The Gist
As we return to the world of The Witcher, everyone who is anyone is looking to get their hands on Princess Cirilla (Freya Allan), and not with good intentions.
Protected by Geralt (Henry Cavill) and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), this dysfunctional family are again facing danger as they struggle to understand Ciri’s powers.
The Review
After the shock announcement that season three would be Henry Cavill’s last outing as Geralt of Rivia, anticipation had been building among Witcher fans and Netflix is stringing out this season by dropping it in two parts.
You have to give it to the writers and showrunner, they’ve gone in hard on the worldbuilding. Only the most ardent fan would be able to keep up with all of the names, factions and subplots here.
But it is the central trio of Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri that provide the heart of The Witcher. Geralt is still hurting from Yennefer’s betrayal in two but understands that she is the best shot Ciri has to learn more about her powers. They form a family unit, not bound by blood and genetics, but by genuine feelings for one another.
Of all the scheming villains that are converging around Ciri, Hugh Skinner’s Prince Radovid makes the biggest impression. Even Joey Batey’s Jaskier is far less punchable this season. The elves are also back, but their story arc can feel a little distracting at times and it takes a while for it to converge back onto the main plot.
It’s not all political manoeuvring and emotional beats, The Witcher is back to doing what it does best, which is top-class fight sequences and vanquishing all manner of monsters. Cavill is made for the role of Geralt. He’s certainly built for the part but also nails the wry sense of humour and emotional beats of becoming a father figure to Ciri and dealing with the real possibility of losing the two people in his life that he truly loves.
The Verdict
While not everything is tied up neatly, Cavill’s last outing is a strong one. It’s difficult to see anyone else in the role of Geralt and Liam Hemsworth certainly has his work cut out for him as he takes over in season four.
No Comments