The Witcher is getting ready for its big summer premier of Season 3. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the new season, from Henry Cavill leaving the show to rumors and claims about the writer’s room dislike of the source material. Yet, despite all that, the show seems to be gearing up to finally start the main conflict of the show. From the Scoia’tael to the escalation between the North and Nilfgard, it all begins with the Thanedd Coup, an event that Season 3 will be bringing to the screen.
Season 1 of The Witcher was fairly dedicated to the books and explored many of the stories from The Last Wish and The Sword of Destiny. These short stories helped set the stage for the story of Geralt and Ciri and introduced newcomers to the world of the Continent. The second season went almost completely off book, which upset a lot of fans. The Witcher Season 3 is promises to be a one-to-one adaptation of the books, which means that the Thanedd Coup will show the devastation of the mages and the beginning of Geralt’s true story in the show.
The Witcher’s Thanedd Coup Will Create War
Thanedd Island is a part of the Sorceress Academy of Aretuza, and it is during a conclave of sorceresses and mages that death strikes from the shadows. In the books, The Emperor of Nilfgard is furious after the losses he suffered at Sodden Hill against the Northern mages. He employs a secret agent within the inner circle of the mages to weaken them and draw them all into a trap. The agent tricks everyone into coming to Thanedd for a banquet and that is where the trap is set. At this meeting there was a mixture of Northern and Nilfgardian supporters.
Unknown to the Northern supporters, the Scoia’tael and Elven warriors were ready to ambush the Northerners and Geralt. When the Northerners attempted to arrest the Nilfgardian supporters, Francesca Findabair and her Scoia’tael launched their attacks while the Nilfgardian mages dropped the magical defenses of the tower and began their own attack. This Coup caused all confidence to be lost in Mages. They were no longer trusted in royal courts, and they were hunted in many kingdoms. The power shifted in the Continent and Nilfgard’s hunt for Ciri became more important and more intense.
Geralt of Rivia Is in More Danger After the Thanedd Coup
Nilfgard wants Ciri, and they took Cintra in order to try and get at her. Geralt is the only person standing in the way of Nilfgard and Ciri. While he has the help of a few mages, he is ultimately her lone protector. Now that Nilfgard has broken the mages, their power grows stronger. The Elves are working for them, some mages, which allows them to spread their power and influence even farther. The main conflict of the show takes place between the mage that betrayed all other mages and the hunt for Ciri. Without the Thanedd Coup, Nilfgard wouldn’t have been able to gain the upper hand in the Northern War.
The Thanedd Coup is one of the most pivotal events in the entire Witcher saga. It kicks off the creation of many alliances, and events that lead Geralt and Ciri down their paths. With Season 3 finally bringing this huge moment to the screen, it’s entirely possible that the show is getting back on track. Yet, the opinion of many fans is that it may be too little to late as some consider The Witcher Season 3 to be the last without Cavill in the lead role.
The Witcher Season 3 Part 1 airs on June 29, 2023 on Netflix.
