Ep. 121 — Netflix’s ‘The Rats: A Witcher Tale'
Henry from the US and Kerri from the US join Alyssa for our discussion of Netflix’s ‘The Rats: A Witcher Tale’. Very important bits include: The humanization of morally messy characters; our unexpected, possibly unreliable, narrator; the meaning of loyalty; the weight of grief; Dolph Lungren lore; and how the ‘death of the mentor’ sets up their fate in The Witcher Season 4.
This episode is available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
In this Episode
[0:00] Cold Open
[1:02] Introduction
[2:17] Guest Introductions
[12:22] Film Recap
[14:14] Discussion
[1:03:37] Outro
[1:04:50] End Credits
Relevant Links
Transcript
Cold Open
Transcript to come.
[Breakfast in Beauclair theme music by Alex Berner]
Introduction
ALYSSA: Welcome to Breakfast in Beauclair, a global Witcher Podcast. My name is Alyssa from GoodMorhen, and I’ll be your host as you, I, and our international hanza accompany Geralt of Rivia and his destiny, Cirilla of Cintra, across the Continent.
[Announcements]
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[Episode Details]
As for this episode, Henry from the US and Kerri from the US call in for Netflix’s The Rats: A Witcher Tale. Join us as we discuss the humanization of morally messy characters; our unexpected, possibly unreliable, narrator; the meaning of loyalty; the weight of grief; Dolph Lungren lore; and how the ‘death of the mentor’ sets up their fate in The Witcher Season 4.
Without further ado, let’s get to our discussion of Netflix’s The Rats: A Witcher Tale.
Discussion
[Breakfast in Beauclair stinger by Alex Berner]
Transcript to come.
ALYSSA (VOICEOVER):
The film opens in the aftermath of The Witcher Season 4. Ciri is in the custody of Leo Bonhart, the bounty hunter who slaughtered the Rats. He tells Ciri about his first meeting with the gang six months earlier:
The Rats steal from a busy tavern, exposing a staged fight between a fake doppler and Brehen, a washed-up Witcher. In search of coin, they visit an old contact for intel who points them toward Dom Houvenaghel’s newest fighting arena. Its opening day will attract plenty of wealthy patrons for the Rats to rob. Mistle knows the man in charge of the arena: Bert Brigden. Two years earlier, he led the raid that killed her entire family and murdered Juniper, a servant girl she had loved.
As they run their first reconnaissance mission, the Rats learn that Bert plans to put a monstrous creature called the Jalowik in the ring. The creature wounds Asse and some of the gang want to walk away. Mistle refuses. Instead, they recruit Brehen, the witcher they had previously robbed, to help kill it. Brehen confides to Mistle that he once failed to lift a striga’s curse, losing his closest friend in the process. The story gives Mistle a theory: the Jalowik may not be a true monster but a person transformed through a malediction. Brehen sobers up, trains the Rats in fighting and alchemy, and is inducted into the gang.
The night of the heist, Leo Bonhart arrives to oversee the opening on behalf of his cousin, Houvenaghel. The Rats’ plan moves quickly. When Brehen forces the creature to take the curse-breaking elixir, it is revealed to be Juniper transformed. Mistle attempts to transfer the curse onto Bert. Bonhart intervenes, destroys the elixir, and attacks Brehen. In the chaos that follows, Mistle kills Juniper, Asse kills Bert, and Brehen sacrifices himself to Bonhart to buy the Rats time to escape.
They make it out with their coin, but their mentor is dead and Bonhart is on their trail.
Outro & Credits
[Breakfast in Beauclair theme music by Alex Berner]
ALYSSA: Thanks for joining us at the breakfast table! For show notes, transcripts of each episode, and a complete list of our social platforms and listening services, head over to breakfastinbeauclair.com.
Breakfast in Beauclair is created by Alyssa from GoodMorhen. It’s hosted by Alyssa. The show is edited by Alyssa and Caleb Buys with music by Alex Berner.
Breakfast in Beauclair is produced by Alyssa in New York City with Jacob B., Charlotte from Vengerberg Glamarye, The Original Roach, Libby, John of Ryblia, Tom from Australia, Jill Cate, The Tabby Witch, Olle from Sweden, James Carson III, Miriam of Temeria, Softie, Lisa C., and Sydna.
Special thanks to Henry and Kerri for joining us for this episode and our international hanza for their support.
Transcriptionist:
Editor: