The Witcher Season Two Review

It’s amazing how much a show improves when it isn’t jumping around backward and forward through time and just telling one, relatively coherent, arc. And that’s what we get with season two of The Witcher, the smash hit fantasy epic from Netflix that returned from a long, Covid-induced hiatus at the end of December. I enjoyed season one (after I realized the timeline shenanigans were at play – a fun joke in season two calls back to the confusion that plagued many watchers before they realized what was afoot), but as someone who never read the novels nor played the video games the series was based on, I wasn’t a huge fan of the series. It was a fun fantasy epic that was a tad overstuffed. With season two, I can’t say I’m any more invested in the politics and mystical elements of the show, but I was far more engaged with the performances and the character arcs this go-round, which made the series an enjoyable binge and left me intrigued for season three.

When we left the core cast of characters at the end of season one, the Battle of Sodden resulted in Yennefer (Anya Chalotra, continuing her strong work in season two) channeling fire (a big no-no for mages), the North winning a hollow victory, and Geralt (Henry Cavill, continuing to brood with a purpose) and Ciri (Freya Allen) finally meeting each other, fulfilling their surprise destiny. One of the big mysteries of season one – what happened to Yennefer when she disappeared after winning the battle – is answered quickly and rather disappointingly: She’s in the hands of the “enemy” and stripped of her Chaos magic as a result of tapping into the power of fire. But, on the plus side, this does reunite the character with her former friend Fringilla (a great Mimi M. Khayisa, given a great deal more to do this time out), her sorceress counterpoint who sought power where Yennefer sought to temper her own strength. On the flip side, we get the introduction of Ciri to Geralt’s Witcher brothers – including the great Kim Bodnia’s Vesemir, Geralt’s mentor and the leader of the Witchers.

The show is at its best when it’s focused on exploring how each of these extraordinary characters fit into the world at large. How is Geralt thought of throughout the kingdoms? How do Witchers, in general, live when they aren’t out saving the common (and royal) folk from monsters? What role does Yennefer serve in this world now that she’s lost her power – and how could she potentially get it back? And just what is Ciri – the apparent magic key to everything, whatever everything might end up being – and how are her and Geralt’s destinies intertwined? These are the questions driving the narrative and they are combined with three strong central performances (of particular note is Allen’s work this season – a bit older, she’s able to carry her scenes with aplomb and infuse Ciri with complex layers that were missing in season one) to make season two a thrilling watch.

Where the series loses things a bit is when it delves deep into the mythology of the series. I’m assuming these aspects of the story – the political maneuverings of the different kingdoms, the push and pull of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, why the Elves have suddenly become power players in the acts of man after being rather minor pieces of the puzzle in season one – are easier to follow if you’re well-versed in this mythology, but I’ll openly admit to finding myself confused at the changing elements of power throughout the season. With only eight episodes, there’s hardly enough time to get into the weeds and explain (and explore) how each faction fits into things, which is a disappointment. With a few more episodes and a bit more runway, I think the series could be accessible to all elements of its audience – a la a Game of Thrones – and allow for greater enjoyment with each piece falling into place.

That being said, you don’t need to understand how the Elves aligning – and then un-aligning – with Nilfgaard impacts the overall political picture of the series. All you need to know is that the Elves are not pleased and willing to fight their own battles now. And you don’t really need to understand the political upheaval caused by the Battle of Sodden – just who is on which side of the fight. The show can be wholly enjoyed with just a cursory understanding of the key arcs and a deeper focus on the characters that make up the series (who, again, are much better fleshed out in season two). There’s less world building this time around and more character building – a welcome change that helps the show feel more full and less about moving people from place to place in order to align things up for one final fight. This time, it’s about the journey to get the characters where they need to be for a final reveal – one that means season three should be all the more interesting.