In the sixth episode of The Witcher — the one titled "Rare Species" — Geralt and Yennefer defend a dragon and its egg from a group of hunters. And during the middle of the episode's most climactic battle, the two fighters share a kiss that comes out of nowhere for some viewers but works well for others.
It would seem that Hailey Hall, the writer of the episode, falls into the former category. According to The Witcher showrunner, Lauren Hissrich, if Hall could change one thing about the episode that she didn't like, it would be the "Geralt-Yen" kiss scene.
Lauren Hissrich posted the information to Twitter as part of a QuarantineWatchParty event. These events see Hollywood content creators viewing their content with fans from all around the world through social media. They then answer any questions that fans may have or simply provide behind-the-scenes information of their own accord.
Hissrich didn't disclose why exactly Hall wants to change the scene, but the debate around it may shed some light. As stated previously, the scene sees Geralt and Yennefer kissing during what's supposed to be an intense battle. For some fans, the kiss feels unnecessary, overly dramatic, and lacking any reasoning. If Hall wants to change it, she might feel the same way — at least, she might now.
But considering the way the scene plays out, Hall probably agreed with those who defend it, as it does actually work on multiple levels, even if it is a bit overly dramatic.
Throughout the episode, Geralt and Yennefer struggle with wanting to be together, but not trusting the other to stick around. When the episode reaches its climax, however, Yennefer, through kissing Geralt, makes up her mind to believe in him. And before she leaps into his arms and does the deed, she tells him to use his Aard sign. Geralt does, and the thing blows their assailants clear out of the cave they battled in.
All of this implies that Yennefer also used the kiss to boost Geralt's powers, as previous episodes have shown that his Aard is nowhere near that strong. Could Yen have simply held his hand or something else less dramatic? Probably. Would it have worked as well? Probably not.
Regardless of feelings about the scene, however, it would be interesting to know how Hall would change it if she could.
The Witcher's first season is now available to view on Netflix.