The Witcher has been one of the wildest journeys of mages and mutants that took place in the last few years on Netflix. Starring many old and new faces in the series, it charmed the audience with their story based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s books. Season 3 marked the end of Henry Cavill‘s portrayal of Geralt on the show. But the show never fell short of iconic roles and had many characters who left an enormous impact on the storyline. One such notable character was Renfri, who appeared in season 1.

This character has played a key role in the life of White Wolf, who was unaware of family love before meeting Ciri and Yennefer. In fact, she is the woman who reminds him of his destiny.

Who was Renfri in The Witcher and when did she appear first?

The first episode of The Witcher introduced Renfri, played by Emma Appleton, as an attractive woman wearing a cowl secured by a Celtic-style pin brooch. She crosses paths with Geralt in a tavern and buys him a drink. Then this cursed princess-turned-bandit persuades Geralt into killing Stregobor, who has been hunting her for years. But the mutant advises her to escape Blaviken and start life afresh, away from all this.

Despite her claims of leaving, she attacks Geralt, wounding him several times. However, he evades her attack and slits her throat with her own dagger. The episode ends with Renfri bleeding in his arms, giving him a hint about the girl who will be with him always. With these last words, the Witcher leaves, taking her cloak brooch and mounting it on the hilt of his Steel sword.

What made Renfri a Shrike?

The fantasy drama did not touch deeply on the story of this female character, but she was a princess, much like Ciri. Born to the prince of Creyden, Fredefalk, Renfri was claimed a mutant and cursed because she was born in the hours of prophesied eclipse known as the Black Sun. Although this fact never affected her father, Aridea, her stepmother, wanted to kill her since she posed a threat to her life.

The new queen even hired a thug to end her life. Instead, the man robbed and abused her in the forest, but the princess managed to flee by killing him with her brooch. This whole backstabbing plot turns Renfri into this Shrike who used to impale her victims. However, this would have never happened, if not for the curse that started with her first breath.

What does the curse of the black sun mean? 

The mage Eltibald prophesied the Black Sun curse that humanity will end at the hands of 60 girls who were born during this eclipse. This prediction claims that the curse will transform the girls into cruel beings and summon the goddess Lilit, ultimately resulting in the end of the human world. You can see the effect of this curse on Renfri’s life at every turn of her life, whether it is her obsession with Stregobor or the end of her band of gnomes.

First, this sorcerer grew hungry for power and joins a gang of elfs to rob merchants. During their time in Mahakam, the gnomes get into a fight and no one makes it out alive except for Renfri. And when she decides finally to kill Stregobor, she gets into a fight with Geralt and dies at the end. Despite all this, she had a lasting impact on the monster slayer’s life and remains a significant part of his long life.

Why Renfri is important for Geralt? 

Killing someone or interacting with a woman was not something new for something like Geralt, who has been on the Continent for so long. However, the arc of this female character caused this white-haired mutant to dwell on his behavior and demeanor in the show. The showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich explained that Renfri’s brief appearance on the show worked as an instrument for Geralt to realize his motive in life. Moreover, her brooch was a symbol of the humanity lying beneath Geralt’s mutant exterior.

Season 3, episode 8, is the perfect example of it when Henry Cavill gives away that pin to the soldier so he can find his daughter. But he instantly attacks them when he sees a young girl being held behind because her family has no money.

In a nutshell, Renfri’s death inspired humanity in the stony heart of this mutant who only existed in this world for killing monsters and gathering coins in return. If she had not told him about how his fate was connected to Ciri for the rest of his life, he would have never found her. Or you can say that a young and lost princess might have been left alone in a world where everyone wants to kill her.

What do you think about Renfri’s contribution to Geralt’s life? Leave your comments below!