Created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich.
The Witcher premiered on December 20, 2019 for Season 1.
Distributed by Netflix.
Series Review
The Witcher is a fantasy series on Netflix about Geralt, a monster hunter caught between magic, war, and destiny.
Season 1 introduces Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri with lots of action and world-building.
Season 2 focuses more on their bond and backstories, giving a mix of strong emotions and great fights.
Season 3 gets more political and complex as everyone’s fate starts to connect.
In Season 4, Geralt is recast, and the story takes a darker and bigger turn, though some fans feel it’s less personal.
Each season is packed with monsters, magic, and amazing visuals.
The first two seasons are fan favorites for their storytelling, while the newer ones explore bigger themes and risks.
Overall, The Witcher is thrilling, emotional, and full of adventure, perfect for anyone who enjoys fantasy worlds, powerful characters, and epic battles.
Ratings
• IMDb: 7.9/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 74%
• Google Audience Score: 90% liked this TV show.
The Witcher Actors
Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia
DOB: May 5, 1983.
Bio: British actor celebrated for his commanding screen presence and dedication to physically demanding roles.
He rose to international fame as Superman in Man of Steel and brought depth to Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher, drawing from his own passion for the original books and video games.
Role: Geralt of Rivia is a genetically enhanced monster hunter, emotionally guarded yet guided by a strong moral compass.
Cavill’s portrayal captures Geralt’s weary pragmatism, dry wit, and reluctant humanity as he becomes entwined with Yennefer and Ciri through fate and choice.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–3 (24 eps).
What to expect: A blend of physical mastery, quiet introspection, and sharp humor.
Interesting facts: lifelong gamer and Witcher fan, Cavill personally lobbied for the role.
He performed most of his own stunts and worked closely with the writing team to refine Geralt’s dialogue.
He exited after Season 3, with Liam Hemsworth set to take over the role.
Notable works: The Tudors, Man of Steel, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Enola Holmes.
Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia (season 4)
DOB: January 13, 1990.
Bio: Australian actor best known for his breakout role as Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games franchise and for leading roles in both action and dramatic films.
With a career defined by physicality and understated emotion, Hemsworth joins The Witcher as Geralt of Rivia starting in Season 4, taking over from Henry Cavill.
Role: Geralt of Rivia, the monster hunter known as the White Wolf, returns in Season 4 battle-worn and emotionally fractured.
Hemsworth’s interpretation dives into Geralt’s trauma following the chaos of war, his separation from Ciri, and his evolving sense of purpose.
Seasons & Episodes: S4 (eps).
What to expect: A renewed but emotionally scarred Geralt, physically formidable yet haunted by loss.
Interesting facts: Hemsworth underwent intensive sword and stunt training to maintain continuity in Geralt’s physical style.
Though initially met with skepticism, showrunners have stated that his casting aligns with the series’ new narrative tone and emotional evolution.
Notable works: The Hunger Games series, The Dressmaker, Independence Day: Resurgence, Neighbours.
Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg
DOB: July 28, 1995.
Bio: Anya Chalotra is an English actress best known for her breakout role as Yennefer in The Witcher.
A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she built her craft on the stage before gaining global recognition on Netflix.
Role: Yennefer of Vengerberg’s journey traces her rise from a disfigured outcast sold by her family to one of the Continent’s most powerful sorceresses.
Intelligent, passionate, and often ruthless, she seeks control over her destiny, whether through magic, politics, or love.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–4 (30 eps).
What to expect: Intense, layered acting, Yennefer is often the show’s emotional lightning rod, and Chalotra captures both rage and vulnerability.
Interesting facts: Chalotra has spoken about how the role challenged her emotionally and physically, especially during Yennefer’s transformation scenes.
She also voiced Yennefer in The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep animated project, further expanding her connection to the franchise.
Notable works: Wanderlust, The ABC Murders, Sherwood (BBC).
Freya Allan as Princess Cirilla “Ciri” Fiona Elen Rhiannon
DOB: September 6, 2001.
Bio: English actress best known for her breakout role as Ciri in The Witcher.
Trained at the National Film and Television School and Arts University Bournemouth, Allan was cast in the series as a teenager and quickly became one of its emotional anchors.
Role: Ciri is the Lion Cub of Cintra, a princess with Elder Blood whose powers could change the fate of the Continent.
Her journey moves from innocence to endurance as she’s hunted by kingdoms, mages, and monsters alike.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–4 (32 eps).
What to expect: A performance that matures season by season, Ciri moves from scared child to fierce young woman discovering powers and purpose.
Interesting facts: Allan has shared that playing Ciri mirrored her own growth as an actress, with Season 3 marking her most physically and emotionally demanding work.
She trained extensively in sword fighting and stunt coordination to bring realism to Ciri’s evolution.
Notable works: Gunpowder Milkshake, The Third Day, Baghead (2023).
Joey Batey as Jaskier (aka Dandelion / the bard)
DOB: January 1, 1989.
Bio: English actor, singer, and songwriter best known for his portrayal of the witty bard Jaskier in The Witcher.
A Cambridge-educated performer and studied at École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, Batey blends sharp comedic instincts with genuine musical talent.
Role: Jaskier is Geralt of Rivia’s outspoken companion, a wandering bard whose songs immortalize Geralt’s adventures (often to the Witcher’s annoyance).
Beneath his flamboyance and vanity lies deep loyalty and emotional intelligence, grounding Geralt’s stoicism with warmth and humor.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–4 (22 eps).
What to expect: Charm, comic timing, and musical set pieces; Joey’s performance is warm, shamelessly theatrical and frequently scene-stealing.
Interesting facts: Outside The Witcher, Batey fronts the folk band The Amazing Devil, known for their poetic, theatrical sound.
“Toss a Coin to Your Witcher” reached global streaming charts and became a pop culture phenomenon.
Notable works: Knightfall, Strike, and musical releases with The Amazing Devil.
MyAnna Buring as Tissaia de Vries
DOB: September 22, 1979.
Bio: Swedish-born British actress acclaimed for her versatility and commanding screen presence.
A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), she has built an impressive career spanning horror (The Descent), period drama (Ripper Street), and fantasy.
Role: As Tissaia de Vries, Buring plays the formidable Rectoress of Aretuza, the magical academy for female mages.
Tissaia is both mentor and mother figure to Yennefer, embodying the power, restraint, and ethical ambiguity of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–4 (18 eps).
What to expect: Gravitas, moral authority and occasional steel, scenes with Tissaia underline the series’ magical politics.
Interesting facts: Buring has a background in British genre films and brings classical training to the role; critics praised her layering of sternness with maternal concern.
Notable works: The Descent, Ripper Street, Downton Abbey, In the Dark.
Eamon Farren as Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach
DOB: May 19, 1985.
Bio: Australian actor celebrated for his ability to embody morally complex and emotionally haunted characters.
A graduate of NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art), Farren first gained international attention with Twin Peaks: The Return before transitioning to large-scale fantasy in The Witcher.
Role: As Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, Farren portrays the Nilfgaardian commander known as the “Black Knight.”
Initially presented as a ruthless pursuer of Princess Ciri, Cahir’s motives evolve into a compelling study of loyalty, guilt, and redemption.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–4 (24 eps).
What to expect: A brooding, slow-burn performance, Cahir’s tension and later redemption arcs are Farren’s strong suit.
Interesting facts: Farren’s casting was praised for his resemblance to the book’s vision of Cahir.
His portrayal in Twin Peaks: The Return impressed showrunners, earning him a place in The Witcher ensemble.
Notable works: Twin Peaks: The Return, Chained, The ABC Murders, The Dig.
Kim Bodnia as Vesemir
DOB: April 12, 1965.
Bio: Danish actor, writer, and director renowned for his commanding screen presence and ability to blend toughness with warmth.
Before joining The Witcher, Bodnia gained international recognition for his role as Konstantin in Killing Eve and for his performances in Bron/Broen (The Bridge) and the Pusher trilogy.
Role: Vesemir serves as the elder witcher, mentor, and father figure to Geralt of Rivia.
As the oldest surviving witcher at Kaer Morhen, he is the heart of the brotherhood, wise, weary, and protective.
Seasons & Episodes: S2 (6 eps).
What to expect: Weathered mentorship, dry humor and battle-seasoned authority in all Kaer Morhen scenes.
Interesting facts: Bodnia’s real-life empathy and humor influenced the warmth he brought to Vesemir.
The recasting was made to align with the show’s time jump and narrative tone shift in later seasons.
Notable works: Killing Eve, The Bridge (Bron/Broen), Pusher, Rosewater.
Anna Shaffer as Triss Merigold
DOB: March 15, 1992.
Bio: English actress and model who first gained recognition as Romilda Vane in the Harry Potter film series and later as Ruby Button in Hollyoaks.
Her transition from teen drama to high fantasy marked a turning point in her career, showcasing her depth and maturity as an actress.
Role: Triss Merigold is a talented sorceress and healer, often caught between loyalty to her fellow mages and her personal ties to Geralt and Ciri.
Compassionate yet politically astute, she serves as a bridge between the magical and human worlds.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–4 (19 eps).
What to expect: Warmth, clever maneuvering, and action in sorceress-centric plots.
Interesting facts: Shaffer has spoken about the supportive fan base around Triss and her appreciation for playing a morally grounded character in a morally gray world.
She also modeled before her acting career took off.
Notable works: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Hollyoaks.
Mahesh Jadu as Vilgefortz of Roggeveen
DOB: October 26, 1982.
Bio: Australian actor of Indo-Mauritian descent who has built an international career across film and television.
He began as a composer before transitioning into acting, gaining early recognition in Australian productions like Neighbours and Better Man.
Role: Vilgefortz of Roggeveen is a highly intelligent and ambitious sorcerer whose charm conceals a ruthless hunger for power.
Initially appearing as an ally within the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, his true nature as a manipulative and calculating antagonist unfolds gradually.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–4 (18 eps).
What to expect: Smooth menace, an intellectual, terrifying presence when his plans come to light.
Interesting facts: Before acting, Jadu worked as a composer for the Australian show Byte Me.
His portrayal of Vilgefortz was widely praised for adding depth and intelligence to one of the series’ most dangerous villains.
Notable works: Marco Polo (Netflix), Neighbours, Better Man.
Graham McTavish as Sigismund Dijkstra
DOB: January 4, 1961.
Bio: Scottish actor, author, and voice artist renowned for his commanding screen presence and deep, resonant voice.
With a career spanning film, television, and video games, McTavish has portrayed warriors, politicians, and villains across major franchises.
Role: Sigismund Dijkstra is Redania’s spymaster, a brilliant strategist and manipulator who thrives in the shadows of power.
Cunning, pragmatic, and deeply political, he controls vast networks of information and influences kings from behind the throne.
Seasons & Episodes: S2–4 (12 eps).
What to expect: A scene-stealing, dryly comic but menacing turn whenever Dijkstra appears.
Interesting facts: McTavish is also known for his roles in multiple fantasy universes, including The Hobbit and Outlander.
He co-authored Clanlands with Outlander co-star Sam Heughan and co-hosts the travel series Men in Kilts.
Notable works: Outlander, The Hobbit trilogy, Preacher, House of the Dragon, Men in Kilts.
Mimî M. Khayisa as Fringilla Vigo
DOB: August 31, 1991.
Bio: Mimî M. Khayisa is a British actress known for her commanding presence and nuanced emotional range across stage and screen.
Trained in theatre, she brings precision and poise to her roles, often portraying strong yet conflicted women.
Role: Fringilla Vigo is a Nilfgaardian sorceress whose loyalty, ambition, and ideological conviction make her one of the series’ most layered political figures.
Initially portrayed as a loyalist to Nilfgaard’s cause, Fringilla evolves into a woman caught between faith, fear, and personal awakening.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–4 (24 eps).
What to expect: An understated, politically savvy sorceress performance with emotional stakes.
Interesting facts: Khayisa’s theatre background, including performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, gives her portrayal of Fringilla a regal gravitas.
Notable works: Doctor Who, Rellik, stage productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
More Actors
Season 1 (2019)
• Bart Edwards as Emhyr.
• Royce Pierreson as Istredd.
• Wilson Mbomio as Dara.
• Therica Wilson-Read as Sabrina.
Season 2 (2021)
• Mecia Simson as Francesca Findabair.
• Cassie Claire as Philippa Eihart.
• Paul Bullion as Lambert.
• Ed Birch as King Vizmir of Redania.
Season 3 (2023)
• Meng’er Zhang as Milva.
• Hugh Skinner as Prince Radovid.
• Christelle Elwin as Mistle.
• Rochelle Rose as Margarita.
Season 4 (2025)
• Danny Woodburn as Zoltan Chivay.
• Linden Porco as Percival Shuttenbach.
• Jame Purefoy as Skellen.
• Simon Paisley Day as Xarthisius.
FAQ – The Witcher TV Series
What is The Witcher about?
A Netflix fantasy series based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels that follows monster hunter Geralt, sorceress Yennefer, and princess Ciri as they navigate magic, war and fate.
Is the show based on books or games?
It’s primarily adapted from Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher novels and short stories (the games are a separate adaptation of the same source material).
How many seasons and episodes are there?
The Witcher currently has 4 seasons, each comprising 8 episodes, making 32 episodes in total.
Where was The Witcher filmed?
The Witcher was filmed in Hungary, Poland, Spain’s Canary Islands, Austria, and the UK, giving the series its stunning medieval fantasy look.
Where can I watch the series?
The Witcher is available to stream exclusively on Netflix.
What age rating / is it kid-friendly?
Netflix lists the show as TV-MA / 18+ in many markets, it contains violence, language and mature themes, so it’s not for young children.
Conclusion
The Witcher remains one of Netflix’s strongest fantasy series, offering a rich world full of danger, destiny, and deeply human stories.
While the recasting of Geralt brought mixed reactions, the show continues to evolve with new layers of drama and political intrigue.
Each season dives deeper into the connections between Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri, making it more than just a monster-hunting tale.
With its stunning visuals, emotional storytelling, and intense battles, The Witcher continues to captivate both long-time fans and newcomers alike, proving that destiny, once set in motion, can’t be escaped.