Netflix Ruined ‘The Witcher’ S1 With One Small Change: “The Last Wish” Plot Hole, Explained
With The Witcher Season 4 coming to Netflix in 2025, I'm still bitter about the changes they made while adapting the crucial story from “The Last Wish.”
Although the first season of The Witcher was more enjoyable overall, it already had its flaws and some big changes to the source material. One such shift was done to “The Last Wish” and completely ruined Geralt and Yen's love story.
Important: the first interaction characters have with each other sets the foundation for their relationship. That is why the adaptation of the Geralt and Yennefer meeting in “The Last Wish” should've been spot-on. Unfortunately, Netflix failed to deliver.
How “The Last Wish” Plot Hole Changed Everything Between Geralt and Yennefer
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Geralt and Yen meet in “The Last Wish” after his disastrous encounter with a genie. To survive, Geralt must make his last wish.
What's interesting: Sapkowski doesn't reveal Geralt's wish to readers, but Yennefer hears it. Through her words, we can gather that Geralt wished to bind his destiny to hers. And he did so for her protection.
“I don’t know whether such a wish can ever be fulfilled. I don’t know whether there’s such a Force in Nature that could fulfil such a wish. But if there is, then you’ve condemned yourself. Condemned yourself to me,” Yen to Geralt (“The Last Wish” by Andrzej Sapkowski).
Netflix changed a crucial detail: Yennefer is now completely oblivious to Geralt's wish. She simply doesn't hear him. Instead of gratitude, we just get annoyed. How is Yen supposed to warm up to Geralt when she has no clue that when he had the chance to wish for literally anything in the world, he chose something concerning her?
‘The Witcher’ Fans Are Mad About “The Last Wish” Change
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Considering that there was zero reason to cut this scene, it's understandable that the fandom was mad. It took away a foundational moment in the relationship everyone holds so dear.
“It feels like the showrunners didn't even understand the scene from the books or the dynamic between the characters and put their own agenda on it,” Redditor scotiej wrote.
“I've never understood why showrunners feel the need to change things up. “The Witcher” books are fairly short and have more than enough material to fill 8 episodes. It's not like they're 900+ page books with dozens of characters across multiple continents,” another fan, BrandonTheBlue on Reddit said.
