10 Characters The Witcher Must Introduce Before Season 5 Ends The Show

Netflix’s The Witcher is officially ending with season 5, leaving 10 crucial characters for the series to introduce before it ends. The Witcher is based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novel series of the same name, following the titular witcher, Geralt of Rivia, and his ward, Princess Cirilla of Cintra. The Witcher season 4 is expected to adapt Baptism of Fire, the third novel in Sapkowski’s main saga, leaving the show’s final season to adapt the last two novels in the series.

The Witcher season 3’s ending kept the show on track for its initial 7-season plan, but with Netflix shortening the series to five seasons, significant rewrites will be necessary. While there will be some key aspects of the story that need to be altered to make it fit into five seasons, The Witcher‘s cast needs to stay as book accurate as possible. With that in mind, there are 10 characters in particular that need to be introduced before the show ends in order to do justice to the source material.

10

Angoulême — Former Member Of The Nightingale Gang

Joins Geralt’s Quest To Find Ciri

Of all the things that need to happen before The Witcher ends, the introduction of Angoulême is one of the most important. Angoulême first appears in the books when Geralt and his company arrive in the town of Belhaven, where the young thief is jailed. After she reveals a plot to assassinate Geralt as he passes through the town, Geralt insists on taking her with him, saving Angoulême from a trip to the gallows.

Part of Geralt’s reasoning is that he mistakes Angoulême for Ciri when he first sees her, encouraging him to save her life. Regardless, Angoulême becomes a loyal member of Geralt’s party after he saves her life, following them all the way to Stygga Castle. Angoulême adds a fiery spark to the group that makes their travels more entertaining to follow, which is why it’s so important for her to be included in the show. Her relationship with Milva is particularly entertaining and could lighten the tone of this dark story.

9

Anna Henrietta — Duchess Of Toussaint

Jaskier’s Former Love Interest

With The Witcher‘s 7-season plan officially being cut short, another character who needs to appear before its conclusion is Duchess Anna Henrietta. The Duchess is the beloved ruler of Toussaint, and her role in the books combined with her popularity in The Witcher video game franchise makes it crucial for the show to include her. Anna Henrietta is known for her sternness, but also her generosity and compassion. She is deeply loved and respected by her people but could never be accused of softness or indecisiveness.

Anna Henrietta also has a hilariously volatile romantic relationship with Jaskier, which sees him constantly alternating between the favored guest of the court and a prisoner on the brink of execution. This storyline would fit perfectly with Jaskier’s character in The Witcher and could provide the show’s final two seasons with some much-needed comic relief. Further, it allows Jaskier to stay in Toussaint and not be killed at Stygga Castle — as he surely would be if he went — so including Anna Henrietta would be a smart move.

8

Shani — Healer From Oxenfurt Academy

Treats Wounded Soldiers At The Battle Of Brenna

Shani is another Witcher book character popularized by her role in the video games, so including her would be a boon to game fans and help the show stay on track with the books. Shani’s role in the books is relatively minor until the Battle of Brenna begins, as this battle is often told from her perspective. Sapkowski’s decision to describe this decisive battle from the perspective of Shani and other healers emphasizes the brutality of war, and this strategy would work perfectly for The Witcher show as well.

The Witcher has consistently explored the consequences of violence, so framing the war in such a way would fit well with the show’s established themes. Further, Shani is an intriguing character, so by using her to follow the Battle of Brenna, The Witcher can demonstrate its loyalty to the books while introducing another layered protagonist to the fray. With that in mind, it would be a real missed opportunity if The Witcher omitted Shani’s character.

7

Vysogota Of Corvo — Banished Scholar

Nurses Ciri Back To Health When She Escapes Bonhart

Vysogota is one of the wisest and most memorable side characters in The Witcher books, making it imperative that the show uses him. Vysogota was originally a scholar who studied both in Nilfgaard and Oxenfurt, but after falling out with the emperor prior to Emhyr, he was banished and moved to a hut in the Pereplut marshes. It’s there in the marshes that Vysogota stumbles onto a half-conscious, severely injured Ciri, and nurses her back to health in his hut.

Vysogota has an important influence on Ciri, even gifting her the ice skates she later uses to take out Rience and his henchman on the frozen surface of Tarn Mira. He also helps Ciri find a semblance of peace after more than a year of fighting for her life, either as a member of the Rats or as Bonhart’s captive. Ciri’s time in Vysogota’s hut saves her life in more ways than one, so this does not feel like a storyline/character that the show can afford to omit.

6

Nimue — The Lady Of The Lake

Guides Ciri Back To Her Sphere

Nimue is a sorceress who lives about a century after Ciri and Geralt’s story, but meets Ciri twice as she travels randomly through time and space in search of her home. Nimue grows up hearing stories of Ciri and Geralt, making her obsessed with learning their whole story and helping Ciri get home the next time she appears. Nimue’s help is probably the only thing that keeps Ciri from spending the rest of her life traveling fruitlessly from one sphere to the next, so her role is crucial to the story.

Luckily, Nimue has already been cast for The Witcher season 4, confirming that the character will have a part to play. Interestingly, Nimue is on track to be introduced earlier than she is in the books, so it’s possible that more of her backstory will be included in Netflix’s version of events. Regardless, it’s critical that Netflix handles Nimue’s role carefully and saturates it with the same level of importance as the books do.

5

Auberon Muircetach — King Of The Alders

Leader Of The Aen Elle Elves

A big part of Ciri’s story in the final two Witcher books is her trip to the world of the Aen Elle, where she is held by the elves of that world until she agrees to have a child with their king, Auberon. This makes Auberon an extremely important character, especially because Ciri is later framed for murdering him by the leader of the Wild Hunt, Eredin. The death of King Auberon then forces Ciri to flee the world of the Aen Elle, allowing her to return to her sphere and save Yennefer from Vilgefortz.

With that in mind, the only way to cut Auberon’s character from the show would be by cutting the entire Aen Elle arc, which would mark an enormous departure from the source material. Given that The Witcher has emphasized book fidelity since receiving backlash from fans over its numerous creative changes, it would be shocking for this entire arc to be cut from the show. Ultimately, The Witcher needs to include Auberon, or risk the wrath of already-frustrated book fans.

4

Stefan Skellen — Imperial Coroner

Otherwise Known As Tawny Owl

Stefan Skellen is one of the most layered villains in The Witcher book series, so Netflix’s show needs to be sure to include him as well. Skellen initially appears to be another of Emhyr’s Nilfgaardian fanatics, but he later reveals a desire to overthrow the Empire and install a constitutional monarchy as the foundation for a future democracy. Despite this noble sentiment, Skellen demonstrates a disturbing level of ruthlessness, creating an intriguing contrast between compassionate idealism and pragmatic mercilessness.

The good news for Witcher fans is that Skellen has been confirmed for season 4, so his character will be involved in the show. Still, it’s not enough for him to simply appear. The Witcher needs to be careful to layer his character with the same level of contrast and ambiguity as the books, or risk wasting a brilliant villain. With that in mind, Skellen needs to be a major player in The Witcher‘s last two seasons.

3

Leo Bonhart — Bounty Hunter

Known For Killing Witchers

Leo Bonhart is one of the deadliest swordsmen and most intimidating villains in the entire Witcher franchise. He first appears as a bounty hunter hired to track down Ciri after her disappearance on Thanned. After slaughtering the Rats and capturing Ciri, Bonhart becomes a cruel captor, forcing Ciri to fight to the death in an arena as he tries to decide who will pay the most for her. Bonhart’s cruelty and unnatural skill with a sword makes him one of the most harrowing villains around.

With The Witcher season 4 approaching Bonhart’s first appearance in the story, it’s good to know that he has officially been cast for the upcoming season. Bonhart becomes the primary antagonist for much of Ciri’s arc, and with greater emphasis likely to be placed on her story in the wake of the Geralt recasting, he could be the most important villain in The Witcher season 4. With that in mind, The Witcher must be careful to do Bonhart’s character justice and make him as terrifying as he is in the books.

2

Esterad Thyssen — King Of Kovir And Poviss

The Only Neutral Northern King In The War With Nilfgaard

Esterad Thyssen is the King of Kovir and Poviss in the main Witcher saga, and as the Northern Kingdoms’ most intelligent and genuine leader, Netflix’s The Witcher needs to be sure to include him before it concludes. Thyssen’s role is admittedly limited in the books, but his contribution to the Northern Kingdoms’ war effort proves to be critical in the Second Northern War. Further, Thyssen’s son is flaunted as a potential husband for Ciri if she agrees to join the Lodge of Sorceresses.

Of course, Ciri chooses instead to escape to another sphere to avoid being used in such a way, but the fact that she’s ever in line to marry Thyssen’s son shows how powerful the king is. Thyssen is also known for being one of the few monarchs to actually love his wife, and he is generally considered a good man throughout the Continent. With that in mind, The Witcher needs to include Thyssen before it ends, even if it’s in a limited role.

1

Menno Coehoorn — Nilfgaardian Field Marshal

Appointed Governor Of Cintra By Emhyr Var Emreis

The Witcher season 4 should see the Second Northern War officially kickoff, which means prominent military figures — like Menno Coehoorn — will need to emerge in the show’s last two seasons. Cahir obviously can’t lead the Nilfgaardian forces like he does at Sodden in The Witcher season 1, so the show needs to introduce a new leading military figure from the Nilfgaardian faction. The obvious choice for that role is the same character who plays it in the books, Menno Coehoorn.

Coehoorn is a widely feared military commander and a close confidant of Emperor Emhyr, which is why he’s given command of the Center Army Group throughout the Second Northern War. Coehoorn’s appearances are limited in the books, but it feels like Netflix’s The Witcher will have to increase the visibility of the war to satisfy fans, which could lead to a bigger role for Coehoorn. Regardless, the Nilfgaardians need a central military figure besides Emhyr to lead them, so The Witcher needs to include Coehoorn.