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Your The Witcher Season 1 Recap

Here's a timeline of events.

by Ani Bundel
Netflix

It’s been nearly two years since Netflix released the first eight episodes of The Witcher. With Season 2 on the horizon and a twisted timeline to remember, here’s your The Witcher Season 1 recap, untangled and in chronological order.

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~1160

As chronicled in the Season 1 finale, Geralt of Rivia was born sometime in the 1160s. His mother, the sorceress Visenna, abandoned him, leaving him to be trained by Vesemir, who fans met in the animated prequel, Nightmare of the Wolf.

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~1193

As covered primarily in Episodes 2 and3, Yennefer of Vengerberg was sold by her stepfather to Tissaia de Vries to train as a sorceress at Aretuza. During her time there, she strikes up a secret affair with Istredd.

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~1210

Yennefer discovers Istredd betrayed her to the sorcerer Stregobor, and ruined her hope of a high-level posting. As graduation approaches, she sacrifices her fertility to the Enchanter to be remade and uses her new beauty to score her desired posting at Vengerberg.

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~1231

Geralt tracks down the princess-turned-outlaw Renfri, and he becomes known as the Butcher of Blaviken as a result.

This story happens a year after Queen Calanthe of Cintra is crowned, but a few before she gets married and her daughter, Pavetta, is born.

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~1235

Geralt meets Jaskier, a bard. Inspired by their adventure at the Edge of The World, his song “Toss A Coin To Your Witcher” becomes a number one hit song on the Continent. Geralt’s legend grows as he travels the Continent murdering monsters, such as the Striga.

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~1240

Yennefer quits her job as adviser to King Virfuril after failing to protect his wife, Queen Kalis, and their daughter. She starts her own sorceress business in the town of Rinde; she is eventually imprisoned by the mayor, Beau Berrant, who arrests her for tax evasion.

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~1250

Geralt attends a party at Queen Calanthe’s Cintra Palace. In saving the life of Duny, a cursed knight who Pavetta has secretly been sleeping with, he invokes the Law of Surprise.

Surprise! Pavetta is pregnant, and her unborn daughter, Cirilla, is now Geralt's to claim.

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~1255

After spending several years trying and failing to get pregnant and running orgies, Yennefer finally meets Geralt. The two fall in love and spend the next five years traveling together with Jaskier, including an adventure during which they fight a dragon.

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~1262

Nilfgaard, along with their sorceress Fringilla, attack the Northern kingdoms, including wounding Queen Calanthe in battle.

Geralt returns for Ciri, but arrives too late. Calanthe’s advisor, Mousesack, helps her escape the Slaughter of Cintra and go on the run.

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~1263

The Great Battle with Nilfgaard pulls Yennefer back into sorceress intrigue with Tissaia and Stregobor; they vote to ally themselves with the North. Brokilon Forest dryads rescue Ciri. Though they offer her safety, she chooses to follow her destiny and find Geralt.

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~1263

Traveling alone at night, Ciri is attacked by boys she thought were old friends from Cintra. Unaware of what she is doing, she releases a magical pulse and starts speaking in prophecy, terrifying them away.

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~1263

Ciri is rescued by Zola. As the sun sets, they witness the Battle of Sodden from afar as Nilfgaard attacks the combined Northern Kingdoms forces, including Geralt. But Yennefer is the key player; she releases a great blast of magic, defeating Nilfgaard, and then disappears.

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Geralt stumbles out of Sodden, searching for Yennefer. Ciri hears him calling and runs out to him. The two are now united and must find refuge, with Geralt continuing his search for Yennefer.

The Witcher Season 2 arrives on Netflix on Dec. 17.

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