Yennefer of Vengerberg from The Witcher has seen quite a transformation in season 2 of the Netflix series. After the events of Sodden, we weren’t sure of the kind of mage we would be left with. And we’re happy to report that every single second of what we saw was worth it.
Since we can’t get enough of Yennefer and all things The Witcher, we’ve broken down this powerhouse’s journey throughout season 2 with a character study about Anya Chalotra‘s badass character.
The Yennefer We Saw When Season 2 Started
When season 2 of The Witcher began we were introduced to a Yennefer who was lost. She had scoured the continent looking for any which way to get her chaos back. When that didn’t work she went back to The Brotherhood with the small hope that they could guide her. Yes, she still hated everything they stood for with every fiber of her being. But when left with nothing, she went back to the only place she felt like she knew.
As we spent more time with Yennefer we came to understand that she’s lost. She’s always had this emptiness inside her. And in season 1 of The Witcher she tried to fill that empty space with power. When that didn’t work she tried to find a way to have a child. And when that didn’t work she tried her hand at love. After all those attempts collapsed around her, she let her chaos burn Sodden to the ground. In doing so she lost her power, the only thing she had left.
So, with no power, Yennefer felt like she had no purpose. And for a second she contemplated letting the Brotherhood make her purpose that of a killer when she was basically commanded to kill the Black Knight. Choosing to do the opposite was Yennefer’s way of not letting others decide her fate or who she’s going to be. Because yes, she’s lost, but not so much that she’d let the Brotherhood turn her into something she’d always regret.
The Yennefer We Saw When She Met the Witch
The Deathless Mother threw off Yennefer’s plans of finding a new purpose. All of a sudden she had this chance to regain what she’d lost. And in doing so, she didn’t have to go on a journey of self-discovery. At least in her mind, she didn’t. That couldn’t be further from the truth. If anything, it put her in a prime position to have a journey that she didn’t expect. And it ended up being one that changed her forever and made us love her more.
In this journey, we saw a Yennefer who was confronted with the reality of how much she was willing to sacrifice to get back to what she considered her new normal. She tried to convince herself over and over that she was willing to do anything to get her chaos back. But when confronted by the Ciri of it all, her past fell away and she started seeing something new taking form in front of her that didn’t mean sacrificing a child but actually helping them.
On the Geralt front of things, seeing him again reopened old wounds. But this time it was different. This time she realized that they had both hurt each other. They might’ve not meant to and the things that happened are something that these two need to have a serious conversation about. But they came to a point where they saw that they wanted more to with each other in a romantic sense. They just needed to figure out a way on The Witcher.
The Yennefer We Were Left with at the End of The Witcher
When it came down to it, Yennefer couldn’t go through with what the Deathless Mother wanted. Not for her power, her chaos, and not for anything. Because Yennefer might be a lot of things, but she isn’t one to sacrifice a child. She came close because she wanted her chaos. Let’s not deny that. But she had to go on this journey of self-discovery to cement in her mind that she wasn’t a monster. Something we never doubted.
What was made clear by the end of The Witcher, is that Yennefer is a woman who wants to start anew. There’s no way that she can go back. And even if she could turn back the hand of time, she wouldn’t. Instead, she’s going to start fresh and show Geralt and Ciri that she’s here to help. That comes with showing Ciri how to find her chaos. And in doing so, she’ll continue down a path of righting the wrongs of her past.
As for Geralt, Yennefer’s relationship with him is now in a state it’s never been in before. They’ve come clean to each other and made it clear that they’re there to stay. For Ciri, that’s a certainty. But they’re also choosing to stay for each other. Because the feelings are still there. And if they have a chance to start anew, then they’re going to take it. And that comes with the understanding that family comes first and the problems of the past are behind them.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Yennefer’s journey on The Witcher completely changed this character. It made her stronger and challenged her. But it also set her on a road that will allow her to grow in season 3 of The Witcher. And whatever may come, we’re here for it if means more of Chalotra knocking it out of the park. Even more so if it means showing us more of how complex female characters are really brought to life.
The Witcher season 2 is available on Netflix.
