The Witcher: 9 Things That Need To Happen Before Season 5 Ends Netflix’s Show

Netflix’s The Witcher is officially ending with its fifth season, and there are nine moments in the story that the show needs to cover before that can happen. The Witcher is based on the novel series of the same name by Polish author, Andrzej Sapkowski, and there are still three books for the show to cover in its last two seasons. The Witcher season 4 is expected to adapt Baptism of Fire, leaving the last two novels for the show’s final season.

The Witcher season 3’s ending put the show on track to finish in six seasons, making it somewhat of a surprise that it’s ending with season 5. However, shakeups in The Witcher‘s cast and a significant drop in viewership likely encouraged Netflix to wrap the series up early. Still, before The Witcher can end properly, it needs to cover nine critical moments in the story that have yet to occur in Netflix’s version of events.

9

The Battle Of Brenna

The Decisive Battle In The Second Northern War

One critical moment that The Witcher can’t afford to skip is the epic Battle of Brenna, which results in the end of Nilfgaard’s second invasion of the Northern Kingdoms and the signing of the Peace of Cintra. Emhyr var Emreis, one of The Witcher‘s most powerful villains, signs the treaty after his armies suffer a devastating defeat at the hands of the combined Northern forces. After The Witcher season 3 set up the Second Northern War with the coup on Thanned, the Battle of Brenna is an essential scene for the show to include.

Not only is the Battle of Brenna crucial to The Witcher‘s story, it also provides an opportunity for the show’s biggest spectacle yet. Although none of the show’s three main characters — Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri — are present at the battle, it’s told through the eyes of several healers in the books, which provides an intriguing way for The Witcher to experiment with the anatomy of a battle scene. Sapkowski’s decision to follow the battle from the perspective of healers emphasizes the brutality of warfare, offering a modern interpretation of violence that would fit well with The Witcher‘s established themes.

8

The Battle For The Bridge On The Yaruga

Geralt Is Knighted By Queen Meve For His Heroics On The Bridge

One of the most important Witcher book moments from Geralt’s perspective is the Battle for the Bridge on the Yaruga. This fight happens relatively early after Geralt and his company leave the forest of Brokilon in search of Ciri, and though they do their utmost to avoid the conflict, they are dragged into it, forcing Geralt to discard his beloved neutrality and choose a side. After joining the fray, Geralt ruthlessly cuts down his Nilfgaardian opponents in one of the best displays of swordsmanship described in the books.

This scene also includes a funny bit of irony, as Geralt is knighted by Queen Meve of Rivia and Lyria, making his previously made-up title of Geralt of Rivia legitimate. Further, Geralt has always despised knights and has no desire to officially become Geralt of Rivia, despite using the name for so many years already. This is one of the most famous scenes in the book series because of Geralt’s knighting and the show he puts on during the Battle for the Bridge.

7

Geralt Getting A Second Chance Against Vilgefortz

Geralt Is Handily Defeated By Vilgefortz In The Witcher Season 3

After Geralt is humbled in his duel with Vilgefortz in The Witcher season 3, the show will have to make sure to give him his second chance against the sadistic mage. In the books, Geralt’s first fight with Vilgefortz goes much the same way as in the show, but Geralt gets a second chance when he manages to track the villain to Stygga Castle somewhere in Ebbing. This is essentially the climax of the entire book series, so there’s no way The Witcher show can afford to skip or majorly alter it.

There is an interesting aspect of Geralt and Vilgefortz’s duel that may or may not be included in the show, which is the magical amulet given to Geralt by Fringilla Vigo. This amulet is critical to Geralt’s success in the books, projecting an illusion of him a few inches away from where he stands, putting Vilgefortz’s aim just far enough off for Geralt to survive. Thus far, Fringilla has not been linked to Geralt’s story in any meaningful way, so it’s possible the show will have someone else give Geralt the amulet, but the duel should occur either way.

6

Ciri Facing Down Leo Bonhart

Bonhart Is Expected To Become A Major Villain In The Witcher Season 4

While Geralt’s climactic fight scene is expected to be against Vilgefortz, Ciri’s final showdown should come against Leo Bonhart. In the books, Ciri also travels to Stygga Castle, where she faces down Bonhart as Geralt is dealing with Vilgefortz. This fight is the culmination of all Ciri’s witcher training, so there’s no way the show can afford to skip it, especially when Bonhart is expected to make his debut in The Witcher season 4.

This fight also offers one of the best spectacles in The Witcher book series, with Ciri using her training to roll past Bonhart’s defenses and strike home with her sword. If Bonhart ends up being anything like his book character in The Witcher, this will be an incredibly satisfying moment for fans. Bonhart is one of the deadliest swordsmen in The Witcher‘s world, so Ciri’s victory is incredibly impressive, and it needs to be a big part of the show’s final season.

5

Ciri Traveling To The World Of The Aen Elle

Ciri’s Elder Blood Allows Her To Travel Between Spheres

Another crucial part of Ciri’s story in the books that The Witcher needs to include before it ends is Ciri’s journey to the world of the Aen Elle elves. The Aen Elle and the Aen Siedhe — the elves who inhabit Ciri’s world — were once one people, but after their world was destroyed, they abandoned their homeworld, splitting off into two branches in two different spheres and becoming culturally distinct from one another.

The Aen Elle seek to acquire Ciri’s power as a means of traveling between spheres at will, so they bring Ciri to their world and try to convince her to have a child with their king. This is a huge moment in the series that absolutely needs to be included, especially after The Witcher: Blood Origin prequel series introduced Avallac’h and Eredin, two of the most important characters in this storyline. Further, the show’s emphasis on the Wild Hunt has to pay off somehow, and that can only happen if Ciri travels to their sphere.

4

Emhyr Having A Last-Minute Change Of Heart About Ciri

Emhyr Arrives At Stygga Castle After Ciri’s Fight With Bonhart

One of the most shocking twists in The Witcher book series comes when Emhyr finally locates Ciri in the aftermath of the fighting at Stygga castle, only to change his plans at the last minute and allow her to leave freely with Geralt and Yennefer. This twist underscores the complexity of Emhyr’s character that makes him so intriguing, proving that he is capable of compassion, not just ruthlessness.

With that in mind, this scene needs to be included before The Witcher wraps up with season 5. It’s not just the shock-value that makes this scene crucial to the story, but also the final twist on Emhyr’s character. This is also when Emhyr reveals that he is Ciri’s father in the books, and although that particular revelation has already been covered in The Witcher, this scene can still offer a fascinating conclusion to Emhyr’s arc in the show.

3

Geralt’s Group Traveling To Toussaint

Geralt Receives The Medallion That Helps Him Defeat Vilgefortz In Toussaint

One part of The Witcher book series’ story that should be included as a homage to gamers is Geralt and his company’s journey into Toussaint. The group’s trip to Toussaint ends up helping them find Vilgefortz and allows Geralt to acquire an amulet that helps him defeat the mage. Although both of those moments could potentially happen in a different location, Toussaint has become extremely popular with video game fans since it was used as the primary location for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Blood and Wine.

With that in mind, The Witcher should include Geralt’s trip to Toussaint as a boon to game fans, who have been central to the franchise’s rise to fame. Further, The Witcher can stay loyal to the books while still dropping in some Easter eggs for game fans. Toussaint is also supposed to be one of the most beautiful places on the continent, so it would be a shame if fans never got a chance to see it in a live-action format.

2

Ciri Meeting An Arthurian Legend In Another Sphere

Ciri Travels To The World Of King Arthur While Looking For Her Own World

Another moment from the book series that The Witcher should cover before it ends is Ciri’s journey to the world of the mythological King Arthur. This scene is not only important to help explain the way Ciri can travel between dimensions, but also helps connect The Witcher‘s story to the real world. Ciri meets the legendary Knight of the Round Table, Sir Galahad, during her journey, befriending him before returning to her own world to save Yennefer from Vilgefortz.

Ciri also chooses to return to this sphere at the end of the series, abandoning her homeworld after sending Geralt and Yennefer to another sphere. Given this is Ciri’s final destination in the books, it feels like this sphere has to be included in The Witcher show. Even if the show should opt to go with an alternate ending for Ciri, it should at least include the books’ ending as an option for her out of respect for the novels that inspired it.

1

Ciri Skating To Victory On A Frozen Tarn Mira

Tarn Mira Is A Lake Below The Tower Of The Swallow

Arguably Ciri’s best moment in the entire book series, her fight with Stefan Skellen and Vilgefortz’s cronies on the frozen surface of Tarn Mira definitely needs to be included in the show. During this conflict, Ciri puts on a pair of ice skates she got from an old friend, using them to glide across the mist-covered surface of the lake and take out her pursuers one by one. This haunting book scene is practically made for television, and it has the potential to be one of the show’s best fights.

Ciri’s victory on the frozen lake allows her to enter the Tower of the Swallow, using the portal within it to travel to the world of the Aen Elle, much like she used the portal in The Tower of the Gull to escape Vilgefortz in The Witcher season 3. With that in mind, this climactic fight scene could work well as The Witcher season 4’s finale, leaving Ciri’s Aen Elle arc as the starting point for season 5. Even so, it doesn’t really matter when The Witcher depicts this scene, as long as it’s included at some point.