Fantasy Netflix's The Witcher - General Discussion Thread

[Punisher_MAX]

They made them white in the beginning for the heck of it. What's the problem with adding diversity to a caste that has none? Does it not make sense that there would be several characters with different complexions and different origins?

Thats what Ofier and Zerrikania are for.

 

[TheVileOne]

I almost wish this was just animated like Castlevania but they'd probably also color the characters a different race. I'm livid. I hope CDPR announce a Witcher 1 and 2 remaster/remake to wash away this bad taste.

I mean Castlevania did make Hector into a man of African descent.

 

[TheVileOne]

Thats what Ofier and Zerrikania are for.

Yeah but how many prominent characters in the books are actually from there?

 

[I Am The Knight]

Looks funny. Wonder how bad this will be

I confess I have never played a Witcher game or read the books.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Also reminds me of the middle variant:

 

[Punisher_MAX]

I mean Castlevania did make Hector into a man of African descent.

Ok thats fair. I will definitely give the writers that them changing his race in the context of the story and his worldview actually made sense so in that one regard they won me over.

Yeah but how many prominent characters in the books are actually from there?

They could have simply added original characters from those regions and explained the diversity as such. But race changing main characters that have an established look is beyond stupid in my opinion. I am not against diversity in a cast I just hate race changing characters for no reason.

 

[MaceB]

I am not against diversity in a cast I just hate race changing characters for no reason.

There is a reason. Adding diversity into a caste that doesn't have much or any.

 

[Fincher]

Anna Shaffer

Nope.

Maybe this show will look good enough in its own right for me to watch it, but my preexisting interest is spent.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

There is a reason. Adding diversity into a caste that doesn't have much or any.

Thats a stupid ass reason.

 

[Enriquespy]

They could have simply added original characters from those regions and explained the diversity as such. But race changing main characters that have an established look is beyond stupid in my opinion. I am not against diversity in a cast I just hate race changing characters for no reason.

Another solution is for you to don't mind this so much.

 

[Elayis]

I figured the show would look cheap, but I didn't expect it to be this bad. That wig is hilariously awful, and Cavill looks very self conscious. Still hopeful this could turn out well, but my expectations are firmly in check now.

 

[Iceman]

The new image looks fine but is pretty much Cavill in a wig with no X-factor. I think a white beard might have helped.

 

[DKDetective]

There is a reason. Adding diversity into a caste that doesn't have much or any.

Then don't adapt a European fantasy series set in a very thinly veiled alternate North/Eastern Europe (which during the medieval era the majority of which was overwhelmingly white). Adapt some other fantasy property that has the racial diversity you want.

The Witcher's uniqueness is in its strong basis in Slavic culture and folklore. Despite being white, eastern Europeans of Slavic background are underrepresented and often negatively portrayed in Hollywood. They are usually portrayed as Russian mobsters, sleezy immigrant con artists, or other stereotypes. Why take the Witcher and its characters away from such a population? We are not talking about the same old white Western Europe Anglo-Saxon medieval fantasy with this property...

 

[FunkMiller]

The show is based on the books, not the games. They don't have the rights to adapt CDPR's games.

True, but my point still stands... and they’d be crazy not to at least incorporate elements of the game into the series if they can, because the game is why people will watch the show, and it’s why the show is getting made.

 

[TheVileOne]

Then don't adapt a European fantasy series set in a very thinly veiled alternate North/Eastern Europe (which during the medieval era the majority of which was overwhelmingly white). Adapt some other fantasy property that has the racial diversity you want.

The Witcher's uniqueness is in its strong basis in Slavic culture and folklore. Despite being white, eastern Europeans of Slavic background are underrepresented and often negatively portrayed in Hollywood. They are usually portrayed as Russian mobsters, sleezy immigrant con artists, or other stereotypes. Why take the Witcher and its characters away from such a population? We are not talking about the same old white Western Europe Anglo-Saxon medieval fantasy with this property...

OK but I mean it's not like they can cast a bunch of Slavic people for a Hollywood English-speaking TV series.

 

[TheVileOne]

Ok thats fair. I will definitely give the writers that them changing his race in the context of the story and his worldview actually made sense so in that one regard they won me over.



They could have simply added original characters from those regions and explained the diversity as such. But race changing main characters that have an established look is beyond stupid in my opinion. I am not against diversity in a cast I just hate race changing characters for no reason.

OK they could've done that, but then fans of the books and franchise still might've complained over that. That they are adding new characters to push diversity. Just saying.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

OK they could've done that, but then fans of the books and franchise still might've complained over that. That they are adding new characters to push diversity. Just saying.

Yeah thats a valid point but honestly id take a new POC character that serves a purpose in the new narrative than race changing a character. Lesser of two evils I suppose.

 

[Marvolo]

There is a reason. Adding diversity into a caste that doesn't have much or any.

Theres a very good reason there isnt mch diversity in these stories. The areas of the world created for the Witcher story is essentially Eastern Europe and Northern Europe. In medieval times how much diversity do you think there was in rural areas of Europe? Even in cities you think there were a lot of asians and Buddhists and muslims and Hispanics running around? The lands that these stories take place in are supposed to be homogeneous and for the most part caucasian. The occasional zerrikanian might appear but that's it as far as diversity goes.

Diversity is fine when it makes sense. When it doesnt do any damage to the story. (Finn in star wars being black for example. Or casting a black Hermione for the play Harry Potter and the Cuesed Child.) It makes no sense in this story because it breaks the world building of the story. It requires character backgrounds to be thrown out and rewritten or just shrugged off.

This is a story set in a European medieval type society with all the prejudice and homogeneity that is expected in those societies. Modern diversity like we see in modern America shouldnt be inserted into the Witcher world.

 

[MaceB]

Theres a very good reason there isnt mch diversity in these stories. The areas of the world created for the Witcher story is essentially Eastern Europe and Northern Europe. In medieval times how much diversity do you think there was in rural areas of Europe? Even in cities you think there were a lot of asians and Buddhists and muslims and Hispanics running around? The lands that these stories take place in are supposed to be homogeneous and for the most part caucasian. The occasional zerrikanian might appear but that's it as far as diversity goes.

Diversity is fine when it makes sense. When it doesnt do any damage to the story. (Finn in star wars being black for example. Or casting a black Hermione for the play Harry Potter and the Cuesed Child.) It makes no sense in this story because it breaks the world building of the story. It requires character backgrounds to be thrown out and rewritten or just shrugged off.

This is a story set in a European medieval type society with all the prejudice and homogeneity that is expected in those societies. Modern diversity like we see in modern America shouldnt be inserted into the Witcher world.

I can appreciate that. In this story, I could see why creating a diverse cast would be a bad idea. In general, I roll my eyes at folks who think Superman can't be black or you can't have an asian actress play Jubilee, etc. Generally speaking, race swapping isn't the fundamental sin that fans claim it to be. But if it's a story about a particular group of people, then they really shouldn't. Matt Damon's "The Great Wall" comes to mind. Story first.

 

[Iceman]

They are surely going to give him a scar at least?

 

[TheVileOne]

Geralt never had the one over his left eye in the books. That was a new one that was added for the games.

Not sure how many he should actually have on his face, but some of the scars on his face were original to the games.

Once again, this is based on the books not the games.

From Wild Hunt

Cirilla: What creature was it?One that gave you the scar over your left eye.It’s new. I don’t remember it.

Geralt: Souvenir from the cockatrice of Spalla. Another addition to the collection, nothing special.

 

[Iceman]

He looks a bit too clean and boring at the moment.

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

He looks a bit too clean and boring at the moment.

Yes he does.... it's safe to say that the general reaction has been underwhelming.

 

[flickchick85]

True, but my point still stands... and they’d be crazy not to at least incorporate elements of the game into the series if they can, because the game is why people will watch the show, and it’s why the show is getting made.

If the books are so unpopular, then why were the games made? Good source material is good source material, regardless of its popularity. Not all source material has to be a smash hit to be worthy of an adaptation. If people are less familiar with the version they're adapting than they are with the games, I can only see that as a good thing. It means less people know what they're in for.

 

[DKDetective]

OK but I mean it's not like they can cast a bunch of Slavic people for a Hollywood English-speaking TV series.

No, but there are plenty of Polish-Americans, etc. and many of them are great actors. You can cast them just like African Americans were cast as Wakandans in Black Panther.

Also, the homogeneous nature of medieval society is important to the themes of racism and xenophobia in the Witcher stories as Marvolo explained in depth.