The Witcher season 3 quantity 1 evaluate: organising a finale for Henry Cavill’s Geralt

We’ve solely had two seasons of The Witcher on Netflix, however the present has already had considerably of an id disaster. It began off with a bang, with a giant, bloody debut that confirmed precisely why the books and video games earlier than it have been so beloved. It was darkish but humorous, filled with motion, sexual stress, and all types of cool monsters — plus a superb Henry Cavill because the gruff and lovable Geralt of Rivia. Season 2, in the meantime, misplaced a few of that character because it tried to inform a extra grand — and typical — fantasy story whereas additionally deviating considerably from the books. Issues acquired much more off-track with the prequel Blood Origin.

Now we’ve got season 3, which is being cut up into two volumes and which is able to mark the top of Cavill’s run as Geralt (the present will proceed with Liam Hemsworth within the lead position). The primary quantity doesn’t precisely get away from the epic story the present is attempting to inform — there are nonetheless warring factions and magical forces and questions concerning the nature of the world itself — but it surely returns many of the focus the place it belongs: on the primary forged of Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer. Extra importantly, the present is enjoyable once more, the place the large narrative beats don’t get in the best way of all of the blood and jokes.

On the outset of season 3, issues haven’t modified all that a lot: everybody on the whole Continent nonetheless appears intent on discovering Ciri (Freya Allan), a younger princess with mysterious powers that might be the important thing to uniting an unlimited, violent world. Kings, mages, elves — everybody needs to seek out her for their very own nefarious causes. Regardless of this, she finds herself in a considerably cozy state of affairs dwelling with Geralt and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra).

They’re on the run, continually shifting on the slightest signal of bother, however they’ve additionally settled into a cushty form of familial routine. They sit round sharing meals and washing dishes, whereas Yenn — who lastly has her magic again after being tragically defanged final season — tries to show Ciri the right way to management her powers. After two seasons of nothing however demise and betrayal, it’s good to see the three dwelling a peaceful, pleased life.

After all, that doesn’t final lengthy.

Outdoors forces compel the little household unit to separate up. Yenn takes Ciri to the magic academy Aretuza in hops of each serving to her be taught and preserving her protected, whereas Geralt goes after Rience (Chris Fulton), a fire-wielding mage who’s after Ciri on the behest of a thriller benefactor.

There’s nonetheless a very good quantity of political maneuvering and treachery to maintain observe of. The remaining elves are divided over who to align themselves and the easiest way to get revenge on humanity; the dominion of Redania — due to crafty spymaster Dijkstra (Graham McTavish) and his companion Phillipa (Cassie Clare), who spent most of season 2 as an owl — finds itself within the thick of every thing; the Brotherhood of Sorcerers is scuffling with infighting; and the White Flame (Bart Edwards) continues his quest to unite the whole Continent underneath his rule. That’s not even counting characters who discover themselves in fully new conditions, just like the exiled mage Fringilla (Mimi Ndiweni), who’s now an always-drunk poison tester.

However fortunately, not like newer forays into the Witcher universe, all of that background is advised concisely and entertainingly and sits largely within the, nicely, background. This lets the present deliver its focus again to the primary forged — and this time, it does proper by these characters. Geralt stays a sullen but surprisingly lovable centrist as all the time, however Yenn has returned to being a strong, defiantly unbiased mage, and Ciri is coming into her personal and is lastly greater than only a damsel in misery whose energy is activated by screams.

This shift is probably finest exemplified by Jaskier (Joey Batey), who devolved right into a sullen rock star in season 2 however is again to being a free spirit who makes far too many jokes, normally on the unsuitable time. This time round, he has a rivalry with one other bard and a delightfully intense crush on a prince. He seems like Jaskier once more — regardless of the hair and eyeliner.

And whereas there’s a lot occurring, quantity one of many new season is actually about one factor: revealing who the brand new, huge dangerous villain is. Getting there entails all types of typical witcher-y issues: a lot of fights with terrifying monsters (together with one significantly grotesque creature that wouldn’t be misplaced in Akira or Inside), fancy events filled with sexual stress, some actually tousled betrayals, and Geralt being a smartass a lot to the frustration of the elite. However lots of the enjoyable comes from sussing out simply who’s the key villain pulling lots of the strings behind the scenes. The primary batch of episodes ends with a celebration, which you see from numerous views, forcing you — together with Geralt and Yenn — to sift via the lies, misdirections, and illusions whereas a band sings, “All shouldn’t be because it appears.” I used to be genuinely stunned with the large reveal.

The producers of The Witcher have stated the transition from Cavill to Hemsworth will probably be “fairly flawless.” However even nonetheless, this season is a vital sendoff for this model of the character — and it’s organising this model of Geralt with a significant showdown to exit on. On the similar time, this season can also be a return of type of kinds, bringing The Witcher again to the issues that make it distinctive — it’s humorous, bloody, and attractive. There’s even a shower scene, which is as Witcher because it will get.

Quantity one in every of The Witcher season 3 is streaming now on Netflix. Quantity two will probably be accessible on July twenty seventh.