Joey Batey teases where Jaskier’s story is headed in The Witcher season 5, “even beyond his own death.” Since being introduced in season 1, the bard has been an integral figure in the Netflix series who not only composes songs about Geralt of Rivia, but has also proven to be a close friend and ally to him.

During an interview with Collider about his new book It’s Not A Cult and The Witcher season 4, Batey was asked about Jaskier’s book of stories in the new season. Season 4 opens with a young woman named Nimue reading about the adventures of Geralt, Princess Ciri, and Yennefer of Vengerberg many years after they happened. It is later revealed that this is a book of stories written by Jaskier himself.

Batey discusses his reaction to learning about how this framing device would be used in season 4, what Jaskier’s reaction would be if he knew about the enduring impact of his work, and hints at what this means for Jaskier in season 5. Check out his comments below:

Jaskier’s writing, and the importance of it, plays an integral role in Mr. [Andrzej] Sapkowski’s books, because I’ve obviously read the books, so I knew the arc of where that was going to go. It gets explored even further in Season 5, and obviously, we’ll get to see the effects of that when Season 5 comes out next year. So, I knew how important it was, and I’m sure Jaskier, if he knew how important it was, would be swanning about, feeling like the belle of the ball.

But for me, what is explored in Season 4 is actually Jaskier’s understanding of legacy and artistic legacy. He comes incredibly close to death. He’s been in peril before, but now he very nearly dies, and when confronted with that, I think artists do start to question what it is about art that they want. What do they want from their own art? And perpetually, Jaskier’s superpower has been empathy. He wants to help people. He wants to care for them. And he hopes that, in time, even beyond his own death, his words can help people, and we get to see the fact that they do, and they will, and they will be remembered. So, hopefully, his little dream comes true even long after he’s passed on.

As Batey explains, Jaskier’s stories living on is a concept that is faithful to Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher books. The show’s audience gets a taste of what Jaskier’s legacy will end up being through this book and how it manifests in art that he uses to help others, including Nimue, even after his eventual death.

When asked directly if he could sum in a sentence or two where Jaskier’s story is going in season 5, Batey compares his character’s arc to a real-life individual.

Read a biography of Robert Capa, and you might have some understanding of where Jaskier is about to go.

Robert Capa was a Hungarian photographer and journalist, whose images captured many pivotal moments throughout the twentieth century, including World War II, where he was present on Omaha Beach during D-Day.

Batey’s comparison between Jaskier and Capa indicates how the bard will be present during major battles and game-changing events across the Continent in The Witcher season 5. While Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer contend with the villainous Vilgefortz, Emperor Emhyr, and other formidable enemies, it will be Jaskier who will be courageously immortalizing these moments and using them to help others as much as possible.