Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for The Witcher Season 4.
Netflix’s The Witcher has long struggled to give some of its many characters the time they deserve. The epic fantasy series may focus on Geralt (Liam Hemsworth), Ciri (Freya Allan), and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), but it still has several side stories spanning the continent, ranging from Francesca (Mecia Simson) and the Elves to the political drama in Redania. A narrative as complex as this one requires more time to unravel, and with only eight episodes per season, The Witcher is short on it. This issue has been present throughout the series, but became especially evident in Season 3 — most clearly in Cahir’s (Eamon Farren) storyline.
When introduced, Cahir is a formidable enemy, serving the White Flame (Bart Edwards) and haunting Ciri’s nightmares, but in Season 3, things begin to change. He receives a horribly rushed redemption arc that didn’t have enough time to make sense, and not nearly enough to make the audience care about him. However, Season 4 completes this storyline, bringing in the development that Cahir desperately needed by finally dedicating enough time to him to demonstrate his growth. It is only in the latest season that Cahir actually earns the redemption that Season 3 tried and failed to give him, allowing him to become a true hero.
Cahir’s Storyline Fell Flat in ‘The Witcher’ Season 3
Though Cahir is a longstanding character in The Witcher, he played a pretty obvious villain in the first two seasons. Initially, he helps to destroy Cintra, pursues Ciri, and does any other bloody task that Emhyr asks of him. However, in Season 3, he starts to question the emperor he has loyally followed. After his recent disgrace, Cahir must prove his loyalty to Emhyr and kill Gallatin (Robbie Amell), an elf whom Cahir considers a friend. He carries out this horrific task, showing the lengths he is willing to go for Emhyr, but Cahir also seems to regret killing Gallatin, which is the first sign that he has remorse. Though he still follows his orders, Gallatin’s death shows that Cahir has a conscience, marking the subtle beginning of his road to redemption.
This storyline is initially effective, yet there are issues with what happens next. Cahir doesn’t stop serving Emhyr; instead, he follows his instructions, accompanying the Scoia’tael to Thanedd to capture Ciri. He helps to attack the mages who have opposed Emhyr since the beginning, but suddenly betrays the emperor in the chaos. Cahir surrenders to Ciri, confessing that since their last meeting, he has reflected on his actions and believes he was in the wrong. He offers to let her kill him, but when the Scoia’tael come after her, he instead faces them and allows Ciri and Geralt to escape. This moment is significant for him, but, unfortunately, his choice isn’t earned. It is almost as much of a shock to the audience as it is to Ciri when Cahir throws down his sword, proving that The Witcher simply didn’t develop his inner conflict enough for his Season 3 ending to make sense.
‘The Witcher’ Season 4 Forces Cahir to Earn a Place in Geralt’s Hansa
While Season 3 failed Cahir with limited screentime, Season 4 gives him a stronger chance to earn his redemption. After Geralt and his companions inadvertently save Cahir from Nilfgaardian soldiers, they leave him behind, but Cahir follows, despite Geralt’s threats to kill him. Cahir puts himself at risk by remaining nearby, but he keeps a respectful distance as he aids the heroes, knowing it is the best way for him to help Ciri. Throughout the season, he supports Geralt however he can, stopping enemies who escape and turning up to Geralt’s rescue from the Redanian camp. Cahir insists he is not an enemy, but Geralt is slow to believe him — given their history, it’s easy to see why Geralt would doubt him, but Cahir persists in trying to convince him.
The Witcher does not make it easy for Cahir to join the hansa, highlighting his determination to do the right thing even as he is rejected. This continued choice solidifies his redemption, forcing him to work for the others’ acceptance and giving his development the attention it deserves. Not only does positioning him with Geralt provide Cahir more screentime, but as Cahir works to convince the skeptical Witcher that he is no longer a threat, he also shows a new humility and continues to defy Emhyr. This demonstrates that his surrender to Ciri in Season 3 was not a single rash choice, but the start of a new life for him. By slowing down his storyline, The Witcher gives the audience a chance to see that Cahir has truly changed from the ruthless man in the early seasons, which is exactly what his redemption arc needed.
Cahir Proves How Much He’s Changed in ‘The Witcher’ Season 4
Cahir’s development pays off as Cahir becomes a valuable member of Geralt’s hansa, which, in turn, lets The Witcher Season 4 explore the character more deeply. In Episode 5, “The Joy of Cooking,” Cahir reveals how he fell in with Emhyr, helping to explain his earlier choices and how he became so blind. His innocent aid to Emhyr as a child set him apart in the emperor’s eyes. Cahir’s story allows Geralt to understand that Emhyr is Ciri’s father Duny, making the emperor’s plan for his daughter even worse, but more to the point, it reveals a lot about Cahir’s character. Receiving recognition from Emhyr tempted Cahir, and he continued to do terrible things to earn that trust, but even he confesses that things changed for him when he saw the future in Ciri, which inspired him to choose the new path that he follows throughout Season 4.
Cahir’s change of heart becomes undeniable after he steps up in The Witcher‘s Season 4 finale. When Geralt’s company needs to ensure that Nilfgaard doesn’t take the bridge, Cahir asserts himself as a general, saving the day by rallying an army. In this fight, Cahir actively fights the army he once led, showing how far he’s come. Cahir’s Season 4 growth goes a long way in correcting his rushed Season 3 redemption, making him a much more interesting character going into The Witcher‘s fifth and final season.
The Witcher is streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
- Release Date
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December 20, 2019
- Network
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Netflix
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