The Witcher: Blood Origin
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The Witcher: Blood Origin
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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: Blood Origin, is a prequel to the fantasy series The Witcher. It has all the blood and gore-filled fighting and killing, cursing, and strong sexual content the original is known for. Drinking of wine and ale is also visible.
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What's the Story?
THE WITCHER: BLOOD ORIGIN, a prequel to The Witcher series, tells the story of a group of elves who unite against a powerful empire and the creation of the first Witcher. Twelve hundred years before Geralt of Rivia hunted monsters, elite elf warrior Éile (Sophia Brown), an outcast from the Raven Clan, left her life as a blade warrior for that of a bard known as the Lark. Unexpected events lead to the crossing of paths with Fjall (Laurence O'Fuarain), an outcast from the Dog Clan. Meanwhile, in the capital city of Xin'trea, sorcerer Balor (Lenny Henry) and Princess Merwyn (Mirren Mack) are each seeking ways to become powerful rulers of the Golden Empire. Éile and Fjall decide to make their way to the capital to slay Merwyn and anyone else responsible for the turmoil they have caused. As thy journey forward they recruit master blade sword fighter Scían (Michelle Yeoh), fighter Meldof (Francesca Mills), and Callan (Huw Novelli), also known as Brother Death. Magical twins Syndril (Zach Wyatt) and Zacaré (Lizzie Ennis) eventually become part of the group of rebels. But the worlds of elves, men, and monsters are beginning to come together, leading to what is later known as the great Conjunction of the Spheres, and the changing of the elven world forever.
Is It Any Good?
This bloody four-episode spin-off features a few details that fans of the The Witcher will appreciate. However, The Witcher: Blood Origin is presented as a self-contained story, and attempts to create a fantasy world that can be followed with limited knowledge of the original series. But the new characters don't get much detail or backstory, making it difficult to fully appreciate or invest in them. Meanwhile, the four-hour series is too short to allow for characters, and the plot line, to grow more robust as the story plays out. As a result, chances are that hardcore Witcher fans will find it superficial when compared to its parent series. Nonetheless, for those less discerning, it does provide some solid entertainment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the challenges that come with adapting fantasy books and games for TV and movies. Can you tell the story the same way? How much creative license can be taken with a screen version before it becomes a different narrative altogether?
Does the The Witcher become easier to follow after watching The Witcher: Blood Origin? Or is there too much of a disconnect between the two stories to make much of a difference?
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 25, 2022
- Cast: Minnie Driver, Sophia Brown, Laurence O’Fuarain, Michelle Yeoh
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Book Characters, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Courage, Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: January 5, 2023
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