The sheer number of lovable characters present in The Witcher is simply way too many to list out, but one such character that will inevitably tug at your heartstrings due to his overall demeanor is Dandelion. The bard with a heart of gold might seem like nothing more than your run-of-the-mill comic relief character, but peeling away his surface-level hijinks will reveal a character that is way more complex than one might care to admit.
There's a reason why people like Geralt, Triss, and Yennefer — who will do everything possible to avoid mingling with idiots — have a soft spot for this bard. His qualities are simply way too many to just discard him outright, and he can actually be a good companion to have on an adventure due to the entertainment he brings with him. For the most part, one might state that Dandelion in both The Witcher games and books are virtually identical. However, hardcore fans have noticed certain discrepancies surrounding both iterations of this character. Keeping this in mind, here are five ways Dandelion is faithful to his character in the books, coupled with five more reasons why he's more of a unique character compared to his counterpart.
10 TRUE TO THE BOOKS: A Musical Maestro Who's Second To None
Dandelion's skills as a bard are nothing to scoff at. While one might be inclined to dismiss this character altogether due to his inherent goofy nature, there's no denying just how musically adept he really is.
This can be somewhat of a surprise in the games, and understandably so. After all...
9 NOTHING LIKE THE BOOKS: He Doesn't Really Practice His Skills All That Much
In the books, there are descriptions scattered throughout the story of Dandelion fiddling around with his lute, writing dow poetry & ballads, and singing to his heart's content whenever he gets the time.
This is not the case in the games at all, where Dandelion's character feels somewhat static due to a lack of these elements.
8 TRUE TO THE BOOKS: He's Quite The Charmer In Both The Books And Movies
However, if there's one thing that the games do right, it's communicating the fact that Dandelion is a charming individual whom the ladies all swoon over.
This is the norm in the books as well, but it feels somewhat natural. In the games, a slight problem arises in the fact that...
7 NOTHING LIKE THE BOOKS:Â He's Not Really All That Famous In The Games
For a bard whose reputation is supposed to be unparalleled, players don't really witness a ton of scenes where Dandelion's prowess as a bard is acknowledged.
This feels somewhat weird and breaks the illusion of Dandelion being this world-renown bard that every woman on the Continent wants to get a piece of.
6 TRUE TO THE BOOKS: His Amorous Adventures Have Landed Him In Trouble Several Times
While Dandelion might be incredibly charming and has a ton of romantic options, he's not really the sharpest tool in the shed. This impacts his decision-making somewhat, leading to poor judgment when it comes to bedding women.
There have been numerous instances of hot-headed husbands out for Dandelion's blood due to his questionable antics — something that's prevalent in both the books and games.
5 NOTHING LIKE THE BOOKS: His Diplomacy Skills Aren't Up To The Mark
Dandelion's supposed to be a silver-tongued devil who can spin incredible stories to prove his innocence — something he's done several times in the books to escape the wrath of his ill-wishers.
However, one might fail to notice this quality in the games, where Dandelion has a penchant for getting into trouble and needing Geralt's help pretty much every time. The Witcher 3 is the worst example of this, with Dandelion pretty much taken out of commission... unless Geralt comes to save the day.
4 TRUE TO THE BOOKS: Keeping A Record Of All Major Story Events
Dandelion has a penchant for writing down things that happen around him like legendary tales, employing a style of writing that has a ton of flair to it.
He has covered the exploits of Geralt and Co. several times in the books, and the games are no exception to this. Opening the journal brings forth some truly excellent writing that summarizes the game's events, and it's no surprise that these accounts are written by Dandelion himself.
3 NOTHING LIKE THE BOOKS: His Hair Is Actually Blond, Not Brown
While this might be a small thing to focus on, an avid reader of the books can't help but notice that Dandelion's hair color is completely off base.
The games — and, subsequently, the Netflix series — give Dandelion dark brown hair instead of his patented blond locks. While he still looks fine in the games, one can't help but wonder what a blond Dandelion would look like.
2 TRUE TO THE BOOKS: Will Risk Life And Limb For His Friends, If Need Be
Dandelion might seem like a coward and a fool at times, but don't be fooled — one of his salient traits is the fact that he's fiercely loyal to his friends, and will do anything possible to ensure that no harm befalls them.
The manner in which he dove in front of Ciri to protect her from Whoreson Jr. in the game is a perfect example of what Dandelion is willing to do to save the lives of the people he loves.
1 NOTHING LIKE THE BOOKS: His Relationship With Geralt Feels Way More Fabricated
However, while Dandelion might've been faithfully recreated in the games, book readers can't help but feel that his relationship with Geralt feels way more strained and contrived, especially when compared to their book counterparts.
In the books, one might argue that Dandelion is Geralt's best friend, and the bond they share is incredibly deep. However, in the games, Dandelion feels like a burden that Geralt needs to look out for at all times, which is nowhere near as personal.