiots if they use a white actors to make let's say, a Magic world of African Tribe Fantasy based on Umbanda religion full of Slavic, Redhead and Japanese people? They certainly have an amazing mythology… Just like the Slavic, Polish people from The Witcher!
Would you mind this? An Withe African Warlord with blue eyes? Would you mind this or, anyone can take any role?
You know what? You are a hypocrite! You are the idiot here.

[Masterchief_thegoat]

I don’t have a problem with the skin tone compare to other people mainly triss. But that where the hate get from. I can’t wait for season 2

[william_cade]

@Dragoon
How am I a hypocrite? I don't care what color an actor is? If you care you would be the hypocrite and an enormous idiot.

According to you, no one can be in a Greek Tragedy unless they are Greek, no one cane be in a Shakespeare play unless they are English etc.

Skin color is a random genetic mutation that has to do with vitamin D intake, it has no bearing what so ever on culture, which is what entertainment is, culture is not genetic, you dolt.

[Masterchief_thegoat]

I don’t mind triss skin tone since I’m black.. triss is only character is getting hate from. Not making this bs up

[william_cade]

@the goat

I'm not sure a skin color has anything to do with some that cares or doesn't care. I'm a American/Latin american mutt, but that doesn't matter in this argument because our skin color is a random genetic occurrences.

And yes the games are better.

[ShadowWolf712]

"The games are better"
Very subjective and I disagree.

[silenthillstrangler]

What would be your take on a white shaft or white black panther?

[CorndogBurglar]

Some people just want the characters to resemble what they've known them to look like for so long.

For example, all the super hero movies, Marvel especially, has not hesitated to change characters' races. These are characters that people like me have been reading about for over 30 years of their lives.

So yeah, it's weird seeing a character's race change and I don't like it. No matter what their race is. So don't think I missed your not-so subtle remark about "not complaining when Johnny Depp played a Native American". Its all the same with people like you. So quick to play the race card when it has nothing to do with prejudice.

At the end of the day I want my white characters to LOOK white and any other race of characters to LOOK their part also. That doesn't mean only someone of Greek descent can play Wonder Woman. Anyone, from anywhere should be able to play any character.......as long as they resemble the character and can be convincing in the role.

People like to say that there aren't enough black roles in Hollywood. Or that there aren't enough popular black super heroes. Or that a black led movie won't be successful. But that's all 100% BS.

1. Marvel has created the largest shared universe, and most successful film franchise in Hollywood based entirely around making B, C, and D List characters popular. Any movienthey make makes truckloads of money. You mean to tell me a War Machine movie wouldn't do well? They can take any black character in the comics and turn them into a popular movie.

2. Jordan Peele has made films with all black casts that have been liked by both fans and critics. Black Panther made a billion at the box office. Blade was successful 20 years ago, and that was a black led, superhero film that very few people realized was a Marvel Comics character at the time. It did so well it got 3 movies made.

If good movies are made, it doesn't matter what color the main character is. People are going to see it. It's been proven time after time in Hollywood. So if writers aren't creating enough roles then there is a different problem that needs to be addressed. But it doesn't get fixed by race-swapping established characters.

If anything that's more insulting and degrading. Its basically admitting that black actors can only be successful by piggy-backing off of white characters. That seems far worse, in my opinion.

[MadLad]

I think this comment gave me cancer.
Thanks for the cancer.

[silenthillstrangler]

This reply gave me The hiv.

[MadLad]

@silent

Probably wasn't the reply.

[ShadowWolf712]

Well that's not sketchy at all.

Also, books are limited only by your own imagination, my guy. That'd be the one not limited by budget or time constraints.

[Shiken]

The books and games go hand in hand, they cannot really be compared as both are needed for the full story. The games do take place right before the games after all.

The show is a TV telling of the books, so books and TV can actually be compared.

Spoiler alert...the show is good, but as is the case most of the time, the books are better.

[yoshatabi]

You make no damn sense. Both videogames and movies have more of a budget than books

[X-Alchemist]

The books so far are the best for me and maybe the games are on par with them but the series is just alright for me. I’m enjoying it but it’s triggering me how they’re rushing things, misrepresenting some small characters and brushing over some decent storylines. I get it though it’s a tv show with only so many minutes but still, not a huge fan. I hope the next season they hire a better cinematographer too as I’m getting some strong Xena/Hercules 90s vibes.

[Masterchief_thegoat]

The game is better than book. And the tv show lack the budget since is the first season. Not even got had the budget. when it aired the first time. Give it time

[battlegrog]

I tonight this was supposed to have a high budget from the start

[MrVux000]

Since when is 90 million of US dollars ''lacking budget'' for an 8 episode show? GOT had a budget of 60 million of US dollars and still produced a much better narrative and visual experiance than Netlfix The Witcher.

[brando008]

Yeah, thought the same about the series. It picks apart so many huge parts of the books and strings them together in rapid succession, losing a ton of impact. I think I enjoyed the books because of how great the 2nd and 3rd games were.

[King_Noctis]

I love the game. But I’d say in some instances the book is better. The conversations that Geralt and other characters have in the book are often mind blowing.

[bluefox755]

Haven't watched the show yet, but from the trailers it looked pretty bad.

[gunnerforlife]

Tbh it wasn't bad! It was a good show, nothing mind blowing though, It definitely deserves a second season!

[MadLad]

It's worthwhile. Faithful to the books. Fairly well acted, despite a few odd casting choices. Looking forward to season 2, as far off as it is.

[DigitallyAfflicted]

I didn't read the books but the tv show is OK, got some good twists and once you get it that there is two different timelines over lapping becomes even more interesting

[gunnerforlife]

Loooll 😂 😂 mate I got so confused at 1 point about that! I was like wait wait wtf just happened? Why's he eating dinner with the queen but there's a princess there that looks older then the girl 😂haha, it was like a light bulb went off above my head!! Ohhh Ohhhh Ohhhh loooooll

[DigitallyAfflicted]

@gunnerforlife

Me too buddy. I as well did like the twist in episode 4, then I really got in to it.... I'm not gonna say what it was don't want to spoil the surprise... but if you've seen it the you know ;D

[mixelon]

I’m loving the show so far for what it is though I laughed pretty hard at the exposition elf. It’s a great show but it needs to learn it can teach by showing rather than have characters do huge plot dumps to catch us up. 😂

[Elda]

I couldn't get into the game but the Netflix series is pretty good.

[WelkinCole]

Interesting. Which parts of the TV show you liked?. For me it was pretty good but not as good as it could have been if they didn't rush the story

[Elda]

I just watched the first 3 episodes last night & I like it so far especially with the ladies trying to learn magic.

[DigitallyAfflicted]

Not sure what you mean by rush the story? Was that all the books in 1 season ?

[King_Noctis]

The Witcher Netflix come now where near the game, both in term of quality And story telling. If you enjoy the Netflix series, but didn’t enjoy the game (which is superior in almost every ways) then I would urge you to give it another try.

[Elda]

I tried TW3 3 different times because of the hype for the game but I just could not get into to the game,for me the game was uninteresting & a bore to play.

[Rivia2016]

Well……Unlike you guys, I'm in a country where people don't play political correctness cards. So I'll be straightforward: The Netflix show is OK overall, but sucks at casting. The forced deversity is plain as hell for anyone who's not afraid to talk about PC bullshit. The whole Witcher IP is nothing without the games, and it is to the games that the casting should remain true, which your Amercian's cannot ensure, for obvious reasons.

[MadLad]

I like the show; not hyped on the casting. When you throw ethnicity into the fold for the simple sake of it, it's pointless. In this case, it goes against the original vision of the writing itself. Do I really care that it's there? No. I care that someone felt the need to make it a point. I mean, c'mon; between those who played the games, and read/listened to the books, we know this was a largely white society. What's so bad about holding to that already established truth? I had no issue watching and enjoying Black Panther without feeling left out.

[DigitallyAfflicted]

There is an other reason for mixed ethnic actor’s present and that is to include minorities.

Just in case explaining is still needed it's to help people to bond and become one happy community and hopefully in future make as all somehow connected instead of divided as we are now...

[MadLad]

@digitally

Inclusivity for inclusivity's sake is plain placation. I'm not for this hand holding, everyone is included crap. Again, as I stated, no issue not being "included" in something like Black Panther; I still somehow managed to enjoy the movie and not be offended. Believing in true equality and representation doesn't mean everyone needs to be included in every and all piece of media.

[S2Killinit]

I love the show so far.

[xenz]

Game is still my favourite, but the show is also very good. Looking forward to the next season!

[Nerdmaster]

For a moment I read "Circumspect" as "Circumcised", and asked myself "how do they know that?"

[silenthillstrangler]

The wokeness is ironclad with this one. Very disappointing attempt of a beloved game series/book series.
Why is everyone tearing up in every supposed strong dramatic scene in this and in most movies of late?!
Its very prevalent in this generation of actors, rather pathetic. It betrays the power of a stoic scene.

[ChristopherJack]

I'm enjoying the show but I have a few minor problems with it.

The pacing is all over the place, even I found it hard to keep track of what is happening in which order.

The monsters look pretty low budget & the designs are questionable (I don't expect GoT quality but the dragons in particular look pretty shit imo).

I really like Triss from the game, so such a drastic difference is a little disappointing. The actor herself seems fine but again, didn't match my expectations(I also really hate overly frizzy/curly hair for some reason). That said, she actually does have a similar face but her tone & hair are way off. (yes, I know the show is based on the books, not the games).

[sagapo]

Games were awesome, TV series were ok, didn’t read the books...

[MrVux000]

I enjoyed the books the most. The games respects the book lore for the most part and have good quality.

The series however, felt like a B quality movie/series with low budget, and the lore has a lot of misses, that is without mentioning the casting black actors in place of white characters in medieval fantasy world....that is heavily inspired by....medival slavic world that had almost ZERO racial mixing and were total racist fuqs.

But even if you all of that aside, the overall character interactions seem inauthentic and unnatural in just about every scene.

tl;dr The show isn't terrible but it's FAAAR from being good.

[King_Noctis]

Going into the show, if I haven’t read the book first I would say it is acceptable. But since I had read The Last Wish, the show seems rush in alot of parts.

[MrVux000]

Yup, the show will definately be more appealing to people that didn't read the books.