Entertainment NOW

2 • December 25 - 31, 2022 Entertainment Now By Dana Simpson TV Media T ype "The Witcher fran- chise" into Google, and the results will reveal a vast and enviable fantasy em- pire. First created by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski in 1986, the sprawling tale of monster hunter Geralt of Rivia has now evolved into a number of short stories, comic books and video games, as well as five table-top games, two feature films, two series and one manga to date. On Christmas Day (Sunday, Dec. 25), Netflix expands the Witcher universe with the release of "The Witcher: Blood Origin." A miniseries spinoff of the hit Netflix adaptation, which is also set to release its highly discussed third season in the new year, "Blood Origin" is set 1,200 years before "The Witcher" begins. It focuses on the shifts in the elven world and tells the story of the first-ever Witcher. Those unfamiliar with the plot of Netflix's "The Witcher" should know that it follows the aforementioned Geralt (a.k.a. the White Wolf, the Butcher of Blavik- en and many other nicknames) on his quest to hunt deadly beasts and protect others by eliminating the threat of monstrous violence. Optimized for monster hunting, thanks (if such a word can be used — he's pretty bitter about it) to a series of unnatural mutations, Geralt travels the land with the bard Jaskier (Joey Batey, "Knight- fall"), who often serenades him with songs of praise. Amid his travels, the Witcher also runs into a series of humans, sorcerers, elves, goblins, mer- people and many more. Among this crowd are the franchise's two other main protagonists: Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra, "Wanderlust"), a sorceress who has an interesting, passionate and complex relationship with Geralt; and Cirilla, a.k.a. Ciri (Freya Allan, "Gunpowder Milkshake," 2021), the former princess of Cintra who was forced to leave her home during a siege earlier in the first season and find the Witcher. While most talk of "The Witcher's" upcoming third season revolves around the departure of leading man Henry Cavill, its "Blood Origin" counterpart doesn't contain the actor at all. Instead, the prequel welcomes another familiar face to the fran- chise: that of "Everything Every- where All at Once" (2022) actress Michelle Yeoh. Yeoh plays Scian, the last liv- ing "member of a nomadic tribe of sword-elves on a mission to retrieve a blade stolen from her people." On her quest, she is joined by two others: Éile (Sophia Brown, "Giri/Haji"), a queen's guard warrior "who leaves to becomes a travelling musician" (because what is The Witcher franchise without a bit of no- madic song), and Fjall (Laurence O'Fuarain, "Game of Thrones"), who is described in the news release as "a man born into a clan of warriors sworn to protect a king, but [who] instead sets out in need of vengeance." While each member of the trio brings more than their fair share of legendary weapon-wielding intensity to the screen, only one character in this saga's origin story can become the main event over the course of four episodes. According to the Netflix re- lease, "'Blood Origin' will tell a story lost to time, exploring the creation of the first prototype Witcher and the events that lead to the pivotal 'Conjunction of the Spheres,' when the worlds of monsters, men and elves merged to become one." Cover Story Laurence O'Fuarain as Fjall in "The Witcher: Blood Origin" Netflix fantasy franchise expands with 'Blood Origin' Ready Rental 3 x 4 Hayley Siefert 3 x 2 Letters & Numbers Sudoku Fill in the grid so that every row,every column, and every 4x4 box contains the digits 1 through 9 AND the letters A-F. Solution on page 12. Advertise Your Business In Call Advertising at 217-477-5105

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