The Witcher, Netflix, Cinesite, Hivemind, Pioneer Stilking Films, Platige Image

Monster Slayer

Netflix original series The Witcher dropped its second season December 17th, 2021.

#TheWitcher has been renewed for a third season.






rottentomatoes: 80%

metacritic: 61

imdb: 8.2



Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher, Netflix, Cinesite, Hivemind, Pioneer Stilking Films, Platige Image, Henry Cavill
Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher, Netflix, Cinesite, Hivemind, Pioneer Stilking Films, Platige Image, Henry Cavill

Geralt of Rivia

Geralt of Rivia is tasked with protecting a princess prophesied to bring peace to a warring Continent.

Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher, Netflix, Cinesite, Hivemind, Pioneer Stilking Films, Platige Image, Henry Cavill

“Yennefer! Stay on the horse. Where is she? Was it worth it? Doesn’t matter. She’s gone now.” — Geralt of Rivia

“I sleep like shit too. Makes for fewer nightmares. Except for the one about the rock troll. Overly friendly. Tough image to shake. What about yours? You escaped. It was payment for a debt. I saved your father’s life. Your grandmother. She didn’t want your mother marrying a… an outsider. Your father didn’t know what he was giving up. You’re much more than that, Cirilla. Cintra isn’t safe for you any more. If you want. But you’d be married off to the nearest Lord of Bad Breath. He’d be seeking to claim your throne too. The food is good there, though.” — Geralt of Rivia

“It’s where witchers go during the winter. There, we can rest up and heal. Replace armor and elixirs. It’s my home. Because we like it that way. There was an attack. A long time ago, when I was a boy. Almost wiped us all out. So now, we like to keep a low profile. We both need to keep a low profile, it seems. Sure. We can’t see the future like you can. Back on the battlefield, when you saw me and that woman before it happened. Easy. It’s called axii. It’s a calming sign. Not really. We should keep moving. Hmm. Come on, Roach. There are no guards. Quiet. There are no barking dogs, either. This place never sleeps. I know somewhere nearby. An old friend. Stay on Roach.” — Geralt of Rivia

“Nivellen? Yeah… but he’s changed. We’re only staying until the storm dies. I’m fine. Part of my charm. Nivellen, I’m not one to slight the rite of hospitality, but I do need to know that she’s safe here. That’s not a bad trick. You gonna tell me what happened to you? That’s a tale requiring a wine cellar. That’s a good one. I had to clear the forest of the entire pack. Got paid either way. Since we’re telling no lies, tell us about your curse. She’s tougher than you think. All the mushrooms in the world wouldn’t make anyone that stupid. Hmm. All curses have cures. What did she say? The village below was abandoned. What happened there? Not reason enough for an entire village to leave their homes. Her grandfather was a drunk. He saw a lot of things. I’ve live through a dark age and three supposed end of days. It’s all horseshit. Didn’t you say you were cursed to live alone? How about we scout the property? Make sure it’s secure for the night.” — Geralt of Rivia

“It’s as if she’s determined to do the opposite of the thing that’ll keep her safe. Verbose when I need her to be quiet. Stubborn and sullen when I need her to talk. Looks like you’re in good company.” — Geralt of Rivia

“Let’s play a drinking game. We throw daggers. Whoever missed your dear father’s head drinks… and tells a truth. Hmm. I promised her grandmother before she died. Keep her alive. I can protect her from any mark of man or monster. And you said so yourself. The world is changing. Perhaps that’s why the Law of Surprise brought us together. Hmm. Your turn. So it seems. Who? Yennefer of Vengerberg. She’s dead. Who says I’m not?” — Geralt of Rivia

“Anything else? I have nothing to hide. That’s not going to happen to her. The look of a man who’s wondering why his old friend is cheating. I’ve seen you piss yourself in a wyvern den. I know who you truly are. What are you hiding now?” — Geralt of Rivia

“It flies. Roach is by the gate. If anyone other than me leaves this place, ride for your life. There’s a bruxa in the house. Move. Now. Cirilla. She’s the bruxa. Get back to Roach. Cirillla. Get away from it. The curse had lifted. You are free now. She couldn’t control herself? She was a monster. Love and blood. They both possess a mighty power. Learned men and mages have wracked their brains over it for years. And they’ve arrived at nothing except…” — Geralt of Rivia


Princess Cirilla, The Witcher, Netflix, Cinesite, Hivemind, Pioneer Stilking Films, Platige Image, Freya Allen

Princess Cirilla

“I’ve seen this. Yennefer. Can you please tell me who she is?”

“Let me go. Let me go! You don’t sleep at all. The Black Knight has me on his horse… Cintra is burning. I’m too helpless to stop any of it. I was lucky. I… I need to understand some things. You claimed the Law of Surprise and got me. Why? From what? So… I’m your destiny. Whatever that means. I miss my home. Then what about Skellige? I have people there too. I’d be safe there.”

“So, what exactly is Kaer Morhen? How come I’ve never heard of it? Why? Hmm. In Cintra, I used to dress up like a boy just so I could play knucklebones. Were you attacked because you’re different? Yes, well, it was… it was more like a dream. Hazy. It was… it was weird. How did you do that? Magic. Like… like a druid? Oh, thanks gods. Think there’s an inn? What is it? Maybe hiding– so what now?”

“This is your friend? Ciri. Oh, I’d love one. Please. Thank you so much for this. My other clothes were ready to run away by themselves. Mmm, very good indeed. No. He’s not especially chatty. I’d like to hear, though. I’ve seen those in books. What? The Wraiths of Morhogg? My grandfather saw them just before Cintra fell. Nivellen, do you have a cat? The poor thing might be stuck in the ceiling. Didn’t you say cats were afraid of witchers? Go on, Geralt. We’ll be all right.”

“This is what you do to keep yourself entertained? What’s it called? It’s beautiful. You remind me of an old friend. Mousesack. Sometimes it doesn’t seem real. That he’s gone. And I just– I wish I could go back in time and save him. Save everyone. What’s it like? Being alone because of what you are? Have… have you ever tried to cure yourself? Maybe you haven’t found the right one yet. Mousesack told me of a hedgehog man who was cured by true love. Those people you killed… you didn’t mean to. I watched my entire home burn to the ground at the hands of another. My family trapped inside. You don’t seem like a monster to me. Good night, Nivellen. A few days.”

“It’s all right, Vereena. We won’t hurt you. We’re just here for the night. Then you can have your house back. Who are you? That was you? Thank you. Nivellen said you were a cat. What are you? How did you do that? Monsters, yes. Kill them. Are you a monster? Monsters do bad things to people. Nivellen… he hid you from the witcher. He loves you.”

“Geralt. What’s happening? A what? What are you doing? What’s going on, Geralt? Vereena? Geralt! Geralt! Geralt, wait. Please. Why, Geralt? It doesn’t matter what she was or wasn’t. She loved you.”


Yennefer of Vengerberg, The Witcher, Netflix, Cinesite, Hivemind, Pioneer Stilking Films, Platige Image, Anya Chalotra

Yennefer of Vengerberg

“Fuck.”

“This the best you can conjure up? The battle must have really taken it out for you. I wouldn’t call burning half your forces frivolous. You’re on the run. We won. The refrain of the defeated, how sad. Look at you. Why are you doing this? No, your precious leader’s after something. You’re a pawn to get to it. I can’t imagine… what’s his name, Emhyr? My humble apologies, the mighty White Flame himself… can’t imagine he’ll be too happy to see you return, tail between your legs. You know I won’t turn. That the Brotherhood won’t negotiate. At Tissaia’s behest. I’ll be lauded for saving them. You’re offering me up as a sacrifice. A bloody mea culpa for fucking up Nilfgaard’s great push north. At least conjure me up some decent food before we get to Shitgaard.”

“Your horse, it’s lame. Horses, whores, and mages. All useful till we’re not. Do you really think offering me as a sacrifice will be enough to spare your failure? You’ll watch my head roll right before your own. Look. The North has won. Join us. I’ll tell them you saved me. You can redeem yourself. You were weak at Aretuza, but you had your own mind. We weren’t forced to do anything. If you’d thought for yourself instead if licking others’ boots. Eager to please. Easy to wound.”


Fringilla, The Witcher, Netflix, Cinesite, Hivemind, Pioneer Stilking Films, Platige Image, Mimi Ndiweni

Fringilla

“Welcome back. Wasn’t sure you’d make it.”

“Unlike you, I’m not one to waste Chaos on frivolous nonsense. Pity you’re in dimeritium chains behind enemy lines, then. Or else you could conjure us up a boar to eat. A battle. The war’s just begun. Sodden was merely a raindrop before the storm. Because I’m loyal to my kingdom. They won’t want you back. You’ve broken their sacred law, tapped into fire magic. Oh! I’m sure they’ll be most understand. All leaders are.”

“I know. If I dismount, my men will eat it. Hmm. Redeem myself from what, exactly? You think that we ventured north to conquer? We came to liberate. That implies choice. I was placed in a kingdom at the whim of the Brotherhood’s wants. We all were. Just gilded pawns to control kingdoms, nothing more. Should I have left my post as you did? Shirked my duties, wasted my talents? If I’d had Tissaia to shield me– you’re blind, Yennefer.”

Tissaia, The Witcher, Netflix, Cinesite, Hivemind, Pioneer Stilking Films, Platige Image, MyAnna Buring

Tissaia

“Yennefer? Yennefer? Yennefer… Yennefer! And who are you to her, exactly? We won. Because of her. She bought us time until the armies arrived.”

“What is it? She’s lost for good. She has abandoned all rules of Chaos. We won. But barely. We do not know the troops that Nilfgaard have in reserve, where they are reassembling, what they are planning next. He will give us everything we need… if I can have time with him.”

“See where the night takes us. I need to know what Nilfgaard wants. Resist or submit. It makes no difference. ‘Tis not in my nature… to be cruel. But you have taken someone from me. Someone I care about deeply. So now I will take your knowledge… …your memories, your very being, and leave you cold and helpless, trapped in the eternal darkness of your own mind. I know. I know you want to scream. But it’s too soon. It’s too soon because I haven’t even started yet. If evolution has traced any groove at all in your brain, I will plow it somewhat deeper. And then you will know what a scream can really be!”

Vilgefortz, The Witcher, Netflix, Cinesite, Hivemind, Pioneer Stilking Films, Platige Image, Mahesh Jadu

Vilgefortz

“Not today. Take him. Leave him be. 4,000 dead Temerian soldiers, 5,000 dead Kaedwenians, and at least 20,000 of theirs. You won’t find her in your visions. She’s gone.”

“There is no sign of Yennefer. Fringilla was at the front. Coordinating the Nilfgaardian attack with the prisoner we took. Familial disgrace can wait. We need intelligence from that prisoner now. We need intelligence from that prisoner now. The Kings have their blood up. They want to chase Nilfgaard south. You weren’t there, Artorius. Our spies don’t have much. Only that he orchestrated the fall of Cintra. And that he doesn’t answer to the generals, only to the emperor himself. No one’s been able to break him. She wasn’t asking your permission.”

Artorius

“Triss. Stay with us! Stay with us! Triss! She was stable. I don’t know what happened. We’re losing her. And what of my niece? She is lost too, then. Perhaps we should, since you’d have us be warriors in the field instead of advisers in the palace. The prisoner. What do we know? We have rules.”

Triss Merrigold

“Mmm.”

Cahir

“What a welcome sight. Are you inquisitor or executioner? Do what you will. Make no difference in the end. The White Flame will cleanse us all.”

Nivellen

“Geralt! What the fuck are you doing here, you old whoreson? I know. I look a tad different since you saw me last. But I could say the same of you. Put away your knife and come in out of the cold, Witcher. I’ll tell you everything. Eh?”

“A fire for my guests. And you, my dear… well, Ciri, what say you to a hot bath to warm your frozen bones? Splendid. Bath! You can bathe in the next room. You, my friend, are very far from fine. You reek of old horse. You always were a horse’s arse, anyway. How long’s it been? 13 winters since we last saw each other? You see my tusks and think I would… bite the throat? Hmm. She is. I’m still me. Well… lights! That’s a tale requiring wine. What of you?”

“Numbskull took one look at the place, tucked tail and ran so fast, his feet didn’t touch the ground. Brigands were tougher in our day, eh? But of course. Uh… you look lovely. Roast venison, sage truffles, sweet wine, and lots of it! And for you, only the best. Witcher’s quail. I jest, I jest! Mountain pheasant for my friend! Ah! Very good, eh? Has he told you how we first met? No. It’s my favorite tale. You see, this snow-capped sourpuss here was hired by the most horrible monster of all, my father, to clear our woods of a wyvern infestation. Horrid creatures. See that weak young whelp of a lad? That was me. And I tried to prove myself to my father by killing one first. But instead… …I fell into the damned beast’s lair. This one pulls me up by the scruff of my neck and slays the wyvern snapping at my nethers. What do you think he does next? Gives me a hiding for being such a cretinous twit? No. He hands me the wyvern’s head and tells my father I was the one that killed it. Nonsense! He’s a big softie. I tell you no word of a lie, young Ciri. It was the first and last time… …I saw my father proud of me. After that, Geralt and I became friends, of a sort, over many a summer. In front of the girl? I was a gormless young twat. That’s how. Fell in with a bad lot. I trashed the Temple of the Lionheaded Spider. High on godflesh mushrooms. If only it was so. After the damage was done, the priestess cursed me to live like this. Forever. Alone. She screamed something about love and blood. I don’t remember. I’ll be honest. I’ve tried to end it, Geralt. More than once. But I kept coming back. That priestess won’t let me off so easy. After the Battle of Sodden, the… country is a dangerous place. Hungry soldiers, deserters… it is… when the Wild Hunt is riding over the horizon. I saw them myself. Just last week. Riding their skeletal horses across the southern sky. A portent of doom. I’m simply saying, the North and South at war, monsters roaming when they should be hibernating, pestilence sweeping the land… maybe it’s the end of days. No, something has changed, Geralt. The world’s acting of its own strange accord these days. Far outside the reach of kings and men. I do, in fact. She’s fine. Vereena, she’s called. I’m very glad of her company, even if she’s a shy wee thing. Not fond of strangers. How about a show? Ugh!”

“To keep myself sane, yes. It’s a famous piece I first saw as a lad whilst studying at Oxenfurt. Aah! It tells the tale of doomed young Elven warrior and a human she falls in love with. The Fall of the Elders. Elven warrior, human mage. Ordained by hate to kill Instead found love and ran away Against their people’s will Into bliss, the two did wed A baby on the way A child born to parents dead That fateful winter’s day. Can I come with you? I have a few things I should like to change myself. It’s what eats you alive. Loneliness. Oh, I’ve plied many a lass with treasure to kiss me, hoping there was a grain of truth to those fairy tales. Lucky chap. He was probably worthy. You saw my statue garden. All my servants are buried there. I killed them the day I turned, not knowing what I was, not knowing my own strength. I deserve my destiny. Come. I’m being a bore. And you must be tired. Here we are. It’s been a treat. Sometimes… I think I’m still a man. But mostly… I know what I really am. I appreciate that, my dear. Monsters are more than just horrid looks and claws and teeth. Monsters are born of deeds done. Unforgivable ones. Good night.”

“Finest mead from the rarest Korathian desert honey. Aah. Oh, now we’re talking! What sort? Prepare to lose. You first. Let’s start with the obvious. How in the name of all that’s sacred… how did you find yourself looking after a young girl? What’s your plan? That’s it? Oh, that devious old chestnut. The plot thickens. Oh-ho-ho-ho. Bull’s-eye. You’ve become a lightweight, old friend. You spend a lifetime alone, then you claim a child of an ancient promise of destiny. What changed you? Ooh-hoo-hoo! And where is this rarest and fairest of all maidens? The one who could crack an icy witcher’s heart? I’m sorry, my boy. How long ago? How are you not heartbroken?”

“From me, maybe. But have you told the girl the truth? That witchers obtain children so they can feed them with magic herbs. The few who survive become witchers themselves. All human feelings and reactions are trained out of them. They are turned into monsters to kill other monsters. But it happened to you. For better or worse, she’s with you now. How does she feel about it? Ohh! The look of a man who’s worried he’s lost his touch. Hmm. You’ve got me there! Magic knives. I need to drain the snake and hit the silk. Go to sleep, you sullen old codger. See you in the morning.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Huh? No! No! No! It’s wrong. It’s wrong. It’s all wrong! Free? This is what you call… free? Injured. Starving. She wasn’t scared of me. And when she healed… she chose to stay. She didn’t care… what I looked like. And to ease her cravings, I let her feed on me. But– no. That’s not true. …true love.”

Vereena

“Hmm. Hmm. I’m Vereena. A friend of Nivellen. You were having a nightmare. I came to check on you. Do you like the dress I left for you? Yes. Mmm. I am different. I am not you. But I am like you. I’ve never met anyone… alone in the heart, like you. Different. Not one of many. Oh… why do you travel with that man? I know what he is. He kills things. Hmm. Are you a monster because you are different? Humans do bad things to everybody. Mmm. Mmm. This must be our secret. Until you leave. Hmm.”

“He hurt me. Don’t run. Uh… I can’t help myself if you run. He’s wrong. I don’t want to hurt you. I’ll rip her throat out unless you leave us alone! Mine… …or nobody’s. I love you. Love you. He’ll come for you too.”

Villageperson 1

“Colin! Colin, where is everybody?”

Villageperson 2

“Hello? I’m in need of lodgings for the night! I’m a merchant. I can pay. Hello? Hello! I’m in need of lodgings for– Kira! Kira!”

Niflgaardian Soldier

“Spare me! Please have mercy– please!”

The Brotherhood 1

“Fire! Quickly! Over here! I’m the only fuck in here!”

Elf 1

“She’s awake.”



You will try to outrun the girl in the woods but you cannot. She is your destiny. — Renfri

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