Netflix’s The Witcher series continues the story of the witcher Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra), and Princess Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon (Freya Allan). The trio is like a family: father, mother, and daughter. However, powerful forces, kingdoms, and factions hunt the trio because of Cirilla’s status as the child of the ancient Elder bloodline, which holds the power to shape the world’s fate and travel to other worlds across The Witcher multiverse. The episode begins with Geralt and Yennefer attending the traditional ball to investigate who Rience’s master is among the mage attendees. From this point, we see the investigation from two perspectives: Geralt and Yennefer. 

Geralt and Yennefer investigate and learn from Triss (Anna Shaffer) and Istredd (Royce Pierreson) that Stregobor (Lars Mikkelson) has the Book of the Monoliths. Soon, the investigation led to the discovery of the Book of the Monoliths and information about kidnapped half-elven students in Stregbor’s safe. It ended with Stregebor’s confusion and later arrest by Tissaia (MyAnna Buring), Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu), and Artorius (Terence Maynard). In the aftermath of the investigation, the traditional ball was a success for everyone present, and it strengthened the bond between the leaders of the Northern kingdoms and the mages at Aretuza. 

Following the traditional ball’s end, Geralt and Yennefer recount what they heard and saw during the ball in their chambers. Geralt remembers meeting Vilgefortz and finds his encounter with the mage strange, manipulative, and subtly hostile. With Geralt’s memory of meeting Vilgefortz and the knowledge Yennefer collected, they deduce that Vilgefortz is Rience’s master, not Stregobor. Yennefer attempts to locate Tissaia to warn her of Vilgefortz. Geralt checks the hallway, but Djikstra (Graham McTavish) ambushes the witcher. 

Geralt and Vilgefortz

The Witcher Season 3 Episode 5 finally reveals Vilgefortz as Rience’s master and a powerful ally to Emhyr Van Emeries, Emperor of Nilfgaard. The revelation was shocking because Vilgefortz was a kind and supportive mage to Tissaia and Yennefer but is an enemy they must fear and fight. In the Witcher novels, Vilgefortz is one of Geralt’s strongest enemies alongside Emhyr, and the witcher was defeated multiple times by the dark mage before their final battle. Although the investigation to discover Vilgefortz as Rience’s master is confusing and repetitive, it is questionable if the Netflix adaptation of Vilgefortz will be faithful to the cunning and dark mage character Witcher fans love and respect in the novels. 

Rating: 6/10