Season 3 of The Witcher has done a fantastic job thus far of connecting the various storylines taking place all over the Continent. A shadowy antagonist is gambling with other people’s lives to reach Ciri (Freya Allan) at the confluence point.
The identity of this villain is revealed in Episode 5: “The Art of Illusion,” and the violent aftermath of their scheme is teased for the remainder of Season 3. Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) get some steamy alone time in “The Art of Illusion” before things take a turn for the worse.
In Episode 5 of Season 3, Geralt and Yennefer spend the night pondering on the events of Aretuza’s ball while exploring each other’s bodies. The couple confides in one another and has an intimate ordeal while contemplating the consequences of their choices for the entire continent.
The episode unfolds as a succession of flashbacks that allow us to see the same evening from several perspectives, peeling back the layers of a party full of secrets and hints. It’s a structure that lets viewers solve the puzzle for themselves right up until the end of the film. The next month will feel like an eternity before we learn what occurs in Season 3.
The Cast of “The Witcher” Season 3 Was Looking Forward to the Difficulty of Filming Episode 5
It’s not surprising that Episode 5 took so long to film, given how many vantage points had to be taken in order to convey the story (the episode’s framing method centers on Geralt and Yennefer recounting numerous interactions during their time together and separated at the ball).
But Buring went on to elaborate on the fact that the cast was excited to shoot “The Art of Illusion,” not just because it was a unique challenge for the season as a whole, but also because it would allow them to spend time together on set:
“Loni [Peristere], our director, was always like, ‘Listen, this is going to be a challenge, but everyone knuckle down. This is going to pay off.’ All of us were really excited about this. We definitely love and are so looking forward to seeing this episode.
So it was really full-on, but it was wonderful because we also got to hang out a lot together and be there with each other. We had a huge supporting cast who were all phenomenal. The makeup and hair departments had gone above and beyond, and the costume departments.
The morning after the ball, when Geralt and Yennefer have finally gotten themselves out of bed after spending the night making up and remembering the events of the evening, they discover the season’s biggest conspiracy. Tissaia and possibly other magicians are in jeopardy if Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu) is indeed to blame.
Take a look at the below tweet about The Witcher Season 3 Episode 5:
Finished up “The Witcher” Season 3 (Part 1). There seems to be a lot more politicking going on in this season, but there were still some fun action sequences. And the way they ended Episode 5, I’m hoping the final 3 episodes will be more of a roller coaster ride. 🤞 #TheWitcher pic.twitter.com/l4VwnwDTJr
— Kelly Magovern (@kellymagovern) July 6, 2023
As soon as Geralt leaves the chamber, however, Redanian spymaster Dijkstra (Graham McTavish) appears and holds a knife to his throat. The future holds no guarantees, but it appears that the celebration has ended.
You can also take a look at more information we have covered about The Witcher Season 3:
The Witcher Season 3 Reveals Its Villain
New information about the true culprit behind the plan against Ciri is revealed to Geralt and Yennefer during their time in Aretuza and at the ball on Thanedd Island. After Stregobor’s arrest, they put the matter out of their minds. The couple spends the night together conversing and making love, but by morning they realize they’ve made a terrible mistake.
When Tissaia lost her bracelet displaying a rare stone when Stregobor was arrested and Yennefer found it, Geralt noticed that Lydia was wearing an earring made from the same stone. Only in West Redania, where the White Wolf discovered Rience’s master’s terrible experiments, can one find the rare stone.
Based on Teryn’s (Frances Pooley) revelation that Rience collaborated with a recognizable face from Aretuza and a woman with a “funny voice,” Geralt correctly deduces that Lydia uses telepathy to serve the villain, the guy she loves. It’s not hard to assume that the same Vilgefortz who gave Tissaia her bracelet also gave Lydia hers.
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