Ep 5. Bottled Appetites

Bottled Appetites is the fifth episode of the first season of The Witcher. The episode follows Geralt as he continues his search for Princess Ciri, but in doing so, he stumbles upon a cursed kingdom where all the residents have lost their memories.

Geralt meets a mage named Triss Merigold, who explains to him that the kingdom of Blaviken was cursed by a mage who created a powerful elixir that wiped the memories of everyone who drank it. Triss and Geralt decide to work together to find the root of the curse and how to break it.

Meanwhile, we see flashbacks of Princess Ciri's escape from her home and her journey through a dangerous forest, where she is pursued by a pack of wolves. We also see her displaying her innate power to communicate with animals, which helps her flee the wolves.

Back in the present, Geralt and Triss visit a tavern in Blaviken where they meet a bard named Dandelion, who entertains the patrons with his music. They learn that the barkeep is the only person in the kingdom who has not lost his memory, and that he is rumored to have the key to breaking the curse.

Geralt and Triss visit the barkeep who reveals that the mage who cursed the kingdom was a woman named Renfri, who was also a princess and the leader of a band of outlaws. Renfri was born during an eclipse which was believed to give her powerful magic, but it also made her ruthless and violent.

Renfri and her band of outlaws had planned to invade Blaviken and overthrow the ruling family, but they were foiled by the local mage guild. Renfri then cursed the town as revenge, using the elixir that she had created with a powerful mage named Stregobor.

Geralt knows Stregobor, and visits him to get more information. Stregobor reveals that Renfri and her band of outlaws were known as the "Bottled Appetites," as they were notorious for their insatiable thirst for violence and power. Stregobor, who is known for his experiments on children with magical abilities, believes that Renfri and others like her are a threat to the stability of the kingdom and that they should be eliminated.

As Geralt and Triss continue their investigation, they are attacked by the Bottled Appetites, who have come to Blaviken to finish what they started years ago. Geralt fights them off, but in the chaos, the barkeep reveals the key to breaking the curse – a rare flower that only grows in the nearby forest.

Geralt and Triss rush to find the flower, and with the help of Princess Ciri's powers, they locate it and return to the kingdom. They break the curse just in time, as the Bottled Appetites are defeated and Renfri herself is killed by Geralt in a brutal fight.

The episode ends with Geralt leaving Blaviken behind, as Triss and Dandelion stay behind to help the citizens rebuild. Meanwhile, Princess Ciri continues her journey through the forest, still searching for a way to reunite with her family.

Overall, Bottled Appetites is a thrilling episode that showcases the complexity of the Witcher universe, while also exploring themes of power, revenge, and memory. The episode blends action, suspense, and character development to create a compelling story that leaves viewers on the edge of their seats.