Liam Hemsworth stands among a crowd in 'The Witcher'
The Witcher Season 4 is a major shift for the Netflix series. Most obviously, Geralt is now played by Liam Hemsworth rather than Henry Cavill, which changes more than his appearance. While Hemsworth plays the character differently, the switch is further emphasized by Geralt taking somewhat of a step back.
While Geralt is certainly present, forming a Hansa out of unlikely allies on his quest to save Ciri , the stories that move forward belong to Ciri and Yennefer . While it seems like a strange choice for the main character, the fact is that Geralt was never the center of the story because it has always been as much, if not more, about Ciri. Geralt may be the one who inspires the title, but Ciri has been a constant, and without her, there is no story. Season 4 takes Ciri on a unique journey because, unlike previous seasons, she has no protectors and doesn't actually need them. Instead, she hides her identity and joins a gang of thieves, for once free from the political conflict that shaped her life. The Lion Cub of Cintra has come a long way since Season 1, as has Freya Allan. These days, the character and actress are both capable of carrying the series, and Season 4 allows Ciri to take a long-awaited step toward that. 'The Witcher' Wouldn't Work Without Ciri Though the early seasons followed Geralt above anyone else, Ciri has always been the center of the story because she drives the conflict. Despite Geralt's job description, The Witcher doesn't focus on fighting monsters, but on the growing political conflict as Nilfgaard moves against the northern kingdoms, and that is about Ciri. From the beginning, Ciri is the one everyone wants, even Geralt, who has spent the entire series either looking for or trying to save her. Emhyr , Vilgefortz , the Scoia'tael, and Redania wouldn't care about Geralt were it not for his relationship with Ciri. With her Elven blood, Ciri is important in her own right, which is why everyone wants to control her. The ongoing war really began with the destruction of her home, and though The Witcher provided a lot of context before that, Ciri's experience is what really started the story. Without Ciri, the story doesn't happen. Her character drives the conflict, and even Geralt's story depends on what is happening to Ciri at any given moment. And he isn't the only character whose significance comes from Ciri. Yennefer may be a powerful mage, but she fits into the story because of her relationship with Geralt and Ciri, who have become her family. Perhaps, it could be argued that, as the thing people are after, Ciri is not in control of the story, and that may be true in the early seasons, but somewhere along the way, Ciri began calling the shots. Her independence proves that Ciri deserves recognition as the lead character that she is. 'The Witcher' Season 4 Shows Ciri on Her Own For a while, Geralt filled the role of the lead because, though Ciri was the target, she needed him to protect her, but that is no longer the case, and Season 4 proves it. Throughout the season, Ciri is on her own, surviving because of what Geralt taught her, even though they are apart. This is especially evident in her fighting as she takes down the men who try to capture her and even holds her own against Leo Bonhart , who's a skilled and terrifying enemy. Ciri may be on her own, but her fighting prowess marks a major difference from the last time she was in that situation. Sure, she would be safer with Geralt, but Ciri has come a long way in her ability to protect herself. The most obvious way Season 4 shows the shift is that being away from Ciri limits Geralt's story, but it allows Ciri to shine. While Geralt spends an entire season searching for Ciri, she has an emotional journey, joining the Rats and, for the first time, exploring her own freedom. Ciri is in a dark place, as shown by her brutality, but she's also, for the first time, learning what life could be like if she were to reject her fate. So many things have been decided for her, but in Season 4, she must figure out what she wants. The season allows her to explore a romance with Mistle , which is a first for her, but more importantly, it forces Ciri to realize that she cannot leave her history behind. She walks away from the Rats when she realizes they are helping Nilfgaard, and though she returns to warn them of Bonhart, her development stands. Through her self-discovery and independence, Season 4 emphasizes Ciri's significance more than any other season. Freya Allan Portrays Ciri's Hero's Journey in 'The Witcher' The Witcher has allowed Ciri to develop as a character, going from a frightened princess to a capable warrior, and while much of that is because of Geralt's care, she is the one who's changed. Ciri is a dynamic character who follows a hero's journey. Born with incredible power that she must learn to use before the ongoing war destroys the world. This is a familiar story, following the same basic structure as Harry Potter or Star Wars, proving that Ciri is the main character, if you look at the story in broad terms, and Season 4 began to align with that. It makes sense that Ciri takes the position as lead because she can handle it now, and judging by Season 4's cliffhanger, Ciri is going to need to continue to grow stronger. Fortunately for The Witcher, even though they cast her as a child, Freya Allan has grown into the role, becoming a stronger lead with every season, much like Ciri herself. Season 3's Ciri-centric episode proved beyond any doubt that Allan can carry the series, and Season 4 reinforces that idea as she takes on an even larger role. For a long time, Ciri was a somewhat passive character, but Allan has shown how much she has grown in strength and independence, becoming even more vital. Geralt may be important, but Ciri has always driven the story. Season 4 highlights her role, in part because it eases the transition to a new Geralt, but also because it is time for Ciri to take her place as The Witcher's hero. The Witcher Like Follow Followed TV-MA Drama Action Fantasy Adventure Release Date December 20, 2019 Network Netflix Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich Directors Stephen Surjik, Charlotte Brändström, Edward Bazalgette, Loni Peristere, Louise Hooper, Bola Ogun, Alex Garcia Lopez, Gandja Monteiro, Sarah O'Gorman Writers Haily Hall, Clare Higgins, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Jenny Klein, Tania Lotia 8 Images Close Cast See All
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