Netflix made its first venture into high fantasy with their streaming adaptation of “The Witcher,” based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s series of novels. Sapkowski’s novels had previously been turned into a series of successful games developed by CD Projekt Red. 

The games consistently received glowing reviews, but the series? Not so much. 

“The Witcher” feels, at times, incoherent, especially for those with little to no prior knowledge of the source material. Many of the characters feel as though they have no background, and nothing is done to remedy that throughout the course of the series. This is evident with Henry Cavill’s Geralt, who as the protagonist, gets a lot of screen time. Very little is ever said about who Geralt is, other than that he hunts monsters, but for what it’s worth, that’s really all you need to know. 

That isn’t to say that “The Witcher” isn’t enjoyable, because it is, and decidedly so. The fight choreography is absolutely fantastic, and Henry Cavill commands the screen with every appearance. Cavill embodies Geralt with ease, and his gruff mannerisms make the character that much more endearing. Geralt’s chemistry with his unwanted companion, Jaskier, played by Joey Batey, is undeniable, and the pair is easy to root for immediately. 

Speaking of Jaskier, his “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher” is way catchier than it has any business being, and makes any scene it appears in worth paying attention to. Additionally, Batey’s character provides a large chunk of the show’s comic relief, which helps to break up the oft-serious tone. In other side character news, Anya Chalotra’s Yennefer sees far and away the most development over the course of “The Witcher’s” eight episode season. Viewers are given the opportunity to really delve into what makes Yennefer tick, and her character becomes all the more intriguing for it. 

“The Witcher’s” incredible action and entertaining monster fights make for a very entertaining watch, but it’s easy to find yourself confused in the midst of the time jumps and location switches. Amidst the confusion lies, at its core, a thrilling adventure with enough twists and turns to keep even the most lackadaisical viewer hooked. Overall, “The Witcher,” buoyed by its great action scenes, receives an A and you shouldn’t miss it.