The Mage's Sinister Plot Exposed: Unveiling the Ultimate Villain in The Witcher Season 3

WARNING: Spoilers ahead for The Witcher season 3, part 1 and Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski.

In a surprising twist at the end of part 1, it was revealed that Vilgefortz was the true villain of The Witcher season 3. Episode 5 presented a non-linear timeline, where Geralt and Yennefer carefully recalled each step of their plan to expose the traitor among the mages. Despite their beliefs, it turned out that Stregobor was not the one behind the betrayal, proving Yennefer and Geralt wrong in their assumptions.

While Stregobor has committed numerous atrocities in The Witcher, he cannot be held accountable for instances such as the disappearance of Aretuza students, the unethical experiments on Elven-blooded girls, and the recruitment of Rience. Instead, it was revealed that Vilgefortz, a mage working covertly for Nilfgaard, was responsible for these deeds. This unexpected revelation, derived from Andrzej Sapkowski's Time of Contempt novel, was foreshadowed during the Battle of Sodden in The Witcher season 1. The unveiling of Vilgefortz as the mage on a quest to capture Ciri establishes the groundwork for The Witcher season 3, part 2.

Why Vilgefortz Wants Ciri So Badly In The Witcher Season 3

In The Witcher, it is established early on that Ciri possesses extraordinary abilities. This was further explored in The Witcher season 2. Princess Cirila of Cintra belongs to the Elder Blood, a mutated elven lineage that can be traced back to Fjal and Éile in Netflix's The Witcher universe. As a result, Ciri, who Istredd refers to as Hen Ichaer in The Witcher season 2, possesses an unparalleled power unlike anyone else on the entire Continent. According to Ithlinne's prophecy, this descendant of the Elder Blood will be the savior of the elves. But setting the prophecies aside, Vilgefortz is keen on obtaining Ciri because of her unique abilities. The mage has been secretly attempting to capture the Princess of Cintra for years.

Vilgefortz was responsible for hiring Rience to capture Ciri. Moreover, it was Vilgefortz himself who restored Rience's injured hand after Geralt of Rivia shattered it during their battle in "Shaerrawed." In the Witcher books, Emperor Emhyr pursues the unsettling storyline of desiring a child with Ciri. Emhyr perceives Ciri as a valuable political asset and a means to secure a formidable heir. On the contrary, Vilgefortz harbors no desire for an heir to fulfill any prophecy. Instead, his intention is to absorb Ciri's powers, leading to her demise in The Witcher.

Vilgefortz's Fake Ciri & Experiments Explained

Vilgefortz conducted experiments on girls of elven lineage, including the fake Ciri in The Witcher season 3. His goal was to understand, mimic, and control Ciri's powers, ultimately making them his own. The students of Aretuza, with their elven heritage, served as ideal test subjects for Vilgefortz's cruel endeavors. This led to one of the darkest scenes in part 1 of The Witcher season 3. It should be noted that Vilgefortz's deal with Emhyr in The Witcher books included finding Ciri and delivering her to the Emperor of Nilfgaard.

What Vilgefortz Is Doing To Tissaia & Lydia

: However, in Time of Contempt, Vilgefortz manipulates an orphan girl who bears a striking resemblance to Ciri and presents her to Emhyr. Despite his allegiance to Nilfgaard, Vilgefortz harbors his own ulterior motives, coveting Ciri's exceptional powers for himself. Notably, in The Witcher season 3, part 1, the character known as "False Ciri" is not simply a fortuitous doppelgänger of Ciri. Within the show, a girl named Teryn assumes this false identity as part of Vilgefortz's experimental endeavors, wherein she is placed under a potent spell that convinces her wholeheartedly that she is indeed Cirila of Cintra. The deliberate creation of this deceptive figure in The Witcher season 3, part 1 illustrates Vilgefortz's preparedness to employ deceit in his attempts to outwit Emhyr.

The realization that Stregobor was not the traitor they sought came to Geralt and Yennefer through their understanding of Vilgefortz's relationship with Tissaia and his association with Lydia van Bredevoort. Vilgefortz and Tissaia had been romantically involved since the events of The Witcher season 2. Yennefer, in The Witcher season 3, expressed her contentment with Tissaia's change and the fact that she was now with Vilgefortz. Meanwhile, Lydia operated covertly as Vilgefortz's aide, serving as the vital link between him and Rience. It was Philippa who uncovered Lydia's connection to Rience, triggering her realization of Vilgefortz's true intentions.

After discovering Lydia's affiliation with Rience, Geralt observed that Tissaia's bracelet was crafted from the identical material as Lydia's jewelry. Considering that Vilgefortz had bestowed the scarlet ammonite bracelet upon Tissaia, Geralt deduced that Lydia had also received a piece of jewelry from Vilgefortz. This implied that if Lydia was working for or with Vilgefortz, then so was Rience. Furthermore, the scarlet ammonite was solely found in a specific region of Redania, the same region where Geralt encountered False Ciri. Thus, Tissaia's bracelet served as the final piece of the puzzle.

How Powerful Is Vilgefortz? Can Geralt Stop Him?

In The Witcher's book lore, there have been two encounters between Geralt and Vilgefortz. The first clash resulted in Geralt's swift defeat at the hands of Vilgefortz, a battle that nearly proved fatal for the witcher. Remarkably, Vilgefortz achieved this victory without fully utilizing his magical powers, relying solely on a staff. It should be noted that Vilgefortz used magic to enhance his speed, granting him a significant advantage over Geralt. As an act of humiliation, Vilgefortz chose to spare Geralt's life. Assuming that the Vilgefortz portrayed in Netflix's The Witcher possesses the same formidable abilities as his literary counterpart, Geralt is faced with an arduous and challenging fight ahead of him.

The Witcher lore witnessed Geralt and Vilgefortz's second battle, which culminated in Geralt emerging victorious. Yennefer also joined the fray against Vilgefortz during this encounter. Employing a surprising technique, Geralt countered Vilgefortz's moves and ultimately triumphed, despite nearly succumbing to death for the second time. While it remains uncertain whether Netflix's The Witcher will portray these two battles, it can be concluded that Vilgefortz will pose a formidable challenge for Geralt and Yennefer in the upcoming second part of The Witcher season 3.

How The Witcher's Vilgefortz Story Is Different To The Books & What Happens Next

During the finale of part 1 in The Witcher season 3, Vilgefortz subtly hinted at a hidden secret during his conversation with Geralt. It wasn't until the very end of their evening in episode 5 of The Witcher season 3 that Geralt, after speaking with Yennefer, realized Vilgefortz was the traitor. However, in Time of Contempt, Vilgefortz openly confesses to Geralt that he represents Nilfgaard and extends an invitation for the witcher to join their side before the Thanned Coup battle commences. Geralt declines the offer, stating his intent to remain neutral in the conflict.

In The Witcher season 3, part 1's ending, Geralt's neutrality is emphasized. However, he is clearly unhappy about being deceived by Vilgefortz. In episode 5, the Thanedd Coup begins, igniting a civil war among the mages between the Nilfgaard loyalists and those remaining loyal to the Northern Kingdoms. Vilgefortz, leading the supporters of Nilfgaard, is now likely to target Ciri. According to the events in Time of Contempt, a fight between Geralt and Vilgefortz is expected to occur in The Witcher season 3, part 2. How Tissaia will respond to Vilgefortz's coup in the show remains to be seen.