We learned in the closing moments of “The Art of the Illusion” that Vilgefortz is the real traitor. That last kill - as well as Stregobor, who has irked Geralt since the series premiere - is the tip-off that The Witcher is ready to elevate a new baddie. Even Rience - the fire mage Geralt has spent literally the entire third season chasing - gets dispatched in surprisingly efficient fashion when Geralt chops his head clean off. Brotherhood leader Artorius is killed by his own niece, Fringilla. Filavandrel gets blown up by an explosive spell, absolutely drenching Francesca in blood (and setting her up for a very Carrie-like revenge on the rest of the room). It’s not quite the Red Wedding because we don’t lose any major major characters, but the episode is still packed with dying familiar faces. It’s even more interesting when Tissaia frees the captive mages - quite literally taking the handcuffs off - and this long-simmering conflict explodes in fire and blood.
It’s an interesting choice to play out a scenario in which all of Geralt’s options are bad. The Brotherhood is governed by arrogant old men and traitors, and many of the sorceresses seem more invested in their internal games and rivalries than in any of the hard work that might actually help the people of the Continent.
Redania, the North’s best hope at holding back the Nilfgaardian army, is ruled by a petty and petulant widower king who won’t give up on making Ciri his next bride, while the elves are on their own crusade to wrestle Ciri away from her caretakers. Nilfgaard is a crusading empire hell-bent on devouring the entire Continent, and Cahir didn’t make a great first impression. But long after it’s obvious that major bloodshed can’t be avoided here, Geralt - true to the witcher ethos - refuses to side with any of the rival factions descending on Aretuza. When we last saw Geralt, Dijkstra was standing with a knife to the witcher’s throat, sneering that he should have chosen a side. After six installments of careful table setting, the show finally sweeps its arm across the top and knocks everything right onto the floor. I like a good cliffhanger as much as anybody, but it’s hard not to question the wisdom of The Witcher’s taking a monthlong break right before the best episode of a pretty rocky season. Photo: Susie Allnutt/Netflix/Susie Allnutt
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