The Witcher Scene That Means More Than You Think

Netflix's adaptation of the travels and travails of the mutated monster-hunter Geralt are based on Andrzej Sapkowski's long-running series of novels and short stories, and not on the popular Witcher video game trilogy. But the CD Projekt Red games are a massive hit across the world, and the Witcher series' writer and showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich knows it.

That's precisely why, as Hissrich began adapting the high-fantasy world and laying out her season 1 narrative, she was sure to leave some room for an obvious nod or two to those who entered the fabled world through their consoles. While Hissrich pulled several iconic monsters, men, and moments from Sapkowski's expansive novels, she made sure to slip in a bathing scene between lovers Geralt of Rivia and mage Yennefer that had become wildly popular among fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

"Fishing for a Djinn seems an extreme measure to remedy sleeplessness."

"When extreme measures seem reasonable, yes. I'm desperate."

The "bathtub Geralt" scene is featured during the game's opening sequence and captures an intimate, bare-all moment between the monster slayer and his on-again-off-again partner Yennefer. By the looks of it, they've both somewhat settled down with Geralt's charge, Princess Ciri

At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Hissrich first alluded that some form of the scene would appear on the Netflix show. She told iO9:

"There is a bathtub this season. There is a bathtub. I won't tell you who's in the bathtub, but there is a bathtub."

For those who were new to The Witcher universe when the Netflix series first dropped, the moment might have felt like one among many gratuitous shirtless scenes, but it actually holds a broader significance.

The "bathtub Geralt" scene opens The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and is somewhat beloved for, of course, giving gamers a glimpse of Geralt both in the nude and providing a rare, intimate moment with the woman he loves.

Relaxing in a hot bath within his chamber at the Witcher Academy known as Kaer Morhen in the game Geralt is seen with his feet and arms hanging over the sides of a wooden tub. We then see him jolt up and remove a crustacean-like creature from his, erm… private parts.

"You know I don't find that amusing."

It takes only a moment for it to become clear the animal isn't real and is instead a magical prodding delivered by the naked but strategically positioned sorceress Yennefer. Geralt promised Ciri he'd train with her, and Yennefer wants him to get on with it, so the moment ends with Geralt begrudgingly exiting the tub, walking over to the mage, and engaging in a passionate kiss before stomping off to meet up with Ciri. Keep watching the video to see more about The Witcher scene that means more than you think!

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