The Witcher: Season 2 Finale

Based on: The Witcher book series by Andrzej Sapkowski

Created & Written by: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

Producer by: Mike Ostrowski

Starring: Henry Cavill (Geralt, The Witcher), Anya Chalotra (Yennefer), Freya Allan (Ciri), Joey Batey (Jaskier), MyAnna Buring (Tissaia de Vries)

While it did feel fairly contained, season 2 felt more like a one piece of a larger story--but that's okay, because it is. 

I mentioned in my premiere review for this season that I didn't have a great understanding of season 1. That improved a bit this season, but I still felt a bit left in the dust by the finer plot points. I got a much better understanding of our main trio, though--Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer. Their stories were told well, their motivations clear, and their need for each other shone brighter as the season went on. I think that's part of the reason I had a hard time with season 1: the three of them were still meant to be the main focus, but their stories were much more separate, so I had a hard time understanding how things pieced together. 

Fringilla (Mimî M. Khayisa) and Francesca (Mecia Simson) forging an uneasy human-elf alliance

The side-story with Fringilla and Francesca was still hard for me. It consistently felt disconnected from everything with Geralt, and even now, I don't really understand how it connects. Still, it was a fun story on its own and I enjoyed it. It made clear the very fragile relations between humans and elves and the politics were very interesting. The dynamics between these two ladies in particular was interesting. I liked seeing their mutual goal and how their devotion to it wavered or strengthened depending on circumstance. And, in the end, what lengths they were each willing to go for revenge or to further their cause. Sadly, I don't think that alliance is destined to stand! 

Geralt prepared to fight a possessed Ciri at Kaer Morhen

Vesemir (Kim Bodnia)

The bulk of the season followed Geralt and Ciri. They went to Kaer Morhen first, to my fascination. It was really awesome to see the 'mythical' location where Geralt grew up and where Witchers seem to call home. It was a great location to see over multiple episodes for several reasons. I loved seeing what environment had created Geralt, I loved seeing what other Witchers were like, and it was great to see Ciri react to these things. She rose to the environment spectacularly. She didn't take flak from the other Witchers, and they certainly gave it. She was impassioned toward bettering herself and becoming a great warrior. It was a lot of fun to watch. We also met Vesemir, who appeared to be the lead Witcher.

We also followed a pride-bruised Yennefer who's lost her access to chaos magic. Her journey was also a bit confusing for me overall, though I got the idea that she was experiencing whispers in her mind from some ancient source of magic calling to her, giving her instructions on how to get her magic back. These whispers led her to Ciri with betrayal in mind. Yennefer ultimately decided against betrayal, but not until the cusp of too late--and not before both Yennefer and Geralt realized her true intentions. Still, it counts to me that Yennefer changed her mind because magic is so core to her desires. I wouldn't have been surprised if Yennefer had continued resorting to any means to get it back. 

Yennefer and Ciri returning to Cintra

In the end, Yennefer solidifies her loyalty to the group by sacrificing herself to save Ciri. In doing so, she actually does manage to gain her magic back, and the group accepts her as magical tutor to Ciri. This leaves us at an interesting and exciting place for season 3. The group are still dealing with the deadly ancient being who possessed Ciri, and together, they make quite a formidable force. 

I still don't have a solid idea of their goal for the series, but I'm invested in these characters. I know their world is more fractured than together and I know each of these characters represent different factions of their world that need to come together if healing is to happen.