The Witcher TV Theories That Change Everything

Andrzej Sapkowski's "Witcher" books have prompted endless discussion since the first novel debuted in 1990. The series features six novels and 15 short stories, and has been adapted for film ("The Hexer"), video games ("The Witcher," "The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings," and "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt"), and TV ("The Hexer" and Netflix's "The Witcher"). The Netflix series features the latest incarnation of Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), and weaves together several intersecting timelines to much success. Indeed, "The Witcher" has captivated audiences and generated plenty of memes, in addition to giving fans a wildly popular song in "Toss a Coin to Your Witcher."

Though the wait between seasons is long, there's plenty of "Witcher" content available to tide fans over. If the books and video games aren't enough, viewers can also turn to the myriad fan theories surrounding the series and what might happen in its future. Some of these proposed ideas could even change the entire course of the story, should they become canon. These are the most shocking, intriguing, and story-changing "Witcher" theories around, from Ciri's future prospects to all the characters the doppler could be impersonating.

According to the official Netflix timeline for "The Witcher" Season 1, about 53 years pass over the course of eight episodes. That means Jaskier (Joey Batey), the series' beloved bard, should age quite a bit, as at least a decade passes during his time with Geralt. However, Batey's appearance doesn't change during the first season. This has prompted some fans to theorize that Jaskier is a magical figure who either doesn't age, ages very slowly, or is capable of hiding his age.

When TV Guide asked "The Witcher" showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich about this theory in September 2020, she said there's actually a simple explanation for why Jaskier doesn't age: It's a production mistake. Hissrich explained, "We have this enormous timeline in our writers' room that takes up, like, two whiteboards and it's how we laid out the stories from Season 1, sort of tracking to make sure that everyone fits in. Jaskier was always the outlier because Jaskier would have aged a lot in that season. No, he just had great genes, you know, clearly."

Although Jaskier's age fell by the wayside during production for Season 1, it's possible there will be an in-universe explanation for his youthful appearance. Batey is confirmed to return as Jaskier in "The Witcher" Season 2, and as Hissrich revealed on Reddit in 2020, the show will be "approaching [Jaskier aging] differently in S2."

Although Princess Ciri (Freya Allan) has a relatively small role in "The Witcher" Season 1, the books and video games suggest she will play a much larger role in the future. In Season 1, she makes a prophecy: "Verily, I say unto you the era of the sword and the ax is nigh, the era of the Wolf's Blizzard. The Time of the White Chill and the White Light is nigh, the Time of Madness and the Time of Contempt."

This prophecy is central to the "Witcher" saga, but the version in the books is much longer. It continues, "Tedd Deireádh, the Time of End. The world will die amidst frost and be reborn with the new sun. It will be reborn of Elder Blood, of Hen Ichaer, of the seed that has been sown. A seed which will not sprout but burst into flame." Basically, this prophesizes that winter is coming — sound like any other fantasy series you know? Indeed, this is a parallel between "The Witcher" and "Game of Thrones." Obviously, the two properties are separate and distinct, but "Thrones" is a global phenomenon. With a foundation like this already laid, "The Witcher" might just lean into its season-related similarities to that massively popular series.

Photos from "The Witcher" Season 2 show Ciri seemingly training at Kaer Morhen, the same fortress where Geralt became a Witcher. Although the Witcher order has historically been strictly male, Ciri training with Geralt and his "brothers" is canon in the books and games. She also learns magic from the sorceress Triss Merigold (Anna Shaffer) before being sent to work with Yennefer. Ciri thus becomes a formidable opponent with incredible physical strength and skill, as well as great magical power stemming from her innate abilities. 

Based on a quest in "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" in which Ciri becomes a full-blooded Witcher, it seems likely the Netflix show will follow a similar story. However, there are multiple possible endings for her in the game, which means there could also be multiple possible endings for her in the TV adaptation. This fate isn't guaranteed, but it sure is tantalizing.

The Netflix animated movie "The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf" will focus on Vesemir, Geralt's teacher, who fans theorize will also play a major role in "The Witcher" Season 2. This is supported by photos of Ciri seemingly training at Kaer Morhen, and the fact that "Killing Eve's" Kim Bodnia will be playing the old monster hunter. Netflix has also cast actors to play young Geralt and young Vesemir, which suggests at least a brief dive into their pasts. "The Witcher" Season 2 won't have interlocking timelines like the first season, but will feature flashbacks and flash-forwards, as Hissrich told The Wrap.

Naturally, theories as to what these facts mean are everywhere. Some fans believe Vesemir will share screen time with both Geralt and Ciri, and that his presence could determine her future. There are many possible paths open to Ciri, and whether or not Vesemir approves of her becoming a full-blooded Witcher could have a major impact. She might simply train in monster-hunting before learning how to use her innate magical skills, or she might follow in Geralt's footsteps completely.

Yennefer is unique among magic users in the world of "The Witcher" because of her elven ancestry. Her powers are deeply rooted in this heritage, which means producing massive amounts of magic won't necessarily kill her. Therefore, when she apparently destroys the Nilfgaardian army with a fire spell in the Season 1 finale, she doesn't dissolve into ash like the other mages — she just disappears. Some fans theorize, per Refinery29, that Yennefer has left the corporeal plane entirely to recharge her magic, but will somehow return in Season 2.

Given that Ciri asks about Yennefer, and the all-knowing Visenna (Geralt's mother) tells Geralt to "find what he let go of" and "find her" in his dreams, it seems likely that Geralt and Ciri will go on some kind of quest to find Yennefer in "The Witcher" Season 2. Netflix has released one Season 2 still of the character looking bloodied and exhausted, seemingly standing in a forest with fire and other people behind her. Yennefer could be in hiding somewhere, or even trying to reconnect with her elven family.

In "The Witcher" Season 1, Nilfgaardian intelligence officer Cahir (Eamon Farren) fights a doppler that has disguised itself as Ciri. During the fight, the doppler transforms to look like Cahir, which makes the scene a bit confusing. Hissrich told TV Guide in 2010  that the production team originally tried to make the real Cahir and the doppler look different enough to be easily recognizable, but they ultimately decided it didn't matter to the overall fight.

Therefore, the fan theory that Cahir actually lost to the doppler and the doppler ran away wearing his face holds water. If the theory becomes canon and Cahir isn't actually Cahir, it could have massive implications for the future of "The Witcher." The theory definitely seems possible, and Hissrich herself described the idea as "interesting." Such an act of long-term deception could open up several potential storylines for Season 2 and beyond.

One fan theory posted to Quora posits the idea that the Ciri Geralt meets in the final scene of "The Witcher" Season 1 is actually the doppler, which seems unlikely. However, the doppler playing tricks on Geralt and the audience by impersonating Ciri isn't totally out of the question, especially given how slippery the character is in Season 1 and the possibility that Cahir is also the doppler. If this turns out to be true, it would completely alter the course of Season 2 and beyond, especially if Ciri is training as a Witcher and/or hunting for Yennefer alongside Geralt. This would give the doppler a ton of information and skills that could be used in dozens of nefarious ways. In the meantime, the real Ciri could be in hiding, imprisoned, or even dead. 

Again, this theory doesn't seem super plausible, since Netflix's "The Witcher" draws primarily from the books, but it's an interesting thought exercise.

One of the more absurd fan theories to crop up since "The Witcher" Season 1 premiered claims Yennefer may have spent a period of time as a Witcher herself. Hissrich doesn't think it makes sense, and for good reason: The first season of the Netflix series documents much of Yennefer's life, including her academy years and the battle at Sodden Hill. To suggest that she spent any portion of that time as a Witcher without it being depicted on screen is hard to swallow, based on the timeline itself and the fact that Witchers are historically male.

Even though it's absurd, this fan theory crops up frequently. The thinking behind it may simply come from Yennefer's deep connection to Geralt, though it's not necessary for them to both be Witchers to share a bond. It's also possible that this theory stems from Yennefer's incredible power, despite the fact that explanations for it already exist. Regardless, it's a neat idea some fans remain attached to.

Vilgefortz of Roggeveen (Mahesh Jadu), a mage and member of the Chapter of Sorcerers, is a central antagonist in the "Witcher" saga. As various Reddit users theorize (based on storylines from the books and movies), he might have been working with the Nilfgaardian emperor, Emhyr, all along. Thus, they postulate, the reason he loses his fight against Cahir in "The Witcher" Season 1 is because he can't kill someone so important to Emhyr and expect to get back on his good side.

This theory proposes that Vilgefortz tries to bring Emhyr's invasion to a halt during the battle on Sodden Hill so that he can eventually gain a position of power in the Chapter of Sorcerers and strike a new bargain with the emperor, securing Ciri for himself. This means he'll likely betray the Chapter for his own ends, opening up explosive possibilities for "The Witcher" going forward.

"The Witcher" fan site Redanian Intelligence theorizes that Season 2 will introduce the Wild Hunt, aka the Wraiths of Mörhogg, a group of ghostly specters riding horses through the sky. The Wild Hunt is an omen of war to the Skellige people, and set photos seem to indicate at least a brief appearance in the next season of "The Witcher." The Wild Hunt plays a major role in "The Witcher 3" and in the books, and it could have massive implications for the Netflix series.

Although it is believed to be a specter and an omen, the Wild Hunt is actually a group of elves from Tir ná Lia seeking potential slaves. In the source material, they hope to capture Ciri, whose role seems set to expand in "The Witcher" Season 2. Depending on when the Wild Hunt actually appears in the show, it could change everything.