The Witcher season 4 is facing big challenges with its Geralt of Rivia and Vesemir recasts along with some dark storylines, and in addition to that, it could give Jaskier his most heartbreaking storyline yet. Netflix’s The Witcher quickly became one of the platform’s most popular titles, and though it had a great start, season 2 was met with a lot of controversy due to the changes it made to the source material. The Witcher season 3 was an improvement but didn’t quite earn the audience’s trust back, and this is going to be even more difficult in season 4.

The Witcher season 4 is set to cover some of the books’ darkest storylines, mostly those involving Ciri, but there’s a potentially heartbreaking storyline for Jaskier due to his season 3 romance with then-prince Radovid (Hugh Skinner).

The Witcher Season 3 Gave Jaskier A Complicated Romance With Radovid

Jaskier Has Had Many Romances, But Radovid Was Different

Jaskier has used his job as a bard to win over the hearts of many women and men, to the point where he has earned a reputation as a player. Jaskier’s many romances have gotten him into trouble a couple of times, as he often gets involved with married women. The Witcher’s main couple is Geralt and Yennefer, but season 3 introduced another one when it brought together Jaskier and Radovid, prince of Redania. Radovid is the younger brother of King Vizimir, and he was tasked by the latter to bring Ciri to Redania.

The attraction between Jaskier and Ravoid was clear from the beginning, but their romance was a slow-burn in The Witcher season 3.

On their way to find Ciri, Philippa (Cassie Clare) and Radovid came across Jaskier, with Radovid telling him he was a fan of his work. The attraction between Jaskier and Radovid was clear from the beginning, but their romance was a slow-burn in The Witcher season 3. During a party at the Redania castle, Radovid convinced Jaskier to play for him and his guests, and the bard sang a new song just for Radovid. Although this made Radovid fully accept and give in to his feelings for Jaskier, he still had a mission to fulfill.

At the Conclave’s Ball, Philippa sent Radovid to get more information from Jaskier, and he found the bard and Ciri in a cabin, as Jaskier was looking after her. Jaskier met him at another cabin, where Radovid said he had been sent to get information from him, but what he really wanted was Jaskier. Radovid and Jaskier kissed and spent the night together. Jaskier felt betrayed by Radovid when he found him looking for Ciri the following morning, but after the coup, they said goodbye after Radovid realized Vilgefortz’s betrayal and Jaskier left with Geralt.

The Witcher Season 4 Could Turn Radovid Into The Cruel Character He Is In The Books

Netflix’s Radovid Was Nothing Like The One In The Books

The Radovid viewers met in The Witcher season 3 is very different from the one in the books, starting with his age. In the Witcher books, Radovid was King Vizimir’s son and was only 12 years old when his father was killed. As Redania couldn’t be without a ruler, Queen Hedwig took over as regent until Radovid became of age, but in reality, the Regency Council was in control of Redania, meaning Philippa and Dijkstra were in charge. When Radovid finally became King of Redania, he became known as “The Stern.”

Radovid became a villain in the books, who hated mages as his father was killed under Philippa’s orders, and he went on a violent rampage throughout the North. It’s possible that, now that Radovid has become king in Netflix’s The Witcher, and with Philippa still very close to him, season 4 will see Radovid’s turn into a villain, which will be even more heartbreaking for Jaskier. If Netflix’s Radovid also develops a hatred for mages and sorceresses, that could put Yennefer in great danger, and that’s something Jaskier wouldn’t tolerate, as Yennefer, Geralt, and Ciri are his family.

Jaskier In Netflix's The Witcher Has 1 Huge Advantage Over The Books

Jaskier’s Fate In The Witcher Books Was Left Open

Although Jaskier is a character from the books of The Witcher and an important one, his fate is left unknown. The final events in The Witcher book series are told by Ciri in the novel The Lady of the Lake, as she shares her story with Sir Galahad. Ciri even leaves the fate of Geralt and Yennefer ambiguous, with Ciri telling Galahad that she could claim that her story ends with Geralt and Yennefer waking up in an unknown place and getting married some day, but she cries while saying this.

Ciri doesn’t mention Jaskier, so his ending is left to the imagination of readers. Netflix’s The Witcher is set to end with its fifth season, and given Jaskier’s popularity, it’s fair that he’s given a proper ending, which could be a happy one either with Radovid, someone else or by himself, more so as the stories of Geralt and Yennefer might not end happily.