The Witcher introduced viewers around the world to Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg, and Princess Ciri, but it also left many questions and mysteries that should be addressed in season 2. One of Netflix’s biggest and most anticipated releases of 2019 was the fantasy drama The Witcher, based on the book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski and with Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, a magically enhanced hunter known as a “witcher”. The series was a big hit and it might be Netflix’s biggest first TV season ever, so it’s easy to see why the platform renewed it for a second season before the first one was even out.
The Witcher followed the stories of Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri at different points in time, eventually converging. The stories were told in a non-linear manner, and the series relied on the audience to understand that the events weren’t happening chronologically. Though this made The Witcher even more interesting, it was also a bit confusing, especially for those who are not familiar with the source material nor with the video game adaptations. This narrative style was also an obstacle when exploring the various characters, elements, and events in the universe of The Witcher, which is quite extensive.
Luckily, a second season means a new opportunity to explore The Witcher’s mythology, but before the creative team behind the series decides to introduce new fantasy creatures and characters, there are some mysteries left by season 1 that they should solve.
Geralt’s Backstory
When season 1 of The Witcher begins, Geralt is already a well-known monster hunter, and one that has earned a few enemies along the way. The very first scene in the series even shows Geralt battling a creature and his eyes turning completely black, just to show the audience that this hunter is not an ordinary one. However, the series never explores how Geralt became a witcher, the “enhancing” process he went through, and the consequences of his witcher training (besides, you know, being able to battle all types of monsters and dangerous creatures). The only piece of backstory comes in a flashback, after Geralt is bitten by a nekker, causing him to fall in a state of delirium. The scene takes viewers back to Geralt’s childhood, where they learn that his mother, Visenna, tricked him into getting out of their wagon to fetch water and abandoned him, leaving him to be picked up by his future mentor, Vesemir. Visenna reappears to treat the nekker bite, but she doesn’t answer Geralt’s questions.
This scene is a good start for season 2 to explore Geralt’s backstory, thus helping the audience understand him – his personality, actions, and way of life – much better. With Geralt and Ciri now together, Ciri will surely have some questions to ask, and could serve as the audience’s eyes and ears when it comes to getting to know Geralt.
What Happened To Yennefer
Contrary to Geralt, The Witcher did take time to explain Yennefer’s story. She was born with various physical deformities due to her being part-elf, which in turn made her father hate her, and had no problem selling her to Tissaia. Yennefer’s self-esteem was crushed, and tried to kill herself on her first night in Aretuza, a magical academy for young women. After a long training process and a painful ritual that turned her into her idealized image of the most powerful sorceress, Yennefer became an important character in Geralt’s life and in the Battle of Sodden Hill.
By the end of the series, Yennefer used her “chaos” to get rid of the Nilfgaardians by burning the forest in front of Sodden Hill, but at a very high price. After that, she was nowhere to be found, so her whereabouts are unknown for now, as well as the consequences of all the magic she had to channel. During her last moments, and just like in the books, Yennefer was bleeding around the eyes, and in the source material she was blinded after this, so season 2 might deal with Yennefer adjusting to a loss of vision and/or any other physical (and mental) consequence.
Ciri’s Powers
Ciri’s journey in season 1 of The Witcher was all about running away from the Nilfgaardians and hiding in the woods, but there was room for her to show that she has some special talents. Even before she had to run away from her castle, viewers saw that weird things happen around her when she screams, and she even got into a trance in the woods when she was in serious danger, only to wake up and find her attackers dead around her. There’s a lot of power in her, but she doesn’t know what it is exactly, how to control it, and how to use it – but now that Geralt is with her, he could help her understand her powers and even train her.
Geralt’s Wish
Geralt’s first encounter with Yennefer was a very peculiar one – it’s not an everyday situation when your Jaskier is possessed by a djinn and about to die. Yennefer saves Jaskier but plans to capture the djinn to grant her wish of regaining her fertility. When Jaskier’s last wish fails, they realize that the real master is Geralt, and he uses his last wish to save Yennefer from being killed by the djinn. Exactly what his wish was isn’t revealed, but Yennefer later claims that it ended up binding them to one another in some way. The books don’t explicitly say what the wish was either, but it’s heavily implied that Geralt somehow managed to bind his fate to Yennefer’s, though what this means exactly and the implications of it are unknown.
Season 2 of The Witcher has a lot of material to choose from, but it shouldn’t forget to address these big mysteries, or it risks having a couple of plot holes. The Witcher season 2 is expected to being filming soon, with a possible release date for mid-to-late 2021, so the answers to these questions might not arrive soon, but there’s plenty of time to revisit the first season and take a look at the source material.
Next: Netflix’s The Witcher: Every Missing Character (& When They’ll Appear)
