10 Mind-Blowing Witcher Book Moments That Outperformed the Show!
Uncover the enchanting moments from The Witcher books that surpass their TV counterparts From gripping battles to intriguing encounters, these scenes will transport you to a world of adventure and magic Dive into the pages and experience the true essence of Geralt, Ciri, Yennefer, and more
Summary
The Witcher
The TV series fails to faithfully capture the depth and complexity of certain scenes from Andrzej Sapkowski's books, particularly in the adaptation of Ciri's training with Yennefer. The show falls short in exploring the mother-daughter bond between the two characters and the importance of Ciri's magical training.
The Witcher books present a more complex and enigmatic depiction of significant occurrences, such as Geralt's interaction with Vilgefortz and the Thanedd coup, whereas the show simplifies them and renders them more foreseeable.
The Witcher series on Netflix attempts to adapt Andrzej Sapkowski's books, but there are several instances where the source material surpasses the show. This lack of surprise is due to the ongoing struggle of the series to faithfully translate the Witcher novels. Certain scenes in the books stand out as notably superior, with the written format effectively conveying their impact. On the other hand, there are moments that could have been more enjoyable on screen if they had been well adapted.
Regrettably, the latter category of scenes fares poorly in The Witcher TV series. These shortcomings stem from moments that occur in similar circumstances to the books. Much of the criticism aimed at the show results from changes or omissions from the source material. However, these 10 instances demonstrate that even when the show directly references Sapkowski's books, it falters in its attempts to satisfyingly adapt these events.
10 Geralt's Fight With Foltest's Striga
9 Ciri's Training With Yennefer
: The portrayal of Geralt's encounter with King Foltest of Temeria and his Striga in The Witcher books surpasses that of Netflix's The Witcher due to the meticulous attention given to the storyline. While the physical confrontation between Geralt and the Striga is undoubtedly one of Geralt's most impressive battles, the books delve deeper into the lead-up to the encounter and its underlying significance. They extensively explore Foltest's arrogant nature and the series of events that resulted in the Striga's emergence – revealing her to be Foltest's own daughter – and the subsequent havoc she wreaks upon the town. Unfortunately, Netflix's adaptation fails to capture the intricate ethical complexities woven into this short story.
The Witcher show and the books diverge in their portrayal of Yennefer, with one of the show's most glaring deviations occurring in the scene where Yennefer imparts her knowledge of magic and chaos to Ciri. In the books, Ciri undergoes an extensive training period with Yennefer, during which their individual personalities are further explored, their bond is fortified, and Yennefer imparts valuable life lessons to Ciri. Through this training, Ciri begins to regard Yennefer as a maternal figure.
8 Geralt's Talk With Vilgefortz On Thanedd
In The Witcher show, Ciri's training in rudimentary magic under Yennefer's watchful eye is limited to a few brief shots. Regrettably, the adaptation fails to capitalize on the opportunity to develop Ciri and Yennefer's mother-daughter bond, instead focusing predominantly on Yennefer and Geralt's relationship. In contrast, the The Witcher books excel in portraying this scene, both in terms of its significance for the characters and its execution.
The conversation between Geralt and Vilgefortz on the Isle of Thanedd in The Witcher books goes much deeper and holds more meaning compared to its portrayal in the show. In the source material, Vilgefortz extensively discusses the history of the Continent, foreshadowing certain events and creating an air of mystery surrounding his character. In contrast, the show primarily focuses on Vilgefortz warning Geralt of impending trouble and proposing a partnership. While this interaction does occur in the books, the dialogue is much more engrossing and thought-provoking than its televised counterpart. This disparity in depth and quality between the page and the screen is a recurring theme throughout The Witcher.
7 The Coup On Thanedd
The Thanedd coup depicted in The Witcher books is a significantly more intricate subplot. Acting as the catalyst for the remainder of the story, the books adeptly establish multiple layers of complexity, intelligently avoiding any overt obviousness. By skillfully presenting ambiguous alliances and their motivations, the source material challenges readers to unravel the web of intrigue. In contrast, the show offers a more straightforward and predictable portrayal of events. Although not a poorly executed scene in The Witcher adaptation, it fails to match the intricacy found within the novels.
6 Ciri's Journey Through The Frying Pan
Following the overthrow of Thanedd in the concluding part of The Witcher season 3, Ciri bravely plunges into the distorted portal located at The Tower of Gulls, emerging in the heart of the arid Korath desert, commonly referred to as The Frying Pan. The television adaptation effectively captures Ciri's sheer desperation and anguish during this gripping sequence; however, it falls short of the profound impact achieved in the original books. The Witcher novels immerse readers within Ciri's troubled psyche, painstakingly depicting her misery in harrowing detail. With vivid clarity, the books transport the reader into the relentless heat of the scorching sands, compelling them to undergo Ciri's suffering alongside her—an experience that eludes the show's portrayal.
5 Geralt Finding Ciri
Geralt finally locates Ciri in the forest after nearly succumbing to a ghoul bite, marking a pivotal moment in The Witcher season 1. With an overwhelming surge of emotions, Geralt and Ciri embrace each other. Nevertheless, a noticeable flaw, absent in The Witcher books, arises: Ciri and Geralt have never encountered each other previously. Consequently, it becomes challenging to believe that Ciri would be ecstatic about reuniting with a complete stranger, particularly after enduring such traumatic experiences moments earlier.
Even if we consider the fact that Ciri is aware of Geralt's existence, she has no means of realizing that the man she encounters by chance in the woods is indeed him. In the books, Geralt has already rescued Ciri once, establishing familiarity between them. Ciri possesses a justification to place her trust in him, given his past assistance. It is this inconsistency that distinguishes Sapkowski's books as superior, resulting in a more believable portrayal of this scene.
4 Yennefer's Fight With Rience
3 Geralt's Fight With The Michelet Brothers
Yennefer's confrontation with Rience in The Witcher books far surpasses its portrayal in the Netflix show. Despite the fact that television provides a superior platform for showcasing combat sequences compared to a novel, the adaptation disappointingly opts to strip Yennefer of her magical prowess, replacing it with the less captivating act of spitting liquor in Rience's face instead of unleashing fiery spells upon him. Consequently, this alteration considerably diminishes the scene's entertainment value and also fails to highlight the true extent of Yennefer's extraordinary power.
In The Witcher season 2, Geralt confronts the infamous Michelet brothers, a group of highly skilled mercenaries, inside the Temple of Melitele. Unlike in the books where Geralt engages them on the road with his trusty sword, Henry Cavill's portrayal of Geralt finds him without his weapon. Consequently, he resorts to utilizing his bare hands and the surrounding objects to overpower the adversaries. While the original literature showcases Geralt's unparalleled combat abilities as he swiftly eliminates the opponents, the show's depiction appears to prioritize the inclusion of an action-packed scene, rather than conveying Geralt's inner rage and frustration as portrayed in the source material.
2 Geralt's Meeting With Codringher And Fenn
1 Fake Ciri's Introduction To The Nilfgaardian Court
Geralt's encounter with the lawyers, Codringher and Fenn, proves to be far more enlightening in The Witcher books. In this particular chapter, Codringher and Fenn divulge a wealth of significant information, making it an exceptionally gratifying section within the series. They skillfully connect the dots on various crucial elements of the narrative, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. However, the portrayal of Codringher and Fenn in the show fails to offer the same level of value. While they do unveil important facts, the extent and thoroughness are significantly lacking.
The introduction of Fake Ciri to the Nilfgaardian Court is more compelling in the books as it is narrated through Emhyr's perspective. Emhyr is fully conscious that the Ciri he has is not the real one, yet he maintains the pretense to dissuade other nations from continuing their search for the true princess. Furthermore, this sets the stage for intriguing discussions between Emhyr and his spymasters, laying the groundwork for the secret pursuit of Ciri that ensues. In contrast, The Witcher show portrays Emhyr as unaware of the deception surrounding the false princess, undermining his character. Emhyr should possess knowledge of his own daughter's appearance and strive to divert attention away from her.
