The Witcher S2 (2021) Review

 

The Witcher S2 (2021)

The Witcher Season 2 follows Geralt, who, convinced Yennifer died at the Battle of Sodden, brings Cirilla to the home of the witchers, Kaer Morhen, where he must protect the girl from something far more dangerous, herself. 

After all of the set up and world building of the first season, season 2 of The Witcher finally introduces us to the meat of Geralt’s story, and that’s his relationship with his ‘daughter’ Ciri. Their story takes center stage, and while that leads to a much more story driven, tender season, absent of the raw action of the first, it allows for us to really connect with Geralt and Ciri on a deeper emotional level, proving that Ciri is much more than just the byproduct of the Law of Surprise for our ashen-haired protagonist. In particular, her evolution from last season to now is night and day and I feel like the show runners really figured out how to use Freya Allan (who looks completely different, and much more book/game accurate) to her fullest extent, going full-in on what her destiny holds and the chaos magic she possesses. 

Life on the Continent also begins to rapidly change in their self-imposed exile to Kaer Morgen, as Nilfgaard enters into a dangerous agreement with the elves, Ciri’s father is revealed to be very much alive as Emperor Emhyr var Emreis, and Ciri’s elder bloodline is revealed, a revelation that looks to bring all hell down upon Geralt and Ciri come next season, in the form of the entire Continent and more importantly, The Wild Hunt. 

We get an even better cast this season, starring Chris Fulton, Paul Bullion, Eamon Farren, Mimi Ndiweni, MyAnne Buring, Anna Shaffer, Joey Batey, Kim Bodnia, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, and Henry Cavill. I absolutely love the deadpan chemistry between Cavill and Allan, as it really goes to grow their bond in my eyes, especially in light if what’s to come. Allan in particular delivers so well on what I wanted out of Ciri last season, and seeing her grow into a powerful, possible witcher is awesome stuff. 

The Witcher Season 2, directed by Schmidt Hissrich, wastes little time in fleshing out Geralt and Ciri’s new relationship, giving us exciting tidbits from their lore, while introducing classic Witcher’s like Lambert and Vesemir, to give a refreshingly witcher-esque story that lays some exciting groundwork for next season. 

8.5/10