Prologue
This article is for those who have been initiated to the Witcher lore. I proceed with the assumption that the uninitiated are already on their way to watch the series. If not, beware of the massive spoilers and do not blame me for not understanding the article.
Season one of Netflix’s The Witcher has ended recently. It has been a fascinating magical ride and the series has kept us intertwined with the lives of Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg, and Princess Cirilla of Cintra. The Nilfgaard has conquered Cintra and that has made Ciri flee in search of Geralt of Rivia with whom she shares a connection of destiny. The Fans of the Witcher series would probably be left with some questions that are needed to be answered. This article is an attempt to explain the ending and what next.
The Converging Timelines
The narrative of the series goes back and forth and the story happens at different storylines only to converge at one point. Though it is fascinating, it is also perplexing as there is no voiceover or so to explain the narrative. While the story Yennefer happens in over 80 to 100 years, the story of the Geralt of Rivia can be even somewhere in the mid timeline. However it is only 2 weeks of the life of Ciri that we are seeing on screen. Hence we need to understand this method of narrative and there is no hint from the makers about it. You just need to watch it and decipher it yourself.
Geralt and Ciri Meet atlast
During the very beginnings of the series itself, we are told that Geralt and Ciri are destined to meet. Their journeys go through different jungles and different monsters. But near about two weeks after Ciri escapes the Nilfgaard attack, she is sheltered by a villager who wishes to raise her as her daughter. As destiny plays it, Geralt is saved by this woman’s husband who is a merchant and he is brought there. Finally Geralt and Ciri meet like they were destined to be and Ciri asks “Who is Yennefer?”
Where is Yennefer?
After Yennefer made a magnificent last stand at the Battle of Sodden Hill, she is nowhere to be found. The more intriguing question now is how Ciri came to know about her when they have not even met. For now, Yennefer is not to be found. But we can be sure that soon, she is bound to meet Ciri in person.
What happens to Triss?
Triss is a hugely popular character in the books. So rest assured that she will not die soon although she is grievously injured at the Battle of Sodden Hill. The series cannot simply afford to lose Triss in the near future.
Vesemir and Geralt
Towards the end of season one, we are introduced to a mage named Visenna who saves Geralt from the poison of the monster bite. Geralt calls him Mother and we are told that she had to forsake Geralt to be trained as a Witcher by Vesemir. So we can expect more Vesemir and more Visenna in Season Two.
The Law of Surprise
We now understand that Ciri got connected to Geralt by Law of Surprise. Earlier Ciri’s Mother and father got married through the Law of Surprise. The Law of Surprise can be simply explained as a payment for a great deed like saving someone’s life, one can lay claim to something which the saved person does not yet possess. In the words of Eist in the Series “It’s an honest gamble. As likely to be rewarded with a bumper crop or a newborn pup. Or a child of surprise. He could not know”. Now what was curious to me is the Merchant who saves Geralt also promises a “Law of Surprise”. Keeping fingers crossed to know where that will take the story to.
Is this Cahir or the Doppelganger?
Another question that we will find an answer in Season two is whether Cahir we see at the end of the Battle of Sodden Hill is the actual Cahir or the Doppelganger. This question arises because earlier we saw the Doppelganger takes the form of Cahir. That there is an intriguing question, I suppose. We also see in a glance that King Foltest of Temeria arrives with an army to check on Nilfgaard’s advances into the Southern Kingdom.
Where is Jaskier?
After Geralt and Jaskier, the Bard splits up, we do not know his whereabouts. We are not sure about how he will fit into the timeline going forward. But certainly, the Bard is a noteworthy presence and he cannot be missed for Season two. Who else will sing the deeds of Geralt then and especially when his deeds are going to reach a grand scale when he goes against Nilfgaard.
And others
Intriguing plot twists like Geralt was in Cintra during the Nilfgaard attack, the magic behind the scream of Ciri, Yennefer vs Fringilla. My God. There is so much to look forward to in the future seasons. With COVID 19 taking the world by a storm, we cannot expect the airing of the Season two any time soon. But we can certainly expect Season 2 to enthrall us thoroughly.
Leave A Comment