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Walking in Geralt of Rivia’s shoes (now played by Liam Hemsworth) is far from simple, and many characters in “The Witcher” have met their end attempting it. The show’s creators, however, have a purpose behind this bloodbath. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich emphasizes that these dramatic turns are meant to drive significant story changes for the main characters.
Netflix
“We’re not arbitrarily deciding to kill off characters purely for shock value,” Schmidt Hissrich explained to GamesRadar. “Our characters need to grapple with the trauma of loss and its transformative effects on their worldviews.” Despite the inevitable disappointment it brings to viewers, especially those who believe the series should have concluded at Season 3, these narrative choices are central to character development.
Fans were already dealing with the upheaval of Henry Cavill’s departure, replaced by Hemsworth for the fourth season. Compounding this, four cherished characters met untimely deaths across the eight episodes. Geralt’s mentor, Vesemir (Peter Mullan), is slain by Vilgefortz of Roggeveen (Mahesh Jadu) in a duel. Keira Metz (Safiyya Ingar) falls victim to a rioting mob. Margarita (Rochelle Rose) perishes in the Battle of Montecalvo. Lastly, Istredd (Royce Pierreson) sacrifices himself to obliterate Vilgefortz’s portal system with a spell from the Book of Monoliths.
Though Season 4 might seem disappointing to some fans, the series is gearing up for its final season. The upcoming episodes are likely to claim more lives as the storyline dictates who makes it to the end. Schmidt Hissrich told GamesRadar that these character losses serve to remind viewers of the perilous nature of Geralt’s world. “We wanted to capture a profoundly human experience,” she noted. “The last two seasons have been filled with death. ‘The Witcher’ is not a place of constant joy.”
The world of The Witcher is a very dark place
Netflix
Whether it’s a strategic narrative decision or a tool to propel the storyline, it’s evident that no character in Geralt’s circle is guaranteed safety as “The Witcher” approaches its conclusion.
Indeed, things have never been sunshine and roses in the Four Kingdoms: it’s a place laden with violence and evil. But Schmidt Hissrich’s comment on a November 9 Instagram post indicates that other factors can also change someone’s fate. “Not every actor is available to us exclusively, so sometimes, they’re already committed to another project when we need them,” she said in part, adding, “Sometimes, we end up killing (or writing off) a character simply because they’re tied up in something else.”
Whether it’s a practical measure or an attempt at pushing the story forward, one thing’s clear; no one on Geralt’s team is safe as “The Witcher” approaches the end of its run.
