#The Witcher speculation

[spoonietimelordy]

No but imagine, Jaskier chose to stay with Geralt and break Radovid's heart (which realistically is gonna happen).

The last scene in which you see radovid this season is him playing Burn Butcher Burn. Villain arc started.

[ladynearthelake]

What if Joey hits us with a nuclear ‘dear heart’ during post sex snuggling? WHAT THEN?!?!

[tpchicken7]

My personal opinion on this: I think that we’re getting a kinder, gentler take to Jaskier for 2 reason.

Seasons one and two were written close to at the same time, and I do think based on Lauren’s comments about which characters she wanted to highlight, that she was thinking Jaskier would be more like Istresdd, a side character that pops up when the narrative needs him, and not a main character with actual interesting plots. Other characters are dismissive of Jaskier because the audience was really not suppose to care about him more than Geralt, Yennefer or Ciri.

2. Joey has brought in a lot of positive audience approval, something the show desperately needs with how things went down with HC/LH. They’ve leaned heavily on Joey and Jaskier’s popularity in interviews. I personally believe they wrote him more into Blood Origin to get more eyes on it. And honesty, his music brings more money in. It behooves them now in season three to change the tone towards him to be kinder AND give him more screen time because people do watch for him.

So, I think Jaskier’s sexuality isn’t a reason, but because he is more popular than they thought he would be, Joey was given more, let’s call it benefits, to allow him to do more with the character, including sharing these aspects of his sexuality.

IMO, limiting a character to something based just on their sexuality is minimizing all the other aspects of a person and the people around him. I simply think the characters around Jaskier are seeing his actions and reacting more positively because he’s not being just played as a lovable goofball but as a whole person.

Did anyone else notice the tonal change this season in how the writers, and by extension the characters, treat Jaskier now that he’s written as explicitly bisexual/pansexual?

Does anyone else think that the main reason that Jaskier got a more active role in the narrative beyond comic relief this season, that Geralt and Ciri are now written as being kind and friendly with him, appreciating Jaskier and showing love/affection for their friend, that the narrative isn’t constantly mocking him or showing everyone not give a shit about him for laughs, is that the writers didn’t want themselves or the characters to come off like they’re treating the one major gay character as a joke or nuisance, being shitty and cold to him for no reason, just relentlessly beating up the queer guy (who just wants to be their friend and shows concern for them)? I mean, previously the showrunner specifically mentioned that they chose to turn the their friendship into a joke, that Jaskier was kind of deluded idiot thinking they’re friends. Think of how badly the writers and characters treated Jaskier especially towards the end of S2 (being ignored, brushed aside, regarded as useless, and the absolute stupid shit with Yenn’s magic rock that went nowhere), especially in light of him being tortured and losing his lute because of his connection with Geralt in that very same season? There was really no reason to add all the animosity and derision that the characters/writers seemed to view Jaskier with in previous seasons, so I’m not sad it’s gone, I just have to wonder…why now?

Were they worried about what the status quo of how the narrative treats Jaskier would look in light of his sexuality?

[dol--blathanna]

I've already spoke in length about Orym's self-sacrificial tendencies in my 'Orym is a rabbit' post, but don't think I've forgotten about Miss Horse Girl giving Iphigenia vibes over here I just have some concerns about Imogen, whether willingly or forced, becoming a vessel for Predathos (you know, the same entity that Orym tried to comprehend for a single heartbeat and began screaming uncontrollably, had to be cradled like an infant by the Wildmother while he sobbed, and now something inside of him is irreversibly broken). Like I just think that letting an eldritch monster of hunger and oblivion possess you is maybe not a great idea?

One is a rabbit pushing his head willingly into the snare, the other is an ancient Greek princess about to be sacrificed on the altar so the war may continue, and I am asking them both very nicely to Please Stop That and Not Die 🙏💕

[theundeadelf]

I've seen a lot of chatter on Twitter where people are worried that Radovid is going to break Jaskier's heart, likely because of how villainous the video games made him, the conflict over Ciri, general spy shenanigans and because people are naturally defensive of an established, well-loved character (hello hello calling myself out here).

But the new interview with Radovid, Philippa and Dijkstra's actors has made me think that actually the opposite is more likely, or they mutually break each other's hearts, or maybe their relationship lingers for a very long time despite it all and is very complicated??

They describe Jaskier as the love of Radovid's life - whatever drama we're getting on Thursday I am seated for it 😂😂😂

[tpchicken7]

Yeah yeah, boys are kissing, but more importantly:

How did Radovid find the secret cabin in the woods in the first place? Who cares if he slipped his guard who told him where to go? How did he know Jaskier would even be there? I doubt Jask was just writing the Prince like a pen pal as he traveled around with Geralt. “Sorry we can’t hang, gotta babysit the princess in a cabin in the woods!” Yeah, I doubt that.

So either he over heard it, or a mage divined it, or something. Somebody in this scenario is getting played. I hope for Jaskier’s sake, Radovid has good intentions. Maybe Rience will pop up and use this distraction instead of Redania. Can’t wait to find out! I just hope it actually pays off in a satisfying way.

[supercupcakecollector-love]

speculation here, so TWN season 3 was filmed from April 1 2022 to the first week of September and that was with a few Covid shutdowns and one cast member trying to hold up production, season 4 however started filming only two weeks later on April 18th 2024 and yet filming is set to last until last October or November

since there are still 8 episodes does this mean that we will be getting longer episodes?

maybe its to accommodate actors schedules, but according to RI they are probably filming episode 4 around now so about halfway there, considering that Keira`s actor said on a stream recently that the ball episode took a month and a half to film

and its not because they are filming back to back either "Filming for The Witcher Season 4 is expected to last until late October/early November 2024. Then, a short break and onto Season 5" -RI

so they will probably start filming season 5 in early 2025

im so exited

[vanmarkus]

all I'm saying is if my co-star wrote a song just to technically serenade me in a scene, one that had the lines with Hugh "with you I am enough" I would be so mentally ill

[wolvesandfoxes25]

I don't see good things for Radovid and Jaskier. Mainly because in the games Radovid is a genocidal bigot and in the books he's the SON of the King of Redania and...12 years old.

In the show, I personally think he's trying to gain Jaskiers trust and suss out his relationship with Geralt to use it against him (Rience did this). Let's look at the examples..

In episode 1 we see Jaskier ask him and Phillipa to destroy Rience and when he leaves Phillipa said he's good at this game.

Acts like a besotted fanboy and knows ALL Jaskiers song (90% of them are about Geralt, including Extraordinary things. That's not about Radovid yall, he's known him for 10 minutes when he performs that song.)

Says all the things Jaskier wants to hear..

Has all the attributes of another man who's special to him. (Geralt)

Is asked by Radovids group to sing about his Witcher.

I am weak and I am wanting..

So, Radovid has sussed out what Jaskiers weakness is... and it's Geralt. And is going to use that against him for information OR Jaskier is going to use fucking the Prince to his advantage.

"Nuetrality has consequences too, Geralt."

Jaskier knows what will happen if Geralt straddles the line. And hey, he was right.

"You should have chosen a side, Witcher."

Maybe he'll use that relationship to his advantage? And that's what kicks off Radovids genocidal tendencies towards the non-humans.

I'm just speculating because I think the romance between those two is helping to further the plot and won't end up like this big love story.

That's just food for thought though 🤷‍♀️

[sandinthepipes]

Julian Alfred Pankrats, master or the seven liberal art would not take notes like that.

He would use shortheand.

You mean to tell me this guy just listened to the story of the first Witcher (all parallels aside) and the equivalent of the big bang of the universe from a primary source, and took notes writing letter by letter?

This guy has to know shortheand, it's like the thing that makes the most sense, he's nobility and he graduated in oxenfurt, there is no way he doesn't know shortheand.

And shortheand looks all cool and fantasy, WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE HIM WRITE IN SHORTHEAND

[cailenbraern]

Listening to music in the shower when I'm struck by a cursed thought. Naturally I have to share this.

I've seen comments here and there saying they're pleased to see some sort of acknowledgement of Jaskier’s torture by Rience in season 2, and that this wasn't just skirted by. I'm beginning to suspect there may be a reason or motive for this.

Listening to Burn, Butcher, Burn, I got stuck on the following words: No word that I've written will ring quite as true as Burn.

Which... seems a little foreboding to me.

The trailer for S3 pt 2 seems to show Geralt about to decapitate Rience, which has irked me since I saw it. If that’s what is going to happen in the show, why would you show that in the trailer?

What if Rience avoids losing his head and turns the tables, or is losing and growing increasingly desperate. What if Rience unleashes his fire magic to the max and Geralt can't protect himself, or, more likely chooses to protect Jaskier (who's there too, of course he's there) and anyone else who might be there with them.

Rience is burning himself up from the inside out as he burns Geralt, but in his last moments he seeks out Jaskier. He makes eye contact with the frozen bard and grins grotesquely.

What if, like Radovid sang Extraordinary Things in the shed, Rience starts to sing in an ugly voice: At the end of my days when I'm through, no word that I've written will ring quite as true as Burn. Burn, butcher, burn!"

What then?

[troythecatfish]

[magic-multicolored-miracle]

So I watched the Witcher s3 tailer, and I have, appropriately, 3 thoughts:

1) I sense timetravel shenanigans. Mostly because I'm pretty sure that's Geralt's old armor. And it's definitely Yennefer's bondage dress and domino mask from the orgy in "Bottled Appetites"

2) as usual, not enough bard. But at least he's being menaced/threatened in the shot we get, so he'll maybe have a real plotline. Always a plus

3) WHY FOR THE LOVE OF SANITY IS EVERYTHING A VOLUME 1 AND 2. THERE IS NO NEED FOR IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE ONLY A MONTH APART. I hate it.

[theundeadelf]

extremely torn as to whether I want "your neck is like a sexy goose" levels of flirting between jaskier and radovid (i.e., the bard falling flat on his face in front of the entire royal court of redania), something approaching halfway suave (radovid knows that jaskier has an agenda and vice-versa, they're using each other until whoops they've fallen in love), or levels of drama hitherto not seen on the small screen since lestat and louis tried to have an open relationship (what do you MEAN you're leaving me for the witcher) 😂😂😂

[tpchicken7]

I have one request for 3 pt. 2: please make Jaskier’s fear of Rience pay off. I want a scene with both of them where either Rience just terrorizes Jask some more or Jask faces his fears and destroys that fire freak. Give it to me!!! And then Geralt can kill him.

k, thx, bye.

[ladynearthelake]

Been constantly thinking about how it would be quite rad to set the framing story of Blood Origin with Jaskier just before/during the raid at Bleobheris.