As far as high-fantasy TV shows and movies adapted from books go, no two franchises are as iconic as The Lord of the Rings films and HBO’s Game of Thrones. However, while both are based on iconic works of fantasy literature, they’re also remarkably different experiences. The Lord of the Rings is defined by mythic adventure and timeless heroism, while Game of Thrones built its reputation on shocking violence and political brutality.

The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones approach swords and sorcery from entirely distinct angles. The former is a wholesome high-fantasy epic with heroism at its core, presenting a story where good and evil are clearly defined even when its heroes face immense temptation. The latter is a violent, gritty saga set in a medieval world struggling to comprehend the return of the fantastical, populated by morally grey characters. Many may wonder what a blend between the two would be like, and fortunately, Netflix’s The Witcher exists to provide an answer.

Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s acclaimed book series, The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill/Liam Hemsworth), a monster hunter navigating a dangerous Continent where humans, elves, sorcerers, and monsters collide. The Netflix show has aired four seasons, with a fifth and final season on the way. For fantasy fans who have yearned to see the morally murky atmosphere of Game of Thrones applied to a high-fantasy realm like Middle-earth, The Witcher should be considered essential viewing.

Netflix’s The Witcher TV Views Tolkien’s High Fantasy Through Martin’s Violent Lens

Netflix’s The Witcher is the perfect halfway point between The Lord of the Rings movies and HBO’s Game of Thrones. Like Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth films and the J.R.R Tolkien novels they adapt, it embraces high fantasy without restraint. Its Continent is filled with elves, dwarves, monsters, sorcerers, ancient prophecies, and magic. It’s a setting filled with the kind of fantastical elements that Game of Thrones initially kept largely at the edges of its world.

However, The Witcher approaches that fantasy through a far darker lens. It’s violent, sexually mature, politically unstable, and frequently horrifying, much like Westeros in HBO’s hit adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Characters are rarely defined by simple heroism, and even those who attempt to do the right thing can cause devastating consequences. Geralt is himself a particularly strong example, as his profession and worldview place him outside conventional ideas of morality while repeatedly forcing him to make no-win choices.

The Witcher also shares Game of Thrones‘ fascination with political intrigue and international tension. Its magical world can feel like Middle-earth without the uncompromisingly good heroes who protect it. Instead of incorruptible champions like Aragorn and Gandalf, The Witcher presents a realm where many of its inhabitants are flawed, frightened, selfish, or simply trying to survive. That combination makes it feel like The Lord of the Rings viewed through the brutal, morally complicated perspective that made Game of Thrones so iconic.

Sadly, Netflix’s Witcher Series Doesn’t Live Up To Its Own Legacy

While The Witcher functions well as a blend between HBO’s Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings movies, it is also clearly not as good as either, and it would be hard to argue otherwise. That is especially disappointing because Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher novels easily stand alongside George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books and J.R.R. Tolkien’s extensive works set in Middle-earth in terms of quality. The source material has the depth, complexity, and imagination necessary to support an adaptation of genuine greatness.

Sadly, The Netflix series’ failure to consistently live up to The Witcher novels has been one of its defining criticisms since its debut season. Concerns about the treatment of Sapkowski’s writing became even more prominent amid the behind-the-scenes controversies surrounding Henry Cavill’s departure from the series. While the precise circumstances remain debated, Cavill’s exit became closely associated with wider concerns about the adaptation’s creative direction and its relationship with the source material.

Netflix’s The Witcher is not necessarily a bad show. It has compelling performances and impressive fantasy spectacle, all of which is delivered with a blockbuster prestige TV polish. However, its position as a potential successor to both Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings created expectations that the Netflix series was never quite able to fulfill. Given how respected and beloved Andrzej Sapkowski’s books are, The Witcher should not merely have felt like Game of Thrones meets The Lord of the Rings. It should have been an adaptation celebrated alongside them.

Release Date

December 20, 2019

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

Directors

Stephen Surjik, Charlotte Brändström, Edward Bazalgette, Loni Peristere, Louise Hooper, Bola Ogun, Alex Garcia Lopez, Gandja Monteiro, Sarah O’Gorman

Writers

Haily Hall, Clare Higgins, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Jenny Klein, Tania Lotia

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  Anya Chalotra

  Yennefer of Vengerberg