Ever since it began, The Witcher has gained a huge fan following. Although that may have been due to Henry Cavill being on the cast list, the actor has since ended his stint as Geralt of Rivera this year. With the actor’s departure and the arrival of Liam Hemsworth, fans of the series were all but convinced that it was time to end the series. However, the creators of the adaptation had other ideas. While season 3 was a disappointment, to say the least, the series still managed to glue viewers to their screen.

This time it was to follow the character development of Ciri, who is portrayed by Freya Allan. But the one part that stood out to viewers was Yennefer of Vengerberg, portrayed by Anya Chalotra, calling her the “ugly one.”

The reason Yennefer calls Ciri “Ugly One” in The Witcher

After 2 seasons of watching Yennefer form a very motherly bond with Ciri, the third season of The Witcher, which aired in June and July of this year, caught its fans by surprise when Yennefer picked up a rather crass nickname for her adopted daughter. The name in question, ‘brzydulka’, comes from Polish descent. The English translation of the word is ugly, but over the years, it has been used as a term of endearment, and that was exactly how Yennefer meant it.

While this was not a surprise for fans of the books by Andrzej Sapkowski, fans of the series were left a little thrown about its meaning. In The Witcher season 3, Ciri finally asked Yennefer why she always called her the “ugly one”, and her response ended up being almost the exact same as it was in the book. In the series, Yen gives Ciri the answer that she calls her the endearing term because she promised to always “be sincere.” 

Alhough it may have seemed like a mean jab, it was actually just Yenna’s reference to how far Ciri had come since the beginning of the first season.

How Yennefer and Ciri’s relationship evolved in The Witcher

In season 1 of The Witcher, viewers got to witness the importance of having a found family. After a rather difficult first season, Ciri found her home with Henry Cavill’s Geralt officially taking over as her parent. But that also gave fans the relationship between Yennefer and Ciri. After giving up her option to have children, Yen ended up playing a role she never thought she would to the young princess in season 2.

But it is season 3 where their relationship truly shines. After she realizes how important Ciri becomes to Geralt and the future of the Continent, Yen ends up regretting her role in releasing Voleth Meir and turns a new leaf. Instead of continuing on the same path, she took Ciri under her wing and focused on enhancing her training.

While they may have not started out with a tight-knit bond, The Witcher season 4 promises more of an insight into their newfound relationship.

What do you think about Yennefer’s nickname for Ciri in The Witcher Season 3? Let us know what you think in the comments below.