Hunting monsters is an integral part of “The Witcher”, as Geralt and Ciri articulate part of their identity on this essential but thankless job. There are some badass fight sequences where Ciri gets the chance to defend herself and display her witcher abilities, with Geralt lending her aid when needed. This role reversal is crucial to Ciri’s sense of confidence, who literally decides her fate in “Wild Hunt” – if Ciri’s sense of autonomy is stifled and decisions are made for her by Geralt, it can mean literal disaster in the game’s end result. In a surprisingly welcome turn of events, the series follows the game’s lead and lets Ciri be her own person, with the others gently guiding her through her journey.
Some monsters serve a larger purpose besides being ingredients in a cool witcher fight scene, as they tie directly into the origins of the impostor Ciri, which is also vital to the larger plot. Some decisions in this regard might raise a few eyebrows, but there’s a clear attempt to dig deeper into the characters’ origins and lore without interfering with major canon events. Unless you’re a Sapkowski purist, these choices, while imperfect, do work.
While Cavill is always compelling as a white-haired witcher, able to balance softness and brutality in equal measure, Allan and Chalotra truly elevate this season with the rich complexities they bring to their roles. Yennefer has always been a rather complicated figure – hugely flawed, with a few skeletons in her closet – and Chalotra delivers those nuances with striking vulnerability. However, Allan’s Ciri is easily the highlight of this season, as we see her character visibly struggling with a sense of true unbridled power. Whether she wants to be a princess, the savior of the Elves or a wandering witcher, the choice is hers. And that makes all the difference in the world.
/Movie rating: 7 out of 10
Volume 1 of Season 3 of “The Witcher” will be released on June 29, 2023 on Netflix.