‘The Witcher’ Season 2 Secretly Foreshadowed Emhyr’s Identity in Episode 8
One of the biggest reveals in The Witcher Season 2 involved the elusive Emhyr var Emreis. The emperor of Nilfgaard takes over the Continent and scowers the lands to find Ciri at any cost. Since the first season, Emhyr’s interest in the Lion Cub of Cintra was a mystery.
The Witcher Season 2 subtly foreshadowed Emhyr’s identity reveal earlier in the finale episode. Fans will have to backtrack in the episode to see how showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich teased fans.
[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for The Witcher Season 2.]
Who is Emhyr var Emreis in ‘The Witcher’ Season 2?
Nilfgaard’s path of destruction is under the rule of its emperor, also known as the White Flame. His face, identity, and backstory remained a mystery to fans and the main characters. The very last scene of the second season revealed who is behind the Continent’s most feared enemy.
In reality, Emhyr is Ciri’s father Duny. He was first introduced at Pavetta’s banquet in season 1. Duny was under a curse to look like a porcupine human back then. Pavetta’s love and Calanthe’s acceptance of the marriage broke the curse. According to The Witcher storyline, Duny and Pavetta were killed at sea.
The Witcher Season 2 changed the story when it revealed that Ciri’s parents knew about her bloodline and prophecy. The question remains of how Duny survived and why he wants his daughter back?
Lauren Schmidt Hissrich confirms Emhyr’s identity was teased beforehand
During Netflix’s The Witcher: Unlocked event, Hissrich broke down the decision to reveal Emhyr’s identity. Introducing Emhyr’s was necessary to understand Nilfgaard’s intentions with Ciri. Hissrich explains the White Knight’s identity was subtly foreshadowed while Voleth Meir possessed Ciri.
Ciri is trapped in an illusion created by Voleth Meir in The Witcher Season 2 finale. In the illusion, Ciri remeets her family. Geralt and the other witchers try to bring Ciri back to reality to stop Voleth Meir from using her powers to manifest monoliths and monsters.
As Ciri starts to break free from the illusion, the people she loves start to disintegrate. As Pavetta turns to ash, Ciri’s father Duny does not. The assumption is that all of her family is dead. But seeing as Duny stays intact, it alluded to the fact that he never died with Pavetta.
What does Duny’s involvement with Nilfgaard mean for Ciri in ‘The Witcher’ Season 3?
Geralt asked the pivotal question after Voleth Meir left Ciri’s body. How did Nilfgaard know about Ciri before anyone else? Emhyr being Ciri’s father, answered part of the question.
Duny knew all along about Ciri’s prophecy. The drastic measures he has taken to find Ciri leave fans wondering why he really wants his daughter. Also, why did Duny take so long to find Ciri? Could it be that Duny waited enough time to pass for Ciri’s powers to fully manifest?
Hissrich promises fans will learn more about Emhyr/Duny and his plans for Ciri and Nilfgaard in The Witcher Season 3. The new season will adapt the Time of Contempt novel and look further into Ciri’s bloodline.
