The Witcher's executive producer candidly discusses the Netflix show's changes from the books. Those changes, often related to expanded character backstories or character deaths, have garnered spirited debate among those who enjoyed the source material. Some have argued that the television series is better for having made changes, while others have stated that the alterations don't quite work and betray the excitement of when the project was confirmed with Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia.

In an interview for Wyborcza (via Redanian Intelligence), executive producer Tomek Baginski candidly discussed the adaptation's changes after the ending of The Witcher season 3. He attributed some of it to "production chaos", detailing what that's like in practice. He also very honestly talks about how a story changes when it's being delivered to a largely American audience, though he acknowledges that "sometimes it may go too far" and adds that "it’s painful for us, and for me too." His full quote is below:

When you start discussing it, it usually turns out that screenwriters thought this solution out, that it’s not completely crazy. It’s no secret that we often disagree. Things are created in the discussion. Michał Niewiara, who is our tester, does a great job, he checks what fits the world from books. Sometimes we get such a long list of things from him, because in many places we went in a different direction. But there’s a reason for it every time.

Sometimes the changes are the result of production chaos, because, for example, an actor fell ill and his plot needs to be edited and rewritten within a few hours so that it can be shot the next day, because this is not a plot for which the whole production machine will stop. There are a lot of understandable reasons why controversial decisions are made, but the viewer does not have this context, so sometimes it hurts because something was better in the book.

I had the same perceptual block when I presented Hardkor 44 [a never-made variation on the Warsaw Uprising] abroad years ago and tried to explain: there was an uprising against Germany, but the Russians were across the river, and on the German side there were also soldiers from Hungary or Ukraine. For Americans, it was completely incomprehensible, too complicated, because they grew up in a different historical context, where everything was arranged: America is always good, the rest are the bad guys. And there are no complications.

When a series is made for a huge mass of viewers, with different experiences, from different parts of the world, and a large part of them are Americans, these simplifications not only make sense, they are necessary. It’s painful for us, and for me too, but the higher level of nuance and complexity will have a smaller range, it won’t reach people. Sometimes it may go too far, but we have to make these decisions and accept them.

The Biggest Changes The Witcher Has Made In 3 Seasons

One of the bigger changes that The Witcher season 1 makes is that Geralt's version is initially less talkative than he is in the books. Though the change may be related to the format, there are others that follow in the same direction. The show's first installment expands on Yennefer's backstory, something that the books don't touch on as much. This is a necessary shift, given that Yennefer is one of the show's main characters and would need to be explored with depth in order to build investment with audiences. Other things, like Ciri's powers and introduction, are similarly altered.

The Witcher season 2 also makes changes to its source material, drawing a strong response as a result. Notable characters die, and as it relates to Yennefer, she loses her magic. This doesn't happen in the fantasy novels, with the adaptation likely shifting as a way of creating more dramatic tension, but the move proved to be controversial as it evolved and led to other developments which stood apart from the books.

Related: "My Daughter" - Yennefer's Story Is Finally Fixed After 2 Seasons Of Controversial Witcher Book Changes

The Witcher season 3 still made changes after promising to be more faithful to the source material. But the quote from Baginski demonstrates why it's sometimes needed to move away from the formula. Even the most recent installment makes alternations, with certain characters facing different fates. It's part of an ongoing question of what adaptations should strive for. And, in turn, what audiences should expect.

Source: Wyborcza (via Redanian Intelligence)