‘The Witcher’: Are Geralt and Ciri Soulmates?
Romance is inevitable in Netflix’s new adaptation of The Witcher. While there has been one romantic entanglement in Season 1, it has been brief and not fully fleshed out.
So far in Season 1, the focus has been on setting up the backstories of Geralt (Henry Cavill), Ciri (Fraya Allan), and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra). They all have seemingly different trajectories, yet ultimately destined to meet in the finale.
The second season will reportedly have them interact in the present timeline, just like in the ensuing eight-part book series. One of the more significant pairings, however, is Geralt and Ciri.
Their destinies are intertwined in profound ways, though how it manifests between the video game of the series and the streaming show is still up in the air. Answering the question of whether Geralt and Ciri are soulmates could become as controversial as the incest in Game of Thrones or the unknowing romance between Luke and Leia in early Star Wars.
Fans are curious about the nature of Geralt and Ciri’s relationship since the only other on-screen example of the “Law of Surprise” resulted in love and matrimony. While Geralt is significantly older than Ciri, he also doesn’t age, which could allow Ciri to catch up to him in maturity.
That said, the answer to their relationship may lie in the video game and books the series is based on.
What is Ciri’s relationship with Geralt in the books and video game?
Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon (Ciri for short) is the Princess of Cintra who’s eventually adopted by Geralt and Yennefer, with the latter couple arguably called true soulmates. In Season 1 of the Netflix series, Geralt and Yennefer cross paths and fall in love. Though it’s not simple and by the season finale, Yennefer is estranged from Geralt.
The romance of Geralt and Yennefer is likely to play out in the second season while they become stepparents to Ciri so she’s protected. Yennefer also trains Ciri as a sorceress in the books, something likely to play out more in the series as it progresses.
As seen in the show, Ciri was repeatedly told about finding safety with Geralt. She’s told to seek him out during Season 1, something that comes true by the finale.
What happens afterward in the streaming series is still busy with speculation. All indications point to Ciri kind of going her own way outside of the so-called “destiny” path. In the books, she goes off to live on her own and has numerous harrowing adventures, something the show may change to Geralt seeking her out.
How far will the series go in the relationship between Geralt and Ciri?
If one has to call Geralt and Ciri “soulmates,” it’s in a more reciprocal relationship in protecting one another. Ciri’s magical powers can help protect Geralt and Yennefer, even though the latter helped train Ciri to harness her powers.
Should the series follow the books closely, Ciri is going to set out on her own and find herself in some horrible situations, including living in Korath desert, then later the Aen Elle culture. Those familiar with the video game story know Geralt always stays paternal with Ciri. Also, in the books, Ciri eventually reunites with Geralt and Yennefer to assure their safety.
In the above book scenario, Ciri takes her stepparents to a far-off island where they can find some relative peace. There, Geralt and Yennefer eventually die while Ciri goes off to a place resembling Camelot.
Don’t think the Netflix show will adhere so closely to the books in a time when daring surprises are the name of the game in fantasy book adaptations.
Will the show really go there…as in Geralt and Ciri having a romance?
A lot of people were sickened by the incestuous relationships in Game of Thrones, and fans are probably hoping The Witcher won’t mimic similar territory. Author Andrzej Sapkowski might be against such a thing since he didn’t even think about it in the book series. Outside of several edgy things in the books, he isn’t quite as daring as George R.R. Martin.
What the showrunners of The Witcher have in mind could be a different story. Outside of Geralt and Ciri not being blood relations, he’s still known as her adopted stepfather via the Law of Surprise.
Having such a thing betrayed would be a punch in the gut shock. Besides, fans will probably want to uphold the belief Geralt and Yennefer are true soulmates.
All one can do is speculate since the producers aren’t revealing anything. They did make it clear Ciri will make up her own mind, paving a path toward plot points not explored in the original book pages.
Since Geralt is a very mysterious figure (and the continent they live on is more than a little messed up), what these characters have to do to survive may not be pretty before there’s any conclusions.
