‘The Witcher’ Prequel Series ‘Blood Origin’ Has An Amazing Episode

witcher universe — as books in all its incarnations, video games and lots of Netflix series — often revolving around his own dark monster hunter, Geralt of Rivia. He is the Witcher. Mythology, blending lineages, timelines, magic, brutality, and war with insidious intrigue, requires you to keep up with everything and stay true to your hero. There are always mysteries and questions swirling in the fog, and The Witcher: Blood Origin prequel answers at least one of them: How did the first Witcher come about?

The prequel series is the second spinoff series. of Netflix The hit Witcher series, consisting of four episodes, released on December 25. The show was originally supposed to have six episodes, and in terms of character development, the shorter length may have hurt it a bit.

As promised, viewers will be introduced to the background stories of the heroes who laid the foundations for the monster killers we know, as well as other key elements from the original series. There is a mixed team of seven chosen people who must come together for a comprehensive prophecy and a common cause. Of course, they are all rebellious souls seeking revenge or redemption in some way. Sometimes Blood Origin, Game of Thrones or Rings of Power or Willow and The Wheel of Time (you get it), but one of the things this show does well is connect the dots and how it’s done is a little clever. I thought to myself, “Hey, that’s ___!” I found it. some time. If you’re new to the series, there’s plenty of action to immerse you in, but all the stylish sword fights in the world won’t help you understand how everything is connected.

Fans of The Witcher know that every time Geralt’s yellow eyes turn dark, he goes into monster-killing mode. This fast-paced, gory and action-packed series is not only a glimpse into the oldest version of its genre, but a history dive into the prophecy of Xin’trea (now Cintra) and Ithlinne. We are not reviewing Kaer Morhen’s famous Wolf School, as the focus here is on the elves and their dominance in politics, magic and society on the Continent. You will find that many of them have a hole.

Set more than a thousand years before Geralt’s time, the story focuses on the “Unification of the Spheres”. Declan de Barra, who was shooting the first episode of the series, purposely took this ambiguous moment from Andrzej Sapkowski’s books and created the whole show around it. “We had a story point that we couldn’t fix because we needed to know what it was,” he said while working on season 2 of The Witcher at Netflix’s fan event Tudum. So the prequel takes us to a time when elves were colonists with a caste system of well-defined rulers, wealthy nobles, merchants, warriors, and low-borns. Some seek peace, while others thrive on conflict. Angry dwarves? Yes. Intrigue wizards? Yes. People? No. Brutal fights with blood splattering on the camera lens? Yes really.

A familiar face greets us in the opening scene of the first episode, which is a big wink for you to understand how this prequel ties in with the original series. Sorry, this is Geralt – not even Vesemir – everyone’s favorite villainous bard Jaskier (Joey Batey). It quickly becomes clear that the theme of this Witcher installment is the power of the story. Whether told through song, gossip, or campfire stories, stories are meant to inspire. and change real-world results. The character of Minnie Driver as the narrator and a Seanchaí takes this point home for Jaskier and us viewers.

Éile (Sophia Brown) is a troublesome Raven Clan warrior who was once loyal to the kingdom of Pryshia. Despite being a famous bard now, she harbors many enemies and grudges against the exiled Xin’trea warrior Fjall (Laurence O’Fuarain), who lost her job because of dating a princess. Together with Fjall and É, he decides to avenge those who wronged him and uncover a deeper conspiracy.

While escaping, they finally connect Michelle Yeoh’s Scían, a swordsman and the last living member of the Ghost Clan. While not the main protagonist, Scían will have you guessing about his true intentions. Yeoh’s performance doesn’t disappoint, whether it’s an intense action scene or a calm expression of what he’s trying to convey. We learn enough about Scían’s people to take a snapshot of his agenda, but it would be great to see how his clan is involved in the prophecy that drives this entire series.

Four more characters join Éile and Fjall in their quest that turns into a world-saving mission with a side of revenge. There’s the celestial twins Syndril and Zacare, who have magical powers, and Brother Death, a skilled hunter with a wicked passion for axes. Meldof, a dwarf who at first appears to be a potential psychopath, uses a powerful hammer named Gwen. Take it, Mjolnir! And he certainly knows a lot about monoliths — another big wink.

Who are they against? An unexpected blow throws things into chaos and the gang is forced to take over the Empire. There’s more than one bad guy here. An arrogant super-mage named Balor (Lenny HenryIt deciphers the monolithic magic (which is also in the Rings of Power) and unwittingly sets the stage for a cosmic event. A palace run with Captain Eredin, whom many will recognize from video games and the main TV show The Wild Hunt, makes Balor feel himself. But it brings great power, great sacrifice, and lots of backstabs.

Through a combination of bright and ethereal lighting, the show traverses the Continent’s beautiful mountain landscapes and moves into darker realms where despair or chaos reigns. Brutal fight scenes grab your attention and deaths are in true Witcher style: graphic. Most of the costumes are beautiful, but if you’re expecting traditional medieval attire, keep in mind that this was an advanced elven civilization in a period before monsters and human interaction.

Throughout the show, we see the gorgeous seven become friends or lovers. Some are sleeping. Heavenly twins are magical siblings and one was already in a romantic relationship with the Brother of Death. Meldof is tough but heartbroken. It’s supposed to be a love story between our star heroes Fjall and Éile. However, it feels like there isn’t enough time to let their chemistry develop into a true, epic love affair. They undoubtedly share a bond, but for romance to hit us in the heart it needs a little more warmth.

While parts of the series may seem rushed, you’ll still appreciate the action, support the group’s cause, and have a few giggles before it’s over. One reason is the show’s insistence on featuring Éile’s songs. She sings at first, but when it gets dark, she loses her will to be “Lark”. Seeing if her voice can change the world is part of her journey.

The Witcher: Blood Origin manages to give us the prototype of The Witcher, helping to explain the details of the plot in the first two seasons of the original series, while bridging the stories for next season 3. we know about magic and the elves and monsters of the Continent. For these reasons, you’ll want to pay special attention to the final episode, which is arguably the best episode of the series.