The wait is over. At last, season two of The Witcher returns to Netflix on Friday, December 17th. Almost two years since the release of the first season, we pick up where we left off and enter the magical and monster-filled world in which Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer reside. The conclusion of season one finally brings together the lives of Princess Cirilla and Geralt of Rivia. Although fate has brought them together, their story is far from over. With the brutal Nilfgaardian forces expanding their empire and continuing their search for the escaped princess, we are left to wonder how exactly the two will be able to elude the ever-consuming evil that surrounds them.
The new and most recent trailer for season two seems to provide us some insight. In it, we see Ciri going through rigorous training. Ciri’s life in Cintra before its demise was safe. After the death of her mother, she was kept shielded and protected from the dangers of the world by her grandmother, Calanthe. Despite her coddled upbringing, Ciri has so far proven herself to be plenty capable of defending herself. So perhaps, with the guidance of Geralt and others, the Lion Cub of Cintra will grow to become as powerful, if not more so than her famed grandmother. However, Ciri will need more than just agility and competent swordsmanship if she is to challenge the forces that await her in season two.
Monsters Revealed in Season Two
Destiny has brought Geralt and Ciri together but the company of a Witcher is not easy to keep. Geralt hunts monsters. Although, It often seems as though monsters have a way of seeking him out just as well. In season one Geralt encountered many creatures, and with what we have seen of season two so far, it seems as though the stakes will only raise. In a trailer released by Netflix, we get a glimpse at some of the monsters that the two may encounter. One monster seen resembles a tree and we see shots of it throughout this trailer. Its large stature looms over Geralt and its vines shoot out wriggling weightlessly around our fighter. We see Geralt slashing through its wooden make, but its outstretched appendages continue to surround him. The foe looks like a force to be reckoned with and is surely a worthy opponent of Geralt.
Additional footage released by Netflix for the trailers and clips shows a few other mythical beings. We see Geralt warn Ciri of a Bruxa in their house. If you are familiar with The Witcher cannon, you may have a good idea of what this monster is and what exactly makes it so dangerous. However, through the Netflix series, this is our first time seeing Geralt encounter a Bruxa. The clip ends before much is revealed, showing that the studio behind the series is keeping many of the much-anticipated monsters a surprise. Beyond mere monsters, there is much danger and evil in the world of The Witcher. In another trailer released by Netflix, Ciri is heard saying, “Monsters do bad things to people. Humans do bad things to everybody.”
Magic and the Nilfgaard Army
Nilfgaard is the dominating force over the land. They are brutal people whose goal is to conquer the land of humans and monsters alike. In the first season, we see that they excel in military power. They have advanced weaponry and many soldiers on their side. They brought Cintra, one of the great northern kingdoms to the ground without much resistance. Ciri, the only surviving heir of the Cintra throne has much hate for the Nilfgaardian army. Her training may very well be in an effort to assist in an attack against Nilfgaard or defend the lands that Nilfgaard does not yet rule.
We finished season one with a large battle at Sodden Hill. Yennefer, accompanied by her fellow mages takes a stand against the Nilfgaard army. They attempt to stop the Nilfgaard forces from crossing the bridge in which they would have access to the other Northern Kingdoms. The outnumbered mages put forth an honorable fight. The Nilfgaard has the help of Fringilla and has no reservations about using unbalanced, unchecked, and evil magic.
Bolstered by their sinister magic, the Nilfgaard army is an overwhelming force. Ciri will have to harness the power of her own abilities in order to match the strength of Nilfgaard. In the first season, we saw a few instances in which Ciri had used her power. However, we still do not know the full extent to which this power can be used or how effective it would be against other magical beings. This power, passed down to her by her mother, may hold the secret to defeating the Nilfgaard army. We have seen her power used in moments of extreme stress and cause chaos for those around her. In order to gain control of her abilities, she needs to learn to control the chaos that surrounds her.
Ciri’s Internal Battle: Overcoming her Past and Finding Her Purpose
Ciri has lost everyone that was once close to her. Her mother and father, Grandmother, and friends. The city in which she lived was brought to its knees and burned to the ground. After fleeing the city she faced threats from every angle. The Nilfgaard wanted her captured, refugees from Cintra had disdain towards the crown, and she was all alone in a terrifying world. Destiny has finally brought her to Geralt. But now it is time to look within herself, find her purpose, and train so that she is able to accomplish what she is meant to achieve. Princess Cirilla is the Lioncub of Cintra, and although the city has fallen, she will continue to fight in its honor.