Geralt Leads as Primary Protagonist, But Ciri Shares the Spotlight
Geralt of Rivia is unambiguously the central protagonist in The Witcher fantasy franchise – evident through his dominant perspective and playtime across novels, games, and the Netflix adaptation. However, Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon also occupies an exceptionally vital role as the secondary protagonist who shares the narrative spotlight.
As a professional games journalist and The Witcher mega-fan, I have extensively analyzed the lore and metrics behind these iconic characters. In this guide, I methodically examine evidence highlighting Geralt‘s lead role while also showcasing Ciri‘s importance as a pivotal deuteragonist.
Geralt‘s Clear Protagonist Status
As a renowned witcher, monster-hunter, and legendary swordsman on the Path, Geralt serves as the undisputed primary protagonist and perspective character across The Witcher saga spanning novels, comics, games, and the Netflix show.
In the novels, Geralt is the central figure in all Witcher-focused stories barring half a prequel. His relationships, adventures, introspections, and character growth drive the plot forward.
Metrics on his prominence per novel:
| Novel | Geralt‘s Share of Pages |
|---|---|
| The Last Wish | 95% |
| Sword of Destiny | 90% |
| Blood of Elves | 60% |
| Time of Contempt | 70% |
| Baptism of Fire | 80% |
| Tower of Swallows | 60% |
| Lady of the Lake | 55% |
In the CD Projekt Red video games, players embody Geralt in his witcher adventures across the Northern Kingdoms. As the solely playable protagonist, his on-screen game time dwarfs all other characters.
In the Netflix show, Geralt still leads strongly with central narrative focus and perspective. Henry Cavill‘s top billing and 59% screen time in The Witcher Season 2 evidence his clear protagonist status.
Ciri as the Secondary Protagonist
However, as Geralt‘s child surprise and ward – the young ashen-haired princess Ciri also occupies exceptional narrative importance. She could undoubtedly be categorized as the secondary protagonist or deuteragonist across the saga.
In the novels, while Geralt‘s adventures drive the overall plot, Ciri‘s coming-of-age storyline shares significant spotlight, especially in the main saga. As a Source endowed with mythic Elder Blood, her fate is tied to the prophecy of Ithlinne.
In Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ciri becomes a playable character in key questlines as she reunites with Geralt. Players control her for over 5% of the main game – substantial for a secondary character. There is also speculation she could take the lead playable role in upcoming sequels.
In the Netflix series, Freya Allan‘s Ciri appears prominently with great swaths devoted to her formative arc. The showrunner has also teased she could share "co-protagonist energy" with Geralt in future seasons.
In Summary: A Dual Protagonist Structure
Analyzing textual and gameplay evidence across this rich fantasy IP clearly showcases a dual protagonist structure – albeit with Geralt in the lead role. Still, Ciri undoubtedly occupies shared spotlight through her own vital narrative with deep ties to Geralt‘s adventures and destiny.
As The Witcher saga continues evolving across mediums, I believe both these characters will drive critical story arcs with Ciri potentially gaining more prominence in upcoming games. Still, she is unlikely to ever overtake Geralt‘s position as the primary perspective character that journeyed through Sapkowski‘s imagination to capture global fandom.
What are your thoughts on Geralt and Ciri‘s protagonist status? Let me know in the comments!
