'The Witcher' becomes the highest-rated Netflix original series

The fantasy thriller sky-rocketed in just 6 days, with some praising it for 'better fight scenes than Game of Thrones'


Entertainment Desk December 26, 2019
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Neflix's new hit release, The Witcher, has only been available on the streaming service for a matter of days.

But already the fantasy thriller has had an astonishing rise to the top and has become one of Netflix's highest rating original series on Internet Movie Database (IMDb), just days after its December 20 release, reported Daily Mail.

The eight-part series starring Man of Steel star Henry Cavill has managed to beat the likes of Stranger Things and Peaky Blinders in IMDb ratings.

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According to Forbes, The Witcher kicked off with a rating of 8.9, which narrowly edged it ahead of shows including Black Mirror, Narcos, Peaky Blinders, Stranger Things and House of Cards - who had scores of 8.8.

The show's early high rankings may fall over time, but not by much, Forbes claimed, cementing itself as a huge success for the channel.

The Witcher is an eight-episode adaptation of the bestselling medieval book series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. It centres on protagonist Geralt of Rivia (Cavill), a monster hunter known as a Witcher who travels the countryside slaying terrifying beasts.

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But in the Netflix adaptation, the story also examined Princess Ciri (Freya Allan) and Yennefer of Vengerberg's (Anya Chalotra) arcs, as the trio's intertwining destinies find them coming together in full force.

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Early reviews for the fantasy series saw fans praise the show, with many comparing the fight scenes with Game of Thrones. "The fight scenes in Witcher makes Game of Thrones fights look awful," one wrote. While another added, "The fight scenes in The Witcher make Game Of Thrones fight scenes look like two drunks fighting outside a bar.'

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And another critic gushed, 'The fight choreography is insane. First fight Geralt gets into is beautifully savage. The blend of swordplay and Geralt's signs is perfection.'

The Witcher has already been renewed for a second season by the TV creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, who announced the news in November.

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