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Fan theoryUpdated Nov 13, 2026 · 4 sources

Fan Controversies: Ciri's Rats Storyline and Yennefer's Characterization

Community discussions on r/netflixwitcher highlight two major viewer debates: the discomfort surrounding Ciri's storyline with the Rats in Season 4 and the long-running divide over how Yennefer is written in the Netflix adaptation compared to the books.

Ciri and the Rats in Season 4

Following the release of Season 4, Ciri's storyline with the group known as the Rats has sparked strong reactions among viewers on the r/netflixwitcher subreddit.

One viewer, identifying as a father of daughters, described the entire Rats arc as disturbing to watch and said it ruined the season for him. He pointed out that the show deliberately keeps Ciri's exact age ambiguous during these events.

The Divide Over Show Yennefer vs. Book Yennefer

Alongside Season 4 reactions, fans continue to debate how the Netflix series handles Yennefer's personality and history across the seasons.

Some viewers who came into the show without reading the books first have struggled to connect with her. One viewer watching Season 1 up to episode 6 called the character immature, bitter, and entitled, questioning if the audience is meant to like her.

On the other hand, several fans strongly prefer the television version of the character. One poster who started reading the books up to the second installment felt disappointed by the literary version of Yennefer, noting that they adored her in the Netflix series. Another fan reflecting after Season 3 praised the show's changes to Yennefer's background, appreciating the expanded look at her backstory and how she became who she is.

Two sides of the debate

Critical of the Show's Character Arcs

  • Ciri's Season 4 storyline with the Rats is disturbing to watch, especially for parents, and ruins the season.
  • The show deliberately leaves Ciri's exact age ambiguous during the Rats storyline.
  • To a viewer coming in blind without book lore in Season 1, Yennefer comes across as immature, bitter, and entitled.

Supportive of the Show's Characterization

  • The Netflix adaptation's addition of more backstory for Yennefer works well by showing how she became who she is.
  • The Netflix version of Yennefer is much more likable to some viewers than her portrayal in the first two books.

Your turn

How does this make you feel?

Poll: Where do you stand on the show's handling of Yennefer and Ciri's arcs?

Vote to see what other fans think.

Did the Netflix series make the right call by expanding Yennefer's backstory, and how did you feel about Ciri's Season 4 storyline with the Rats?

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