Who Is The Main Character In The Witcher Novels Vs Netflix Show?

I’ve argued with friends about this over beers and forum threads: Geralt is the most visible main character, especially in the early short stories where he’s the narrator and the action figure with swords and snark. But once you get into the saga, the story’s gravitational center shifts toward Ciri — her destiny, her training, and the political storm around her actually drive the plot forward in a way Geralt often reacts to rather than controls.

The Netflix show simplifies that a bit by giving Geralt heavy screen time to ground viewers, yet it still spends a lot of time on Ciri and Yennefer, so the show ends up being more of a trio-led drama. If you want a single name: Geralt is the face; Ciri is the heart; Yennefer is the soul — and together they make the whole world feel alive. Which one feels "main" will depend on whether you’re into monsters, destinies, or power plays, and I love that there’s room for all three.

Geralt is the obvious face of the franchise, but when I read 'The Last Wish' and then dove into the saga, it felt like tapping different veins of the same world. The short stories in 'The Last Wish' and 'Sword of Destiny' absolutely center Geralt — he's the lens, the gruff, sarcastic witcher who navigates monster contracts and moral grey zones. Those stories are often what people think of when they say "main character."

But Sapkowski's longer saga shifts the spotlight dramatically. Once 'Blood of Elves' and the later books kick in, Ciri becomes the emotional and plot-driving core: her destiny, her powers, and the politics surrounding her pull the narrative into wider territory. Yennefer's arc also grows in complexity; by 'Time of Contempt' and 'Baptism of Fire' you can hardly call it a one-person show. The novels are ensemble in the truest sense — sometimes Geralt takes the lead, sometimes he’s reacting to forces centered on Ciri or Yennefer.

Watching the Netflix series felt similar but tuned differently. The show leans on Geralt early because a monster-hunting, broody protagonist is TV-friendly and Henry Cavill’s portrayal anchors the audience. Still, the narrative expands: non-linear timelines and scenes for Ciri and Yennefer ensure they’re not sidelined. So if you ask me who the main character is, I’d say Geralt is the face, Ciri is the heart of the saga, and Yennefer is its conscience — all three together make the story sing, and that’s why I keep rereading and rewatching.

If someone asked me on a rant-y morning whether Geralt is the main character, I'd grin and say: it depends on which medium and which book you mean. In the short-story collections 'The Last Wish' and 'Sword of Destiny', Geralt is front and center — the narrative voice, the moral compass (when he can be bothered), and the primary viewpoint for most episodes. Those texts are almost a greatest-hits of his witcher life.

Move into the saga — 'Blood of Elves', 'Time of Contempt', 'Baptism of Fire', and so on — and the axis shifts. Ciri’s arc becomes the spine of the plot; her development, fate, and the consequences of her power drive major political and magical conflicts. Yennefer grows from a shadowy love interest into a fully realized protagonist with her own agency. Sapkowski writes in a way that distributes importance: sometimes Geralt narrates the moral puzzles, sometimes the world reacts to Ciri.

On-screen, Netflix initially markets and frames Geralt as the show’s anchor, which helps viewers ease into this sprawling world, but the series pretty quickly balances Ciri and Yennefer with him. My practical takeaway: call Geralt the gateway character, but don’t be surprised if Ciri ends up feeling like the main thread. If you want both perspectives, read the books and watch the show — they complement each other in delightful ways.