The Series Fans Call a 'Perfect The Witcher Replacement' is Now on Netflix

Summary

• Despite the fact that Netflix continues to develop The Witcher franchise, many fans have grown cold to it due to the screenwriters' disregard for Andrzej Sapkowski's original novels.
• Now, viewers are actively looking for alternatives to the fantasy series, and the choice of many has fallen on the historical drama The Last Kingdom.
• The series, which tells the story of the birth of England, as well as the movie based on it, left both critics and viewers in incredible delight.

Series on Netflix are always hit or miss. And remarkably, projects that become hits often fall in the ratings as viewers notice a decline in the quality of writing, directing, and editing in subsequent seasons. Conversely, those shows that were initially more of a "miss" due to less hype surrounding them often turn out to be gems hidden in the jungle of the streamer's endless library.

Tired of the not-so-great franchises that Netflix keeps dragging out for profit, subscribers are rediscovering lesser-known shows that end up being worthy rivals to past hits.

Such was the case with The Witcher. While critics and audiences praised the first season of the adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski's novels for its faithfulness to the source material, the second season immediately generated tons of hate. People complained about creative liberties that not only misrepresented their favorite characters, but also completely missed the point of The Witcher Saga. A fourth season is coming, but few people are as excited as before, as many viewers have found a great replacement, The Last Kingdom.

Viewers Found the Perfect The Witcher Substitute

Many social media users trying to find hidden on Netflix have discovered the British series The Last Kingdom. Although it is a historical drama more akin to Vikings, its dark atmosphere, character design, and ongoing intrigue will certainly remind you of The Witcher.

Developed by showrunner Stephen Butchard and based on the historical novel series The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, The Last Kingdom follows the events of the early days of England during the time of the last Bretwalda, Alfred the Great. In the 9th century, the kingdoms of East Anglia, Northumbria and Mercia are under the oppression of the so-called Great Heathen Army, a Viking coalition led by the Danes. The only remaining kingdom is Wessex.

In such a world lives Uhtred of Bebbanburg, played by Alexander Dreymon, a Brit born into the family of a Saxon lord of the kingdom of Northumbria, but raised among the Vikings. Yet Uhtred remains true to his roots, pursuing the dream of Alfred the Great to unite England.

The series was originally commissioned by BBC Two, but Netflix partnered with them for the second season. They subsequently acquired the full rights to the show and took over production independently. A total of five seasons were released, as well as the final feature film, Seven Kings Must Die.

Why The Last Kingdom Is an Excellent Alternative to The Witcher

So why exactly could The Last Kingdom be The Witcher's killer? You won't find magic, elves, or spectacular fights with fantastical monsters inspired by mythology here, as the series emphasizes historicism without shying away from fiction.

Nevertheless, it presents an equally dark medieval atmosphere centered around a lone warrior, sometimes cynical, who pursues his own goals and is not afraid to ally himself with different factions. The series has enough corny pathos, especially in the swordplay sequences, but also enough humor, no worse than The Witcher.

The series' overall score on Rotten Tomatoes is an impressive 91%. Critics and viewers alike have praised the high production values, the epic battles, the thrilling adventures of Uhtred, and the equally thrilling political intrigue that is a cross between Vikings and Game of Thrones, but with a highly original flavor.

All in all, The Last Kingdom is a fantastic show that fans of Geralt of Rivia will definitely enjoy.