Netflix’sThe Witcherhasn’t been out for long, but it has already accumulated aton of attentionfrom longtime fans of the franchise who are praising its loyalty to the source material and the care taken with characters and world-building. That level of dedication likely wouldn’t be possible without the work of showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich and her love of Andrzej Sapkowski’s originalWitchernovels.
However, as with any piece of media that relies on source material, there were also fans who took issue with the few deviations thatdidhappen, as well as plot points fromThe Last Wishthat had to becut from the show. After one particular critique, Hissrich–who is quite responsive and open with the manyWitcherfans of Twitter–addressed the complaint in her own informative thread, explaining exactly how she and her writers made each significant decision.
RELATED:How Netflix’s The Witcher Compares to the Video Game Series
One fan tweeted Hissrich, writing that their main issue withThe Witcherwas an alteration within the Brokilon forest subplot, one that ultimately had an effect on Geralt and Ciri’s eventual meeting at theend of season 1. Hissrich replied with a thorough and thoughtful thread, writing that the altered subplot was, in fact, one of the most debated topics in the writers' room. She explained the change from the perspective of showrunner and everyone else crafting a television show, and how some aspects of a story might not work the same way in a show as they do in a novel. Ultimately, Hissrich and the writers' wanted to involve Ciri and Yennefer’s stories into the show’stimeline during season 1, as opposed to later seasons (which would happen if they followed the books completely) and thus pieces ofThe Last Wishwere cut from the show.
Hissrich concluded her thoughts aboutThe Witcher’s changesby tweeting, “We made choices through the whole process. Would I change this one? Good question. It’s probably the one I contemplate the most, at night, lying in bed. But here we are. And forward we go, learning every step of the way.” Whether or not fans agree with this decision or any others, it’s refreshing and reassuring to see a showrunner so willing to engage with her audience and a great reminder thatWitcherfans aren’t the only ones passionate about the show’s creation. Clearly, Hissrich is both extremely willing to hear and acknowledge disagreements from fans, and just as much a fan ofThe Witcheras the show’s many viewers.
She’s not alone, either; Henry Cavill, who stars as Geralt, is also a huge fan–he’s played the games multiple times and knows his character so well that he actively pushed to includemore of Geralt’s signsinto the show. Between his and Hissrich’s love for the franchise and fans' response to the show, it seems likeThe Witcher’s fanbase is not only thriving but also capable of respectful debate, which is always a promising sign for the future of a show.
The Witcheris streaming now on Netflix, with a second season slated for release in 2021.
