S02.E04: Redanian Intelligence

[Meredith Quill]

Quote

A guest at Kaer Morhen extends a guiding hand to Ciri - and an invitation to Geralt. On the run in Redania, Yennefer seeks safety below ground.

 

[Harvey]

I really liked Djikstra's introduction.

[Bort]

I cracked up when the dock worker was critiquing the Bard’s song and saying that it took til the fourth verse before he realized there were separate timelines.

[Zonk]

Ugh, are we really doing this stupid trope where nobody tells Gerald that Yennefer of Vengaboys is still alive because of a whacky misunderstanding that would never happen in real life? Really. I hoped these writers were better than that.

Rittersporn kinda has that elf's live on his concious, since he just couldn't hold back his pride for one moment in a really bad situation. Still the critic by the dock worker that was basically a critic of the first season of this show was really funny.

Btw. why was his breath showing in a full bar? Should be warm enough in there with the body heat from all these people. Did they film in a really cold place without a fourth wall and gave all the actors hypothermia or did they think it should be cold and thus CGIed the breath in. I need to know.

[Bort]

29 minutes ago, Zonk said:

Ugh, are we really doing this stupid trope where nobody tells Gerald that Yennefer of Vengaboys is still alive because of a whacky misunderstanding that would never happen in real life? Really. I hoped these writers were better than that.

I was fine with it because it’s not like anybody knew Geralt even knows Yennefer so why would they tell him? 

[Zonk]

1 hour ago, kariyaki said:

I was fine with it because it’s not like anybody knew Geralt even knows Yennefer so why would they tell him? 

The red haired sourcereress didn't know they knew each other?

The mother superior certainly knew.

Also Gerald might have asked how Yen was before she died. But I guess being emotionally constipated to the brim is consistent with his character.

Regardless, the trope is annoying as hell and should be shot.

[Bort]

6 minutes ago, Zonk said:

The red haired sourcereress didn't know they knew each other?

The mother superior certainly knew.

No.

And Geralt hasn’t seen Tissaia since she found out Yennefer was alive.

[Sakura12]

Tissaia at the time they met also thought Yennifer was dead. And Triss doesn't know about Yennifer and Geralt. So if he doesn't bring her up no one would know to tell him she's alive. 

[moonshine71]

2 hours ago, kariyaki said:

No.

And Geralt hasn’t seen Tissaia since she found out Yennefer was alive.

I'd be fine w/ it if they didn't keep moving them close to it and them steering away.

 

Triss starts listing off the names of dead mages an Geralt stops her before she is done and he can learn Yennefer is not among them.🙄

 

Geralt talks about being at the aftermath of Sodden and is clearly affected by it on a personal level, but Triss doesn't seem curious why.🙄

 

Triss puts the moves on Geralt and he rejects her, she's hurt by it, but he doesn't explain that he just lost someone he loves days earlier.🙄

 

It's already a little silly that be wouldn't ask about Yenn, he knows Triss would be aware of her fate even if he doesn't know that they were actually friends, and his assumption that she is dead was based on the fact that he couldn't find her in a mass of like 30,000 bodies from the numbers we heard. How long did he look? But I can accept that. But then putting them into situations where if they just asked that one more question or said one more thing... that is just a it much for me.

[Bort]

That deaf elf boy dying horribly right after detailing his retirement plan was straight out of an 80s cop movie.

[Morrigan2575]

23 hours ago, Zonk said:

The red haired sourcereress didn't know they knew each other?

No she didn't and she wanted him, I doubt she would have told him if she knew. In all honesty this way she gets to remain a decent person instead of a lying, backstabbing witch..so good on the writers 😁

I rather enjoyed this episode. I wondered if Ciri had Elf Blood but, it seems like she might have special Elf Blood? 

I was surprised at how happy I was to see Jaskier. He is certainly a bitter Ex(friend). Although, it seems more on Jaskier's part. I love the frenimy vibe between Jaskier and Yennafer. 

Kind of funny, Yennafer met up with Jaskier and Garalt is now meeting Yenn's old boyfriend.

BTW, I listened to the whole song at the end, Joey Battery has some pipes. 

[moonshine71]

42 minutes ago, Morrigan2575 said:

No she didn't and she wanted him, I doubt she would have told him if she knew. In all honesty this way she gets to remain a decent person instead of a lying, backstabbing witch..so good on the writers 😁

 

But i think the key is that she IS a decent person, probably the most decent if all the mages we've met, and she absolutely would tell Geralt that Yen was alive if she knew that he had been looking for her. I highly doubt that she would have even propositioned him if she knew that he was mourning the death if someone he loved just weeks earlier, whether if had been Yenn  or anyone else.

 

I can't find any reason to doubt that she would have told him.

[Smad]

Oh hello Triss, Lady Friendzone personified. I was really hoping they wouldn't go there seeing as Triss showed absolutely no interest in S1, romantic or sexual, in Geralt. Guess when one gets a makeover to look more like one is supposed to, one also gets a little character makeover.

The joke at the docks wasn't even funny. If they had stopped breaking the 4th wall after making fun of S1, then fine. But taking a dump on your critics just shows how fragile you writers are.

Yen and Jaskier should have been spitting insults at each other left and right the entire time, after all that was their relationship last time we saw them together.

And why are all the witchers such a-holes (especially to Ciri) in this show? It's so freaking annoying.

[MissLucas]

I'm confused - why is Ciri's Elf blood so special? Yennever has Elf blood too ... plus all the Elves on the show. Are Witchers such assholes to elves that they can't ask them for a voluntary donation?

 

Edited December 19, 2021 by MissLucas

[Morrigan2575]

16 minutes ago, MissLucas said:

I'm confused - why is Ciri's Elf blood so special? Yennever has Elf blood too ... plus all the Elves on the show. Are Witchers such assholes to elves that they can't ask them for a voluntary donation?

 

I think it's special Elf blood. Like maybe the oldest or original Bloodline? Even though she's obviously human so it's diluted. They kept saying Elder Blood, not Elf Blood.

[Morrigan2575]

42 minutes ago, moonshine71 said:

I can't find any reason to doubt that she would have told him.

I can. 😊  I mean she went to battle, nearly died and has felt insecure about her new look. I can totally see her being a bit selfish after all that. 

28 minutes ago, Smad said:

Guess when one gets a makeover to look more like one is supposed to, one also gets a little character makeover

I remember the backlash since she didn't look like the game/book character in S1. I know they touched on it briefly in episode 3 but, they really changed her look.

[Smad]

17 minutes ago, Morrigan2575 said:

I remember the backlash since she didn't look like the game/book character in S1. I know they touched on it briefly in episode 3 but, they really changed her look.

Gamers are very protective of their read headed waifu. Red hair was THE most important thing. Way more important than her actual character. I actually preferred S1 Triss because she wasn't like book or game Triss, character wise. Too bad.

26 minutes ago, Morrigan2575 said:

I think it's special Elf blood. Like maybe the oldest or original Bloodline? Even though she's obviously human so it's diluted. They kept saying Elder Blood, not Elf Blood.

Actually Elder blood is Elf blood. Lara Dorren was an Elf. And she is the original carrier of the Elder blood gene. In the show, via Istredd's visit to those two historians, it was stated to be an experiment by the elves to create a powerful weapon to save the elves. Like with all genes there are latent and active ones. Like Calanthe was a carrier but it was latent in her, she could however pass it down as it was passed down to her. While it was clearly inactive in her, Pavetta and Ciri have the active version.

[meira.hand]

On 12/18/2021 at 5:00 PM, Zonk said:

Rittersporn kinda has that elf's live on his concious, since he just couldn't hold back his pride for one moment in a really bad situation.

I assume you meant Jaskier. However as this is the elf that abandoned his deaf friend to his death in the sewer, it was clear his guilt drove him to a kind of "suicide by cop".

[iMonrey]

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That deaf elf boy dying horribly right after detailing his retirement plan was straight out of an 80s cop movie.

Yeah I could see that coming a mile away. Never tell anyone your plans for the future!

I'm disappointed that Dara is going to turn out to be the spy.

Quite the guest cast this episode. I was surprised to see Graham McTavish show up, but also surprised to see Kevin Doyle a.k.a. Mr. Molesley from Downton Abbey. Almost didn't recognize him.

[thuganomics85]

Somehow missed that Graham McTavish was going to play Dijkstra here.  Pretty good casting and I can't wait to see more of him.

Happy to see Jaskier again finally.  Again, he's usually the type of character I would have found extremely grating, but for some reason he (and Joey Batey) just work for this go around.  Confused over what happened to him at the end.

Seems like their ramping up both Yen/Cahir and Geralt/Triss as other potential pairings.  Sure, the former currently kind of hate on another and the latter already had Geralt turn down a night with Triss, but that might jus be good old-fashioned delayed tactics here!  Got to keep the drama going on until Geralt and Yen's eventual reunion!

Ciri not only has Elven blood but; according to Vesmir; she is the "key" to creating more Witchers.  I'm guessing whatever method that would be won't be completely fun, so I don't see this ending with a simple case of Ciri (and Geralt) being all "Cool, let's do this!" 

[SourK]

On 12/19/2021 at 12:28 PM, Smad said:

And why are all the witchers such a-holes (especially to Ciri) in this show? It's so freaking annoying.

Yeah, I don't really get it, either. They're all, like, hundreds of years old, but they sit around bullying a child. She's their niece of surprise or whatever, and when they're not saying, "Ha-ha you're acting like a boy!" they're saying, "Ha-ha you're acting like a girl!" Which is realistic of the messages girls get when they're growing up, but why a bunch of ancient monster hunters are doing it, I don't understand.

[WatchrTina]

Whoo Hoo!!! Graham McTavish is IN DA HOUSE!!!  Between "Outlander,"  the Hobbit movies, “Preacher,” and now “The Witcher” I have to say that the Fantasy/SciFi genre has been very very good to him.  (And the Scottish travelogue show “Men in Kilts” that he and Sam Heughan are doing together is also a delight.)

I hate it when characters get up from a table leaving their plate full of uneaten food.  If the setting is a rich man’s house in ancient Rome where gluttony and excess were a thing – a way of displaying power and wealth – that kind of behavior makes sense.  But in a medieval setting where food is precious because it is sometimes in short supply (and you frequently have to hunt or gather it yourself), the failure of characters to clean their plates just annoys the crap out of me.

Oh goody.  Sewers.  (I can practically hear the opening chords of “Les Miserables.”)

When Geralt, Ciri and Triss were standing around a table, talking about Ciri’s visions, all I could think was: “Get your hair away from those open flames!”  Seriously – I’ll bet the Health & Safety dept requires that there be a person on set at all times whose sole job is to hold a fire extinguisher and be ready to leap into action if one of those long- haired wigs gets too close to a candle.

I watched that whole reunion scene between Yennifer and Jaskier without being able to recall why Jaskier had such bitter feelings toward Yennifer and Geralt.  And I watched those earlier episodes within the past month.  Was it due to the failed dragon hunt?  Or maybe the magic-induced orgy?  The spell that cost him his voice for a while?  Sigh.  I’m going to have to re-watch season 1 aren’t I?

So . . . Geralt hates travel by portal.  Did we know that already?  Is that a "thing" from the video game they're referencing?

Oh, that dockside conversation . . . when Jaskier goes off at “fans” who criticize his songs . . . well that was just the most “meta” thing ever because I’m pretty sure that was a message from the show writers directed at us, the viewers.

And does anyone else think Jaskier’s new hairdo makes him look like Garth Brooks when he’s in his “Chris Gaines” alter-ego mode?

Quote

BTW, I listened to the whole song at the end, Joey Battery has some pipes. 

Yes, he does.  I mean, he was cast as a bard so that probably was a requirement to even be considered for the role, but he definitely delivers the goods.

Edited December 27, 2021 by WatchrTina

[Bort]

1 hour ago, WatchrTina said:

I watched that whole reunion scene between Yennifer and Jaskier without being able to recall why Jaskier had such bitter feelings toward Yennifer and Geralt.  And I watched those earlier episodes within the past month.  Was it due to the failed dragon hunt?  Or maybe the magic-induced orgy?  The spell that cost him his voice for a while?  Sigh.  I’m going to have to re-watch season 1 aren’t I?

Gerald kind of “dumped” him at the end of the dragon hunt episode, so that’s why Jaskier is mad at him. As for Yennefer, I think it’s more about everything she’s ever done while he’s been around her. Primarily, I would think it’s the djinn shenanigans where she grabbed him by the balls to get him to make a wish and then blew up that house.

[nodorothyparker]

Graham McTavish! I was too busy squeeing over him showing up here to really catch much of what the character's about. But he's made quite a good career for himself playing dickish dicks for the sake of being dicks in fantasy/sci-fi, so I'm confident it will work out well here for him too.

Nice to see Fringilla finally get an upgraded dress that doesn't look like a gray hefty bag. 

I'm kind of over watching characters walk right up to the point of cluing Geralt in that Yennefer's not dead too only to see them whiff on it. The reasons why it's not happening are plausible enough but it still kind of bugs four episodes in.

Also nice to see Jaskier show up again, even if his boy band hair isn't much of an upgrade. I'm not sure if I fully buy him as a Oskar Schindler figure to helping elves get out of town as he's never shown much in the way of bravery before, but his jilted boyfriend of Geralt routine was a hoot.

 

[tennisgurl]

That poor elf kid has clearly not seen many movies, he would know that you never talk about your future plans in a dangerous situation! Why doesn't he also start showing everyone pictures of his kids while talking about his retirement party? 

Nice to see Jaskier again, his jilted ex boyfriend song was hilarious, especially him bonding with Yenn over them mutually not being over Geralt. The guy really has pipes. I was frustrated with him messing their plan up because he was pissed about the dock worker complaining about his song, but the dock worker's critiques basically being meta commentary on the first season made me laugh.

Always happy to see Graham McTavish.

Edited January 5, 2022 by tennisgurl

[Kasienka]

On 12/18/2021 at 5:59 PM, Zonk said:

The red haired sourcereress didn't know they knew each other?

The mother superior certainly knew.

Also Gerald might have asked how Yen was before she died. But I guess being emotionally constipated to the brim is consistent with his character.

Regardless, the trope is annoying as hell and should be shot.

Quote

 

 

As others have said Triss has no idea about Yen's and Geralt's romance. I am way more bothered by Tissaia not telling Yennefer that a witcher was looking for her at Sodden, especially after she made that whole speech about having nothing left. Hopefully he finds out from Istredd.

They clearly taking different direction with some things in the show in comparison to books. The whole monoliths storyline , Vesemir wanting to use Ciri's blood to create more witchers. I don't mind though, at least I have something to look forward to, not knowning how it ends.

Dijkstra still is awesome and I am very amused by king Vizimir . His reaction to failed assasination attempt was priceless:) And the owl! Oh I can't wait for more!  Also nice that they tied Dara to this storyline, was wondering when he was going to show up.

Triss and Geralt must have seen each other between Striga hunt and this episode, and that's when she developed her feelings for him. Although I'm not sure if she's in love or is she's just looking for comfort after Sodden with someone who is also in mourning. Shame we've never seen her interact with Eskel, I always low key shipped them in the books. Gotta say, I'm not particularly impressed by the actress. She seems to say all her lines in the same monotone voice, even when scolding Coen and Lambert. She didn't even raise her voice.

I'm unsure if they wanted to allude to some sexual tension between Cahir and Yen, if so I wonder if they follow through with this. Good to see Jaskier again, despite some biting words his reunion with Yen was surprisingly warm , a hug really? Him saving all those elves shows that he has his heart in a right place and is capable of the acts of courage, so I like that.  He may not be the strongest and the bravest, but he'll pull through for the right cause. And watching how the north is treating elves, you starting to sympathise with Franceska's choice to ally herself with Nilgaard.

On 12/27/2021 at 5:42 AM, WatchrTina said:

 

So . . . Geralt hates travel by portal.  Did we know that already?  Is that a "thing" from the video game they're referencing?

Yeah it's a video games thing. I think he mentions in the books he doesn't like it either, but the games take it up to eleven, it's basically one of his catchphrases:)

 

 

Edited January 11, 2022 by Kasienka

[Smad]

2 hours ago, Kasienka said:

I'm unsure if they wanted to allude to some sexual tension between Cahir and Yen, if so I wonder if they follow through with this.

It's funny because I have seen so many people comment on the fact that they have chemistry yet I saw nothing. Sometimes I question my chemistry radar or if chemistry is like beauty, in the eye of the beholder.

[Taryn74]

6 minutes ago, Smad said:

Sometimes I question my chemistry radar or if chemistry is like beauty, in the eye of the beholder.

Well, I see far more "chemistry" between Geralt and Ciri (yeah, I know. LOL) than Geralt and Yen, so........ 

[Smad]

3 hours ago, Taryn74 said:

Well, I see far more "chemistry" between Geralt and Ciri (yeah, I know. LOL) than Geralt and Yen, so........ 

What kind of chemistry though? People these days throw it around like some generic term...

[Taryn74]

2 hours ago, Smad said:

What kind of chemistry though? People these days throw it around like some generic term...

Well, let's just say I'm glad the actress at least isn't underage. 

[Kasienka]

14 hours ago, Smad said:

It's funny because I have seen so many people comment on the fact that they have chemistry yet I saw nothing. Sometimes I question my chemistry radar or if chemistry is like beauty, in the eye of the beholder.

I didn't see any sexual tension myself, but the scene when he tells her how wonderful she was at Sodden, seemed to me like they wanted to tease the possibility between Cahir and Yennefer. IMO chemistry is totally subjective, I recently finished the Wheel of Time and saw absolutely no chemistry between one of the main couples. Many people apparently did.

[Bruinsfan]

So they were pretty blatant about Jaskier having had a thing for Geralt, right? Admitting to Taylor Swift-ing an angry song about him out of a broken heart seemed to move that beyond the realm of plausible deniability to me.

[Ottis]

Sooooo much talking. On and on and on. Talking in the lab, talking in the bar, talking at the castle, talking in the boat, jeez, it’s like a car audio book.

Something better get moving soon. 

Edited March 2, 2022 by Ottis