The Witcher Season 3, Episode 6 Recap: 9 Biggest Twists & Reveals At The Thanedd Coup (2024)

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for The Witcher season 3, part 2.

The Witcher season 3, episode 6 was arguably the season’s highlight and one of the best episodes of the entire show. The decision of splitting The Witcher season 3 into two parts was risky, as the previous two seasons had dropped all at once at Netflix. That said, ending The Witcher season 3, part 1 on a cliffhanger paid off. The Witcher season 3, part 2 started very strong with episode 6, which delivered long-awaited battles, showcased incredible powers, and changed the trajectory of the story.

The Witcher season 3, part 1 ended with Geralt hearing screams from across the halls of Aretuza as Dijkstra put a knife against his throat. This is exactly how The Witcher season 3, part 2 began, with episode 6 picking up right where episode 5 had left off. In less than 50 minutes, “Everybody Has a Plan 'till They Get Punched in the Face,” delivered one of the best The Witcher episodes yet, which is especially important given that it was one of the final Henry Cavill The Witcher episodes. Here is a breakdown of everything that happened in The Witcher season 3, episode 6.

9 The Witcher Season 3, Episode 6 Covered The Thanedd Coup's Battle

Following The Witcher season 3, part 1’s cliffhanger, episode 6 covered the actual Thanedd coup. The Witcher’s Thanedd coup, which comes from Time of Contempt, refers to the battle within the Brotherhood of Sorceress that happened during the Conclave of Mages. Similar to Time of Contempt, The Witcher season 3, episode 6 saw the Brotherhood split into two factions. One was secretly loyal to Vilgefortz, who had been working with the White Flame all along. Those mages were unhappy with the Brotherhood’s loss of political influence in the Continent and chose to align themselves with Nilfgaard. Tissaia did now know Vilgefortz was a traitor.

Related: 19 Biggest Changes To The Book In The Witcher Season 3

The rest of the mages were still loyal to the North, setting up a mage civil war. However, what truly sparked the Thanedd Coup’s battle was the move made by Dijkstra and Philippa, who tried to expose Vilgefortz and his allies. However, their plan failed, as Tissaia freed Vilgefortz. As soon as Vilgefortz was freed, the battle began. Dijkstra, Philippa, and the mages who were still loyal to the North fought against Vilgefortz, the Nilfgaard loyalists, and the Scoia’tael. This led to one of the most action-packed The Witcher episodes in the history of the show.

8 Why The Elves’ Scoia'tael Attacked Aretuza

Cahir recruited Francesca and her Scoia’tael soldiers in The Witcher season 3, part 1, falsely accusing Gallatin of being a traitor. Cahir managed to forge an alliance between Nilfgaard and Francesca’s elves, who would now fight for the White Flame. Francesca wants revenge against humans, plus she wants Ciri’s powers. Therefore, fighting for Nilfgaard and attacking the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, a symbol of the humans’ strength, served Francesca’s interests. What Francesca did not know at that point was that Emhyr was the one behind the death of her newborn child. The Scoia’tael suffered major losses during the Thanedd coup, including the death of Filavandrel.

7 Geralt Killed Rience (Easily)

Geralt killed Rience in The Witcher season 3, episode 6 in what can be considered a shocking yet anticlimactic conclusion to the villain’s story. Rience’s death was expected to happen in The Witcher season 3, part 2, but the show did it differently compared to the source material. In the book, Ciri is the one who kills Rience by chopping his fingers and letting him drown on a frozen lake. In The Witcher season 3, episode 6, Geralt decapitated Rience with a single swing of his sword, which was thrown to the Witcher by Yennefer.

6 Why Cahir Surrended Himself To Ciri

Cahir, who has been loyal to Nilfgaard since the beginning of the show and helped destroy Ciri’s home and family, surrendered himself to the princess in The Witcher season 3. During the Thanedd coup’s battle, Cahir found Fringilla, who told him how important it is for someone to be confident and think for themselves. This is why Cahir did not follow his orders and did not try to capture Ciri after running into her and Geralt. Instead, Cahir surrendered himself to the Lion Cub of Cintra and offered his life to her. Ciri did not kill Cahir, who stayed behind to fight those going after her.

5 Ciri’s Hesitation Of Killing Set Up The Witcher Season 3’s Ending

Ciri had two opportunities to kill in The Witcher season 3, episode 6. Either killing Rience or Cahir would have been Ciri’s first kill, but The Witcher saved this moment for later in the season. Ciri’s first kill happened at the very end of The Witcher season 3’s finale, a significant moment for the character that sets up her journey in The Witcher season 4. Ciri is now with the Rats, a group of bandits who has no problem with killing. Geralt warned Ciri about how there was no going back from taking a life twice in this season, but now Ciri will embark on a very controversial journey regardless.

4 Every The Witcher Character Who Died During The Thanedd Coup

Several of The Witcher's characters died during the Thanedd coup. Of course, the majority of the on-screen deaths in The Witcher season 3, episode 6 involved background and unnamed characters. Still, some significant names were killed during the battle. This includes Artorius, who had been on the show since season 1; Gerhart, the Brotherhood’s oldest mage, Filavandrel, in a gruesome scene; and Rience outside Aretuza. Whether Stregobor died in The Witcher season 3, episode 6 as well is difficult to say, but his final scene definitely played out as a sacrifice.

3 How Powerful Is Tissaia? Alzur’s Thunder Explained

The Witcher season 3, episode 6 proved that Tissaia was the Brotherhood’s strongest sorcerer. For example, the dimeritium cuffs, designed specifically to prevent someone from using magic, were no match for Tissaia. Unfortunately, the Thanedd coup was a personal tragedy for Tissaia, who blamed herself for the countless deaths that happened during that day. Tissaia trusted Vilgefortz and helped him attack her home without knowing. Tissaia’s anger was displayed at the end of the episode, during which she used Alzur’s Thunder to summon lightning bolts and throw them against her enemies. Using Alzur’s Thunder drained a lot of Tissaia’s chaos, which is why Tissaia’s hair became white.

2 Ciri’s Transportation To Korath Separates Her From Geralt & Yennefer

Ciri ran inside the Tor Lara tower as Geralt and Vilgefortz, the latter of which wanted to capture her, began to fight. However, Ciri went through a mysterious portal located on that tower, the Benavent’s portal, which send her through a random location. Ciri woke up in the Korath desert, far away from Geralt and Yennefer. Ciri being sent away from Geralt and Yennefer was the beginning of a new chapter in her story, which The Witcher season 3 continued to cover in episodes 7 and 8. Now with the Rats, Ciri will embark on a solo, controversial journey across the Continent.

1 Vilgefortz vs. Geralt: Why The Witcher Lost So Badly

In addition to the Thanedd coup's battles, The Witcher season, episode 6 also delivered a Vilgefortz vs. Geralt fight. The White Wolf faced the sorcerer to protect Ciri, and while the princess escaped, Geralt lost the fight. In fact, Vilgefortz easily defeated Geralt using nothing but a stick. This shows that Vilgefortz is stronger than Geralt, although a few details must be taken into consideration. Vilgefortz was using magic to move faster, which is why he countered the Witcher’s moves so easily. Geralt’s defeat was similar to what happened in Time of Contempt, with the Witcher suffering major injuries after his first fight against Vilgefortz.

If The Witcher season 4 follows the books, there will be a rematch between Geralt and Vilgefortz. Naturally, a rematch against Vilgefortz in season 4 would feature Liam Hemsworth as Geralt now that Henry Cavill has exited the show. For now, Geralt is still recovering from their first battle. It took several days for the Witcher to get back on his feet, and a few more days for him to properly pick up a sword again. The Geralt vs. Vilgefortz fight was one of the most anticipated moments from The Witcher season 3, and the show delivered.