Unveiling the Dark Fairytale Behind The Witcher's Season 2 Villain

The Deathless Mother: A Twist on Ancient Folklore

The Witcher season 2 introduced the Deathless Mother, a villain with roots in Slavic folklore. This is typical for the Netflix series, which is based on the book series by Andrzej Sapkowski. Many of the characters are inspired by those in classic fairytales and ancient mythologies, each with their own twists. The evil witch called the Deathless Mother, also known as Voleth Meir, may not have been a part of Sapkowski's original The Witcher books, but she still keeps with the series trends by putting a twist on an ancient (and terrifying) story.

The-Witcher-Deathless-Mother

The Deathless Mother was the primary villain of The Witcher season 2, having used her powers of manipulation to entice Yennefer, Francesca, and Fringilla into setting her free from the hut in which she was imprisoned for centuries. In Netflix's version of Sapkowski's works, Voleth Meir is a member of the Wild Hunt, and since she was reunited with her fellow villains in her own realm, she's sure to be a feature of future seasons. Though the name Voleth Meir and Deathless Mother are unique to The Witcher, other features of her character make it clear on which being of folklore this villain is meant to put a spin.

The Witcher collage of Deathless Mother

Baba Yaga: The Mythological Inspiration

The character of Baba Yaga comes from Slavic folklore, and her influence is evident in various old fairytales and legends. Traditionally, Baba Yaga appears as an old woman and lives in a hut that stands on Basilisk legs (which look similar to those of chickens) with two sisters, who are identical in appearance and are also called Baba Yaga. Similarly to Voleth Meir in The Witcher, Baba Yaga often pretends to help those who encounter her forest home, but her primary goal is to put them at ease so she can make a meal of them. Most often, her victims are children.

Basically, any story in which a witch-like villain devours a child finds some roots in the stories of Baba Yaga. Some versions of Hansel and Gretel feature several Baba Yaga, all using different means to lure the two kids in and eat them. Ultimately, this makes Voleth Meir's goal of possessing Ciri all the more fitting. Though she doesn't want to physically eat her, the Deathless Mother wishes to take Ciri's body as a means of gaining more power to use against the witchers.

The Witcher's Departure from Canon

Voleth Meir being the primary villain of The Witcher season 2 was something of a surprise for fans of the books and games since she was never part of Sapkowski books. In all, this second installment of the Netflix series was full of such moments since Yennefer losing her powers was an added plotline as well. Still, in the case of the Deathless Mother, her inclusion at least blended well with the sorts of fairytale inspired villains that the author typically includes in his Witcher books. By putting a twist on Baba Yaga, Netflix's The Witcher continued the folklore and fairytale influence the franchise is known for—even if it wasn't quite as impactful as those from canon.