The Witcher Vs Game Of Thrones: Which One Is A Better Fantasy Show
For a while, there was a shortage of fantasy content in the world, but luckily the period ended after one of the most popular shows in the last few years was released, Game of Thrones. After the series came to an end the fans were concerned that they would be left without any new fantasy content until the spinoff was released, however, Netflix quickly revealed that they were releasing the live-action adaptation of The Witcher series. Both of these series are amazing, but which one is a better fantasy show.
Although it was a tough pick, we ultimately had to go with The Witcher series since it technically has more fantasy elements than Game of Thrones.
Both of these shows are extremely entertaining and are widely loved by fantasy fans all over the world, so if you were considering checking one of them out make sure to read this article all the way through to figure out which one you’d like better.
The Witcher
The Witcher is a newly popularised Netflix adaptation of a book series with the same name. Geralt of Rivia is a witcher, a monster hunter who specializes in tracking down and killing a wide range of creatures, monsters, and supernatural phenomena.
Witchers begin their training at an early age, within Kaer Morhen’s fortress. They’re given a combination of medicines, potions, and powders that extend their lives and give them more stamina, dexterity, and speed than the typical person.
The procedure, however, permanently alters them, leaving them with odd and unique eyes. Witches are sometimes ridiculed as mutants due to their odd looks and powers. Regardless, their skills are always in demand because the Continent is plagued with monsters.
Geralt is regarded as one of his generation’s most competent and experienced witchers. He also has a habit of showing up in the wrong location at the wrong time, drawing the wrath of monarchs, generals, and sorcerers. Despite the fact that witchers are meant to be apolitical, Geralt is frequently drawn into political and military intrigue, particularly when tensions between the autonomous Northern Kingdoms and the enormous Nilfgaardian Empire to the south increase.
Other characters are also included in the novels and the upcoming adaptation. Yennefer, a strong sorceress and Geralt’s ally, and Ciri, a young princess whom Geralt accepts as a trainee, are two other significant characters in the tale. The bard Jaskier is Geralt’s best friend and records Geralt’s exploits.
The story is set in several kingdoms populated by humans and many different magical species. Geralt’s adventures take place in a realm straight out of a fantasy novel (literally), but only on the surface.
Humans, elves, dwarfs, and other nonhuman species are all present. But the world is harsher for the elves than for many others: they have suffered great losses as a result of human encroachment on their territories, and many have banded together as guerilla fighters, determined to save their freedom; occasionally, they overstep their bounds and commit acts of terrorism.
The Continent, the game’s major setting, is also home to more ordinary nations and kingdoms, like Rania, Temeria, Cintra, Toussaint, and Nilfgaard.
The tale revolves on great cities like Vizima and Novigrad. The witcher’s world is one of adventure, courage, tragedy, beauty, and conflict, from the high peaks of the Blue Mountains, where the witcher stronghold of Kaer Morhen may be found, to the snow-covered Skellige Isles.
Game of Thrones
In case you have been living under a rock and don’t know what Game of Thrones is, it’s an HBO show which adapts a book series called A Song of Ice and Fire.
Game of Thrones’ narrative was adapted from George R. R. Martin’s epic novel series A Song of Ice and Fire by show’s authors David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. In 1996, Martin released Game of Thrones, the first novel in the series.
The novel was supposed to be the first of a trilogy, with each installment covering one of the three primary narrative lines, but as Martin wrote, the tale grew into what he now anticipates to be a seven-part series.
When the show first got released, it had a really small fan base, but as the series went on it massed an almost cult following since it filled the fantasy void left after the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Harry Potter franchise ended.
The plot of the series branches into three many storylines while overlapping many different genres, from basic fantasy plotlines regarding a hoard of monsters heading for our protagonists to intricate political battles for the Iron Throne.
The first plotline follows the battle for the throne. This part of the story mostly takes part in Westeros’ most prominent city, King’s Landing.
At the beginning of the story, the Lannisters are presented as the family which will remain the rulers, and throughout the rest of the series, we follow them as they are challenged by many for the trone.
This part of the story relies heavily on the political battles and psychological schemes between the main characters.
The second part of the story follows the person that gets introduced as the character who would overthrow the current rulers, Daenerys Targaryen.
This part of the story follows her as she evolves from the weak exiled daughter of the overthrown king to a most formidable challenger for the throne.
A big part of this part of the story is also Daenerys resisting madness which was common in her family as she tries to establish herself as more rational than her father.
The last part of the story is the one that features most of the fantasy elements in the entire series. The plotline taking place on the Wall follows a small group of guards coming to terms with the fact that the White Walkers are actually real while trying to warn the rest of the kingdom.
Is The Witcher Based on Game of Thrones?
Although this is a common misconception it is actually not true. Netflix’s popular show The Witcher is actually an adaptation of a novel series written by the Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.
The stories are rich in European mythology, history, and folklore. Several of the Witcher storylines are based on well-known fairy tales, but with a twist: picture Snow White as a vicious murderer. There are vampires, werewolves, dragons, and the Wild Hunt, a strange ghostly force. Other planets and times exist, and certain individuals may go to them via magic.
The eight novel series could have not been based on the Story of Ice and Fire by George R. R, Martin since the first book in the Witcher series was released in 1991. and the first novel in A son of Ice and Fire was released in 1996.
The Witcher Vs Game Of Thrones: Which One Is A Better Fantasy Show
Answering this question is actually pretty difficult since the shows are extremely similar when it comes to their cores, which means that the answer will be in their differences.
The first similarity between the two shows is the approaching apocalyptic event. The white walkers and the country’s approaching magical doom were presented in the premiere episode of Game of Thrones.
The Witcher starts off with a similar issue. Stregebor is the one who initially mentions the apocalyptic prophecy, but he sounds like he’s spinning a yarn. It eventually becomes obvious that it may contain more truth than the rest of Stregebor’s assertions.
Both shows also have an extremely dark tone overall, something fantasy fans are very familiar with, since fantasy stories usually lean towards happier endings.
Game of Thrones’ darkness was recognized as one of the most thrilling parts of the epic series. For fans used to narrative armor, the concept that heroes may die and that good does not always triumph was intriguing. The Witcher is set on a planet on the eve of colonization and the aftermath of racial genocide.
Geralt’s tale, like Jon Snow’s, Tyrion Lannister’s, and other Game of Thrones characters’, revolves around discrimination. He’s despised for who he is, and there are signs that he was traumatized as a youngster. In terms of fairy tales, it veers away from Disney and toward the Grimm brothers.
Lastly, political intrigue is at the center of both shows. Fans of Game of Thrones were treated to a complicated rivalry involving many houses and multiple characters inside each house. Politics also play a big part in The Witcher, but it is not as carefully watched. The teams are a little more perplexing, and there appear to be fewer players.
It doesn’t help that in this reality, princesses don’t seem to survive very long, or at least Geralt always encounters the troublesome ones. The team comparison is also organized differently; although Game of Thrones began with seven kingdoms unified under one king, Witcher begins with several kingdoms that may soon become one empire.
Aside from these similarities, there are a plethora of differences. While magic is present in Game of Thrones and the viewers are presented with quite a few magic users, The Witcher is centered around Magic and Magicuseres play a crucial role in the story.
Fans of the source material for Game of Thrones as well as some fans of the program were disappointed by the series’ badly paid off magic. The White Walkers were built up over time but eventually defeated in a single fight, and magic was so marginalized that many of the characters didn’t believe in gods or magic. This is not the case with The Witcher.
Geralt, the titular Witcher, is a magician, Yennifer is a sorceress, and Cirilla has been proven to have a magical scream. On the Continent, people are well aware that magic exists and that it affects their daily lives. A couple even buys a magical cure for their bedroom trouble in one scenario.
Another big difference is the way the characters are treated. While even the main characters being disposable is a staple of Game of Thrones, The Witcher is extremely focused on the characters themselves.
While Game of Thrones fans may have enjoyed the many characters and their well-rounded motives and perplexingly linked subplots, The Witcher concentrates the viewer’s attention on just three: Geralt, Yennifer, and Cirilla. That not only makes it simpler to recall the characters’ names, but it also simplifies the storyline.
Characters on the periphery are simply that: characters on the periphery. Their subplots are few and aren’t intended to divert the viewer’s attention.
Speaking of the characters, while Game of Throne features manly morally gray characters the same can not be said for the characters from the Witcher.
Many Game of Thrones viewers were drawn to morally ambiguous characters. Every character had a dark side and did something bad and even the villains had their bright points. The Witcher, on the other hand, is a little more explicit about which characters may and should be applauded.
Despite the fact that Geralt has done some evil things and Yennifer is far from a saint, they both fit into the “good” category with the majority of other fantasy heroes. Geralt is still depicted as a decent man who made a mistake, rather as a morally ambiguous figure who is neither hero nor villain, even when he commits horrible things.
So to answer the initial question, the answer of which show is the better among the two simply comes down to what you prefer in your shows.
While both are great fantasy shows Game of Thrones may be a better fit for people willing to immerse themselves into the intricate plot and capable of not attaching to any characters.
The Witcher on the other hand would be a better fit for someone who is looking for a show which follows a character and their development arc with a decent side of magic and a plethora of all different monsters.
Speaking strictly of the fantasy genre, we could technically say that The Witcher is a better fantasy show since it features more fantasy elements and the emphasis is on the magic itself, while it is merely an element of the world in which the stars of Game of Thrones is set in.