Books vs show: How closely is Netflix adapting the Witcher novels?

The Witcher is coming. Soon enough, we’ll be watching Netflix’s adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy novels, complete with Henry Cavill as the monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia, Anya Chalotra as the unyielding sorceress Yennefer, and Freya Allan as the child of destiny Ciri. The books have been around for quite a long time, and already have a devoted group of followers. They’re good fun, and we’re looking forward to seeing how showrunner Lauren Hissrich and her team adapt them.

Naturally, the fans on the Witcher subreddit have already drawn plenty of connections between the trailer…

…and Sapkowski’s books. How faithfully will Netflix translate them? Take a look below to get an idea.

"“The Witcher smiled wryly — he knew what he looked like. After drinking a mixture of banewart, monk’s hood, and eyebright the face takes on the color of chalk, and the pupils fill the entire iris.” – The Witcher from The Last Wish from netflixwitcher"

Witchers are monster-hunters by trade. It’s a dangerous business, and they’ve developed ways of enhancing their abilities to deal with their foes. It’s not always pretty, but it works.

"“From beneath an ash-blonde fringe, enormous emerald eyes — the predominant features in a small face with a narrow chin and upturned nose — stared out at her. There was fear in the eyes” — Blood of Elves from netflixwitcher"

Ciri is a princess of the country of Cintra, which befalls a horrible fate. In the books, that mostly happens “offscreen,” but it looks like the Netflix show may show us this terrifying period of Ciri’s life up close.

"“Yennefer, although attractive in her own way, couldn’t pass as a great beauty… in actual fact, not many would describe sorceresses as good-looking… She had the figure of a twenty-year-old, although he preferred not to guess her real age. She moved with natural, unaffected grace.” from netflixwitcher"

Well, Netflix can’t get everything right. Anya Chalotra could definitely “pass as a great beauty.”

"“The black leather, hip-length jacket with long sleeves sparkling with silver studs… A round medallion hung on a silver chain around his neck… A wolf’s head with open jaws and armed with fangs was depicted on the medallion” – Something More, from The Sword of Destiny from netflixwitcher"

Netflix has Geralt’s look down. There was actually a bit of a dust-up online about him carrying only one sword, since he carries two in the popular Witcher video games by CD Projekt Red. But Hissrich is adapting the novels, so one sword it is.

"“She stood over him in the flickering radiance… streaming hair and eyes blazing violet, erect, slender, dark, terrible… And beautiful.” from netflixwitcher"

Yennefer is a charismatic character with many fascinating contradictions. Hopefully Chalotra can do her justice.

"“But he suddenly knew the truth. He knew it. He knew what she used to be. What she remembered, what she couldn’t forget, what she lived with. Who she really was before she had become a sorceress. Her cold, penetrating, angry and wise eyes were those of a hunchback.” from netflixwitcher"

This is one of the bits that struck me as weird from the novels. Before she used magic to make herself into a beautiful sorceress, Yennefer had a physical deformity. That sounds like it could get dicey, but the show is going there. May it tread lightly.

"“He broke off, seeing a small, very slim, mousy-haired creature walking slowly behind the boys. The little girl looked at him and he saw the huge eyes as green as spring grass, shining like two little stars.” -Something More from The Sword of Destiny from netflixwitcher"

An air of providence hangs around Ciri, but she’s also a rambunctious young girl. Allan will have to bring both sides of the character together to give a successful performance.

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For even more Witcher, check out the full panel at this year’s Comic-Con:

The Witcher drops on Netflix later this year.

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