#Why don't you just choose one of them Geralt? Yennefer or Triss. Why do you always try for both. You Know better

[abluescarfonwaston]

Hexer Jaskier: How can you even play this drivel! Have you no respect for poetry!

Netflix Jaskier: It is rapidly becoming apparent why you never have any money! People enjoy these songs!

HJaskier: Money brings bad luck which is why I never have any and I've done just fine!

NJaskier: It certainly looks like it.

Game Geralt: Okay! Who wants to play Gwent! Jaskier? *attempt at a seductive look*

Hexer Jaskier: Why don't i look at those blisters Jaskier? Since your not used to walking.

Jaskiers: *Glare at each other*

NJaskier: I would Love to Geralt! I'd hate to keep a man with a... Deck in his pants waiting.

Dandelion: *attempting not to gag* So are you just going to sit over here in the dark and brood all night my friend?

Netflix Geralt: We're not friends. The first time we met you yelled at me for an hour.

Dandelion: Yes. Sometimes you need to get your head out of your ass. And i don't see Nenneke around so the task fell to me.

NGeralt: ....

Dandelion: Now i know you think i just came over here to annoy you, which to be fair is one reason, or to get away from *waves hand back at the group* That.

NJaskier and GGeralt: *audibly making out*

Dandelion: Slut.

NGeralt: *smirks*

Dandelion: To be clear that was directed at my Geralt. But it probably applies to your Jaskier as well.

NGeralt: *Obliging head nod*

Dandelion: And I recognize your angry at him and that he's not your 'friend' but he said something and I wanted to make sure I understood. He said you blamed him for the child of surprise.

NGeralt: I wouldn't have even been at that banquet if not for him.

Dandelion: Hm. That's odd, because neither I nor the other Jaskier was at that banquet. Its funny, of all the Geralt's your the most in your bards debt.

NGeralt: I'm not fucking in his debt!

Dandelion: I brought my Geralt a lifetime of troubles with little to no reward and yet he still calls me friend. Your Jaskier has, in some way, given you the best part of your life but your not his. I wonder what that says about us.

Dandelion: If you don't believe me you can ask any of them and they'll tell you. *stands up clapping Geralt on the shoulder* Make sure you give her plenty of piggyback rides.

NGeralt: Why do you even care? I'm not even your fucking Geralt.

Dandelion: Because you will always be my friend. No matter the world or the choices you make or the terrible things you do or do not say. You will always be my friend.

NGeralt: ...

Dandelion: Come on. Let's go get so drunk on my Geralt's hoard of alcohol we can't hear them making out.

NGeralt: *Goes with him*

[11quillen11]

About Netflix's the Witcher Season 2

It is there at last! I'm not sure that I am going to post more on this show because I don't dislike it in a way that makes me want to talk about it; I dislike it in a way that makes me wish it just did not exist. I still might tho, because I am the kind of person who needs to write her thoughts down and let them out into the world.

I finished watching season 2 of Netflix’s The Witcher a few weeks ago. Although my initial reaction at the last episode was burning rage, I have since calmed down and am now left only with disappointment. Now, even if the show was not an adaptation, I am not sure I would have enjoyed it anyway because it has a lot of flaws that have nothing to do with poor adaptational choices. On top of that, having read the books, I am aware of the many decisions this show chose to make to adapt them. Let me be clear that what I dislike and what angered me as I was watching is the implications behind these changes rather than the changes themselves. Let me explain.

There is a lot that I could complain about but the single most anger-inducing change that the show made in my opinion concerns Yennefer and Ciri’s relationship. Yennefer losing her magic, being forced to betray Ciri and Geralt to have it back but ultimately choosing to sacrifice her life for Ciri is not a bad premise at all. In fact, if well executed, it could make for a very good story, which is why I was legitimately curious and excited to see where this storyline was going up until the latter half of Episode 7. Not only is this storyline not executed very well, in the context of the show being an adaptation, it is downright offensive. Because it feels like this whole plotline was meant to humble Yennefer so that she could prove that she was not only able but also worthy of being Ciri’s adoptive mother and Geralt’s co-parent. Does Geralt go through such an ordeal to prove that he can be a father to Ciri? No.

In the books, Yennefer and Ciri meet, live together for months, and form a beautiful bond with each other independently of Geralt. During this time, Yennefer still can use magic. She does not need to be humbled, she does not need Geralt’s approval, she does not need to prove anything to anyone. Yennefer becomes Ciri’s adoptive mother because Ciri loves her and grows to see her as such. If Yennefer and Geralt did not know each other, if Yennefer had been chosen as Ciri’s mentor because Triss and only Triss had recommended her, Ciri would still think of her as her mother because of the time they spent together and the bond they forged with each other regardless of Geralt. Because Geralt wasn’t there. Just like Yennefer wasn’t there when Geralt developed his bond with Ciri.

The show made the decision to portray Geralt as a naturally fitting parent and Yennefer as someone who had to prove that she could become one, and prove it to Geralt in particular. The show chose to elevate the character of Geralt (male) in regards to his book counterpart, and demean the character of Yennefer (female). I think you understand what I think the deeper issue is here.

Mainstream media already lacks representation of good mother-child relationships, especially in comparison to their father-child counterpart (just to cite a few: Wolverine & Laura, Booker & Elizabeth, Joel & Ellie, Kratos & Atreus, more recently, Vander & Vi and Silco & Jinx, of course the video-games’ version of Geralt & Ciri, and many, many more). The best recent example of a good mother-daughter relationship I can think of (and that is not just a background reality but central to the overall story) is, ironically, Tissaia & Yennefer in season 1. Sadly, Tissaia becomes irrelevant and forgettable in season 2 and has very little time on screen with Yennefer.

Season 1 showed that Netflix’s the Witcher could do Yennefer and Ciri’s relationship right. Season 2 proved they just don’t care to.

[ket-fisto]

so just finishing up season 2 of the witcher now and. I don't know if I'm just in a different mood than with the first season but I am constantly frustrated at the changes. Like already they fucked and changed a ton of things in the first season, but I found enjoyment in it despite it. Now it's like they wanted to make their own fantasy show and just used the witcher as a base. Seeing the teaser for yet another spinoff supports this even more. Long ass rant to get it out of my system incoming, don't read if you don't want to read negative stuff about the show.

So many needless changes and even more core changes to how things work in the witcher world too. And what's even more frustrating is that they do that and then do a pretty good adaptation of a book part (part where Triss comes to Kaer Morhen) and it's like??? Oh, so you CAN adapt the book properly, you just choose to change everything up because fuck it I guess.

They added a bunch of nameless witchers to kill them, yet chose to kill off Eskel who was an actual real character from the books (who appears to been replaced by this other witcher guy who also has scars on the side of his face I guess). Why??? They make a bunch of fights in Kaer Morhen, you know, the super well hidden fortress that a mage can find on a whim. I guess they really like the set.

They make Ciri an OP banshee because you can't fucking think of original dangerous female characters without making them a siren or a banshee even if you have fucking books about it, GOD.

They add a witch deus ex machina to further a shoehorned elven plot (which reminded me of O'Dimm but you know, forced and out of the fucking blue).

They could have added the fact that it's implied that Yennefer lost her eyesight for a while after the battle of Soden in the books, but now you make her lose her magic to make her run around for half a season when they could have added the scenes of Yennefer and Ciri meeting properly, the initial mistrust and eventual bonding instead of this bullshit plot of Yen almost giving Ciri away to deus ex witch and then being like 'o i changed my mind'. Then ending it up with ANOTHER forced bonding like how Geralt and Ciri just meet up in the end of season 1 and are instantly like 'okay we're close instantly'. WHY HAVE CHARACTER AND RELATIONSHIP GROW PROPERLY I GUESS.

Yennefer is my favorite character, from the books and games, and in the first season I was like alright, it's a very different Yen but I can enjoy this, the actress is great. Now it's like??? Are you so confident that you'll have 7 seasons that you are stretching out the show with unnecessary bullshit? The actress is gorgeous and the show doesn't even bother to use that and just puts a fancy dress on her with a simple braid ponytail and no makeup makeup because I guess they gave up even giving her curls and actually playing into the fact that Yen is supposed to be ''magically'' beautiful (which they barely bothered to do in season 1). Ciri gets curled hair and black mascara that you can see poking out of the screen from all the weird close up shots they do because they are too confident on their off putting eye contacts now. How did they manage to give Henry Cavill worse contacts in season 2? MY GOD.

I know Jaskier is a fan favorite from the show. I get it. He was hilarious in season 1, the actor is perfect, etcetc. But you have to laugh at how many scenes are added and altered to feed this. Why did Geralt even need Jaskier to find Yennefer ? Why does he need to be in the final fight when he cannot fight? There to just give one liners and be in danger? Even the other characters call him out on him being there not making sense!

Jaskier (or Dandelion) followed Geralt around and did put himself in danger because he wanted to watch and compose tales in the books, but is this worked into the show now? No, we just have him make a heartbreak ballad about Geralt and then give him a shirtless scene because fanservice, then have Yen ask for his help to deliver something in the middle of a battle. Ok?? And before you come at me, the problem has started with season 1, because the show forced a fight plot between Geralt and Jaskier, who have never really fought in the books and Geralt openly considers him his friend there, but the show couldn't have a complex grumpy character, they had to have him one-dimensional and yell.

Like you hear how Henry Cavill had to ask for more lines for Geralt and it makes you wonder how much fucking worse it'd be if Henry Cavill wasn't passionate about the character, because show Geralt still pales to philosophical book Geralt. I hope he is also secretly frustrated at the changes from the books because his character is the only thing as close to the books as possible (and still not perfect by any means to be honest). But hey they added him sniffing his surroundings a lot because of enhanced witcher senses, that's cool I guess.

And they had a much bigger special effects budget now but still found the fights weird this time. Meh.

I don't know if it's the same actor for Emphyr, but his look in season 1 was better, now I don't buy the ultra powerful emperor he's supposed to be.

Guess we have to wait another two years to see what else they're going to twist and change next!

[xuelingxu]

Do you think that Ciri has a crush on Avallac'h?

Sorry for the late answer, because I wrote an essay again lol.Here are some of my thoughts and guesses about her feelings/crush on Avallac’h.

Book: She had a crush on Eredin.

Game:She had a crush on Avallac’h. Even if it's not crush, it's also quite trusting and quite obviously admiration/desire.

First,  I'll give some data.

I have counted the number of game lines in which Ciri mentions others, just by name, 1012 lines in all:

30 mentions of Avallac'h, 1 mentions of Sage, 31 total.

Others: Dandelion 11 ; Yennefer 11 ; Triss 9; and only 45 lines for mentioning Geralt. But 31 lines for our Sage.

I know they're in a story line, so Ava was mentioned more often. But from the chart I've compiled, we can see that she praised him many times, adored and trusted him.

Next, I’ll explain it according to the TW3 plot.

Avallac'h knew that Ciri's sword was named Zireael and that her mare's name was Kelpie. This shows that Ava knew Ciri well enough and Ciri was willing to tell him these little things that had nothing to do with stopping the White Frost.

Come now, who aside from you would know that?

Well, we know they were well acquainted, and traveling together.

Ciri was so desperate to fix the phylactery that she didn't care about that Dandelion asked one of the four mafia bosses of Novigrad for help. She was so worried about Avallac'h that she kept saying the spell in fear that she would forget it. Even Dandelion could see Ciri's anxiety and nervousness.

You get it from Whoreson?! Whoa, Ciri'll be overjoyed.

No... I don't think so… I mean, she didn't look cursed.But boy was she in a hurry.

No. They were elven. Ciri was constantly repeating them to herself, probably not to forget.

When Skjall asked about Ciri's realtionship with Avallac’h, Ciri hesitated for a moment as she thought about it, but finally said friend, choosing the most neutral word among mentor, companion, enemy, friend, and lover. A friend is also a relationship with countless possibilities.

And where is he? My… friend?

When outsiders asked about Avallac'h, she was always hesitant or refused to reveal information about him. The two of them maintained this wonderful understanding throughout their escape that they were the only two people who could trust each other, and that everyone else had to be excluded from the safety line. When we encountered outsiders asking questions, we tried to keep our distance and kick them out of the line of safety.

She wasn't all that willing to talk about it. I didn't want to pry.

No. He simply doesn't like others to see it.

Ciri always remembered the ointment Avallac’h had prepared for her scars, saying that he never let herself down and sounding proud. When she learned that Yennefer had lifted Avallac'h's curse, Ciri's eyes widened subconsciously and she was so happy that he was restored that she laughed the entire time.

Are you serious? You must be. You'd not jest about something like that… Hah! A nice thing to wake up to.

He's not let me down to date. Not once.

when Geralt asked why the Sage, who had always hated humans, was helping Ciri, Ciri answered that it was only for her power and nothing else. Ciri said this line in a sinking tone, eyes downcast, and no longer smiling. She didn't want to continue the conversation, and was making a self-referential suggestion, reminding herself that Ava had no feelings for her other than her abilities, and that he was still just using her Elder Blood. But in Ava's laboratory, this perception was the same as what the she-elf said, except that the she-elf said it a bit harshly, and the theme was that Ava had no feelings for her and perhaps even disgust, but only treated her as a tool. Ciri, on the other hand, was extremely sad, and even smashed the lab, why? It's a very simple psychology. Self-implication is the fear that the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. She felt in her heart that they had mutual affection, but she was afraid that she would be wrong and that she would be hurt, so she pretended that this was not the case and denied her feelings. But at the same time, there was a little expectation that what she felt was not an illusion. So when an outsider (a female elf) punctured or even laughed at her, [how could he possibly like you], she got sad, disappointed, and angry.

He doesn't do it for me, it's about my power. As if it could ever be about anything else.

Returning to Kaer Morhen, Vesemir informed Ciri that the Avallac'h was still in poor condition, and Ciri, who had just been reunited with everyone and was smiling, immediately looked pale again.

Ciri immediately got angry when she heard her trusted mentor was making a serious conversation about her to her parents. I treat you like one of my own, but you're telling my parents everything? There is even a sense of betrayal. She really treated and considered him in a special way.

When Ciri returned from Isle of Mists, she would talk about Ava in many conversations. Whether Geralt asked her or she mentioned it, she showed great trust and admiration for the Sage. She even praised another of the Sage's students, Caranthir.

Avallac'h - he prepared some special ointments for me.

Avallac'h? He's not let me down to date. Not once.

Avallac'h's a good tutor.

Avallac'h claims vanity is Imlerith's greatest weakness.

Hardly surprising given he was Avallac'h's student.

Ciri, when confronted with Ge'els's provocations, thought it was useless for him to do so, and even started defending Ava by changing the subject. Ciri's implication was that I trusted him, and that you shouldn't try to sow discord, because I had forgiven him(for what he had forced me to do) . But I haven't forgotten anything you (Ge'els) have done, and don't expect me to forgive you.

There's naught you can do to make us turn on one another.

I remember. But I also remember what you advised Eredin do with me once I was caught. And I remember what the Red Riders did at Kaer Morhen.

When confronted with Geralt's questioning of Avallac'h, Ciri argued that even if Ava had other intentions for her, she could accept it because she had the right to refuse. She had considered the situation, but still trusted him extremely. (One thing that CDPR screwed up here is that they deliberately downplayed Yen's relationship with Ciri in order to balance the Yen-Triss rivalry. The lines suggest that Ciri even trusted Ava more. I can understand why Yen fans are fury with that. But even if this person wasn't Ava, it would have been someone else, but not Yen. If there is any blame to be placed, it should be on CDPR, not Ava).

Avallac'h's different…He is intent on my gift not falling into the wrong hands, not spinning out of control. It's why he teaches me, protects me.

Perhaps… But if so, it will be a very, very long time from now…And I'm certain whatever it is, he'll give me a choice. I will have the option to refuse.

In the original, the Lodge of Sorceresses planed to have Ciri wed Tankred Thyssen of Kovir in order to create a country ruled by magic; the Aen Elle forced Ciri to bear a child to the Alder King in order to perpetuate the Elder Blood. They were doing the same evil things. But when theLodge of Sorceresses once again threw an olive branch to Ciri, she instinctively pushed Ava to the front when the exploited PTSD striked. One's first instinct when predicting harm is to run away and then find a safe place to hide. How trusting is it for Ciri that Ava who harmed her turned out to be her safe zone!

In response to Philippa and Margarita's emphatic statement that [you are only his tool], Ciri bowed her head and remained silent for a few seconds, then prepared to leave. She can be seen on the boat in search of the Sunstone, holding her forehead in distress the whole time. This conversation did make Ciri suspicious, and she seriously considered the possibility, which was why she suddenly want to go to Ava's lab and see what's going on.

When Geralt accompanied Ciri, he would express his distrust of Ava, and this option of Ciri didn't make Philippa blanch. So I suspect that when Ciri faced them alone, Ciri might have implied that she would choose Ava as her teacher even if he had other intentions for her. This implication made Philippa think that Ciri's trust in Ava was so deep that it would be very difficult to get Ciri to join her again, so her face turned pale.

P:Just as soon as we teach you to control your power, channel--

C:I have Avallac'h for that…

Y:Philippa pontificating. Ciri pacing wall to wall.Philippa's turned pale!

Then came the famous lab episode, after which many cirillac'h shippers agreed that the hints given by CDPR earlier were not unintentional, but were intentional.

Geralt and Yen made jokes at the ambiguity between the two. Ciri's first reaction was to use the scar to immediately deny that the girl in the picture was not her, and her second reaction was to use a sarcastic tone to cover up the panic. It would have been normal to think about the possibility raised by her parents before reacting if she had no feelings. Ciri was well aware that the two were in an ambiguous and delicate relationship, and she had already pondered the possibility that perhaps Ava also had a crush on her, which was why she was so quick to deny their feelings for each other. Ciri's lines at this point speeded up and rose in tone, she was afraid to look directly at her parents, fleeing from the spot, and was completely on edge.

No, that's not me. Where's the scar?

Pfff. Very funny.

When confronted with a wall of family tree, Ciri was in a joking mood and didn't sound particularly sad or lost, and she didn't care about the fact that Ava was obsessed with her Elder Blood so much. But when she heard the jealous elfess' description, she was disappointed, sad, angry, and stormed off to smash the lab,  what she really cared about was Ava's perspective towards her.What does it say about a woman that a man's opinion of her is so important to her? It shows that she cares about him.

Meaning what exactly? That I ought to be looking about for giant jars holding my siblings?

When Geralt heard the elfess' unfriendly words, he immediately wanted Ciri to follow him away. Because he thought that the truthfulness of such jealous words had to be examined, there was no need to listen to the she-elf. But Ciri insisted on listening to all of it, caring too much what Ava thought of her. When she learned from the elfess that Ava hated/disliked her, she allowed the elfess to insult her, too sad to speak back, her eyes covered with tears. After the elfess left, Ciri, who was left alone with her parents, finally recovered from the shock and was so angry that she wanted to destroy the lab to take out her anger.

No. I want to listen.

What?! Do you fear I'll level this place like I did Kaer Morhen?Shame I can't do that at will, because I'd really like to now!

After the lab episode, Ciri suddenly remembered Skjall, who had an obvious crush on her. You didn't like me? Still hate me? It's okay, I have plenty of people to like. YOU BIG BASTARD! It's a psychological change to save respect, escape, and pique. This is a very deliberate detail.

Must we return to the boat right away?

Not here. On Hindarsfjall. In Lofoten. I met a young man, Skjall, and I'd like…

The following Sunstone episode showed more of Ava's emotions, and Ciri smiled after he gave advice. In her heart she's probably still willing to believe in Ava. I think it was Ciri who finally offered to stop the White Frost because she didn't want to face him again and wanted to "escape" again.

Finally, I'll reiterate. This is just my opinion. Ciri's feelings for Ava are vague and ambiguous, and much of the plot can only be guessed at by the hints and the emotions put in her place. But there are a few things that are very certain.

Ciri trusted Avallac’h.

Ciri admired Avallac’h.

Ciri was very attached to what Avallac’h thought of her.

If you have same/different opinions, feel free to discuss:)