The Witcher Show vs Books: Unveiling 10 Surprising Changes in Ciri's Character

Summary

Netflix's adaptation of The Witcher has made controversial changes to Ciri's character, including her age and relationships.

In the series, there is a notable difference in the way Ciri is portrayed compared to her character in the books, specifically in terms of her tendency to trust easily and her background. The series delves deeper into Ciri's personality and past, providing a more thorough insight into her transformative journey.

Netflix’s adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, The Witcher, has sparked controversy due to its changes, particularly regarding the character of Ciri (played by Freya Allan). Despite the series being a major success for the streaming giant, it has faced criticism for its alterations to characters and storylines. For example, the handling of Yennefer’s story in season 2 received backlash. However, Yennefer is not the only character who has been significantly altered from their literary counterpart; Ciri has also undergone significant changes.

Throughout the three seasons of The Witcher, Ciri, also known as the Lion Cub of Cintra, has experienced a captivating journey. She was forced to flee from Cintra when Nilfgaard attacked, subsequently crossing paths with Geralt, training at Kaer Morhen, nearly facing a sacrificial fate at the hands of Yennefer, and eventually finding herself separated from both Geralt and Yennefer, potentially devoid of her powers. Ciri is set to become a pivotal character in Netflix’s The Witcher, but her portrayal deviates considerably from the original source material. Whether her character continues to evolve remains to be seen. Here are ten notable differences in Netflix’s depiction of Ciri.

10 Ciri Is Younger In The Witcher Books

One of the notable disparities between Ciri in Netflix's portrayal and the character in the books is her age. In the books, Ciri is approximately 11 years old when Cintra falls and first encounters Geralt at around the age of 12. However, in Netflix's adaptation of The Witcher, Ciri is depicted as older, as Freya Allan, who portrays her, was in her late teens at the time of casting. Despite this alteration not significantly altering the character (even showing her engaging in childlike activities with friends in the first season), it is a prominent distinction that fans of the original books have pointed out. It is worth mentioning, though, that Ciri's age becomes quite convoluted in the final novels, potentially justifying the change in the series.

9 Book Ciri Is Never Possessed By The Voleth Meir

Netflix's The Witcher has introduced new characters, such as Voleth Meir in season 2, who are not part of Sapkowski's original stories. The Deathless Mother made deals with Fringilla, Francesca, and Yennefer, granting them their desires at a great cost. In Yennefer's case, she had to surrender Ciri to Voleth Meir in order to restore her powers. Although Yennefer couldn't bring herself to do it, Ciri was later possessed by the Deathless Mother. Fortunately, Yennefer saved Ciri by sacrificing herself, but this complex situation did not occur in the books featuring Ciri.

8 Ciri & Yennefer Don't Initially Get Along In The Witcher Books

Ciri and Yennefer’s relationship in Netflix’s The Witcher has encountered its fair share of challenges, despite the sorceress nearly sacrificing the princess for personal gain. However, in the books, their connection was initially more strained. At first, Ciri harbored a dislike towards Yennefer due to her cold demeanor and became envious of her enchanting beauty. Adding to the complexity, Yennefer perceived Ciri as indolent and headstrong, fueling her envy towards the deep bond the young princess shared with Geralt. Ultimately, just like in the Netflix series, they forged a resilient mother/daughter bond.

7 Ciri Is Very Gullible In The Witcher Novels

In Netflix's The Witcher, Ciri is portrayed as being difficult to deceive. However, the novels depict her as being easily fooled, which can be attributed to her young age. Ciri's upbringing in Kaer Morhen, under the guidance of witchers, resulted in a lack of knowledge, particularly regarding feminine necessities. Triss Merigold played a crucial role in educating Ciri about these matters. Despite this, Ciri remained naive, leading the children at Melitele's temple to frequently taunt her. They once convinced her that being a virgin would prevent her from casting spells.

6 Ciri Learns About Geralt & The Law of Surprise Through Her Nanny

Ciri became aware of her connection to Geralt through the Law of Surprise during the attack on Cintra in the series, whereas in the books, her nanny divulged this information to her. Despite Queen Calanthe's efforts to shield Ciri from knowing about Geralt and the Law of Surprise after the death of her mother, Pavetta, her nanny revealed the truth to the young princess. Ciri discovered that one day, Geralt would arrive to take her away for witcher training, creating an unbreakable bond between them. Although Calanthe was livid, Ciri embraced this newfound destiny wholeheartedly.

5 Book Ciri Is Very Protective Of Geralt

Geralt and Ciri share an incredibly strong bond, to the extent that they are fiercely protective of one another. However, in the books, Ciri's protectiveness escalated to the point of jealousy when Triss Merigold entered into a romantic relationship with Geralt at Kaer Morhen. Ciri's feelings of jealousy were justified, as Triss had resorted to using love potions to manipulate Geralt's emotions. As mentioned earlier, Ciri also experienced jealousy towards Yennefer at one point, but she ultimately embraced a protective role towards both Geralt and Yennefer when they formed a family unit together.

4 Book Ciri Isn't Betrayed By Yennefer

At the conclusion of Season 1 and the start of Season 2 in The Witcher, Yennefer experienced the loss of her powers and desperately sought to restore them. In order to achieve this, she made the decision to accept the proposition presented by Voleth Meir, which, as previously mentioned, involved surrendering Ciri to the Deathless Mother. Yennefer's actions constituted a betrayal towards both Geralt and Ciri as she intended to hand Ciri over to Voleth Meir; however, in the end, she did not follow through with her plan. Instead, she even sacrificed herself to rescue Ciri from the clutches of the Deathless Mother. This alteration in the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher has sparked controversy, as it deviates from the books where Yennefer never betrayed Ciri.

3 Ciri Has A Controversial Dark Side In The Witcher Books

Ciri has endured numerous trials since a young age, inevitably leading to a period of darkness and rebellion. The controversial aspect of this phase lies in Ciri's association with a gang of criminals, engaging in murder and displaying acts of animal cruelty. The conclusion of The Witcher season 3 effectively foreshadows Ciri's transition as she encounters the Rats and assumes the identity of Falka. Fans acquainted with the Witcher books are aware that this marks the genesis of Ciri's contentious dark side. It remains uncertain whether Netflix's adaptation of The Witcher will depict these intricacies in their entirety or opt for a more subdued portrayal.

2 Ciri Isn’t As Selfless In The Book As She Is In Netflix’s The Witcher

Ciri's portrayal in Netflix's The Witcher showcases her kind-hearted nature and selflessness, which differs from her character in the books. The traumas she has endured may have resulted in a selfish and even arrogant version of Ciri in the Witcher books, where prioritizing someone else's happiness and well-being over her own was not her inclination. Although this aspect of her persona has yet to be revealed in The Witcher season 4, it was a prominent trait depicted in the books.

1 Ciri's Backstory Is Explored More In Netflix's The Witcher

The characters in Netflix's The Witcher have been enriched by the show's exploration of their backstories, surpassing what the books offered. Ciri is one such character, as her past is only partially disclosed in the books, mainly touching upon her birthplace, family ties, and her connection to Geralt through the Law of Surprise. However, important details like her relationship with her parents prior to their demise and her interactions with Calanthe and others remain unexplored. Nevertheless, Netflix's adaptation made pertinent adjustments to certain aspects of Ciri's backstory, ultimately enhancing her narrative. For instance, in the show, Ciri's first encounter with Geralt takes place after the fall of Cintra, whereas in the books they meet much earlier.