Top Ten Worst Decisions by Netflix regarding the Witcher

I'm not really a "hater" when it comes to the internet. Outrage clicks are one of the easiest ways for anyone to make a name for themselves, but this website has thrived on giving fair shakes where fair shakes are due. Nevertheless, there are some occasions where you have to speak out against bad decisions in terms of handling properties.

This is particularly pronounced in the handling of Netflix's The Witcher. The incredibly beloved property is something that has undergone a lot of criticism for casting issues, behind-the-scenes turmoil, and inexplicable changes to the plot. The most notable being driving away beloved human adonis/fantasy geek Henry Cavill for reasons that there are conflicting reports on. If nothing else, he seems to have been one of the creators who cared most about the property.

I don't have any issues with casting or the behind-the-scenes infighting. The characters not looking like The Witcher video games' interpretation when the video games' versions don't look like the books (Triss has brown hair, Flame Dammit) isn't an issue, I'm going to focus instead on the changes that I feel like most hurt the show: changes to the characters as well as plot.

The Witcher was an incredibly well-crafted setting with deeply rich characters that formed an intricate tapestry. The show, by contrast, made several egregious changes that resulted in the pulling of threads that unraveled the whole pattern. These changes started in season one, became impossible to ignore in season two, and season three spent much of its time trying to undo them.

If you have an issue with these criticisms or think I'm being unfair, that's fine. It's only my opinion. Take note that this list will include spoilers for The Witcher seasons 1-3.

10. Geralt the Grunter

Henry Cavill is widely considered to be the best part of The Witcher show and that is undeniable. However, his choice of handling Geralt's character isn't 100% book accurate. Henry Cavill's interpretation is a man of few words who let's his actions speak for him. This is 180 from Geralt who is a surprisingly chatty sort who constantly lets the reader know his opinions on just about everything. Indeed, one might argue that the reason he tolerates Jaskier is so that he has someone to unload on with all his (many) opinions.

9. Prince Radovid the Adult

A controversial change was the transformation of Prince Radovid of Redania from a young boy to being a bisexual romance interest for Jaskier (a straight character in the books as far as Sapkowski has indicated). The character's sexuality is not actually the problem but the fact that raising Radovid to adulthood derails an entire subplot of the books. Dikstra and Philipa Eilhart become the masters of Redania due to the fact they rule as Radovid's regents. Kind of hard to do that with an adult man.

8. Voleth Meir or "Who?"

Season Two's most inexplicable choice was creating the character of Voleth Meir, effectively an adaptation of Eastern European Mythology's Baba Yaga, and having her drive the entirety of the plot. Adapting Baba Yaga isn't a terrible idea but Season Two already has a huge amount of plot beats that are pushed aside from her. The character also massively derrails the characterization of several major players and creates plot holes that can never be resolved. Because she's not part of the plot in the books, everything she does warps the story. Like if you did The Lord of the Rings and the One Ring ended up in the Shire because of the Wicked Witch of the West's war with Sauron.

7. Vilgefortz the Wimp

Vilgefortz is close to a Big Bad as exists in the Witcher books as probably exists. The most powerful mage in the world, a terrifying genius, and one of the world's greatest warriors. Someone who managed to utterly crush Geralt in their fight with our hero left realizing that he had no chance in any contest of arms. The one in the show is treated more like a dandy and has his critical role as the champion of Sodden Hill given to Tissaia. This has its own problem because Tissaia is a woman who is primarily motivated by her belief in magical neutrality.

6. Queen Calanthe of Cintra's genocide

Queen Calanthe is a beloved character in the Witcher books, being Ciri's overprotective grandmother and one of the few individuals able to stand up to Geralt of Rivia. The show inexplicably (that's a word I'm going to be using a lot) decides to make her guilty of a massive genocide of elves. This despite or because of the fact she has elvish blood herself. This kind of impacts our view of the character that she's guilty of horrifying war crimes, especially given Ciri favors her elvish blood.

5. Yennefer doesn't really want kids

Yennefer's major plot in the books is the fact she was sterilized against her will by either the prolonged use of magic or as a deliberate act by Tissaia who believes that magic-users should only devote themselves to sorcery. The one in the show consciously sacrifices the ability then gets buyer's remorse. The show seems uncertain about the idea of a woman being obsessed with having a family and thus makes Yennefer more ambivalent about it. Except, the book make it the subject of a decades-long quest. It's a bit like Batman or the Punisher fighting criminals as a hobby. It may be unhealthy but it's what they do.

4. Fringilla and Cahir the Psychopaths

If there is anything that summarizes the issues of the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher, it is probably the fact that they took a series already infamous for its darkness and decided it needed to be darker. This is embodied by the fact Fringilla is a love interest of Geralt's from the books and Cahir a young ordinary soldier of Nilfgard. Both get elevated to being supervillains for the Galactic Empire-esque Nilfgard.

3. Eskel the Redshirt

Eskel is a fairly minor character in The Witcher. However, minor doesn't mean unimportant. Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru are minor characters in Star Wars: A New Hope. Specifically, Eskel is Geralt's adopted brother and one of the people he grew up with. He has a bigger role in the games but even book purists were annoyed to see him killed purely to make it clear what a big threat Voleth Meir is despite, again, her having a huge role warps the tight narrative of the books.

2. Francesca Findabair the Baby Murderer

I'll be honest, this one just pisses me off. The treatment of the elves in the show is made analogous to that of Jews in Medieval Europe (which is incorrect since the dwarves fill that role). Jaskier actually has a subplot of running an Underground Railroad-esque organization that I actually liked. However, Fransceca's baby is murdered by what she assumes is Redanians and she murders every single newborn in the capital in revenge. In effect, Jewish coded characters kill babies. Screw this plot.

1. Yennefer trying to kill Ciri

Now for the absolute worst change in the entirety of the series. In Season Two, Yennefer makes a deal with Voleth Meir to get her powers back. She is willing to trade Ciri to her. You know, Ciri, the woman who comes to view her as a mother and she's willing to die rather than betray. For magic. Our heroine ladies and gentleman. The story never recovers from this plotline and Season Three fails to repair it, which derails the entire plot. It's the equivalent of Bilbo stabbing Frodo and taking the Ring.

Honorable Mention: Turning failed academy students into eels, having harlots in the secret location of Caer Morhen, and attempting to hide the traitor with Stregobor's racism.