The Witcher Season 3 Finale Unveiled - Epic Fate of Ciri & Geralt Revealed!

Summary

The Witcher season 3, part 2 wraps up the show's rendition of Time of Contempt and paves the way for the upcoming installment of Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri's tales.

In season 3, part 2, Ciri embarked on a transformative journey where she confronted her own inner struggles and made the difficult decision to let go of her powers. This led her to become a member of a renowned group called the Rats.

Geralt, on the other hand, faced a true test of his neutrality as his involvement with the conflict between Nilfgaard and the North intensified. His primary objective was to locate and rescue Ciri, setting the stage for his upcoming expedition in season 4.

The third season finale of The Witcher concluded the adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski's Time of Contempt and laid the groundwork for the next installment in the story of Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri. Divided into two parts, the third season of The Witcher, which also marked Henry Cavill's final season, delved into the Thanedd coup's battle and its consequences, particularly on the show's main characters and the Continent.

In the second part of The Witcher season 3, Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri find themselves separated, each embarking on their own individual journeys and undergoing significant transformations. This explanation delves into the ending of The Witcher season 3, part 2, and how it sets the stage for season 4.

Ciri's Future After The Witcher Season 3's Ending & The Rats Explained

Episode 7 of The Witcher season 3 largely focuses on Ciri's expedition through the Korath desert, a crucial moment in her character's storyline. Ciri's journey in part 2 of The Witcher season 3 closely resembles the events in the book Time of Contempt, where Ciri disappears from the Gulls' Tower during Geralt's confrontation with Vilgefortz. The episode follows Ciri's struggle to survive the unforgiving desert alone, enduring extreme temperatures, hunger, and battling her inner demons. Reality and imagination become blurred, particularly with regards to Ciri's encounters with the Little Horse unicorn and her visions of Falka.

In The Witcher season 3, Ciri exhibits her fire magic, which, as demonstrated in Yennefer's story arc in season 2, carries significant consequences. Ciri's usage of fire magic alongside her traumatic visions, primarily narrated by Falka, deeply affects the Princess of Cintra. She is confronted with the notion that her loved ones have made her weak, and her actions can cause harm to others. This realization prompts Ciri to relinquish her powers in episode 7 of The Witcher season 3. However, the season finale sees Ciri being captured by bounty hunters from Nilfgaard after she wakes up in the desert.

Ciri’s time as a prisoner was short-lived, as she was liberated with the assistance of a faction called the Rats. While she abstained from utilizing her powers, she effectively employed her swordsmanship to overcome the bounty hunters at the tavern. Ciri's exceptional skills made a lasting impression on the Rats, ultimately earning her a place among their ranks. Following the events depicted in The Witcher season 3, which cover the Time of Contempt, Ciri briefly engages in missions across the continent as part of the Rats, until her eventual capture by Leo Bonhart. As a result, Ciri now embarks on a solitary journey before ultimately reuniting with Geralt at a later point in time.

Who Are The Rats In The Witcher? Ciri's New Group Explained

The Witcher's Rats, a gang of bandits originating from the Geso region, were initially composed of six members when Ciri crosses paths with them. Consistent with their portrayal in the books, the Rats in The Witcher season 3 are depicted as young individuals who are approximately the same age as Ciri. While their targets are the wealthy, they do not embody the altruistic nature of Robin Hood, as their thefts are solely for their own gain. Moreover, the Rats do not hesitate to eliminate anyone obstructing their path, making Ciri's association with them potentially one of the most controversial moments for her character in The Witcher series thus far. Netflix is currently developing a spinoff centered around The Witcher Rats.

Why Ciri Calls Herself Falka & What Happens To Her In The Witcher Season 4

Not only has Ciri given up her powers, but she has also decided to keep her true identity hidden. Initially, in The Witcher season 3, Ciri aspired to fulfill her role as a leader, someone who could unite the Elves and humans as a descendant of both lineages. However, following the events of The Witcher season 3 - particularly her disturbing vision of Jaskier, Geralt, and Yennefer perishing because of her pyromantic abilities - Ciri no longer wishes to follow her predetermined fate. In order to assimilate into the Rants' society and lead a "normal" existence, Ciri has chosen a different name, Falka, drawing inspiration from her experiences in the desert.

Why Geralt Gives Away Renfri's Brooch & What Happens Next

Interestingly, it remains uncertain whether Falka and Ciri share any familial connection. According to The Witcher's lore, it is believed that Fiona, Ciri's ancestor, was the daughter of Riannon. However, there is a possibility that Fiona is actually Falka's daughter, which would establish a link between Ciri and Fiona. This presents a paradox within The Witcher's prophecy concerning Ciri. She could either be the offspring of the Elder Blood, destined to save the world, or she could be the product of Falka's cursed lineage, destined to bring about its destruction. The events in Baptism of Fire suggest that Ciri will likely be separated from Geralt for a substantial portion, if not the entirety, of The Witcher season 4.

The central theme of The Witcher season 3 revolved around Geralt's commitment to neutrality. Throughout the series, Geralt has actively avoided entanglement in major political conflicts, adhering to a set of simple principles that he initially declared in season 1. His primary duty was to combat dangerous monsters and intervene only when these creatures posed a threat to others. However, the introduction of his Child of Destiny altered this delicate balance, repeatedly challenging Geralt's neutrality. This was particularly evident in The Witcher season 3, as tensions escalated between the North and Nilfgaard, culminating in a forthcoming war. Following the conclusion of the season, it became clear that Geralt's neutrality stance had reached its conclusion.

In her letter to Geralt, Yennefer conveyed the message that "neutrality be dammed," marking a pivotal moment in The Witcher season 3. During Henry Cavill's final episode, Geralt's decision to confront the Nilfgaardian soldiers and aid a family of strangers exemplified his newfound perspective on the world. Geralt's long-held neutrality, which stemmed from the tragedy involving Renfri in season 1, no longer defined him. This is why Geralt chose to part ways with Renfri's brooch in the season 3 finale.

For years, Geralt carried Renfri's brooch as a reminder of the devastating outcome when he emotionally invested himself in a situation. Faced with the choice of killing Renfri or allowing numerous innocent lives to be taken, Geralt found himself in a difficult predicament. The events that led to him being known as the "Butcher of Blakiven" reinforced Geralt's belief that he should not become too entangled in the lives of others. However, with Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri forming a family unit, the White Wolf must alter his approach. The act of leaving behind Renfri's brooch signifies a significant moment for Geralt, paving the way for his journey in The Witcher season 4.

The Witcher Season 4 Still Needs To Explain Henry Cavill's Geralt Recasting

In the final scene of The Witcher season 3, Geralt, Jaskier, and Milva embark on a journey to Nilfgaard in search of Ciri before the impending war begins. However, this will also mark Henry Cavill's last appearance as Geralt of Rivia, as the role will be taken over by Liam Hemsworth for season 4. Despite previous suggestions by producer Tomek Baginski that the recasting would be addressed within the show, the finale of season 3 did not provide any explanation for Geralt's recasting.

One popular theory speculated that Geralt's devastating fight against Vilgefortz, known to book readers, would result in permanent scars, accounting for his altered appearance in season 4. However, although Geralt did sustain injuries, his face remained unblemished. There were also no indications of any multiverse storyline within The Witcher that would explain a recasting, although this would likely not be a suitable choice. Whether The Witcher season 4 will offer any within the show explanation for Geralt's sudden transformation is yet to be seen.

Yennefer's The Witcher Season 3 Ending & Future: How Does She Reunite With Geralt?

The opening of The Witcher season 3, part 2 showcased the Thanedd coup, where Tissaia faced the consequences of Vilgefortz's plan. Tissaia's regret for aligning herself with Vilgefortz, resulting in the death of numerous individuals, shattered her completely. Following Tissaia's demise, Yennefer and the other sorceresses, who were once under her tutelage, understood the responsibility to safeguard magic now rested on their shoulders. Yennefer emphasized that they needed to stop the Continent's most powerful sorcerer, who had joined forces with Nilfgaard. In her letter to Geralt, Yennefer urged him to find Ciri while she worked towards creating a better world for the child.

Yennefer's storyline in The Witcher season 3 diverged significantly from the books, particularly her ending. Between Time of Contempt and Baptism of Fire, many believed Yennefer, who was captured during the coup, to be dead. It was only days after the battle concluded that she learned about Ciri and Geralt's fate. Additionally, several of Yennefer's colleagues assumed she was colluding with Vilgefortz, a plot point not included in the show. However, if The Witcher season 4 follows Yennefer's book storyline, it will be some time before she reunites with Geralt, which occurs much later at the Stygga Castle.

What The False Ciri Marrying The White Flame Means For The Witcher

In The Witcher season 3's finale, Vilgefortz presents Ciri to Emhyr var Emreis, but it turns out that she is not the real Ciri. Instead, it is the "False Ciri" that Geralt encountered earlier in the season. This imposter is brought to Emhyr's court and is set to marry the White Flame. Interestingly, Vilgefortz had no intention of delivering the real Ciri to Emhyr, even though he ultimately failed to capture her. This is why Vilgefortz was experimenting with creating a fake Ciri. It is uncertain whether the imposter, Teryn, still believes herself to be the real Cirila of Cintra after briefly breaking free from Vilgefortz's magic with Geralt's help.

Nevertheless, the marriage of False Ciri to Emhyr in The Witcher helps Nilfgaard strengthen its power. By presenting the Princess of Cintra as Emhyr's wife, Nilfgaard gains significant political influence in preparation for the forthcoming war against the North. From a political perspective, Emhyr's union with False Ciri holds the same weight as if it were the real Ciri. However, Emhyr also desires the true Ciri because of her extraordinary abilities, which is why he is still in pursuit of her. It can be assumed that Emhyr immediately noticed that the girl brought to him was not the genuine Ciri.

Why Phillipa Killed Vizimir & What Radovid Being King Means

Vizimir met his demise during the final episode of The Witcher season 3, as a member of his court carried out a deadly act on Philippa's orders. This turn of events closely mirrors the book's narrative, where Vizimir fell victim to an elf assassin shortly after the Thanedd Coup. While the book only hints at Philippa's involvement, The Witcher season 3 explicitly reveals her as the mastermind behind King Visimir's assassination. With Vizimir out of the picture, his brother Radovid assumes the throne. However, it is noteworthy that Philippa and Dijkstra played a significant role in Radovid's ascension, giving them the power to manipulate him and effectively govern Redania indirectly through him.

What To Expect From The Witcher Season 4

Presumably, The Witcher season 4 will encompass the storyline of Baptism of Fire. In fact, certain elements from this book, including Geralt's recovery and the introduction of Milva, have already been incorporated into the conclusion of The Witcher season 3. In The Witcher season 4, which features Liam Hemsworth taking over the role of Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill, it is likely that the focus will be on Geralt's quest to find Ciri in Nilfgaard. Additionally, The Witcher season 4 should delve into the reaction of the Continent to Emhyr's marriage to Cirila, who is revealed to be Fake Ciri. Both Ciri and Yennefer are also expected to embark on separate journeys, influenced by the events of Time of Contempt.

The Witcher season 4 is expected to feature three distinct storylines. Geralt's main objective will be to locate Ciri, unaware that Nilfgaard possesses a false version of her. Yennefer and the other sorceresses will endeavor to restore Aretuza and combat Vilgefortz’s manipulation. Meanwhile, Ciri will set off on a lengthy expedition, beginning with the Rats, and distancing herself from both Geralt and Yennefer.