The Witcher Season 4: How Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels foreshadow Ciri’s next chapter

Andrzej Sapkowski's novel, on which The Witcher is based, portrays Ciri's latent magical potential, her Elder Blood as something both vital and dangerous.

The Witcher also draws on the fact that she is powerful yet hunted and uncertain. In The Tower of the Swallow, Ciri adopts the alias "Falka" for hiding and survival. The show echoes this by making Ciri join the "Rats" gang and using the same false identity.

Several instances in The Witcher have been used to foreshadow how Ciri's next chapter would be, just like the novel. She is forced into brutal situations, and this quiet survival she is going through in season 4 is going to transform her character anew and reveal the powers of the magic.

Read on to know more.

This is how Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels foreshadow Ciri’s next chapter in The Witcher

In Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, Ciri is forced into brutal situations like fighting with gladiators and getting captured, and her character transforms as a result. This already sets up the tone that the next chapter isn't just about escape but metamorphosis. Moreover, the mystical elements of the Tower end up being a portal to other realities.

Season 3 end of The Witcher shows Ciri getting separated from Geralt and Yennefer, and finds herself captured by the Rats, a group of young outlaws. The final shot also suggests she is taking on a new name, "Falka", just like the books.

Taking that name symbolizes Ciri’s inner rage and loss of innocence. This becomes his morally grey phase. This moment is from Baptism of Fire and the Tower of the Swallow. These two books mark the start of Ciri's most Turbulent journey, as a survivor who is learning to live without protection rather than a princess.

As mentioned in one of the books, the writer already revealed how Ciri's Elder Blood is both a gift and a curse. Gift because it makes her capable of doing world-bending magic, and a curse because each time she is forced to use it, it comes with trauma and loss.

Geralt is looking for Ciri in the Baptism of Fire Book while Ciri is descending into chaos. This suggests that it is not destiny that is guiding her, but herself this time.

What could happen with Ciri in Season 4 of The Witcher?

In season 4, the show is likely to explore a "power dormant" phase with Ciri hiding from the world, unrecognisable, trying to survive as a regular fighter. This quiet survival time is going to transform her character and make her rediscover the magic in the season feel making it feel more earned and worthy for the viewers.

In season 4 of The Witcher, when she is roaming around as Falka is behind to kill, steal and even enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with these tasks. However, internally, she is lost and alone.

Sapkowski uses this phase to show that the girl trained by Geralt is dead only a ghost wearing her scars remains. Therefore, this arc is going to define her character in season 4 emotionally, as this is the point which makes her decision more complex and morally grey character taking away the identity of "the Lion Cub of Cintra". The Netflix teaser confirms her even darker look this time, with new armour and her life among the rats all signify this identity crisis.

In the book, her arc gradually shifts into another realm as she defeats her enemies on the frozen lake with cunningness, and then the Tower itself appears. She meets beings from another dimension, such as the Aen Elle, the elves. She also learns about her bloodline and how it is the bridge between worlds. Therefore, in The Witcher, season 5 is supposed to take Ciri into this otherworldly realm and complete the arc of her transformation.

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Season 4 of The Witcher premiered on October 30 with all of its 8 episodes dropping together.

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