Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) followed a distinct moral code in The Witcher season 1; however, this will have to change in season 3. As Geralt’s responsibilities shifted in season 2, his conviction to his code wavered. In order to best support Ciri (Freya Allan) in The Witcher season 3, Geralt may have to renege on his code entirely.

The Witcher defined Geralt’s code in season 1, episode 1, “The End’s Beginning.” After stumbling into the middle of a conflict between Stregobor, a mage, and Renfri, a princess, both sides compelled Geralt to choose “the lesser evil.” Thus, Geralt was afforded the opportunity to denounce the concept of degrees of evil: “Evil is evil. Lesser, greater, middling: it’s all the same. If I have to choose between one evil and another, then I prefer not to choose at all.” This line performed multiple functions. It was immediately quotable and it revealed the kind of person Geralt was, but it was also a code that was bound to be broken.

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In order to protect Ciri from the greater evil in The Witcher season 3, Geralt may have to become the lesser evil. Despite preferring to avoid human politics, Geralt found himself increasingly drawn away from the comparative simplicity of monster-hunting in season 2. Additionally, humans have proved themselves to be the greatest monster on the Continent; with many humans seeking to harm Ciri, in The Witcher season 3 Geralt will no longer have the luxury of standing aside.

Humans Are The Worst Monster On The Continent

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The line between monster and human is often blurred in The Witcher. Duny and Nivellen, for example, were both men cursed to look like beasts. Geralt had the opportunity to kill them, but restrained himself on the grounds of their residual humanity. Eskel, on the other hand, was infected by a leshy, resulting in him becoming one himself. Geralt made the decision to kill his old friend because the monster had overpowered the human.

The Witcher has never presented monsters as inherently evil. Monsters terrorized the Continent in season 1 and season 2, but not as part of any grand design on their part: killing is simply in their nature. However, humans in The Witcher have consciously committed monstrous acts. In season 2, The White Flame killed the elven baby. In season 1, Calanthe attempted to murder Duny to prevent him from marrying her daughter. It is humanity’s thinking capacity for monstrosity that led Geralt to keep his distance.

When Calanthe tried to bribe Geralt to kill Duny, he refused. In The Witcher, season 1, episode 4, Geralt told Jaskier, “I’m not killing anyone, not over the petty squabbles of men,” to which Jaskier replied, “Yes, yes, you never get involved, except you actually do, all of the time.” Therefore, while Geralt is vocal in his distaste for human behaviors, he interferes more than he realizes. Later in the same episode, it was Geralt’s interference that resulted in him claiming Ciri by The Witcher's Law of Surprise. Despite having a clear moral code, Geralt has never fully stuck to it.

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Geralt Needs To Protect Ciri From Humans More Than Monsters

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The Witcher season 2 showed a different side of Geralt. After uniting with Ciri in the season 1 finale, Geralt had a single responsibility, which was to keep her safe. While there wasn’t a shortage of monsters pursuing Ciri in season 2, the real threat in The Witcher season 3 will be people. This was set up toward the end of season 2. The elves believed Ciri to be their savior because of her Elder Blood; Nilfgaard wanted to find Ciri as The White Flame is her father; the Brotherhood decided Ciri’s death was the only way to stop Nilfgaard. The Witcher season 3 will see Ciri’s fate become the political center of the Continent.

This means Geralt’s preference to avoid human conflict will have to be ignored. It is highly likely Geralt will have to kill people due to “the petty squabbles of men.” However, this moral sacrifice is one that he will make in an effort to protect Ciri. Audiences have already seen the lengths Geralt is willing to go to keep her safe. He was even willing to kill Yennifer, the woman he loves, for endangering Ciri’s safety. He should be willing to kill anyone else who threatens her in The Witcher season 3.

“Evil Is Evil” Still Defines Geralt’s Code, But Not Like In Season 1

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In The Witcher season 1, Geralt’s moral code was oversimplified which is why he broke it in the show’s first episode. Despite insisting that there is no lesser evil, Geralt picked an option. Stregobor and Renfri both wanted each other dead. At first, Geralt was unwilling to kill either of them. However, when he realized that Renfri planned to slaughter everyone in Blaviken to draw out the mage, Geralt decided that killing Renfri was the lesser evil. This earned him the title "The Butcher of Blaviken."

In season 2, episode 1, Geralt attempted to follow the path of non-intervention. He left Nivellen alive because, even if he deserved to die, Geralt was unwilling to make that choice. However, when it came to protecting Ciri, Geralt showed a willingness to become the lesser evil. When Eskel was transforming into the leshy, doing nothing would have actually been the greater evil, as Eskel would have killed Vesemir and Ciri. There was no time to seek a cure; therefore, the Witcher killing Eskel was the lesser evil. Importantly, Geralt only made this decision in order to ensure Ciri’s safety. When Ciri was possessed in The Witcher season 2 finale, Geralt refused to allow the other Witchers to kill her. From a moral standpoint, killing Ciri would have been the lesser evil, just as killing Eskel was. Geralt’s choice to protect Ciri resulted in the deaths of many of his Witcher brothers.

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Inevitably, Geralt’s moral code will evolve again in The Witcher season 3. In season 1, Geralt had no major responsibilities beyond himself. The ability to choose to do nothing was a luxury he could afford. However, with Ciri now at risk from every angle, Geralt must prove himself capable of committing seemingly evil deeds in order to protect her. Evil will still be evil in The Witcher season 3, but Geralt will have to be more discerning about its degrees than he has been in the past.

Next: Will Geralt Forgive Yennefer? Witcher Season 3 Future Explained