The Witcher season 3: Every episode reviewed and explained

The Witcher season 3 episode 5 recap: “The Art of Illusion”

“The Art of Illuision” is easily the best episode of this set, and it’s not close. There isn’t much action, but a lot of presentation.

The episode is told from Yennefer and Geralt’s perspectives as they rehash the night of the ball. In the present, they are spending the night together, so we get these little snippets as they reconstruct the events. It’s a wild one!

There are so many important things that happen, but the order is kind of tricky. I think it’s best to list them and then talk about what they all mean.

During the ball, Geralt talks to Philippa, Dijkstra, Stregobor and Vilgefortz, while Yennefer talks to Triss, Istredd, and Philippa. They all have very important conversations that are part of a larger puzzle.

At different points in the night, Philippa and Dijkstra reveal important information to Yennefer and Geralt. Philippa tells Yennefer that Lydia would follow her love to her death and urges Yennefer not to trust the Brotherhood. She wants Yennefer on her side, but Yennefer balks. She says the Conclave of Mages is important if the North is going to remain united. Philippa replies, “Tonight means everything to us as well.”

Dijkstra tries to work his magic on Geralt and get him and Ciri on the Redanian side. Geralt isn’t interested.

Vilgefortz tries to find common ground with Geralt by sharing his story of being an orphan and becoming a sorcerer out of spite. They are also both men in love. He offers Geralt a place in the battle to come. Ciri is in danger, but Geralt chooses to continue on his neutral path. Vilgefortz tells Geralt that there will always be enemies waiting for them.

Yennefer is approached by Triss and Istredd and told about the Book of Monoliths, which is in Stregobor’s possession. They formulate a plan to distract him which includes Geralt. Istredd and Geralt fight over Yennefer to keep Stregobor’s attention while Yennefer searches his things. He’s alerted to her presence by a moth on the safe in his room.

There’s a big gathering in Stregobor’s quarters, where he admits to killing the half-elf novices because he loathes elves. Geralt and Yennefer allege that he’s also been torturing the half-elves, like Teryn, and plotting something even worse. Tissaia and the other members of the Brotherhood agree to hold Stregobor until after the Conclave of Mages to decide his fate.

Yennefer and Geralt believe they have thwarted the threat against Ciri and will move forward at the Conclave of Mages set on uniting the Brotherhood, who will then unite the kingdoms.

Geralt tells Yennefer “I love you” for the first time, and they kiss in front of everyone at the party.

After the party, Geralt and Yennefer continue to sort through what happened during the night. Using the painting Vilgefortz was describing to Geralt and what Philippa said about Lydia doing anything for the one she loves, they realize that Vilgefortz is behind all of it. He’s Rience’s employer, and he’s also using Lydia, and possibly others, to help him. But what’s his endgame?

Before Geralt and Yennefer can figure it out, they hear screaming. Geralt steps out of their room and into the hallway where Dijkstra holds a knife to his neck.

The Witcher season 3 part 1 ending explained

Although there’s still a lot that remains unknown, it seems Geralt and Yennefer solved the puzzle too late. They figured out that, somehow, Vilgefortz is the one behind most of this treachery. It was his plan to send Rience after Ciri, and he’s the one torturing the young half-elves. He’s also using Lydia to do his bidding.

That’s what we know. We also know that Jaskier and Ciri are at Loxia, safe for now. It’s also possible that Radovid is there. If that’s true, it could be part of Redania’s bigger plan to get Ciri on their side.

Now we have to fill in some of the gaps about what happened next. Earlier in the season, Philippa is with Eva and learns that Lydia was the one speaking on behalf of Nilfgaard. Philippa’s gaze, then, shifts from Rience to Lydia and likely to Vilgefortz. We know all about Redanian intelligence and how they operate. It appears that Dijkstra, Philippa, and the Redanians made their move the night before the Conclave of Mages.

We don’t know if Vilgefortz is on their side or who else is involved yet. That will be determined soon.

But from the Redanians’ perspective, the Conclave of Mages is a massive threat. They already know that the Brotherhood can’t be trusted, and now they know that they were working with and/or for Nilfgaard. So it’s clear why Philippa and Dijkstra would move now to try to get Ciri on their side before it’s too late.