I do have mixed feelings about the characters. In truth, the author of the books painted really complex and deep dramatis personae and I knew from the start that It would be incredibly hard to recreate that for the series. Some things the show got right – and some things the show did terribly wrong. It almost feels as if the creators didn’t actually read the book, but read parts of it and then hired Andrzej Sapkowski as a consultant to look good (just like Diane Nughen is consultant for movies of the Bojack Horseman series).

First of all: what the fuck happened with the Sorceress? They were the most powerful beings in Witchers universe. They were rich and respected, adored, feared and free. They wore their long hair unbound as a sign that they belong to no one (same as prostitutes and priestesses). But somehow, the series made these awesome women dependant on men, used by men, and offended by men.

This is unspeakable! If I didn’t know better I’d assume that some dude with a short prick has written the scenario. Yennefer was one of my favorite characters when I was a child – because she was free and strong. Is that the fault of modern feminism? Diminishing 

This is unspeakable! If I didn’t know better I’d assume that some dude with a short prick has written the scenario. Yennefer was one of my favorite characters when I was a child – because she was free and strong. Is that the fault of modern feminism? Diminishing  feminine characters for the show sake? Showing other women how even the greatest Sorceress are puppets in “man’s world’? Yeah.. such a good job creating female role models for future generations Netflix… Fuck you.

Geralt of Rivia

This is one of the upsides of the show. I really liked Henry Cavill’s performance as Geralt, and I liked his lines. They managed to capture Geralt within this arc just as the book has always pictured him for me. This grumpy and funny, good hearted but ruthless man, with cynical point of view and burning jokes. I do agree, with some of my friends, that he may be too muscular to play the part, but the look of an actor doesn’t bother me this much if he truly knows the character he’s portraying. And that was the case.

Yennefer

Yeah.. I’m almost tempted to just give up writing while I force myself to think about this. In truth I don’t blame the actress though. I blame the script writers. In fact I curse the screenwriters for fucking up Yennefer character so badly. In the books, Yen was truly the embodiment of a fully grown and mentally developed woman. She lived for hundreds of years, was cold, shrewd, intelligent, manipulant, aware. She was rich, belonged to the Capitule (council of wizards), influential. She knew how to be vicious, devastating and as cynical as Geralt. But she also had a deep love for her daughter and her lover. She was the embodiment of a Great Mother with one face turned to death and the other turned to life.

And what did the show make of this? An angry, annoying  teenager with God complex, and a sick addiction to sex. I sincerely hate this character. To be honest, even before I watched the show I was concerned that they would get it wrong. Yennefer was an amazing character in the books, and to show that in the series would require great talent…that the screenwriters obviously did not possess.

Ciri

Yeah.. I don’t have a thought about it yet.. Only that she’s a little too old to play that  part. Ciri should have been younger when she fled Cinitra. And I suspect that this will have an impact on season two, and the arcs in Caer Morhen. Not a good impact probably.

Triss
Here is another character that was completely misread by the screenwriters. And the casting crew. Not only does the actress not look the part, but she is extremely vanilla in the show. I was never a fan of Triss in the books. But nevertheless she was a clear and interesting character. She seems like a giggly teenager, with a sharp mind and fears rooted deeply in her. She stole a man from her best friend, she was able to make selfless (in her mind) decisions, while betraying those closest to her. She was not a one-dimension character. The show hurt her greatly.

Jaskier

No real complaints here (for now), except for the fakt the showroters play it very safe with this character. I would expect from the show much more though on this account. More jokes, more obscure situations, more hints that there is so much more to Jaskier than boobs and booze (and there is a lot of boobs and booze to Jaskier).

Renfri

Actress looks perfect for the part. but for some reason showrunners decided to picture the princess as a scared. hurt, little girl. That’s the vibe I got from it. She was not a deeply hurt woman, thirsty for blood and obsessed by revenge, bold and extravagant. She just was. Nothing too special, nothing too bad. For sure It may have been done better.

Dara

Don’t know why the fuck is he in the story.

Calanthe

For me, this one is the best acting show given to us in the series. The actress has been given convincing lines. Convincing enough to consider Calanthe an interesting character. As a mother, fierce queen, beautiful woman, shrewd court player, and loving grandmother.

Vilgefortz

My biggest disappointment in the series. In the books he’s the biggest and most terrifying villain of the story. Charming and manipulative powerful sorcerer. Someone who always had a +plan. Someone who used people around him like puppets to achieve his greatest goals. Someone who was smart enough to uncover the greatest secret of the books on his own. He was this type of character that would always create tension in the room just by walking into it.

And how does the show portray the greatest villain in the series? He is just some boring, smug dude, who somehow wined up at the battlefield. In the books he was supposed to be leading the battle of mages. And in the series he’s wandering on his own and trying to fight Cahir using a sword. Great job dude, now I’m never gonna take you seriously..

There are many many more character’s I would want to write about but that would make this article unbearably long. Also, I’m gonna cover some other characters in the next part of review: “Inconsistencies”.