Henry Cavill has revealed new details about his character, Geralt of Rivia, ahead of The Witcher season 2 arriving on Netflix—and they may point towards his corruption at the hands of the sorceress Yennefer. Cavill has described Geralt in The Witcher season 2 (via Express) as being more complex and soulful than his previous portrayal. The character will also be more vocal and outspoken, both of which are contradictory to the presumed nature of a Witcher.
Most likely, he won’t lose his signature gruffness and straightforward approach to killing monsters, but it appears Geralt will be more emotive. This gives Cavill a chance to utilize his excellent acting abilities as well as round out the character of Geralt into something more than a mere murdering machine. However, the world of The Witcher is a kill or be killed one, with little room for remorse. It is very possible that Yennefer may use Geralt’s newfound characterization to her advantage, even though Cavill himself poses his new traits as positive ones. Though the pair share a significant past together, Geralt and Yennefer cannot exactly be considered allies.
The Witcher season 1 is essentially an elaborate setup for each of the franchise's main characters, more than likely leading up to a much bigger main story in The Witcher season 2. Because neither Witchers nor sorceresses age normally, season 1 was able to tell stories from different time periods simultaneously, weaving together the complicated relationship between Geralt and Yennefer of Vengerberg, as well as Geralt and the magical runaway princess Ciri, who is somewhat ambiguously fated to him. With Cavill teasing changes to his character in The Witcher season 2, it could be Geralt's evolving relationship with Yennefer that proves faults in his otherwise stalwart demeanor.
Witchers Fight Emotion, Mages Don’t
Geralt became a Witcher like all the others of his kind: a combination of extensive, brutal training and mutagenic chemical processes. In addition to the physical and magical affects that create Witchers, each subject undergoes horrible psychological training, resulting in an assumedly indomitable, remorseless monster hunter. However, the emotionlessness of Witchers is a common misconception, encouraged by Witchers to ensure their separation from communities. Witchers, like Geralt, do still retain their emotions, though they work hard to suppress them; it’s far easier to deal with the brutality and daily trauma inherent in their work by maintaining a stoic manner.
Similarly, when potential mages are trained to develop their magic skills, they are tested repeatedly to determine whether they can control their emotions or rather fall victim to them. While her peers sought to be emotionless sorceresses, Yennefer was reluctant to contain her ion. This proved to be to Yennefer’s benefit, as all unemotional mages were transformed into a power source for the school. Yennefer’s mentor revealed that emotions, while necessary to keep a handle on, actually enhance magical abilities. Leaning into this, Yennefer conducts massively powerful magic—powers even greater than Geralt may be able to handle.
Geralt’s Already Emotionally Vulnerable In The Witcher
Yennefer has already manipulated Geralt by emotionally relevant means. In the episode “Bottled Appetites,” she uses a spell to pull the Witcher under her control, delivered through a kiss. Despite this manipulation, Geralt refuses to let Yennefer perish under a djinn’s powers, rather saving her by making a wish that bonds the pair magically. This wasn’t due to Yennefer’s charm, however. Prior to her spell and after it was lifted, the two exhibit a mutual attraction for each other. Geralt, though he’d barely met her at this point, is willing to go to great lengths to help her, despite being generally reluctant to help anyone else.
In the following episode, “Rare Species,” Yennefer causes Geralt great heartache, though perhaps not with the intention of malice. After they defend a dragon’s egg from destruction by hunters, Geralt reveals the wish he made that bound the two together magically. Yennefer believes Geralt used magic to make her fall for him and leaves in anger. At this moment, she appears to have broken Geralt’s heart; the typically stoic Witcher is confused and miserable. Subsequently, he turns on his traveling companion, the bard Jaskier, and sends him away in an irrational rage. Normally tempered and reasonable, Geralt is uncharacteristically upset, for no other cause than Yennefer.
Why Yennefer Would Corrupt Geralt In Witcher Season 2
Despite being generally helpful to the kingdom she served and self-sacrificing in the Battle of Sodden Hill, Yennefer has a selfish drive and has taken unethical methods to reach her goals. Mainly, Yennefer desires to regain her fertility, which she sacrificed in order to magically recreate her appearance. Just as she had sought power and magic when she was younger, the sorceress now mostly desires to rectify the damage done to herself and to have a child.
It would be possible for Geralt to remedy his romantic misunderstanding with Yennefer, if not for an important fortune they receive in the episode “Rare Species.” The golden dragon Villentretenmerth, or Borch in his human form, claimed to know that Yennefer will never regain her fertility, and Geralt, regardless of the magic between them, will inevitably lose her. While both characters seemed to take the dragon’s word seriously, it is unlikely Yennefer will fully buy into that fortune; she has too much meaning invested in having a child, and will most likely irrationally continue to pursue a cure. Similarly, if Geralt is going to be more emotional and expressive in season two, he will assuredly not lose his feelings for Yennefer but may repress them, festering until triggered to pop.
With Geralt struggling to restrain his broken heart, he may seem outwardly in control, but it will be easy for Yennefer to take advantage of this. If she believes Geralt forced her to love him, and an assumedly reliable fortune dictates that they will never be together, she has no reason not to influence him to her advantage. It’s always useful to have a Witcher at one’s side, and Yennefer has a history of being able to manipulate him. With the appealingly exciting drama in Geralt falling victim to the sorceress’ false charms, The Witcher season 2 could feature Yennefer corrupting Geralt of Rivia.
The Witcher, season 2, will release December 17th, 2021 on Netflix.