The Witcher season 3 volume 2 arrives later this month, and the latest official trailer builds the excitement nicely

We watched and reflected (see our thoughts later) on The Witcher season 3 so far, and now with the volume 2 trailer it seems this season is coming to the boil in some style (only a short wait until July 27). Here is said trailer:

We’ll give you a moment to catch your breath…

What happened in volume 1?

Netflix has produced this helpful piece — ‘The Witcher’ Season 3 Part 1 Ending Explainer: What Happens to Geralt? It’s helpful, but also highlights our biggest concern with season 3 (apart from the departure of star Henry Cavill), there seems to be too much going on. Across the first five episodes, the story layers several story threads, juggles many characters and feels rushed.

If season 1 entertained but was fragmented, season 2 was sharply focussed and coherent. So far, this feels like neither. Add in the way episode five was constructed with multiple points of view becoming distracting, and the total absence of Cirilla, we at least ended with a reveal of (another) secret villain. Plenty of pieces in play, with only three episodes to come.

So what’s to come in volume 2?

Fans of the books by Andrew Sapkowski’s may already guess it is inspired by the second Witcher book, Time of Contempt. For everyone else, it seems deep conspiracies have surfaced and there must be a reckoning. Several reckonings. While volume 1 showed as those searching for (or protecting) Ciri (Freya Allan), we’ve seen far less of her personal development than before. We expect this to be addressing in these final episodes.

The trailer makes it clear neutrality is no longer and option, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see some unlikely alliances in the face of the threat within the mages. There’s also the question of blood, both elven and elder, and some of the bigger picture should get revealed, and we wonder if this might involve Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) in unexpected ways.

With the distraction around Cavill’s departure, we will also be paying attention to the secondary cast — can they all survive? Add in a new twist reveal at the end, and there’s plenty to look forward to.

We’ll all find out in under two weeks!