Fantasy Netflix's The Witcher - General Discussion Thread

[Loden Greatstorm]

I told y'all we will see something official just before filming begins.

 

[Primal Slayer]

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...

Key word is fantasy. This is a fantasy series that I am guessing doesnt really follow the same real life history. Not to mention having 1 or 2 ethnic characters doesnt break with a majority white cast and probably white background so it still plays within the realms of "reality". And we arent getting Slavic actors so not like this is going to be something authentic for them...not to mention that we have had a Witcher show with native actors in the 90s.

 

[TheVileOne]

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.

Not saying I disagree with the sentiment, but I'm not going to boycott the show over it.

I will watch the show and give it a chance. If it's garbage I will not be silent.

 

[TheVileOne]

I told y'all we will see something official just before filming begins.

Yeah but it didn't happen when you predicted it would

 

[Marvolo]

Key word is fantasy. This is a fantasy series that I am guessing doesnt really follow the same real life history. Not to mention having 1 or 2 ethnic characters doesnt break with a majority white cast and probably white background so it still plays within the realms of "reality". And we arent getting Slavic actors so not like this is going to be something authentic for them...not to mention that we have had a Witcher show with native actors in the 90s.

You realize fantasy worlds have established facts right? It's called world building. In the case of this world it's based on medieval earth. Particularly eastern and northern Europe. With the islands being a hybrid of Scotland and the Norse. Like I asked earlier, in medieval Europe parricularly the north and in scotland how diverse do you think the population was? You think there were asians, Hispanics, arabs, Jews, muslims living in medieval Christian Europe? Those places especially in rural areas were not that diverse. They were caucasian with some immigrants wondering in on occasion or passing through a major port or city. At their own peril.

And yes changing one or two characters will change the world because a character from Novigrad with a Novigradian background being black doesnt make a lick of sense in that world that was built. Itd be like making a movie about a Norse viking that had Norse parents and casting an asian to play the viking.

 

[TheVileOne]

Jews most definitely.

 

[Marvolo]

Jews most definitely.

In some parts more than others. And when there weren't pogroms going on. They also tended to have the same or similar enough physical features to non Jews. At least I'm pretty sure in medieval times European Jews weren't that different in skin color and physical features from the typical Europeans around them.

 

[TheVileOne]

I guess the reason it weirds me out is that Hollywood is largely unwilling to open up the central roles to minority actors but they will gender or race flip all the secondary characters instead.

Like I remember when Spider-Man Homecoming came out, all these critics were tripping over themselves to pat themselves on the back for pointing out Homecoming has such a "diverse" supporting cast. Key word is supporting. Spider-Man, the titular hero, is still a white male. Does that really make it better? Wouldn't it be better if the minority roles were made for the actual main central hero?

I mean when you get right down to it, there's absolutely nothing that could've stopped them from using Miles Morales.

So Hollywood produces Ghost in the Shell with a white Major Kusanagi, white Batou, etc. Death Note with a white Light and Mia. But The Witcher has Southeast Indian Yennefer. Mixed race Triss, African Fringilla. Yet the two most central roles are Geralt and Ciri - both played by white British actors.

So I guess my question is. Does diversifying the rest of the supporting cast for The Witcher with POCs really make society and the acting scene better?

 

[Iceman]

I guess the reason it weirds me out is that Hollywood is largely unwilling to open up the central roles to minority actors but they will gender or race flip all the secondary characters instead.

Like I remember when Spider-Man Homecoming came out, all these critics were tripping over themselves to pat themselves on the back for pointing out Homecoming has such a "diverse" supporting cast. Key word is supporting. Spider-Man, the titular hero, is still a white male. Does that really make it better? Wouldn't it be better if the minority roles were made for the actual main central hero?

I mean when you get right down to it, there's absolutely nothing that could've stopped them from using Miles Morales.

Especially for the 3rd version of Spider-man. I mean the 4th I think definitely should be Miles. And that's not just a diversity thing, after a certain number of attempts it's worth giving a shot to other versions of a character. I guess it was a bit different here as this was the first Spidey in the MCU.

 

[TheVileOne]

Game of Thrones does have POCs in supporting cast, but they are only minor or secondary characters historically throughout the show who have had more limited roles.

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

Yeah but it didn't happen when you predicted it would

Hahaha, close enough!

 

[Reek]

I'm assuming we will see how he gets certain scars. plus it was just a little gift for fans... who knows what the final look will be... as for merigold.. who cares lol its not perfect but at least we are getting a damn show. i say we give it a chance... some of you are so damn negative

 

[TheVileOne]

I haven't really hated anything I've seen yet. I mean I can nitpick Geralt's eyes or his weird looking shirt, but this was only an hair and makeup test.

It's not actual show footage or clips.

Am I crazy about some of the casting? No. But some of the fans who are like "OK show is ruined now. Cancel it already." C'mon now, let's back this up a little.

Chalotra from a physical standpoint appears to be miscast as Yennefer, but I'm willing to give her a chance. She went through the casting and audition process and got the role. So they saw something in her that was right for it.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

I haven't really hated anything I've seen yet. I mean I can nitpick Geralt's eyes or his weird looking shirt, but this was only an hair and makeup test.

It's not actual show footage or clips.

Am I crazy about some of the casting? No. But some of the fans who are like "OK show is ruined now. Cancel it already." C'mon now, let's back this up a little.

Chalotra from a physical standpoint appears to be miscast as Yennefer, but I'm willing to give her a chance. She went through the casting and audition process and got the role. So they saw something in her that was right for it.

I'm being a tad dramatic but all my excitement for this has been zapped. Unless there are otherworldly performances from the Yen and Triss actresses I cant help but feel I'll be thinking of what could have been watching them.

 

[TheVileOne]

I'm being a tad dramatic but all my excitement for this has been zapped. Unless there are otherworldly performances from the Yen and Triss actresses I cant help but feel I'll be thinking of what could have been watching them.

I can totally understand that. I don't think these choices for Yen and Triss are the most inspired. They don't seem like intuitive choices.

And part of it with Anya Chalotra, is she is 22, but she looks even younger. And I know Yennefer uses powers to look young, but does she really need to look 17?

 

[TheVileOne]

FYI, here's what Lauren Hissrich said on her Twitter sometime back about casting, minorities and skin color:

"Mr. Sapkowski has said publicly and to me that the continent is big and diverse in its population in every way (race, culture, gender, and yes, occasionally skin color, which he said he did not always specify)."

 

[rebellion]

Im a bit surprised by the reactions of some people. First, as a slav, i dont feel offended at all. Its an american production, they have zero obligation to cast people of slavic origin. What they need to do is make an entertaining show and the jury is still out on that.
Second, this kind of backlash, when a character is race swapped to a person of color, is nowhere near as intense as when a character is whitewashed.
Theres always an excuse, people are more likely to defend it even, but when a black, or a mixed person is cast as a beloved character, everyone just loses their minds.
Now i understand nobody has to like it, but this huge outrage on behalf of slavic people is just silly to me.

 

[Lighthouse]

Yeah, I have no problem with the casting so far, and I think it's damn silly if you suddenly decide the show isn't worth watching because of it. The wig looks awful, but since that is an early costume test, I'm not going to worry too much about it now.

 

[OutOfBoose]

At this point it's not even casting, it's awful production values. Everything about it scream cheap, tasteless and uninspired. And Henry C. looks like a miscast.

 

[chamber-music]

They cast one of Andy Serkis sons.

Happy to see Lars Mikkelsen in this.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Even with superior costume, eyes and more gruff Cavill, that wig is abomination:

 

[rebellion]

At this point it's not even casting, it's awful production values. Everything about it scream cheap, tasteless and uninspired. And Henry C. looks like a miscast.

We have literally seen one costume, book accurate, in shadows, during makeup test. I agree, it does look a little off, like a material could be better, but your reaction seems way too exaggerated to me.
Also, we dont know anything about effects, we have yet to see and judge camera work, sets, grading, you know... Everything that actually encompases the term 'production value'.
But thats the mentality of fandoms, shoot first. It just creates unneeded negativity.

 

[OutOfBoose]

We have literally seen one costume, book accurate, in shadows, during makeup test. I agree, it does look a little off, like a material could be better, but your reaction seems way too exaggerated to me.
Also, we dont know anything about effects, we have yet to see and judge camera work, sets, grading, you know... Everything that actually encompases the term 'production value'.
But thats the mentality of fandoms, shoot first. It just creates unneeded negativity.

I call it like I see it. There was camera test for the Joker solo and it looked great. First photo of Bane was also a camera test and it looked great. Geraldo does not look great. Cavill doesn't inspire any confidence either.

 

[rebellion]

Even with superior costume, eyes and more gruff Cavill, that wig is abomination:

Cant argue that, it looks bad. Like the loose strands seems to be synthetic.
But maybe the reaction will make them reconsider and tie it in a ponytail. That would look better imo.

 

[rebellion]

I call it like I see it. There was camera test for the Joker solo and it looked great. First photo of Bane was also a camera test and it looked great. Geraldo does not look great. Cavill doesn't inspire any confidence either.

Hey, dont get me wrong, ofc anyone is free to voice their opinion. I just think its still too early to dismiss production value as a whole, thats all.