The Witcher

TV review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
The Witcher Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Violent medieval monster mayhem is mature fun, has nudity.

Netflix Drama 2019
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Parents say

age 17+

Based on 42 reviews

Kids say

age 15+

Based on 49 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Witcher is a series based on the book series and popular video games of the same name. As in the game, the action is set in a magical world in which "mutant" characters called Witchers are able to slay monsters. The monster battles are righteously scary, with giant creatures equipped with scary faces, claws, unearthly long arms, and the like; when main Witcher Geralt (Man of Steel's Henry Cavill) fights them, there's dark blood, scary music, hacked off limbs, and visuals of the dead bodies of monsters. There's even more gore in the human battles, with soldiers fighting on the battleground and grievous injuries: stabbings, slashings, decapitations, throats are slit, a man's head is halved with an axe with bright-red spouting blood and gore. Sexual violence is referred to, but not seen on-screen. Some characters have otherworldly powers and can cause magical destruction, but the show's sympathies clearly lie with characters who are downtrodden and despised such as Witchers and Elves. Romance plays a part in some storylines and sexual images are frequent: characters have sex that includes nudity, come upon an orgy at a party, and non-sexual nudity (breasts and buttocks) occurs in a magical illusion. Language includes "f--k," "s--t," "son of a bitch," "damn," and "hell." Characters drink beer in bars but don't get drunk; potions play a part in the story, used for suicide and abortion, among other purposes. Female characters have strong roles and some members of the cast are people of color; themes of courage, teamwork, and perseverance are illustrated in magical quests aimed at righting wrongs.

Community Reviews

Lionheart82
Lionheart82 Adult
February 24, 2020
age 18+

Brainwashing a generation

Ever since game of thrones seemed to glorify sodomy, incest, violence, and nudity, I feel like evil is no longer seen as evil on TV. Netflix has gone to a whole other level of shock-value with horrific violence and vouyerism in this show. Even the "hero" is a womanizer that makes James Bonds' sleeping around look like child's play. This show is not for young people, or honestly for anyone who values any sort of nobility, honor, purity, or excellence. Those values don't exist in these "mature" shows. And this trash is effecting society, whether we will admit it or not. Parents, it's up to us to protect our kids. So let's do it.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
4 people found this helpful.
Discoscience
Discoscience Adult
December 31, 2021
age 16+

Fantasy With A Decent Moral Message

I like the way that power is explored in the Witcher. Every person Geralt meets has an angle, a story to tell him to try to get what they want and achieve their own goals. At its heart The Witcher is a story about moral choices and the butterfly effect our choices have on our relationships and the world at large. Geralt is a decent moral protagonist. He seeks to reduce harm in the world. He does not kill intelligent creatures unless he can help it. He consistently makes efforts to figure out what is going on in any given situation. He cares about the effect of his choices. He is contrasted with Jennifer, who does not care about the consequences of her choices and is focused on herself and her own power. Jennifer's character arc from selfish and arrogant into what she is becoming is satisfying. The show addresses relevant topics like racism and colonialism. The Elves are minorities in lands they used to live before the Conjunction. All the while you see humans in the world all have different takes. Some believe stories about the elves giving up their land willingly. Some have bigoted beliefs about elves being evil, brutish or un-trustworthy There is a decent amount of violence and sex. The battle scenes are bloody but no one death is lingered on. It seems brutal but realistic. Geralts swordplay is fun to watch. On the trigger warning side, people commit suicide during a city being sacked by an army. This is graphic and is depicted person by person (a total of five or so?). In the first episode when we meet Jennifer, it is implied the physical assault she was experiencing was going to turn into sexual assault, but she magics away. IF you are a person/ family who believes depictions of sex and nudity are for adults only or no one ever, this show is not for you. A wizard "decorates" his tower with an illusion of naked men and women in a 'Garden of Eden' vibe. Geralt is delicted naked, in bed with a prostitute. Geralt and Jennifer have sex on screen. I am on Episode 4 of Season 2 and there has been no on screen sexual assault other than mentioned above. There is an orgy scene, the participants are under a spell. Given the predicament Geralt and Jaskier are in when they encounter the orgy, it gives the scene a comedic undertone. Including the orgy, sex is only depicted on screen like 3x or 4x times. I'm mostly screening for assault and how graphic the depiction is. All in all, much better than Game of Thrones, both in its moral treatment of violence and character development.

This title has:

Great role models
2 people found this helpful.
See all 42 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the game series of the same name (but relating a story not told in any of the game's versions) which was itself based on a series of books, THE WITCHER revolves around a magical world in which witchers -- genetically enhanced humans -- have special monster-slaying powers. They were once a common sight, but now Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) is one of the last of his kind, despised by the villagers of the towns he travels through on monster-killing missions. His only wish is to endure and survive as simply as possible, but when an unreliable magician Stregobor (Lars Mikkelsen) lures him to his lair to enlist his help in a scheme to wipe out a possibly cursed generation of girls born after an unusual eclipse, he runs afoul of forces both magical and political just as an Elf revolution is brewing. Meanwhile, Ciri (Freya Allan), a deposed princess with mysterious powers, is on the run after her kingdom was invaded by soldiers who seem bent on capturing her, and downtrodden teen Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) painfully learns the ways of magic from mysterious sorceress Tissia (MyAnna Buring).

Is It Any Good?

With its medieval magical vibe and complex fantastical storytelling, this arresting drama reads like a Game of Thrones knockoff, but darned if it doesn't actually cast a spell. In a genre that often comes off as thunderingly self-important (is there a weapon or person or geographic location without a vainglorious three-word name in the Lord of the Rings trilogy?), The Witcher's greatest bit of daring is to treat its epic storytelling with a big dash of irony. The puffery-puncturing vibe arrives early, as Henry Cavill's square-jawed smirks make it clear that both actor and character recognize and relish the ridiculousness of monsters and long velvet cloaks and lone swordsmen doomed to roam from town to town on grim missions. But things really kick into gear in the second episode, when Joey Batey shows up as the ebullient bard Jaskier, more or less the comic-relief Donkey to Geralt's Shrek.

What a wonderful character Jaskier is: swishy, mouthy, and relentlessly roughhousing, he joyfully undercuts the solemnity of The Witcher's battles and political drama, often by economically summing up what's taken place in dialogue or song. In an early scene, just after delivering a bit of grievous Elf history, he says "There I go again, just delivering exposition." Ha! It's funny because it's true. Speaking of said Elves, their part of the story gives welcome depth: humans pushed them off their ancestral lands and now they fight relentlessly to keep the tattered remnants of their once-mighty tribe together -- and if that puts viewers in mind of Native people in North America, well, that's no doubt part of the message in a drama which is both entertainingly easy to watch and satisfyingly aligned with the underdogs of its world.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why dramas with elements of magic and (fictional) history seem to be having a bit of a moment. What others can you name? What show do you think started the trend? What about this particular genre seems particularly suited to telling stories modern viewers enjoy watching?

  • One common criticism of "sword and sorcery" type narratives is that they center the experience of male characters, with female characters given short shrift. Is that the case in The Witcher? Do female characters have meaty storylines with agency or are they cast in supportive roles? Given that game culture tends to skew male (but that games like The Witcher have a larger female audience), how surprising is it that this series has a male main character but also strong female characters?

  • How do the characters in The Witcher demonstrate teamwork, perseverance, and courage? Why are these important character strengths?

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