Netflix's Smash Hit Fantasy Show Is Great, But Its 10/10 Prequel Is Even Better

2 weeks ago 25

Published May 30, 2026, 8:01 PM EDT

Lewis is a Lead Writer for Screen Rant and has written for the site since 2022. This has allowed Lewis to explore a vast array of films, TV shows, books, comic books, and games from across the mainstream world of pop culture, reflecting his lifelong love of all media and typifying his experience in the world of fiction storytelling. To top this off, Lewis graduated from Northumbria University with First Class Honours in Film & TV Studies, truly exemplifying his experience in the medium.

Netflix has a fantasy smash hit on its hands, but a prequel to that has proven to be even better. Netflix's best fantasy shows range from original stories to book adaptations, with the streaming service being renowned for how it kickstarted the wave of big, high-budget TV fantasy shows, at least on streaming services. In fact, some of the best shows to watch on Netflix are fantasy-based, be it Wednesday or the likes of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Regardless, The Witcher has proven itself as one of Netflix's most popular shows, at least from a viewership perspective. Many casual fans enjoy the fantasy world established in the show, but its even stronger prequel has been largely ignored. Due to several reasons, the prequel to The Witcher has been left by the wayside, admittedly unfairly. That prequel is The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, which was revered by critics and audiences alike.

The Witcher may have been a success on Netflix, but its prequel is one of the better original movies on the entire site. With a 100% approval rating from critics and an 83% score from audiences, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf proved to be even better than the show on which it was based.

The Witcher: Nightmare Of The Wolf Proves What Netflix's Witcher Strategy Should Be

Thus far, The Witcher has been controversial with audiences due to its fidelity to the original books. Henry Cavill even departed the series due to the lack of book-faithful elements, leading many fans to join his frustration. With The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, though, a prequel story was told. This prequel is set long before the books, meaning there was not as much pressure to adapt a story that was already known.

This may be the best tactic for The Witcher going forward. If audiences are not as inherently passionate about such a story, due to the nature of a prequel or sequel, then a standalone story would certainly work. More standalone Withcher stories could be a goldmine for Netflix, especially given the franchise's overall popularity.

Netflix's Fantasy Future Is In Doubt

Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven/Jane Hopper looking confused in Stranger Things

However, all of this does not stop the reality that Netflix's fantasy future is in doubt. 2025/2026 saw the conclusion of massive stories like Stranger Things, which has dominated Netflix since 2016. The Witcher season 5 will then be the final installment of that show, with really only Avatar: The Last Airbender, One Piece, and Wednesday left concerning huge fantasy shows.

This is even more worrying when the likes of Prime Video, with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, continue to flesh out their fantasy worlds. Clearly, Netflix needs to lean into stories like The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf. If it does so, the streaming service will possibly reignite its audience, meaning The Witcher doesn't have to rely on the aforementioned prequel to be its strongest project.