Throughout the first season of Netflix's The Witcher, longtime fans may have been surprised by the notable absence of a certain high priestess who played a substantial role in Andrzej Sapkowski's The Last Wish. The hit fantasy series appears to be rectifying the issue in Season 2, by introducing Nenneke -- who appeared in the most recent trailer for the upcoming series -- and the Temple of Melitele at Ellander.
But who is Nenneke and why is she so important to Geralt of Rivia? It begins with Sapkowski's The Last Wish and the framing story, "The Voice of Reason." The tale began with Geralt recuperating in a bed at the Temple of Melitele, after having lifted the curse from King Foltest's daughter, the striga, in Vizima (also referred to as Wyzim) not long before. Nenneke was shown to be a woman of unshakeable faith and discipline.
Nenneke is also a force to be reckoned with. Some might think that she is a helpless priestess, but Sir Falwick and Arthur Tailles of the Order of the White Rose found out the hard way that Nenneke is not one to be trifled with. They attempted to threaten the temple in an effort to intimidate Geralt and compel him to leave, but Nenneke defended the Witcher, wishing for him to remain until he had fully recovered from his wounds. When the knights turned hostile, Nenneke brandished a bomb comprised of magic, scaring the knights away almost immediately.
In Season 1, Nenneke's role was seemingly replaced by Triss Merigold. She met Geralt in "Betrayer Moon," and was introduced as King Foltest's sorceress counsel. More than that, after Geralt was attacked by Foltest's feral daughter and collapsed, he was treated and healed by Triss, instead of Nenneke. It was speculated that the series' writer's room had intended on streamlining certain stories by cutting characters such as Nenneke and that Triss and a collection of other characters would be replacing the high priestess.
But replacing Nenneke entirely would be difficult -- not just because she appears throughout the novel series, including Time of Contempt, which Season 2 of The Witcher adapts, but also because of her relationship with many of the other characters. "The Voice of Reason" revealed that Nenneke and Geralt have known each other since he was a young boy studying at Ellander, which is saying something, given how Witchers age. But Geralt isn't the only one in this epic tale that Nenneke has impacted.
It is because Geralt trusts Nenneke and her wisdom that he sends Ciri to study at Ellander under the high priestess. From the old priestess, Ciri learns the history of the Continent, literature and Elder Speech, among other things. When the time came for Ciri to study more than combat and the humanities, Yennefer of Vengerberg arrived at Ellander to introduce the Cintran princess to magic. Yen and Nenneke knew each other from before, but they did not get along and there was a lot about Yennefer's way of teaching that the high priestess did not agree with. Nevertheless, their relationship eventually improved and it showed in the way Ciri was able to study and train freely in both magic and combat.
It is known that Geralt and Ciri will travel to Ellander and the Temple of Melitele some time in Season 2 of The Witcher, and they will eventually meet Nenneke, played by actor Adjoa Andoh. The most recent trailer also hints that the temple will come under attack by a mage and his band of thugs. Audiences will have to wait and see how Nenneke survives the ordeal.
Season 2 of The Witcher comes to Netflix on Dec. 17.
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