The Witcher showrunner Lauren Hissrich has explained how a plot hole in Season 1 of the Netflix show wasn't a plot hole at all.
As reported by Redanian Intelligence, Netflix released a Making The Witcher: Season 3 documentary that shared how a single line in Season 3 covered up an early point of frustration for fans.
The following paragraphs feature spoilers for The Witcher: Season 3 Volume 2.
The point of contention was in the battle between Cahir and Vilgefortz, as the latter was revealed in Season 3 to basically be the most powerful living mage, defeating Geralt of Rivia himself in battle without breaking a sweat.
This was already established in Andrzej Sapkwoski's original book series though, so when Cahir, a strong but otherwise normal soldier, defeats Vilgefortz in battle, fans of the source material grew a little frustrated with Netflix.
"One of the things we got questioned the most about in Season 1 is in Episode 8 when Vilgefortz and Cahir are fighting, and we actually see Cahir very handily defeat Vilgefortz, and fans were in uproar," said Hissrich.
"'Vilgefortz is the most powerful mage, there is no way, he could kill Cahir by just looking at him.' There’s a great moment, Vilgefortz explains this season that the hardest thing for him about this long game is that he had to hide his skills. When we see his power demonstrated for the first time, it is against Geralt."
This moment has Vilgefortz say: "Know what the hardest part was? Holding back. Hiding my real skills, knowing I could take any life at any time. It was exasperating."
Executive producer Tomek Bagiński does say earlier in the documentary that Season 3 wasn't written until after Season 1 though, meaning many fans will likely still question whether this was truly planned or a retroactive cover-up.
The Witcher Season 3 saw Henry Cavill's final outing in a white wig, as the Geralt role will pass on to Liam Hemsworth starting in Season 4. The switch won't be a simple recasting though, as Netflix has planned a "meta" transition that promises to be "really true to the book".
In our 5/10 review of Season 3 Volume 2, IGN said: "The Witcher closes out its most compromised season yet by once again losing Henry Cavill in the clunky, plot-heavy shuffle."
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/netflix-explains-how-the-witcher-season-1-plot-hole-isnt-a-plot-hole-at-all