Whenever anything is adapted, of course there are going to be changes and differences. Netflix's The Witcher is no exception. If anything, it has even more complications and nuances because it's an adaptation of an adaptation. The series started as books, then went to video games, and now the story of Geralt is here, streaming.

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Throughout all these changes, though, fans adore Geralt and all the other characters in his stories. They seem to speak to people in a way that other fantasy heroes sometimes struggle to. Perhaps because the point of them isn't to be heroes at all. After all, Geralt just started out as a monster-slayer for hire.

The Story Of Renfri

The Witcher - Geralt and Renfri

While Renfri's end is exactly like the books and video game, her backstory is much more complex (in codex and short tale). Her mother passed on when she was born and, despite the black sun omen of her birth, her father doted on her. It was her step-mother who turned her people against her and sent bandits out to end her life. Eventually, she sent a wizard to hunt her because he wanted her heart and organs for study.

So, yes, Renfri's story is a riff on Snow White. Her step-mother is the evil queen and Geralt is the huntsman that was going to let her live. It's just Renfri forced his hand, but at least he protected her heart.

Rejecting Ciri

witcher 3 geralt ciri featured

In the books and video games, the first time Ciri comes to Geralt, he outright rejects her. Well, he takes her on an adventure, but then he drops her off back home, ignoring the destiny she promises he can't avoid.

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It seems that with the Netflix series, they aren't bothering with that. The finale made it pretty clear that Geralt and Ciri are together as a family.

Ciri's Knowledge of Witchers

The Witcher Leshen Ciri

In the Netflix series, Ciri seems pretty in the dark about what a Witcher is and, particularly, who Geralt even could be. All she knows is his title and name and went from there.

This is not how the books and video games play it at all. Even though Calanthe didn't want to talk about it, Ciri had a nurse who told her all about Witchers, Geralt, and even her destiny as a child of surprise. That's how she found Geralt in the first place; she went looking for him, knowing she wasn't meant to be a princess.

Order Of Events

Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher

This one is an easy given, but the first ever Witcher books were a series of short stories, and since the first season is based on those, they can be all over the place. And certainly none of Ciri's story is keeping order, in particular.

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Her story is supposed to be that of a little Witcher fan whose known her destiny all her life, who ran away and hid with the dryads to get Geralt's attention. Then, he drops her off home to ignore her again until Cintra falls and then he comes rushing to her aid.

Striga's Curse Left Vague

When Geralt healed the Striga, Adda the White, he and Triss also surmised that the little princess had been cursed. However, unlike the Netflix series, Geralt in the books/video games never learned if it was Adda and Folstest's mother or Ostrit who cursed her. One hated her children for their taboo decision, and the other wanted Adda to themselves.

Both were plausible MO's, but the Netflix series just decides to pick Ostrit and be done with it.

The Princess's Royal Engagements

Freya Allan as Ciri looking worried in The Witcher

Something the show completely disregards and probably never will include is the many engagements of Princess Ciri. In a desperate attempt to keep her granddaughter a very normal princess of status, Calanthe betrothed her to a host of different young men.

Unsurprisingly, all of them fell through.

Yennefer And "The Wish"

Something very important that differs from the series to the video games is if Yennefer knows Geralt's djinn wish or not. In the video games/books, she always knew the wish, it was just the players/readers that didn't know exactly what he said.

However, in the Netflix series, the only person who definitely knows what he wished is Geralt himself.

This is a pretty big change because in the video games, she's uncomfortable but complicit. In the series, it seems like she got trapped or tricked.

Triss and Geralt

Triss and Geralt kiss in the maze in The Witcher

Anyone who's played The Witcher 3 can tell you that the main two romance options are Yennefer and Triss, two beautiful mages who vie for Geralt's attention.

However, Triss' relationship with Geralt hasn't been the most honest and it irks some fans out.

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Lucky for those fans, there doesn't seem to be even the smallest whiff of Triss and Geralt so far in the Netflix series. In the books and video games she was into him the second they met. The Netflix Triss just seems to respect him.

Triss

Witcher 3 Triss

There's more to Triss' changes than just her appearance. Not only does the new Triss look different, but she also seems to be more responsible and level-headed. Game and book Triss is more a whimsical firecracker, more consistent than Yennefer but twice as impulsive.

So, a responsible Triss is a pretty wild difference.

Dandelion

New name, revamped personality, humbler roots... The Dandelion of the Netflix series (now named Jaskier) still has the same heart and energy as his inspiration, but notable differences. This Dandelion is less sure of himself and Geralt's even more of a jerk to him. It leads to complicated young bard and an even more complicated relationship with his "best friend".

Oh, and this Dandelion isn't renowned around the continent for his genius, either. Poor guy.

Yennefer's Past

The Witcher Yennefer

In the books and games, Yennefer's past was just something Geralt inferred from years of being with her. Otherwise, she kept quiet about her time in Aretuza or as a tortured young girl. With the Netflix series' multiple perspectives, now fans get to see Yen grow up and it's a very different experience. There is no mystery and inferring; Yen was a tormented hunchback and suffered for years before transforming into the powerful woman she became.

Witcher Necklace

The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Necklace

In the video games, the Witcher wolf pendant has a particular and aggressive look to it. It's a protruding silver charm carved into a wolf's head, very evident and hard to hide.

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Netflix's version is a lot tamer. The necklace now seems more of a talisman. The pendent is not a silver disk with an emblem on it instead of the unmistakable and undeniable wolf's head.

Mages At Sodden Hill

The Witcher Yennefer Learning Magic

During the battle of Sodden Hill, defending the north from Nilfgaard, the mage leaders say there are 60 of them there to defend it. However, in the other stories there were only 22 mages to defend the keep and, of that 22, 14 of them fell. Well, 13, Triss was just presumed deceased.

Quite a number difference.

Geralt's Abandonment

The Witcher - Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) holding a sword

When Geralt was an infant, his witch mother abandoned him and left him to the Witchers to be trained. In particular, she left him to Vessemir, an older and wiser Witcher. He never knew of his real mother or home, not until he was much older.

However, in the Netflix series, they age up Geralt and make his mother abandon him at an older age. Around five, from the looks of him.

Diversity

In the original Witcher books and games, almost every single person is white. While the geography makes sense (based on European folklore written by a a white, Polish man), people of other races have lived in Europe for a long time and it's a fantasy world. There's no reason not to include them.

Netflix took that cue and completely diversified its cast, bringing a lovely, inclusive angle to the story. It helped deconstruct some of the more sexist or racist flaws of the old stories and made them even better.

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