The Witcher: Blood Origin
The Witcher: Blood Origin
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The Witcher: Blood Origin

"Every story has a beginning."

6.5
Yr 2022
Status Ended
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Action & Adventure Drama
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Series Brief

Overview

More than a thousand years before the world of The Witcher, seven outcasts in the elven world unite in a blood quest against an unstoppable power.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 40 /100

Critical reception for The Witcher: Blood Origin is largely negative, characterized by a divide between viewers who enjoy its lighthearted, fast-paced action and those who find it undercooked and messy. While some critics appreciate the show as a quick, blood-soaked fantasy diversion, many others criticize the writing, pacing, and overall lack of depth.

Despite the inclusion of notable stars like Michelle Yeoh, the series is frequently labeled as a disposable expansion of the franchise that fails to offer a compelling narrative. While proponents enjoy the "bad-ass" fight sequences and the informative lore regarding the Conjunction of the Spheres, the consensus is that the show feels like a mediocre placeholder rather than a substantive addition to the Witcher universe.

“Extremely bad-ass fights and hilariously playful swearing make this drama lots of fun”

“Serviceable, pacey fantasy it may be, but... its four slight episodes leave it feeling frustratingly undercooked.”

“Netflix's new Witcher prequel, Blood Origin, is hilariously bad.”

“Fast-moving, bloody and action-packed, this series is not only a peek at the earliest version of his kind, but a history dive.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix Standard with Ads
CA • UK • US
Netflix
UK • US • CA
Why fans love it

This six-part series acts as a semi-prequel that reaches more than a thousand years into the past of the established fantasy world. The narrative focuses on the origin of the first Witcher and the pivotal events that led to the conjunction of the spheres. It relies on the tone of its source novels while shifting the perspective toward an elven history largely ignored in later eras.

Sophia Brown leads a group of seven outcasts forced into an unlikely alliance. The show stands out for its specific technical choices, including the use of sign languages to texture the communication between the elven characters. This combination of action, adventure, and drama builds a standalone history for a setting previously defined by its later conflicts.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 59
Regulars 7
Longest run 3 eps
Sophia Brown
Sophia Brown
as Éile / The Lark
Laurence O'Fuarain
Laurence O'Fuarain
as Fjall
Mirren Mack
Mirren Mack
as Merwyn
Lenny Henry
Lenny Henry
as Chief Sage Balor
Jacob Collins-Levy
Jacob Collins-Levy
as Eredin
Zach Wyatt
Zach Wyatt
as Syndril Cullwyn
Lizzie Annis
Lizzie Annis
as Zacaré
Huw Novelli
Huw Novelli
as Brother Death / Callan
Show 51 more
Francesca Mills as Meldof Amy Murray as Fenrik Minnie Driver as Unnamed Seanchaí Michelle Yeoh as Scían Joey Batey as Jaskier / The Sandpiper 2 episodes Ella Schrey-Yeats as Ithlinne 2 episodes Minee Mais as Young Éile 1 episode James Boyland as Wild Hunt 1 episode Oliver Asante as Jail Guard 1 episode Aidan O'Callaghan as Kareg 1 episode Dylan Moran as Uthrok One-Nut 2 episodes Nathaniel Curtis as Brían 2 episodes Mark Rowley as Alvitir 1 episode Daniel Fathers as Osfar 1 episode Hiftu Quasem as Voice of Light (voice) 3 episodes Ozioma Whenu as Níamh 1 episode Kim Adis as Ket 1 episode Kerri Quinn as Aevenien 2 episodes Faoileann Cunningham as Ryl 1 episode Tut Nyuot as Shen 1 episode Karlina Grace-Paseda as Cethlenn 1 episode Vilhelm Þór Neto as Brauna 1 episode Eyrún Björk as Pregnant Elfyn 1 episode Guy Rhys as Cavaro 1 episode Antonio Galas as Shithead Leader 1 episode Adam Young as Sailor 1 episode Karishma Navekar as Drunk Elfyn 1 episode Jo Coffey as Dwarf 1 episode Chris Jarman as Merchant 1 episode David Gant as Elderly Refugee 1 episode Simon Rouse as General Byral 1 episode Tomisin Ajani as Captain Olyf 1 episode Ronan Doyle as Atta 1 episode Shanika Ocean as Younger Cethlenn 1 episode Jimmy Vee as Dwarf Banker 1 episode Zachary Hart as Elf Soldier Leifur 1 episode Natasha Patel as Elfyn Soldier Pyren 1 episode Moray Treadwell as Gnarly Baker 1 episode Rumaysa Chader as Older Orphan 1 episode Rafael Wray Da Silva as Younger Orphan 1 episode Sabrina Basile as Elfyn Singer 1 episode Aron Dochard as Greasy Elf 1 episode Charlotte Williams as Elf Urchin 1 episode Samuel Blenkin as Avallac'h 3 episodes Hebe Beardsall as Catrin 1 episode Nick Birkinshaw as Elder Lowborn Elf 1 episode Hjörtur Jóhann Jónsson as Elven Fisherman 1 episode Eva Sólveig as Human Woman 1 episode Claire Cooper as Elfyn Woman 1 episode Lachlan Parkinson as Soldier 1 episode Freya Allan as Princess Cirilla 'Ciri' of Cintra (archive footage) (uncredited) 1 episode
Production Board

Crew

Standby Art Director
Adam Thompson
Editor
Kate Baird
Second Assistant Director
Vanluke Watson
Unit Production Manager
Elizabeth Small
Art Direction
Ashley Winter Danny Clark
Other
Laura Williams Ussal Kalyoncu Smithers
Director of Photography
Jean-Philippe Gossart Terry Stacey
Creator
Declan de Barra Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
Art Department Coordinator
Sally Ross
Producer
Tania Lotia
Creative Consultant
Andrzej Sapkowski
Director
Sarah O'Gorman Vicky Jewson
Stunts
Chase Armitage Rachael Evelyn
Hair Designer
Deb Watson
Assistant Art Director
Jamie Shakespeare Laura Barden
Executive Producer
Matthew O'Toole
Costume Design
Lucinda Wright
Additional Photography
Vicky Jewson
Stunt Coordinator
Wolfgang Stegemann
Stunt Double
Liva Rafidison
Supervising Art Director
Stuart Kearns
Associate Producer
Sean Guest
First Assistant Director
Sean Guest
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Witcher: Blood Origin overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

based on novel or book fantasy world sign languages semi-prequel
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
December 25, 2022
Status
Ended
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
813