The Witcher: Blood Origin has been met with criticism since its release on December 25th according to ComicBook. The much-anticipated spin-off The Witcher was released on Netflix and although it is currently the number one show on the platform it isn’t exactly number one for fans and critics. The series currently has not fared well on Rotten Tomatoes as it has 38 percent out of 24 critic rating at the moment, and the fans have rated it even lower coming in short at nine percent out of 2400 user ratings. This is a shock to many following the success of the franchise overall through the past years. 

The new series is created and written by Declan De Barra (The Originals), and is set 1200 years before everyone’s favorite White Wolf, Geralt of Rivia. It follows seven outcasts in an elven world who unite to face off against an unstoppable and all-powerful empire. The Witcher: Blood Origin showcases the creation of the first Witcher and explores the elven civilization before its demise. These events lead to the Conjunction of the Spheres, a cataclysm that trapped many unnatural creatures. The limited series stars Sophia Brown (Giri/Haji), Laurence O’Fuarain (Game of Thrones), Mirren Mack (Mudlarks), Lenny Henry (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), and many more. 

ComicBook states that even though the series is receiving a negative outlook not everyone feels the same. ComicBook.com’s Matthew Aguilar gave the series a four out of five claiming, ‘’The Witcher: Blood Origin accomplishes its goal of setting the stage for a universe and bringing life to a much talked about but rarely explored time in Witcher history, but it’s the characters and their short time together that will stick with me most’’. 

Many Witcher fans can generate their own take on the new series as The Witcher: Blood Origin is now streaming on Netflix.