The first 20 minutes seemed a bit goofy and Henry Cavill's Witcher character a bit makeup heavy. I was worried I was watching a fanboy's tv show - something difficult to relate to unless I digested a series of 10 books in my parents' basement. Then I finished the episode and realized I was wrong. Very wrong. I quickly watched two seasons in no time. It's that good.

I find it on a par with Game of Thrones. While it lacks some of the breadth of GOT, it presents a fantasy world full of adventure, magic, romance and danger. The action scenes are beautifully choreographed. The interactions can be blunt, whether violent or sexual, but while GOT seemed to celebrate offending the viewer with graphic and gratuitous sexuality in picture and sound, the Witcher presents it in passing, as a routine part of life, focusing more on storyline.

Another divergence from GOT is that the Witcher does narrow its events and its characters, making them easier to follow. GOT felt unwieldy and perhaps that was exacerbated by unfinished writing or writing that went off script of the book. Here it seems tighter. I particularly enjoyed the story of Yenefer, in addition to the other main and secondary characters.

Now, I'm going through Witcher withdrawal until season 3 is released. Go watch the bloody show.