A Review Of Netflix’s Drama The Witcher: Nightmare Of The Wolf

The hit fantasy drama takes a break from the present in order to tell a stand-alone animated story of a handsome witcher named Vesemir.

As confusing as the fractured timeline of The Witcher’s first season could be, it offered a sense that this fantasy world was expansive and had other characters who just might prove to be more interesting than those we are following in the main thread.

The show’s first spinoff, “The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf,” takes advantage of that flexibility by delving into the past, offering a chapter about a previously unspoken character called Vesmir.

Those who are familiar with the franchise may recognize Nightmare of Wolf’s name as that of the man who trained Geralt, but only if you pay attention to every detail while he trains Geralt and appears multiple times throughout.

The Witcher may not be a Netflix series that appealed to many subscribers, but it’s still worth watching for anyone who has an interest in the Continent.

A Detailed Review Of The Film:

The script by Beau DeMayo, who also worked on the live-action series, follows one of Geralt’s monster-of-the-week storylines. Vesemir is tasked with tracking down a deadly creature that stalks the woods bordering Kaedwen and asks his friend Dandelion for help when it seems he will need an assistant.

At court, Lady Anna Henrietta and Sorceress Phillipa Eilhart argue over whether to rid the kingdom of witchers while there are suspicions about which side the monster really belongs to.

Source: Den Of Geek.com

Vesemir is a classic lovable rogue, and James’ voice inflections keep his ever-present sneer from becoming too overbearing. He spouts jokes and slashes at monsters equally, neglects children in need while collecting coins, eating fine food, and soaking up baths.

But, as it turns out, there is so much more to this reviewer. Nightmare of the Wolf sets about unearthing his childhood memories early on in the book. Vesemir was a servant to a witcher named Deglan when they met by chance. This experience leads Vesemir to pursue witchery, and he is eventually apprenticed by his own teacher.

Vesemir is a likable character in the past because he demonstrates how decisions have consequences, but it was his lifelong dedication to justice that feels even more resonant in this nightmare. (The film also touches on the themes of intolerance and self-preservation, but it works better as a character study than an analysis of values either in this universe of ours.)

The problem is that the scenes of this dragged on and slowed down the pace of the first half. More importantly, David Errigo Jr.’s portrayal of Vesemir made him seem like more of a brat than an intelligent person in his younger years. As a result, young Vesemir seemed tougher to believe as he continues growing up than older versions which are more debonair.

When the game returns to Ciri’s childhood, there is a charm that can be hard to shake. The training sequence in a neon-green swamp was more unsettling than the battles filled with explicit violence, but it was equally enjoyable and emphasized the need for speed.

After building up the tension with masterful storytelling, Nightmare of the Wolf concludes in a stunningly fast-paced way. All that groundwork does pay off in a dramatic and tragic finale crammed with bloody scenes filled with action and tragedy.

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf provides a look into Vesemir’s backstory, hinting at Geralt’s own. It would be safe to assume that some names mentioned here will come up again in future stories, but by not tying its fate too closely with Geralt’s story, Nightmare of the Wolf offers a satisfying peek into another world that is much richer than just one story.