The Witcher Season 4 is finally ready to be released. I know we were all very disappointed to hear Henry Cavill was being replaced. We didn't think it would work without him. Yet they got a wig for his replacement so it looks like it's going to be OK.
I was really impressed with the character development in that series. Yennefer made quite a physical and moral transformation while Ciri was more a coming of age thing. Finding her destiny and true potential which is staggering.
The official story as to why Henry Cavill was replaced claimed he was upset the writers deviated from the books and because he had some other roles to play. The Superman movie changed their mind but he is appearing as MacLeod in a new Highlander movie which should be awesome.
Being the conspiracy theorist that I am, I personally think there was a bit more to the story. I have nothing to base this on but I think he was banging Ciri. They were doing an interview and Henry was asked what the secret was to a successful relationship. Henry said he thought the key was to date someone younger before their career was set.
He said when you both have careers juggling the both of them at the same time can be challenging. Ciri was all googlie eyed and I went hmmm. Seemingly Henry has been with his current partner Natalie Viscusosince since 2021 and had their first child January 2025. So I was either wrong or that's water under the bridge. MacLeod should be awesome.
Despite her youth Ciri was very professional when asked about Henry's replacement. She said we will welcome whoever is chosen. Yennefer was just as professional. She played the role and gave Liam a kiss on the cheek in a promo shot.
Even with the wig, Liam Hemsworth is very different than Henry Cavill but that's OK. This is really about Ciri and Freya Allan is rising to that challenge as is Anya Chalotra who plays Yennefer.
So I'm ready. Bring on the long swords and the magic.
In the preview the new Gerald played by Liam Hemsworth said let's F*cking move! It's kind of startling because that's simply not something the previous Gerald played by Henry Cavill would say. In three seasons of the Witcher we never heard Gerald swear once. So the writers are changing a lot. Forbes mentioned this. Unlike Forbes, I really like how the the series developed. So let's talk about Gerald's character development.
Gerald starts off as a kick a*s loner mercenary that kills monsters for a living. Yet he does have a moral foundation. Then he's kind of cast into this role of being a step father to Ciri which is new for him. He's not very sensitive or social yet this new sense of purpose helps him grow as a person and a character. Then he meets Yennefer who's a bit of a trickster undergoing her own moral development.
When Yennefer betrays Ciri to get her powers back Gerald loses his sh*t and just about kills her. Yet his sense of compassion and his feelings for Yennefer yearned for restraint. As each character develops Gerald has yet another role to learn and that is one of being in a longer term relationship and even one of co-parenting a step child. This is all growth from his initial loner monster hunting mercenary role. Can I relate? Maybe.
In this new season with Liam Hemsworth Gerald's character is forced to evolve yet again and gain more social skills as he leads a rag tag group to save Ciri. Yet the line let's F*cking move just doesn't fit in with Gerald's established character. So maybe the writers were the problem after all.
I'm still looking forward to the new seasons because I want to see Ciri fulfill her destiny and see howYennefer continues to develope as she helps Ciri find her true potential.
Yennefer's bond with Ciri as a mother is important because as Yennefer's mentor Tissaia de Vries observed, this is how Yennefer rose above the curse.
Yennefer started off as a hunch backed outcast then sells her soul for worldly beauty. The flip side of that deal was the curse that she would not be able to bear children and become a mother. Yet adopting Ciri helped her overcome that curse. It's an intriguing web of personal growth and development.
I'm a bit concerned about how the writers are changing the script and are victimizing Ciri. They're turning her into a damsel in distress that needs to be saved by a white night. That's not what Ciri is and that's not what Gerald is.
Gerald is to protect her until she comes of age and can defend herself. Gerald and Yennefer's role is to help Ciri find her true potential. Once that happens she is no victim or damsel in distress. She's the one that will save everyone else.
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