Every fan of The Witcher was taken aback when news broke last October. It was announced that Henry Cavill, who played the charismatic character of Geralt of Rivia, would be leaving the show. To step into his shoes, the showrunners had roped in Liam Hemsworth, who made a mark with his performances in The Hunger Games series.
This casting change left many fans feeling uneasy. However, Netflix and the production team of The Witcher were quick to quell the fan’s worries. They excited Cavill’s final season, promising fans that he wouldn’t leave until the end of the third season and that it would be a finale to remember.
But, when the much-anticipated Season 3 finale, titled “The Cost of Chaos,” finally arrived, it didn’t quite meet sky-high expectations.
A Hero Wounded: Geralt’s Unexpected Predicament
The season finale brought an unexpected turn of events. Geralt, our much-loved Witcher, spent most of his screen time in the last two episodes under the tender care of forest dryads, magical beings who live in harmony with the natural world.
Geralt was gravely injured due to an explosion at the Tower of Gulls, a catastrophic incident that resulted in a painful separation between him, his love Yennefer, and their surrogate daughter, Ciri.
Cavill’s portrayal of a hero writhing in pain was a testament to his acting prowess, yet the lack of action from his character left the audience longing for more.
Saying Goodbye: Cavill’s Final Scene
In the season’s climax, Geralt weakened but determined, gears up for a final battle, an effort to get Ciri back. Viewers witness a well-crafted fight scene that, surprisingly, does not involve any significant antagonist but rather some local ruffians. This was Cavill’s last action scene in the series.
His exit scene leaves him walking into a foggy unknown alongside his faithful companions, Jaskier and Milva. While the scene seemed to offer a sense of closure, it left fans yearning for a more thrilling sendoff.
Leaving Us Guessing: The Witcher’s Departure
Cavill’s exit was a character-defining moment for Geralt, who’d been portrayed as a ‘neutral’ hero throughout the series. The finale depicts Geralt ready to step into the tricky world of political machinations to protect his family. Still, despite the growth of Geralt’s character, the finale seemed incomplete.
The Witcher series, celebrated for its high fantasy narrative brimming with enchanting magic, didn’t provide any hints or foreshadowing of how Geralt’s inevitable physical transformation would be addressed in the narrative.
New Beginnings on the Horizon
The showrunner, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, concluded the ‘Time of Contempt’ storyline without revealing what lies ahead in the series. While this move ensures that the integrity of the first three seasons remains unblemished for fans, it also hints at the dawn of a new era in The Witcher series.
There is a strong belief that the change in Geralt’s appearance will be explained within the series’ storyline. Executive producer Tomek Baginski has hinted at a ‘good plan’ to introduce the new Geralt, as interpreted by Liam Hemsworth.
A Mystery Unveiled: Season 4
However, what the actual change entails won’t be revealed until Season 4. Baginski has hinted that the series will stay true to the meta-ideas embedded in the books. The key to Geralt’s upcoming transformation may well lie in ‘The Lady of the Lake,’ often considered the final installment in the book series.
Whether through a time leap into the future or a creative plot twist involving otherworldly portals, the explanation for Geralt’s new look is something fans eagerly await.
A Farewell That Wasn’t Quite Right?
While Cavill’s final fight scene was a high point, the last episodes of Season 3 have left some fans unsatisfied. The powerful dynamic among Geralt, Yen, and Ciri, which had driven the earlier part of the season, seemed somewhat lost in the final episodes, leaving our leading trio scattered and separated.
The lack of farewell scenes between Cavill, Allan, and Chalotra added to the sense of unease. The unusual camera angles, particularly in scenes where Cavill’s dialogue is shot from behind his head, made the whole thing feel odd.
An Uncertain Future Awaits
As we say goodbye to Cavill’s Geralt, the finale of Season 3 leaves fans with more questions than answers. As Geralt heads off on his mission with Yennefer’s hopeful words ringing in his ears, one question lingers: When Geralt finally finds Ciri, will she recognize him?
As fans eagerly wait for the next season, we can only hope for a satisfying resolution to this cliffhanger.
