‘The Witcher’: Do Geralt and Yennefer Wind Up Together in Andrzej Sapkowski’s Books?
Netflix’s The Witcher is more about found family and destiny than romance, but that doesn’t mean viewers aren’t rooting for Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) and Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra) to rekindle their relationship. The show’s second season left the pair on rocky footing, but their involvement in Ciri’s (Freya Allen) life could bring them back together. Are they endgame in The Witcher books?
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Witcher Season 2 and The Witcher books.]
‘The Witcher’ Season 2 complicates Geralt & Yennefer’s relationship
The Witcher Season 1 sees Yennefer and Geralt hitting it off right away, though they soon realize that may be the result of a spell cast by a Djinn. That creates some friction between the pair, ultimately causing them to split from one another. However, as The Witcher Season 2 opens, it’s clear that feelings remain on both ends.
And despite their newfound responsibilities, the duo eventually reunites with one another. Sadly, things go south rather quickly. In Yennefer’s desperation to get her magic back, she makes off with Ciri, breaking Geralt’s trust. To make matters worse, she’s acting on behalf of the Deathless Mother.
Although Yennefer changes her mind before handing Ciri over — and eventually saves her from the Deathless Mother’s clutches — Geralt can’t seem to forgive her. He says as much in the finale, leaving fans to wonder whether these two are truly done for good.
If the Netflix series sticks to The Witcher books, the answer is probably no. However, they may not get a picturesque ending either.
Are Geralt and Yennefer endgame in ‘The Witcher’ books?
Geralt and Yennefer do wind up together in Andrzej Sapkowski’s books, but their relationship throughout the series isn’t any less rocky than in The Witcher TV show. They’re the epitome of an on-again, off-again couple, even if they do form something of a family unit with Ciri.
The Lady of the Lake — Sapkowski’s final installment in the series — gives the pair a somewhat ambiguous ending. As Geralt is dying, Yennefer tries to heal him, wearing herself out in the process. Ciri eventually transports them both to another dimension. However, readers are left to imagine what happens after that.
It’s possible Geralt healed and lived out the remainder of his days with the sorceress. Of course, the two could have perished together as well. In the book, Ciri recounts her tale to her own love interest, making up an ending for Geralt and Yennefer. In her version of events, she envisions the two getting married. This leaves the story off on a bittersweet note, honoring their love without ever committing to a fairy tale ending.
Will Netflix follow ‘The Witcher’ books faithfully?
So, will Netflix’s The Witcher adaptation stay faithful to Geralt and Yennefer’s book storyline? It’s hard to say for sure, but their romance has felt true to Sapkowski’s portrayal in The Witcher book set. It’s clear the two care for one another deeply, but they also don’t count their relationship as a top priority. And they tend to make decisions that cause them to butt heads.
With The Witcher taking on a darker tone in season 2, it wouldn’t be surprising if Geralt and Yennefer got the same bittersweet ending as in the books. Because the show follows all of their perspectives, viewers might get slightly more clarity on what happens after Ciri sends them to Avalon. But if fans were hoping to see Ciri’s version of events unfold on-screen, they may be getting their hopes up.
Of course, the Netflix series could surprise viewers with a wedding complete with new tunes from Jaskier (Joey Batey). There’s no telling what awaits us in The Witcher Season 3 and beyond. For now, we’ll have to make do with Geralt and Yennefer’s romantic moments during the first two outings.
The Witcher Season 2 is currently streaming on Netflix.
