Summary
The Witcher season 3 continues the trend of having a confusing timeline, which has been a problem since season 1.
The Witcher, despite being the most faithful season to the books, still falls short when it comes to character development and plotlines. The timeline of the show remains unclear, with events unfolding rapidly and inconsistencies in the perspectives of characters that lack explanation.
The Witcher season 3 continues the trend of having a confusing timeline, which began in season 1. Although praised for being the most book-accurate season so far, it still suffers from the same mistakes that have plagued the adaptation since its inception. In addition to the timeline issue, the show has faced criticism for its underdeveloped characters and plotlines.
Despite these shortcomings, The Witcher season 3 has garnered mostly positive reviews. It is considered the strongest season to date and serves as a fitting farewell to Henry Cavill's portrayal of Geralt. However, the show still falls short of its potential and with Cavill's imminent departure, it is uncertain if The Witcher will ever regain the hype it once had. A major setback for season 3 is its introduction of yet another confusing timeline.
The Witcher's Triss Calls Out Season 3's Timeline
Triss Merigold unwittingly reveals the show's struggle with depicting time in The Witcher season 3 when she exclaims, "It's hard to believe so much has happened in a week." This line highlights the rapid pace of events in the season, particularly towards the end, leaving audiences uncertain about the actual passage of time. The Conclave of Mages and subsequent coup unfold in quick succession, without clear explanations of the time intervals in between.
The confusion surrounding timelines becomes even more apparent after the coup. Different characters' perspectives seem to have conflicting timelines, yet no clarification is provided for this discrepancy. For instance, Dijkstra's return to Redania shows significant progress in his recovery from a broken arm and leg he sustained in Thanned, indicating that at least a month has elapsed for him. Meanwhile, Geralt's lack of progress implies that only a few days have passed in his timeline. Then, the show shifts to Triss, who mentions that it has been one week since their arrival at Thanned. As a result, the timeline presented becomes utterly incomprehensible.
How Much Time Passed In The Witcher Season 3 (& How Long Is It Since Season 1)?
The time duration of season 3 of The Witcher is uncertain due to the unclear timeline of the show. However, considering the amount of unseen travel, it is likely that several months have passed. The journey of Ciri and Yennefer to Gors Velen alone would have taken a minimum of a couple of weeks, and Geralt had enough time to visit Vilgefortz's castle and work with Jaskier to rescue a girl. Additionally, the travels of Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer in the first episode of season 3 appear to span around a month or two. Overall, it can be estimated that there is a time gap of approximately four to six months between the first and last episodes of The Witcher season 3.
There are numerous unanswered questions in The Witcher season 3, including the elapsed time since the beginning of the show. The complexity of the timeline in season 1, which encompasses almost six decades, further complicates this question. Thankfully, the books provide some clarification. In season 1, Geralt finds Ciri in the year 1263, and the Thanned coup occurs in 1267, implying that Ciri's story spans around four years between seasons 1 and 3 of The Witcher. Geralt's timeline extends approximately 36 years, while Yennefer's timeline covers about 61 years.