2x08 Family

Season two - for me - was one a whole new level of greatness compared to the first. I have to admit that the first two episodes took some getting used to again since it's been so long but ones I familiarized myself with this world again it grabbed hold of me (again).
The finale was great. It felt like a solid conclusion to what was building up throughout this season while also setting everything up for the next one. It's great to see our little family come together even though you can feel the bad blood between Geralt and Yennefer.
As soon as Geralt asked the question - about how Nilffgard already knew about Ciri - I knew who the white Flame was. I feel like the aha moment was timed just right because beforehand I didn't even ask myself that. I was curious who he was and what he wanted and now I'm only more confused. Left with about twenty new questions.

I spend the whole of season one hating Fringilla and now I can't help but root for her. Also, in this world where now everyoneeee wants a piece of Ciri I root the most for the Elves - part from the obvious... Ciri and her dysfunctional found family -. While what Francesca did this episode was beyond gruesome and cruel I believe the Elves deserve to have their world back most.

And now it's just waiting for the third season... hopefully it won't take as long as this one took.

As a finale, this was too underwhelming. Most of it was, anyway. It started feeling like a proper season finale during the last few minutes. As an episode, I'd say it was more of the better ones, which seems to be an unpopular opinion. One of the better ones when compared to the previous few episodes. I think the first few episodes of the season were better: and the best of this season as well.

A huge part of why this was underwhelming as a finale, I think, is because most of the episode was this lackluster "face-off" against Voleth Meir-possessed Cirilla, trying to save Cirilla, all while simultaneously trying to deal with the monsters Voleth Meir kept sending out. That will tend to make an episode feel super underwhelming when it's the season finale.

That was dragged out further by the Witchers struggling to beat them and fighting them in the background forever. But once dragging that out had run its course, there was no more struggling; both monsters, easily killed. One by Lambert and a second Witcher. And the other by Coen. The plot gave them the green light to stop being garbage at their purpose for being Witchers.

• I guess having there be more Witchers than Geralt, Vesemir, Lambert, Coen, and Eskel equals no longer a problem: considering pretty much all of them are dead now, right? Still, having more, to begin with, was questionable: even more when the purpose was to off most of them in the end. But, hey. I guess, to get the point get across, that Voleth Meir is dangerous, she had to drop bodies. Even though she conveniently only killed fodder Witchers and not Lambert, Coen, or Vesemir. So were the other Witchers killed by the monsters. Convenience. Convenience.

• So, here you have a decent amount of elves walking through Redania with Francesca killing babies along the way, and there are conveniently no people outside to spot them. And it was during the day, too. Wow, that's great. Maybe Dijkstra is so far ahead of everyone else, he expected that to happen: and somehow it happening is a good thing for him; that's why nobody was outside to spot the elves? Or there was nothing clever about that, whatsoever, and it was only for plot's sake.

• Well, Yennefer has her magic back, which is great and all, but what was the point of her "losing" it in the first place? Character growth? Or to nerf her? I don't get it. And the way she got it back doesn't make much sense, either. Hell, we don't even know what happened to make it seem like she lost her magic. I guess the writers are trying to make it seem like Voleth Meir did something, right? But that doesn't make sense. Or something else that I don't get, whatsoever.

• cont.) My theory was that it was because she had Dimeritium chains on for too long, maybe. Because of a mental block? Or maybe even of a mix of both? Regardless of what it was, the purpose of it happening didn't make much sense, and neither did how it was "resolved."

• Yennefer looked different when she healed Coen. More lively and not gloomy, facial appearance-wise. I guess getting your magic back is the ultimate method for improving your looks immediately and the like. No need for the makeup department anymore. Do YOU want to look better without putting in the work? Well, look no further! Get yourself a Yennefer today!

• Well, well, well. Lydia, oh, Lydia. Get it? You know, Breaking Bad? Anyway, as I predicted, Lydia survived. I guess she and Rience are perfect for each other. They even have "matching" facial deformities because of being burned. Both of which also happened because they were idiots. It doesn't get any more perfect than that. When's the wedding?

• As far as Lydia's "lord" is concerned, I think I know who it is. And I think he also has a burnt face in the novels. I guess he'll be joining the club in the third season, perhaps. Honestly, all of that is hilarious.

• The owl has been revealed, at last. Philippa; is her name. I don't think I know anything about her, except that she was the owl. Anything that I remember, anyway. From when I casually skimmed through The Witcher's wiki. I feel like she could be one of the most significant (female) characters in the novels. I'm very interested to learn more about her in the third season.

• One of my predictions was correct a second time, and I didn't mention it: yet again. I'm annoyed. First, I figured it was elves at the end of the premiere. And now, one of my theories concerning the murder of Francesca's child in the previous episode was that Emhyr was behind it. And, of course, I didn't mention it. I'll give the writers credit for making it seem like it was Dijkstra's doing. I didn't even think of that.

• I think the twist with Emhyr wasn't revealed in the novels anywhere near as quickly as it was in the show. Based on a thing or two that I've read. So, I'm guessing that's a huge reason why some people hated this finale. I never read The Witcher novels, so I don't care. I liked how Cirilla's father didn't turn into ash like her grandmother, Mousesack, and her mother did, though. A subtle foreshadowing, if you will. Cool hint. But I was already aware of that twist.

• cont.) But now that I think about it, that twist/reveal could've been reserved for later in the show. Easily much later. And I guess that because it wasn't, that also means that the show has already veered off-course extremely. I can understand somewhat, or not really, why that's a huge red flag for some people.

My general opinion is that this was one of the better episodes in this season, but it was a lackluster season finale. And I think one of the main reasons for it seeming like one of the better episodes had to do with the lack of political nonsense and nonsensical padding. Even then, I feel like it fell short when looking at it for what it was; a season finale.

Overall, this season mostly seemed like it was nonsensical and superfluous. So much was dragged out. A lot of the dialogue was the definition of saying a lot without saying anything. Hardly anything in this season felt important or had any impact. It was entertaining for those seeking entertainment, pretty much. But even that was somewhat held back from reaching its fullest potential: due to a few things.

Still, there's more than enough to this season for being entertained, and probably even more to future seasons, even if "things" get worse or better. To me, that's enough. The world is entertaining enough. And it's the same with the characters. As long as there continues to be entertainment, that's good enough for me. And I doubt that will cease to be the case in future seasons whether they hold the mantle of worse or better.