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‘The Witcher’ Season 3 Episode 5 Review: Geralt and Yennefer navigate lavish ball full of lies and deceptions

Geralt and Yennefer eventually arrive in Aretuza for the Conclave of Brotherhood but before it, a night full of shifting loyalties mess up plans

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The final episode of the first part of season three of 'The Witcher' is all but a charade with Geralt and Yennefer trying to nail Stregobor for his callous and sinister plans to hurt Princess Ciri while fending off advances from the leaders of the various houses present in Aretuza, pestering the duo to side with them in the war against Nilfgaard. Aptly titled ‘The Art of Illusion’, the episode allows all the characters to say their piece to convince Yennefer or Geralt. But the lavish ball, filled with aphrodisiac wine, spoils the mood before it can light it up.

Geralt is propositioned by Dijkstra of the Redanian intelligence to hand Princess Ciri to his house as there are a lot of Nilfgaard spies looking for her and can snatch her away at any moment. The Mages in the lavish ball make passes at Geralt, trying to seduce him but Yennefer reminds him of the reason they are here in the first place — to expose Stregobor’s involvement in the sick experiment which Geralt saw at the castle. However, Istredd, Yennefer’s former lover reveals to her that Stergobor might have a book of monoliths that could allow for space-time travel and he could hurt people. 

What is Stregobor up to?

Stregobor and Geralt have been enemies since the time they met. The former asked the Witcher to kill a girl named Renfri who had been plotting to assassinate him for a while. Geralt fell in love with the girl but ended up killing her in a fight — a deed for which he blames Stregobor. At the castle, Geralt saw young girls in captivity, whose minds were implanted with Princess Ciri’s memories, leading them to believe that they were Ciri. He had a hunch that the Mage behind it is controlled by Stregobor. Also, Yennefer’s portal was corrupted when she was making her way to Redania, cementing their belief that Stregobor is out there to kill Ciri.

The Council apprehends Stregobor and puts him on a trial after the ‘Book of Monoliths’ is retrieved from his room. This book also has information as to how humans can get rid of elves which could further help Nilfgaard in the war. After exposing Stregobor, Yennefer manages to unite all the houses as all of them call for peace. But Vilgefortz, the Kovirian mage tries to convince Geralt to join the side of the sorcerers, telling him Yennefer’s presence at Aretuza will only bring the Brotherhood closer. He understands that Geralt is in love with her and will stay wherever Yennefer is. However, when Geralt learns of Vilgefortz’s deception and how he is behind the experiment at the castle and not Stregobor, he decides to make a tricky choice.

Philippa attempts to lure Yennefer away 

Since the time Yennefer had arrived at Aretuza, her goal was clear. She wanted a strong Northern alliance against Nilfgaard. But the internal differences of various houses became a nuisance for her. Every house is vying to get Princess Ciri on their side but Yennefer brings them together by exposing a man who is trying to kill the princess. But Philippa, the advisor to the Redanian king tries to lure Yennefer away from fighting for brotherhood by mentioning that it’s a lost cause.

Philippa doesn’t want to lose any more mages and in the previous battle, Yennefer was almost killed until she summoned the power of fire. Even though Yennefer is hell-bent on standing with the Brotherhood, it’s known that her rebellious nature might see her agree to Philippa’s demands after all.