When Netflix dropped a fresh look at its upcoming series The Witcher on Monday, there was a collective sigh of relief that the show appeared to be shaping up much better than initial images from costume tests would imply. But many Witcher fans — largely fans of CD Projekt Red’s video game adaptations of the fantasy series — wondered why Geralt of Rivia seemed to be less impressively armed. “Why only one sword?” they asked.
In CD Projekt Red’s popular The Witcher video games, Geralt carries two swords: one forged of steel and one coated in silver. They’re a prominent feature of Geralt’s design and silhouette, and each serves its own purpose. The steel sword is for general use, while the silver-coated sword is typically reserved for supernatural creatures, like werewolves, wraiths, and vampires. Given the delicate and precious nature of the silver sword, it should be used sparingly, but should also always be at the ready in the Witcher games.
In the Witcher short stories and novels written by creator Andrzej Sapkowski, Geralt is typically not adventuring with a pair of swords on his person at all times. Oftentimes, that silver sword is stowed in the saddle of Geralt’s horse, Roach, and unsheathed when absolutely necessary. That’s likely how we’ll see Henry Cavill’s take on Geralt store his silver sword, and how Polish actor Michał Żebrowski dealt with his inventory in the previous adaptation of the books, The Hexer.
Heritage Films
In the video games, having both swords at Geralt’s disposal is simply more convenient. Being engaged combat and having to run back to Roach to grab the silver sword would have been an annoyance, so it’s more of a gameplay contrivance than it is accurate to Sapkowski’s original books. Plus, Roach wasn’t readily available as Geralt’s steed in the first two Witcher games.
Regardless of what today’s new images might imply, the Geralt of Netflix’s The Witcher probably isn’t going to a one-sword guy. The Witcher showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich hinted strongly that Geralt will pull that second sword out at the right time on the Netflix series. Here’s what Hissrich said on Twitter earlier today:
Where we started it all. ❤️⚔️ @witchernetflix
GERALT IS:
Stoic.
Circumspect.
Balanced.
Fierce.
Soft-and-squishy-in-a-tiny-place-in-his-heart-that-he’ll-never-reveal-until-maybe-the-end-and-even-then-it-will-just-be-a-hint-AND-yes-he-only-carries-one-sword-until-wait-for-it… pic.twitter.com/KKYRPBfE4a— Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) July 1, 2019
In summary, it’s probably best to remember that both the video games and the Netflix series will differ in their adaptations of Sapkowski’s books, and that creative decisions are made to fit the medium. That means it’s OK that Henry Cavill is not sporting a full beard in his version of Geralt; there are worse facial hair alternatives.
