The 10 best sci-fi/fantasy TV episodes to watch while sheltered in place

The Witcher 103: “Betrayer Moon”

Let’s start with the new kid on the block: Netflix’s The Witcher. It’s only one season in, with hopefully many more to come, but has already delivered some highly entertaining hours.

One of the best was the third episode, “Betrayer Moon,” which sees professional monster hunter Geralt (Henry Cavill) travel to the kingdom of Temeria, where he dedicates himself to killing a striga, a frightful monster that haunts an abandoned castle. When he finally tracks it down, we’re treated to some tasty, frantic fight sequences. The episode has a real horror show feel to it.

But there’s more to it than that. The monster is actually the cursed child of the king of Temeria. There’s a tangled web involving love, betrayal and politics. The man we originally think is responsible for the curse isn’t. It makes you think about who the real monster is, if you will.

There’s also an involving side story about the sorceress Yennifer, who goes through a painful transformation that turns her from a deformed hunchback into a beautiful woman. Her story is also set years before Geralt’s, and there’s an interesting connection. As Yennefer walks into a ball, we see a pair of royal siblings pawing at each other; this turns who to be the eventual king of Temeria and his sister. Their daughter becomes the striga.

“Betrayer Moon” is a can’t-miss episode in a season that was up and down. But if you like this one, try out the whole series and see what you think.