The Enigma of "The Witcher" Season 3 Finale: Perplexity and Burstiness Unveiled

"The Witcher" enthusiasts were well aware that Season 3 would bring both joy and sorrow. It marked the final chapter of the Netflix fantasy series with Henry Cavill, who brilliantly portrayed the famed monster hunter Geralt of Rivia since Season 1, being replaced unexpectedly by Liam Hemsworth.

As Season 4 kicks off, Hemsworth will step into the shoes of Geralt, donning the swords, Witcher medallions, and long, white locks. The rest of the cast remains intact, with the exception, of course, of those characters who met their demise in Season 3, Part 2's bloody battles.

Since the announcement of the recasting, fans have been pondering how the transition from Cavill to Hemsworth will unfold. Will Hemsworth make an appearance in the Season 3 finale? Could some mystical spell alter Geralt's appearance, making him more Hemsworth-esque? And how will Geralt's relationships with Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), Ciri (Freya Allen), and Jaskier (Joey Batey) be affected?

With "The Witcher" Season 3, Part 2 now released, let's delve into what transpired.

THE FATE OF GERALT

Apologies to Hemsworth fans, but in the Season 3 finale, Geralt is portrayed by Cavill, and he experiences a poignant "riding off into the sunset" moment, bidding farewell to "The Witcher." Having nearly faced death during his epic battle with Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu), Geralt recuperates but is once again separated from Yennefer and Ciri. Fortunately, he reunites with his friend Jaskier, and the duo embarks on a journey into Nilfgaard via a toll road.

However, this isn't the same neutral Geralt who refused to get entangled in politics. That Geralt is long gone, symbolized by his parting with a pin he had carried since Season 1, a pin that played a role in the death of a princess named Renfri. Clearly, his decision to involve himself in the fatal Season 1 conflict continues to haunt him. Giving away the pin and subsequently dispatching the guards foreshadows that Hemsworth's Geralt in Season 4 will be drawn deeper into the Continent's political struggles.

UNVEILING FALKA

As Ciri finds herself lost in the desert, she witnesses visions of various individuals, including a mysterious woman named Falka. Falka reveals that she was once a princess, denied her rightful heritage, and ultimately led commoners in a rebellion with illegal fire magic, only to be condemned to death by burning at the stake for her crimes. According to Falka, one of her descendants will also wield fire magic and bring chaos to the Continent. It appears that the heir is none other than Ciri herself, who also unlocks fire powers.

Later, when Ciri is rescued from Nilfgaardian bounty hunters by a group known as the Rats, she introduces herself to these unlikely saviors as Falka. With her newfound fire powers kept secret, Falka/Ciri will now be an active participant in the Rats' adventurous escapades.

THE AFTERMATH OF KING VIZIMIR'S DEATH

Following the assassination of King Vizimir (Ed Birch), Prince Radovid (Hugh Skinner) assumes the throne of Redania. His brother's death was manipulated by his advisor, the powerful sorceress Philippa Eilhart (Cassie Clare). Despite his romantic involvement with Jaskier, Radovid finds himself burdened with the crown he didn't wish for. It is highly likely that Philippa and her ally Sigismund Dijkstra (Graham McTavish) will be the puppeteers pulling the strings as Radovid sits on the throne.

OTHER LOSSES

Part 2 commences with the Thanedd Coup, which results in the deaths of numerous mages, elves, and pivotal figures. The elves officially join forces with Nilfgaard in their quest to capture Ciri and her powerful Elder blood. The mages, too, find themselves divided based on their loyalties. The elven leader Filavandrel (Tom Canton) meets a tragic end in a bloody explosion, dousing his wife Francesca (Mecia Simson) in his remains, while the mage Artorius (Terence Maynard) is killed in battle by his own niece, Fringilla (Mimi Ndiweni). The fire mage Rience (Sam Woolf) eventually meets his demise, decapitated by Geralt in an effort to protect Ciri. However, the most shocking loss is when sorceress Tissaia (MyAnna Buring) takes her own life after being betrayed by her traitorous lover Vilgefortz and his involvement in the coup.

WHAT LIES AHEAD IN SEASON 4?

In Season 4, Geralt, portrayed by Hemsworth, and Jaskier embark on a new quest to find Ciri, who is now allied with the Rats. Rumors abound of a potential Rats spinoff series, akin to "The Witcher: Blood Origin," which may fill in the gaps between now and Season 4, though Netflix has yet to make any official announcements.

Meanwhile, Yennefer has risen as the de-facto leader of the mages, who seem to be uniting under the banner of the famed Lodge of Sorceresses. Her focus lies in countering the Nilfgaardian threat and protecting Ciri at all costs. Speaking of Ciri, Nilfgaard's ruler, Emhyr var Emreis, now believes he controls the powerful girl, but in reality, an imposter named Teryn is playing a dangerous game. War has already erupted across the Continent, but when everyone realizes the real Ciri is still missing, chaos will ensue.