Season 1 of The Witcher introduced new fans to Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) and the world of The Continent. It also brought in fans who were already familiar with the books and/or the games. The Witcher season 2 is possibly going to be even better than the first, including the development of all of its characters. Especially characters like Ciri (Freya Allan), will be becoming even more compelling.
But what about the title character, Geralt? What about his character development? Well, The Witcher season 2 might just show a different side to him which might surprise some fans. Of course, Geralt is already a compelling character that fans love. Yet, he is about to become even better and even more lovable. Geralt is currently an expert at keeping most people at arm's length.
While there is the odd exception to the rule – Yennefer, Jaskier, and some others – for the most part, Geralt is a loner. Though he occasionally travels with others like Jaskier, he usually works alone. He also does not accept help easily. In fact, he puts up a facade that makes it seem like he never needs help. He pretends not to have the emotional capacity to care about others, but of course, viewers know that isn't the case. Geralt does care, and it seems that is going to become clearer in The Witcher Season 2. Geralt will likely not lose his edge. Yet showing a more vulnerable side wouldn't be a bad idea. It would make Geralt more well-rounded. The more well-rounded a character is, the better they are, after all.
And Geralt certainly seems like he's on his way to being more well-developed in The Witcher Season 2. In an interview with TV Guide, The Witcher showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich discusses the show's protagonist. According to her, Geralt on the outside "is determined not to need anyone." Yet fans know that he truly cares. So why the rough exterior? Hissrich states that it is all about "protecting...his internal desire to be a hero and the sort of human emotions that he can't help but let filter through." It seems that Geralt is really a bit soft after all. He is not as hard and tough as he appears to be. He does in fact have a heart. Geralt is also more heroic on the inside than he seems to be on the outside. So how will Geralt further develop his softer side in The Witcher Season 2?
Well, it all has to do with the choices he makes. According to Hissrich, The Witcher Season 2 will basically be Geralt's reaction to the events of season 1. During season 1, Geralt would push his feelings down, no matter what, and move on without truly processing. In season 2, however, "he's going to be confronted with that a lot more and has to make some different choices."
Of course, different choices do not necessarily mean Geralt will go fully soft. No doubt he will retain some of his coping strategies from season 1. Yet, most likely, the presence of people like Ciri in his life will cause him to open up a bit more and to rethink his life choices. And that can only be a good thing, as it will make him even more dynamic. He will become an even more complex and well-written character as a result.
There's also another way that Geralt will likely be different going forward in the show. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich responded to a thread on Twitter discussing how Geralt is disabled. In her response, she said that she is "excited to dig into this more. To add this layer to our hero." If Geralt does indeed have a disability, that would also show his more vulnerable side.
However, it would also greatly show his strength by showing how he keeps going despite it. The Witcher Season 2 and future seasons, if they indeed reference this element of Geralt's character, would show a well-rounded character who is disabled but not solely defined by it. However, by not ignoring his disability, the showrunner and the other writers would do a lot to normalize discussing disabilities in fiction and in the real world. And that could only do good, especially for disabled Geralt fans.
This layer would also add to Geralt's character development as he might sometimes need people's help, whether he likes it or not. Overall, making Geralt softer does not take away from his character but rather adds to it. A softer Geralt is a more well-rounded, well-developed Geralt. A disabled Geralt adds another complexity to an already compelling hero.
Of course, not everyone will agree. Some fans will prefer that Geralt stay the same hard shell that they know and love. Some will prefer that the writers did not explore his disability. Yet others might appreciate seeing different sides to his character. Everyone is different, and it's all okay. And in the end, all fans will probably benefit from The Witcher Season 2's approach to Geralt's character. The more well-written a character is, the more fans will be able to relate. And since most people have a softer side, exploring Geralt's can only help him be more likable.