The definition of a monster is a very big subject in the witcher In the series, the books and the games In the first season, Gerald was talking to his horse about the first monster he killed Said was a few miles away from Khaer Mohen, he was big, smelly, and bald, it was a dude wanting to violate a girl, and he killed the guy, and the girl he saved was terrified of Gerald There is a reason witchers carry two swords The saying is is silver for monsters and steel for humans, but in a way, they are both for monsters
Though in the original story they actually made him clueless, awkward, uncertain and a bit bumbling about how to speak to her, about how to be a father. It's an interesting change, I wonder why they made him more competent in that regard.
@@dantesolomon5607 To be fair, that version makes more sense. I just hope they make him a little more complex and not just the perfect dad like he's been all of S2.
@@lockekappa500 I agree. They even changed the whole relationship with Yen, Yen was supposed to be a more... motherly figure, but they made her very antagonistic and changed the bonding scene between them to include Gerald and his reunion with her. A shame that they feel the need to change things like this as it's actually quite important to Ciri's growth and personality and how Yen treats her in the later parts.
@@dantesolomon5607 Ciri’s relationship with Yen is one of my biggest disappointments this season, I hope we see it improved in s3. I don’t mind this version of Geralt and Ciri’s relationship though even though the book version makes more sense, I suspect it was done because they missed bonding scenes that should have happened between Geralt and Ciri in season 1, again, hopefully now that there is a clear bond they up the complexity going forward.
@@ducky36F Yes, they missed all the bonding scenes in season one, three years ago, even then the actress was too old to play a child. Now it looks even more unconvincing with a pretty young woman and this handsom middle aged witcher. No wonder they just took that poorly executed scene at the campfire and swiftly carried on: "We have got the bond! They are like a father and daughter now, don't you see?" It's realy poorly executed if compared to the books, where their relation grew over time.
I'd love to get a bigger breakdown on Geralt as a father figure to Ciri, kind of like what you did with Silco and Jinx. I personally think this show does a great job of showing a *relatively* healthy found family relationship and I'd love to hear your take.
I mean, for someone made into a living weapon and ostracized by the public for decades, maybe even centuries, he's doing a very good job at being a dad.
Speaking of monsters, I identified a lot with Nivellen (the man cursed to be a boar). 30 years ago, I was struggling with bipolar depression but didn't know it. I had a long manic period, and started dating a girl who I love & sex bombed. (And you haven't seen love & sex bombing until you've seen a manic person do it) . Then suddenly, I broke up with her without warning, and in a VERY matter-of-fact way, as though I was just telling her what time of the day it was. Her response was to hire a guy to kill me. For years, I dismissed it as her being crazy. Then I blamed myself for years. Eventually, my idea of love and sex became completely intertwined with the fear of murderous rage and revenge. For decades, I've have panic attacks and dissociative episodes whenever I'm around any woman I think might be interested in me. (Doesn't matter if they really are interested in me). When I finally sought treatment 20 years ago, the doctors misdiagnosed me, and treated me with antidepressants, which only made things worse. The combination of severe depression and an abject terror of women locked me into a very lonely place. So, in my loneliness, I turned to porn. A thing that can destroy the relationships of others became something very different for a man incapable of having a relationship. So, like Nivellen, I've spent 20 years living in a cold, isolated world, and my only companion has been a thing that many other people think of as a monster. Now that I'm being properly treated for bipolar, and am no longer struggling with depression, I feel somewhat like Nivellen when his curse was broken. It would take an incredible amount of work to overcome my fears of a relationship, and I've become so comfortable with my current lifestyle, I don't think I would want to change even if that task was easy.
The bruxa was my favorite monster in the whole season...her fighting against her inner nature and base instincts was not only a great foil to Ciri coming to terms with her power, it was also so relatable to me personally. Who doesn't struggle against their base instincts and inner urges, and consequently question what that says about us as a person? So good! Thanks for the breakdown!
The vampire characters are some of the best (in the books and the games). Highly recommend watching the opening cinematic for Witcher 3 Blood and Wine and listen to the lyrics being sung. It is a banger.
One of the scary parts for Ciri is that to a witcher outcomes matter. The bruxa didn't want to kill the villagers, but she did over and over again anyway because Nivellan's blood wasn't enough. Once Geralt found the dead villagers he became determined to kill the bruxa no matter what her intentions may be. Elements of this come into how the other witchers are suspicious of Ciri and the misfortune that follows her. Geralt is not perfectly even handed, he is definitely softer on princesses lol.
The optimistic answer to "what is a monster" is simply, "An animal we don't understand yet." This can apply to real world animals, fantasy creatures, and even, in a way, people.
Fun fact; bruxa can induce nightmares, but this also implies they can choose to manipulate/soothe them as well. When Vareena kisses Ciri’s hand and she falls asleep, I saw it as Vareena soothing Ciri to sleep and compelling her to dreamlessness. A bit of info for those who might be curious about the book version of the tale, which I feel goes a little deeper than the show was able to with their constraints. In the books Ciri isn’t with Geralt during the Vareena and Nivellen story (and it’s a change I don’t mind because it was well done and made sense, even fixing one of the bigger issues I had with The Grain of Truth story**), but part of the reason Vareena kills the villagers is also to keep Nivellen from falling in love with another girl. Nivellen had developed a system by which locals would bring their daughters to him, he’d take care of them, lavish them with gifts and riches in the hopes they’d eventually fall for him, but when they didn’t he’d give them plenty to carry on and start good lives with. Eventually he gave up this practice, or rather gave up seeking love, and only took the girls to help them. Until Vareena. Vareena grew jealous, but because she didn’t know how to express herself in a ‘human’ way, her only solution was to kill any potential competition for Nivellen’s affections. While this is incredibly manipulative and could be seen as ‘not real love, we must remember that she’s not human, and that by judging her with human standards we thusly make a monster of her actions. In the wild, animals dispatch of romantic rivals and chase off or kill threats to their territory. That’s what she was doing. In the end, her death proved she truly did love him, because it was by her blood and her love that the curse finally lifted. **SPOILERS: In the Grain of Truth, Nivellen outright confesses to his crimes against the priestess. In the show, they wait until after the curse is broken to reveal that he sexually assaulted the priestess. While in the books you get the sense that Geralt, despite having once slain a man for trying to assault a girl (that story he told Roach in Season One is canon to the books), doesn’t really have a big reaction to being told Nivellen was a r*pist?? I always understood it as Geralt being able to determine Nivellen had already suffered/been dealt appropriate punishment, but I understand why in the show they decided it would be better if Geralt was only personable because of a pre-existing relationship and out of ignorance of the true depth of Nivellen’s crimes.
Geralt is roughly 100 years old so it stands to reason he may have some wisdom worth sharing. Having said that Yennifer is about the same age and she still has her issues to work through.
@@KaffeboysDru He's had his hands in adjusting the show in places, and I'm glad he has. At least this approach gives him a little more room to play the character.
@@RichardStrong86 I wish Anya would do the same for Yennefer tbh. Sure, her character is supposed to have her issues regardless but S2 went way too far with that, she didn't feel like Yennefer at all.
The Bruxa haunts me to this day. Both a horrific and tragic story, all rolled into one. Her unnatural movements paired with her haunting beauty made this character instantly striking. Her final warning to Ciri will forever ring in my ears.
@@GeorgiaDow "He'll come for you too..." Haunting. Chilling. Of all the creatures and characters in the Witcher, the Bruxa is the most brutally honest. She questioned perceptions and motivations, made others think about themselves, and never lied about her intentions. Was she a monster? Yes. Are we? Absolutely. I could watch an entire series around this complex persona.
Fun fact: Cats bring you gifts because they see you as a big slow cat with no fur or claws who would have no hope of hunting. They're feeding you because they don't think you can feed yourself.
I felt the “do not run” line was a reference to The Last Unicorn, when it is warned to never run from anything immoral, as it only gets their attention.
Finally! Someone who understood what Vereena meant when she told Ciri not to run. Most people I've seen think she's just using her sweetness to trick Ciri into not running. But if she wanted to kill or hurt Ciri, she had plenty of opportunities to do so. Since she's afraid of Geralt, she's already in a heightened "fight" state and knows that she wouldn't be able to control herself. Vereena's overall behavior makes me wish she would have been able to control her impulses. She and Nivellen had a relationship that worked for them. If she could have controlled her impulses, Geralt may not have even known she was there and Vereena and Nivellen may have been able to live their lives in peace.
I've noticed this time and time again in the witcher that the people have this weird notion that he's an emotionless killing machine that's kills because they are different or not human but in reality of the Witcher he has emotions and only kills "monsters" not because they are different but because they are legit monsters, if he absolutely has to for self defense or something that goes against is moral code which makes a huge difference.
about the first point that was talked about (about the "normal" way to move) : something they teach you when you start working in the medical field is that if you feel like someone is talking or moving strangely, it's probably because something is going on with them, even if you can't pinpoint exactly what it is. sometimes it can be psychiatric but most times it's something organic, such as a toxic, brain damage or the begining of a shock. it's very visible with children who don't do anything wrong per say but act completely differently from what you'd expect from a child, it's very surprising. they also teach you that if you don't feel safe with a patient (very different from feeling uncomfortable btw), then it's probably that you are not, even if you can't say exactly what seems threatening. trusting your instincts regarding physical behavior and learning to decode it is a very important skill in the medical field and incredibly useful in everyday life also.
That is one of my favorite lines from the books/games/series. Like the Witcher 3 reveal cinematic Killing Monsters. Geralt is returning the head of a monster he was contracted to kill by some soldiers. Said soldiers are in the process of preparing to hang a woman accusing her of being a witch. When they go to break her legs and other forms of torture a bit much for comment section, before these soldiers execute her Geralt goes to kill them and defend her. When asked "what are you doing?" he replies "Killing monsters." In the end of the encounter, he trusses up the ringleader of the woman's mistreatment and abuse in the same noose and places him on the stool then walks away, giving the woman the choice to kick the stool out and kill her assailant. There are slight implications if you squint throughout the plot later on that she might have indeed been a witch/sorceress. It is a very dynamic series in all mediums (except Gwent 🙄)
Number one, love your content and insight. In the world of The Witcher (books and all), it’s made pretty clear that Witcher’s deem creatures that feed, harm, and especially find pleasure in harming humans a monster….. including other humans. The problem is, humanity as a whole doesn’t really see it that way. They see it as anyone different, including the Witchers. Very thought provoking way of looking into a mirror.
The version of Vereena in the show is very different, and far more sympathetic, then the far more malign Vereena in the short story. The TV show Vereena definitely strikes me as a tragic figure. She possesses human traits like curiosity and is clearly capable of empathy and of love deep and sincere enough to break Nivellen's curse, which makes it difficult to simply write her off as an abomination. I think some of the lines her character speaks are significant. When she telepathically says to Ciri 'I am not you, but I am like you' that hints that Vereena identifies with Ciri at some level, seemingly suggesting that Vereena, while inhuman, is not all that different from us emotionally and psychologically. As such, and having seen her capacity for various human emotions, it seems likely that she doesn't feel nothing when she kills to satiate her thirst for blood. Guilt, horror, self loathing - all seem like at least possible reactions. If she also has all the drives and needs of the young human woman she resembles - a desire for companionship and community - then her life before she met Nivellen seems likely to have been difficult, since her predatory nature would have prevented her ever satisfying any of those desires since she would inevitably, sooner or later, kill those she lived among and anyone she tried to take as a lover. As a vampire, Vereena could have been struggling with her predatory nature, a nature she did not choose and can't fully control, for centuries, and encountering Nivellen would have been a godsend for her, since finally here is someone who can be her companion that she can't harm by accident. Even better, she can feed on him to control her urges, with his consent, again and again with no fear that she might kill him by accident, possibly offering her the hope of finding a source of sustenance that would mean she would never need to kill to feed again, which would be a beacon of hope for her. It didn't work out that way, but you can see why the apparent possibility would be attractive to her. It also seems likely that the terrible thing Nivellen had done that lead to his curse - violating a priestess - might have contributed to the formation of a bond with Vereena, since like him she has also done terrible and unforgiveable things, murdering an unknown number of people to feed, even if (in the same way he was under the influence of hallucinogenic mushrooms) she was not in full control of her actions due to her biological imperative to feed at the time. Nivellen is in no moral position to judge her inhuman nature, any more than she has the moral authority to judge him for what he has done, and both of them are viewed as monsters beyond both the physical and moral pale of human society. They are two outcasts, feared and hated by almost all of society, that find solace in one another. I also think that, when Vereena tells Ciri not to run, because Vereena won't be able to help herself if Ciri runs, this is not a lie or a manipulation, but the truth. Vereena has two aspects, both of her physical body and of her mind, and the predatory side of herself will pursue, kill and devour anything that runs and so identifies itself as prey. In that regard at least, she is akin to the cat Nivellen described her as. Vereena feels a sense of kinship with Ciri, seeing her as another young woman that is different, and so does not want to harm her. That sense of kinship is also the reason for her final telepathic communication to Ciri - Vereena believes that Geralt killed her not because she killed her victims to feed, but simply because she differs from the human norm, and so she thinks it inevitable that he will similarly come after Ciri for her difference sooner or later. Vereena is wrong, but she doesn't know that. It is an open question if the term 'monster', with all its negative connotations, can really be fairly applied to this version of Vereena. She did kill many people to feed her hunger, but she had no choice in her drive to feed and it is strongly suggested that she in no way enjoyed doing it. This is not a sadistic creature that finds pleasure in the fear and pain of its victims, but more akin to someone born with a biological imperative that has terrible consequences but that cannot be ignored. Is Vereena a monster whose human like attributes, even if real, don't mitigate the horror of what she is? Or a woman afflicted with a inherited condition she never asked for and can't control? Each viewer must make up their own mind, but the parallels to the end of this season (where Ciri is possessed by Vorleth Meir) are clear. At the start of the season Geralt killed Vereen because, for all her finer attributes, she was killing travellers and had already slaughtered an entire village to sustain her needs and there seemed no likelihood she would be able to stop - she was too dangerous to innocent people to be left alive, even if it was through no fault of her own. And yet at the end of the season the possessed Ciri presents a threat orders of magnitude greater than Vereena ever could, potentially threatening all life on the Continent, and yet Geralt can't and won't choose the path of killing his child surprise for the greater good, and an alternative solution is found. A nice little bit of character growth for everyone's favourite professional monster slayer.
This reminded me of a STNG episode where Picard says “a whale consuming vast amounts of krill is not committing genocide; it is feeding”. A great lesson on perspective. We often equate monsters to villains, predators as evil. It is symbiotic and natural. The “evil” comes to play when you bring in the humans who commit violence out of boredom; for fun.
"Evil is Evil. Lesser, greater, middling… Makes no difference. The degree is arbitary. The definition’s blurred. If I’m to choose between one evil and another… I’d rather not choose at all."
@@Flufferz626 "Evil is Evil" is an absolutist judgement that is seldom true. For example, someone abused into sociopathy can be rehabilitated. But while in that state, an absolute judgement would claim they are evil when in fact they are hurting.
@@evlnte cats kill for fun and like to play with and torture their prey sometimes, it's well documented. I'm saying this as a cat lover who is a vet tech for a cat rescue. All I did was quote a line from Witcher. It is something Geralt says to himself and others to fooling himself into believing is a true neutral (he's not).
I love the extra effort that you take in your costumes. You didnt have to do it, but you decided to do it anyway. I appreciate you going the extra mile
The one thing I learned myself in a lot of aspects of life, is that I am the one handing out the "value" of something said to me or happening to me. You are the one in control of that value. As soon as you start to realize and better realize, at least for me, I attain far better control in my mind. I feel less defensive, less scared or even less irritated. However, this does not mean I won't fail, after all I'm just human. But, knowing I can, that puts me in a good headspace. Sometimes you just have to take the blow to remember the difference, or so I feel like it is.
Monster comes from the word monstre in french whose radical is the same as in "montrer" meaning to show or to point. So if we follow the etymology, a monster is the being designated as such, it is more of a social/superficial designation than related to its profund nature. I think it fits the witcher universe pretty well ^^
@@GeorgiaDow Omg yussssss! I don't know why, but I'm really rooting for them. You helped me understand Silco's character better and got me from disliking him to being alright with him. Can't wait for Vi/Cait. I've never been so invested in make-believe characters. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Anyway, I'm rambling. Merry Christmas!!!!!
You did an excellent job analyzing this episode. There was so much to unpack and I think for a lot of people they didn't quite get the underlying theme of 'what is a monster'. I also appreciate that you explained the interaction with Vereena and Ciri when she told her not to run. A lot of people just assumed she was trying to trick her, but she really did like Ciri and was just trying to overcome her base predatory instinct to hunt.
I thought that season 2 was much better then season 1. It seemed more focused and more experienced. I've been hearing that diehard fans of the book aren't happy because of how much it differs from the books. The show needs to entertain and get, and keep, eyeballs. Aka not get cancelled. The books are always there. I'm pretty sure that the majority of the viewers have never read the books. Many have played the 3rd game. I remember that after the first season came out A LOT of new people started playing the Witcher 3. The numbers shot up for such an old game. I thought that they did a really good job with season 2. I enjoyed the relationship between Geralt and Ciri. The production value and CGI was so much better in this season. I really enjoyed this 1st episode. The character that they introduced was funny and you could tell he was hiding something. They made you like him. Then it at the end we find out what he did to become cursed. He truly deserved his curse as it reflected that even though he was a man, he was a monster for what he did to the priestess. I enjoyed the whole angle of him falling in love with a monster since he was a monster and how he also did it so he wouldn't be lonely. I enjoyed how the monster had a discussion with Ciri. Good stuff. A solid season opener. Good episode. Good season. Especially the final episode. Episode 1 and 8 are probably the best. Good stuff.
I love the second season. I've read the books and played the games but I can take them each as their own thing. The show makes some changes to the plot and thus sometimes to the characters, but is overall true to the spirit of the books and the overarching story. A 1:1 season 2 would have had Triss fantasizing about Geralt and reminiscing about how she used magic to get him to have sex with her, and how she then got off on his shame and guilt, followed by an entire episode of Geralt taking care of Triss while she's having diarrhea in the bushes. Yennefer would have been AWOL for like 7 episodes and not had much in the way of character development. Most of the season would have been dialogue and internal monologue. I kinda would have wanted to see that show, but I also understand why they did what they did with the show. The next book has a lot more action and an iconic setpiece in it, so the show will probably be a bit closer to the book plot. Not that that's a requirement for the show to be good or "faithful" to the books.
@@juho1891 Indeed. There always seems to be a sizable subset of a fanbase that expect shows to be pretty much a 1:1 adaptation of a popular book series. That doesn't always work. Plus there is an argument of if something is just a copy and paste then why not just read the books. It's not like the books suddenly no longer exist if it's made into a show. Adaptation can be a hard job. An entire episode of a character having diarrhea in the bushes is an example of how not everything is adaptable. They could throw in the show for a small segment. Not an entire episode though. 😂 I'm pretty pleased with the show. I always felt like season 1 had a lot of potential, but was just okay. Although I really loved how Henry plays Geralt. I'm glad that he is a big nerd and is a huge fan of the video games and the books. I love the humor in the show too. The author of the books said he was pleased after he watched season 2. I'm quite pleased how it turned out. I look forward to season 3. I believe the show runner has a general idea of how 7 seasons will play out. No idea if we will actually get that many seasons. Quite pleased with the show. I hope people get into it. I suspect that the Witcher 3 game and also the books are going to have a sudden increase in sales again.
@@juho1891 Not really show runner really hated source material and I will not write much in the comment just watch a video on Flying Walrus channel on why the show is bad adaptation of Sapkowski's books. Definitely a person who had not read the novels will be confused about is happening and what are characters motives
This has been my favorite episode in Season 2 so far, especially after having played the quest "Skellige's Most Wanted" which plays on these themes (and Vereena is actually referenced in this quest, but not directly)! Thank you for the breakdown!
I'd love to see you break down some of the big Anime characters. Like Naruto evolving from a orphan not accepted by the world into a an adult that forgets to appreciate his own children because he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. But that would be a very large undertaking on your end since there are 19 years worth of content. More recent suggestion would be Rudeus, the main character in Mushoku Tensei. He is a broken an flawed man who makes many mistakes through out the anime. Love the video! keep them coming! =D
I am in awe with all your videos and explanations. You really explain very well and very clearly everything. You explain something that sometimes is difficult to see or understand very, very well, you make it easy ^^.
Ahhhh i was hoping for a witcher video... Would love to see a video analyzing whats going on in Yenifers mind after losing her power and how shes trying to cope. Or Ciris epic determination to train and become a witcher not wanting to rest because "less than perfect" isnt good enough
Found your channel recently and have been watching everything since I first saw your Arcane videos. Love it, and would love to see a breakdown of Geralt and Ciri like you did with Jinx and Silco
Speaking of that Primal thing. The uncanny valley *exists* That means, that at some point in human evolution (because this specifically applies to *faces* ) there was adaptive pressure for us to be able to tell when something was trying to look human, and act human *but wasn't*
Great vid Georgia! French author and woman of letters, Colette wrote: "As for an authentic villain, the real thing...the absolute...the artist, one rarely meets him even once in a lifetime..." I have met him. More than once. And "him" is, more often than you think...a "her". One of the dictionary definitions of the word "monster" is "an extremely wicked or cruel person". An authentic villain, a monster...is less rare nowadays. I've been fighting them my whole life. But there is a second part to the Colette quote which shows an important distinction: "The ordinary bad hat is always in part a decent fellow." It's important to be able to tell the difference between an ordinary bad hat and an authentic villain. The monster.
Another marvelously insightful and informative video. Any chance that you could examine Hannibal and Will Graham's dynamic in the Hannibal tv series? Great though Anthony Hopkins is, Mads Mikkelson is really something else as Hannibal Lecter, and my I would love to behold your reactions and what you have to say with regards to their... relationship.
This helps me understand the monster lady (sorry I forget her name) better. I didn't read those scenes right and wasn't sure if she was being truly kind or not.
For those of us that read the books, this is the story that changes Geralt and makes him more selective in his contracts, before this he was like any other Witcher, killing every monster for money, but after this he began to understand that some monsters are not monsters and only act on their nature or to eat, and those he stoped killing...
I'm been watching your content for while now and you do a awesome job I loved it is this you first video about the Witcher? I can't wait for the next one
I love how in every video of yours you are dressed in the theme of the movie/series or relationship between characters you are explaining and analysing it seems pretty cool and nice + you are doing pretty it well!
I enjoy your break downs of characters in movies shows. I love the Witcher books games and tv series so I would like to see you do a video on Geralt and Ciri's father daughter relationship in season 2 or about Geralt mental stat though season 1
I think the Witcher 3 Killing Monsters trailer fits into this discussion of "who is a monster?" (or at least who Geralt considers a monster) really well. PS.: Yes, Withcer 3 Geralt and the Series Geralt may not be the same atm, but my point still stands.
I have been watching you videos for a couple of months now and I'm loving each and everyone of them thanks for helping me and so many others to better understand who we are
This was awesome! I would love more videos on the Witcher, a dissection of Yennefer would be really cool! But there are so many fantastic characters to draw from you could go all day!
The thing about the Bruxa was that she wasn't a monster, she was just a predator. A wolf that caught and ate rabbits so it could care for its pups. Ciri was her surrogate puppy. Most of what Geralt fights is actually just extremely efficient predators and most of the monsters he finds are people because they could choose not to be predators but they don't. Geralt I think understood it but thr fairy tale story meant the host's relationship choice was the source of his curse. He was in a terribly abusive relationship but he drew his whole identity from it and without it he had nothing. I think my favourite part of their relationship so far is when he sees her attempt the gauntlet, and almost makes it but fails the stick the landing. He doesn't berate her, or condescend with any lessons or lectures about being careful. He smirks and says so close. He doesn't even offer her a hand, knowing she's perfectly capable of getting up herself. He respects her valor and remembers the struggles and takes her every bit as seriously as he would anyone else attempting the gauntlet.
To be completely fair, the bruxa still did kill minimally an entire family in the village - though it seems like it was more than that based on the population of the village.
Love your video, & I also love the saying not sure who said it or if it is accurate but witchers carry 2 swords one of steel for men and one of silver for beasts both for killing monsters.
To correct the point about the kiss to make Ciri sleep, it's not a spell, Bruxa's in the Witcher universe has saliva that puts various creatures to sleep. More of a physical reaction, not a magical one.
I don't know if you do any sort of gaming, but Witcher 3 was big on the ideas of what is a monster and what deserves to die. There are numerous instances throughout the game where you have to choose whether or not to kill the "monsters", with those monster sometimes being people and sometimes being actual creatures. And with my playthrough, as seems to often be the theme with The Witcher in general, the humans you have to pass judgement on usually end up being far more monstrous than the actual monsters you have to do the same for.
I am excited to see you breakdown more of the Witcher season 2 content (in terms of psychology of course, haha)...cause I REALLY need to know what some of these characters were thinking 😅
Well, you said to comment if we want more Witcher stuff, so... New fan. I'm enjoying Horizon, Moon Knight and Witcher content so far. Would love more of any of those.
Hey Georgia! I'm wondering when are you planning to post a video about Jinx's "hallucinations" all throughout Arcane. And about their meaning or whatever is your comment is. But anyways I'm looking forward to watch this video.
@the "what makes a monster" part. I kind of dislike that it was said by the Vereena, because in the books, the person bringing it up, was Geralt, and that has better impact, because we are repeatadely shown Geralt despite being abused, taken advantage off, keeps doing the right things, despite putting on a facade of a cynic, a stone cold killer, he keeps helping, he keeps doing those small and big things that are the right thing to do, and he, as a witcher, is being called a monster and hated by everyone. Which to me, reads as a more sincere, when he meets Nivellen, he can relate to this man that looks like a monster, a man that do monstrous things, it reads as more sincere way to empathise. When it comes from Vereena, it read, atleast to me, as a monster having a very advanced hunting strategy, where she can put all that effort before so her victims dont run. Especially later, when she asks her not to run. It just felt to me, like a predator designed to hunt humans, using everything they have to make the hunt easiest, or to preserve themselves. Vereena seems to be aware of who Geralt is, and if thats the case, it makes perfect sense for her to get Ciri on her side, so she can protect her, maybe, from Geralt. I also dislike the "fear is disease" because, in the books, Geralt was more understanding, he, and all witchers, were very familiar with fear, they knew that fear is just part of life, and where he goes later makes the exchange better, but i dislike it because it implies that fear is something that is unnatural for humans, while fear is simply a selfpreservation tool, its what allows for the adrenaline hit in the stressful situations which can let us be able to survive something we might not otherwise. So i feel like it wouldve been better if he put emphasis on that, "fear is a tool, its part of our experience, you cant let it control you, but it can aid you". Especially if we take into consideration the large degree to which Geralt relies on his insticts in the books atleast, it just feels wrong to me, out of character.
The definition of a monster is a very big subject in the witcher
In the series, the books and the games
In the first season, Gerald was talking to his horse about the first monster he killed
Said was a few miles away from Khaer Mohen, he was big, smelly, and bald, it was a dude wanting to violate a girl, and he killed the guy, and the girl he saved was terrified of Gerald
There is a reason witchers carry two swords
The saying is is silver for monsters and steel for humans, but in a way, they are both for monsters
Abigail: "What about your sword? I heard witchers carry two, a silver blade for monsters, and steel for humans…
"
Geralt : "Both are for monsters…”
I love the Witcher 3 trailer called "Killing Monsters"... plays exactly into that idea.
The Geralt and Ciri relationship is done so well in this season. He's always saying the correct things to her.
Though in the original story they actually made him clueless, awkward, uncertain and a bit bumbling about how to speak to her, about how to be a father. It's an interesting change, I wonder why they made him more competent in that regard.
@@dantesolomon5607 To be fair, that version makes more sense. I just hope they make him a little more complex and not just the perfect dad like he's been all of S2.
@@lockekappa500 I agree. They even changed the whole relationship with Yen, Yen was supposed to be a more... motherly figure, but they made her very antagonistic and changed the bonding scene between them to include Gerald and his reunion with her. A shame that they feel the need to change things like this as it's actually quite important to Ciri's growth and personality and how Yen treats her in the later parts.
@@dantesolomon5607 Ciri’s relationship with Yen is one of my biggest disappointments this season, I hope we see it improved in s3.
I don’t mind this version of Geralt and Ciri’s relationship though even though the book version makes more sense, I suspect it was done because they missed bonding scenes that should have happened between Geralt and Ciri in season 1, again, hopefully now that there is a clear bond they up the complexity going forward.
@@ducky36F Yes, they missed all the bonding scenes in season one, three years ago, even then the actress was too old to play a child. Now it looks even more unconvincing with a pretty young woman and this handsom middle aged witcher. No wonder they just took that poorly executed scene at the campfire and swiftly carried on: "We have got the bond! They are like a father and daughter now, don't you see?"
It's realy poorly executed if compared to the books, where their relation grew over time.
Georgia: Geralt is a good therapist
Geralt: Hm
Perfect :p
and yet he kinda needs therapy. :'D
I'd love to get a bigger breakdown on Geralt as a father figure to Ciri, kind of like what you did with Silco and Jinx. I personally think this show does a great job of showing a *relatively* healthy found family relationship and I'd love to hear your take.
I mean, for someone made into a living weapon and ostracized by the public for decades, maybe even centuries, he's doing a very good job at being a dad.
Speaking of monsters, I identified a lot with Nivellen (the man cursed to be a boar).
30 years ago, I was struggling with bipolar depression but didn't know it. I had a long manic period, and started dating a girl who I love & sex bombed. (And you haven't seen love & sex bombing until you've seen a manic person do it) .
Then suddenly, I broke up with her without warning, and in a VERY matter-of-fact way, as though I was just telling her what time of the day it was.
Her response was to hire a guy to kill me.
For years, I dismissed it as her being crazy.
Then I blamed myself for years.
Eventually, my idea of love and sex became completely intertwined with the fear of murderous rage and revenge.
For decades, I've have panic attacks and dissociative episodes whenever I'm around any woman I think might be interested in me. (Doesn't matter if they really are interested in me).
When I finally sought treatment 20 years ago, the doctors misdiagnosed me, and treated me with antidepressants, which only made things worse.
The combination of severe depression and an abject terror of women locked me into a very lonely place.
So, in my loneliness, I turned to porn.
A thing that can destroy the relationships of others became something very different for a man incapable of having a relationship.
So, like Nivellen, I've spent 20 years living in a cold, isolated world, and my only companion has been a thing that many other people think of as a monster.
Now that I'm being properly treated for bipolar, and am no longer struggling with depression, I feel somewhat like Nivellen when his curse was broken. It would take an incredible amount of work to overcome my fears of a relationship, and I've become so comfortable with my current lifestyle, I don't think I would want to change even if that task was easy.
I'm glad you were able to "break the curse", man. Good for you.
So happy you found your path. I wish you the best and thank you for sharing
The bruxa was my favorite monster in the whole season...her fighting against her inner nature and base instincts was not only a great foil to Ciri coming to terms with her power, it was also so relatable to me personally. Who doesn't struggle against their base instincts and inner urges, and consequently question what that says about us as a person? So good! Thanks for the breakdown!
The vampire characters are some of the best (in the books and the games). Highly recommend watching the opening cinematic for Witcher 3 Blood and Wine and listen to the lyrics being sung. It is a banger.
Was amazing I felt the same
I just felt amazing that I was able to recognise her as a Bruxa. I did it by just seeing the opening scene.
One of the scary parts for Ciri is that to a witcher outcomes matter. The bruxa didn't want to kill the villagers, but she did over and over again anyway because Nivellan's blood wasn't enough. Once Geralt found the dead villagers he became determined to kill the bruxa no matter what her intentions may be. Elements of this come into how the other witchers are suspicious of Ciri and the misfortune that follows her. Geralt is not perfectly even handed, he is definitely softer on princesses lol.
As it was part of her nature to do so and had no choice and needed to survive
The optimistic answer to "what is a monster" is simply, "An animal we don't understand yet." This can apply to real world animals, fantasy creatures, and even, in a way, people.
Fun fact; bruxa can induce nightmares, but this also implies they can choose to manipulate/soothe them as well. When Vareena kisses Ciri’s hand and she falls asleep, I saw it as Vareena soothing Ciri to sleep and compelling her to dreamlessness.
A bit of info for those who might be curious about the book version of the tale, which I feel goes a little deeper than the show was able to with their constraints. In the books Ciri isn’t with Geralt during the Vareena and Nivellen story (and it’s a change I don’t mind because it was well done and made sense, even fixing one of the bigger issues I had with The Grain of Truth story**), but part of the reason Vareena kills the villagers is also to keep Nivellen from falling in love with another girl. Nivellen had developed a system by which locals would bring their daughters to him, he’d take care of them, lavish them with gifts and riches in the hopes they’d eventually fall for him, but when they didn’t he’d give them plenty to carry on and start good lives with. Eventually he gave up this practice, or rather gave up seeking love, and only took the girls to help them. Until Vareena. Vareena grew jealous, but because she didn’t know how to express herself in a ‘human’ way, her only solution was to kill any potential competition for Nivellen’s affections. While this is incredibly manipulative and could be seen as ‘not real love, we must remember that she’s not human, and that by judging her with human standards we thusly make a monster of her actions. In the wild, animals dispatch of romantic rivals and chase off or kill threats to their territory. That’s what she was doing. In the end, her death proved she truly did love him, because it was by her blood and her love that the curse finally lifted.
**SPOILERS: In the Grain of Truth, Nivellen outright confesses to his crimes against the priestess. In the show, they wait until after the curse is broken to reveal that he sexually assaulted the priestess. While in the books you get the sense that Geralt, despite having once slain a man for trying to assault a girl (that story he told Roach in Season One is canon to the books), doesn’t really have a big reaction to being told Nivellen was a r*pist?? I always understood it as Geralt being able to determine Nivellen had already suffered/been dealt appropriate punishment, but I understand why in the show they decided it would be better if Geralt was only personable because of a pre-existing relationship and out of ignorance of the true depth of Nivellen’s crimes.
Geralt is roughly 100 years old so it stands to reason he may have some wisdom worth sharing. Having said that Yennifer is about the same age and she still has her issues to work through.
not in the original script for the season though, Henry had to fight for it to have Geralt written as more wise and emotional
@@KaffeboysDru He's had his hands in adjusting the show in places, and I'm glad he has. At least this approach gives him a little more room to play the character.
@@RichardStrong86 I wish Anya would do the same for Yennefer tbh. Sure, her character is supposed to have her issues regardless but S2 went way too far with that, she didn't feel like Yennefer at all.
@@chiefpurrfect8389 they should've stuck with her wanting a child more tbh
The Bruxa haunts me to this day. Both a horrific and tragic story, all rolled into one. Her unnatural movements paired with her haunting beauty made this character instantly striking. Her final warning to Ciri will forever ring in my ears.
i am with you as do her last words, mine or no ones
@@GeorgiaDow "He'll come for you too..." Haunting. Chilling. Of all the creatures and characters in the Witcher, the Bruxa is the most brutally honest. She questioned perceptions and motivations, made others think about themselves, and never lied about her intentions. Was she a monster? Yes. Are we? Absolutely.
I could watch an entire series around this complex persona.
Fun fact: Cats bring you gifts because they see you as a big slow cat with no fur or claws who would have no hope of hunting. They're feeding you because they don't think you can feed yourself.
Came for Arcane, stayed for Witcher. Excellent channel, subscribed.
Thanks for subbing ! Appreciate you
I felt the “do not run” line was a reference to The Last Unicorn, when it is warned to never run from anything immoral, as it only gets their attention.
Finally! Someone who understood what Vereena meant when she told Ciri not to run. Most people I've seen think she's just using her sweetness to trick Ciri into not running. But if she wanted to kill or hurt Ciri, she had plenty of opportunities to do so. Since she's afraid of Geralt, she's already in a heightened "fight" state and knows that she wouldn't be able to control herself.
Vereena's overall behavior makes me wish she would have been able to control her impulses. She and Nivellen had a relationship that worked for them. If she could have controlled her impulses, Geralt may not have even known she was there and Vereena and Nivellen may have been able to live their lives in peace.
GEORGIA IS LITERALLY KILLING IT WITH THE OUTFIT!!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥
YAY so happy you noticed and liked it !!! I was excited for this one
I've noticed this time and time again in the witcher that the people have this weird notion that he's an emotionless killing machine that's kills because they are different or not human but in reality of the Witcher he has emotions and only kills "monsters" not because they are different but because they are legit monsters, if he absolutely has to for self defense or something that goes against is moral code which makes a huge difference.
about the first point that was talked about (about the "normal" way to move) : something they teach you when you start working in the medical field is that if you feel like someone is talking or moving strangely, it's probably because something is going on with them, even if you can't pinpoint exactly what it is. sometimes it can be psychiatric but most times it's something organic, such as a toxic, brain damage or the begining of a shock. it's very visible with children who don't do anything wrong per say but act completely differently from what you'd expect from a child, it's very surprising. they also teach you that if you don't feel safe with a patient (very different from feeling uncomfortable btw), then it's probably that you are not, even if you can't say exactly what seems threatening.
trusting your instincts regarding physical behavior and learning to decode it is a very important skill in the medical field and incredibly useful in everyday life also.
That is one of my favorite lines from the books/games/series.
Like the Witcher 3 reveal cinematic Killing Monsters. Geralt is returning the head of a monster he was contracted to kill by some soldiers. Said soldiers are in the process of preparing to hang a woman accusing her of being a witch. When they go to break her legs and other forms of torture a bit much for comment section, before these soldiers execute her Geralt goes to kill them and defend her. When asked "what are you doing?" he replies "Killing monsters."
In the end of the encounter, he trusses up the ringleader of the woman's mistreatment and abuse in the same noose and places him on the stool then walks away, giving the woman the choice to kick the stool out and kill her assailant.
There are slight implications if you squint throughout the plot later on that she might have indeed been a witch/sorceress.
It is a very dynamic series in all mediums (except Gwent 🙄)
Very nice thanks
Yes! The Witcher and Arcane are my two favorites. Thank you love the insights and perspective provided.
Whooohoo
Number one, love your content and insight. In the world of The Witcher (books and all), it’s made pretty clear that Witcher’s deem creatures that feed, harm, and especially find pleasure in harming humans a monster….. including other humans. The problem is, humanity as a whole doesn’t really see it that way. They see it as anyone different, including the Witchers.
Very thought provoking way of looking into a mirror.
Never watched this series but these clips look awesome, and I love the empathetic vibe that your commentary adds
Appreciate you
Keeping in mind that in this particular episode, the creepy girl killed an entire village full of innocent people at the start.
Watch the show. It's pretty good. Season 2 is a lot better than season 1.
Check out her videos analyzing Arcane too.
Came to this channel for the arcane videos, stayed for the amazing content.
Great job Doc keep it up!
Yay !!
Same here bro.
The version of Vereena in the show is very different, and far more sympathetic, then the far more malign Vereena in the short story. The TV show Vereena definitely strikes me as a tragic figure. She possesses human traits like curiosity and is clearly capable of empathy and of love deep and sincere enough to break Nivellen's curse, which makes it difficult to simply write her off as an abomination. I think some of the lines her character speaks are significant. When she telepathically says to Ciri 'I am not you, but I am like you' that hints that Vereena identifies with Ciri at some level, seemingly suggesting that Vereena, while inhuman, is not all that different from us emotionally and psychologically. As such, and having seen her capacity for various human emotions, it seems likely that she doesn't feel nothing when she kills to satiate her thirst for blood. Guilt, horror, self loathing - all seem like at least possible reactions. If she also has all the drives and needs of the young human woman she resembles - a desire for companionship and community - then her life before she met Nivellen seems likely to have been difficult, since her predatory nature would have prevented her ever satisfying any of those desires since she would inevitably, sooner or later, kill those she lived among and anyone she tried to take as a lover.
As a vampire, Vereena could have been struggling with her predatory nature, a nature she did not choose and can't fully control, for centuries, and encountering Nivellen would have been a godsend for her, since finally here is someone who can be her companion that she can't harm by accident. Even better, she can feed on him to control her urges, with his consent, again and again with no fear that she might kill him by accident, possibly offering her the hope of finding a source of sustenance that would mean she would never need to kill to feed again, which would be a beacon of hope for her. It didn't work out that way, but you can see why the apparent possibility would be attractive to her.
It also seems likely that the terrible thing Nivellen had done that lead to his curse - violating a priestess - might have contributed to the formation of a bond with Vereena, since like him she has also done terrible and unforgiveable things, murdering an unknown number of people to feed, even if (in the same way he was under the influence of hallucinogenic mushrooms) she was not in full control of her actions due to her biological imperative to feed at the time. Nivellen is in no moral position to judge her inhuman nature, any more than she has the moral authority to judge him for what he has done, and both of them are viewed as monsters beyond both the physical and moral pale of human society. They are two outcasts, feared and hated by almost all of society, that find solace in one another.
I also think that, when Vereena tells Ciri not to run, because Vereena won't be able to help herself if Ciri runs, this is not a lie or a manipulation, but the truth. Vereena has two aspects, both of her physical body and of her mind, and the predatory side of herself will pursue, kill and devour anything that runs and so identifies itself as prey. In that regard at least, she is akin to the cat Nivellen described her as. Vereena feels a sense of kinship with Ciri, seeing her as another young woman that is different, and so does not want to harm her. That sense of kinship is also the reason for her final telepathic communication to Ciri - Vereena believes that Geralt killed her not because she killed her victims to feed, but simply because she differs from the human norm, and so she thinks it inevitable that he will similarly come after Ciri for her difference sooner or later. Vereena is wrong, but she doesn't know that.
It is an open question if the term 'monster', with all its negative connotations, can really be fairly applied to this version of Vereena. She did kill many people to feed her hunger, but she had no choice in her drive to feed and it is strongly suggested that she in no way enjoyed doing it. This is not a sadistic creature that finds pleasure in the fear and pain of its victims, but more akin to someone born with a biological imperative that has terrible consequences but that cannot be ignored. Is Vereena a monster whose human like attributes, even if real, don't mitigate the horror of what she is? Or a woman afflicted with a inherited condition she never asked for and can't control? Each viewer must make up their own mind, but the parallels to the end of this season (where Ciri is possessed by Vorleth Meir) are clear. At the start of the season Geralt killed Vereen because, for all her finer attributes, she was killing travellers and had already slaughtered an entire village to sustain her needs and there seemed no likelihood she would be able to stop - she was too dangerous to innocent people to be left alive, even if it was through no fault of her own. And yet at the end of the season the possessed Ciri presents a threat orders of magnitude greater than Vereena ever could, potentially threatening all life on the Continent, and yet Geralt can't and won't choose the path of killing his child surprise for the greater good, and an alternative solution is found. A nice little bit of character growth for everyone's favourite professional monster slayer.
This reminded me of a STNG episode where Picard says “a whale consuming vast amounts of krill is not committing genocide; it is feeding”. A great lesson on perspective. We often equate monsters to villains, predators as evil. It is symbiotic and natural. The “evil” comes to play when you bring in the humans who commit violence out of boredom; for fun.
Many animals also do horrible things out of fun or hatred
"Evil is Evil. Lesser, greater, middling… Makes no difference. The degree is arbitary. The definition’s blurred. If I’m to choose between one evil and another… I’d rather not choose at all."
@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl Please point to your research otherwise you are anthropomorphizing.
@@Flufferz626 "Evil is Evil" is an absolutist judgement that is seldom true. For example, someone abused into sociopathy can be rehabilitated. But while in that state, an absolute judgement would claim they are evil when in fact they are hurting.
@@evlnte cats kill for fun and like to play with and torture their prey sometimes, it's well documented. I'm saying this as a cat lover who is a vet tech for a cat rescue.
All I did was quote a line from Witcher. It is something Geralt says to himself and others to fooling himself into believing is a true neutral (he's not).
OH HELL YEAH A WITCHER EPISODE!!! Could you possibly do a video on all the relationships? I would love one on Geralt and Ciri!!!
I will be doing another one soon
@@GeorgiaDow Yay!!! I can't wait to see it!!!
I love the extra effort that you take in your costumes. You didnt have to do it, but you decided to do it anyway. I appreciate you going the extra mile
this one was such fun
The one thing I learned myself in a lot of aspects of life, is that I am the one handing out the "value" of something said to me or happening to me. You are the one in control of that value. As soon as you start to realize and better realize, at least for me, I attain far better control in my mind. I feel less defensive, less scared or even less irritated. However, this does not mean I won't fail, after all I'm just human. But, knowing I can, that puts me in a good headspace. Sometimes you just have to take the blow to remember the difference, or so I feel like it is.
Monster comes from the word monstre in french whose radical is the same as in "montrer" meaning to show or to point. So if we follow the etymology, a monster is the being designated as such, it is more of a social/superficial designation than related to its profund nature. I think it fits the witcher universe pretty well ^^
Honestly I would love to see more on the Witcher or Arcane. Im still waiting for the Caitlin/Vi video after all!
working on it as we speak
@@GeorgiaDow Omg yussssss! I don't know why, but I'm really rooting for them. You helped me understand Silco's character better and got me from disliking him to being alright with him. Can't wait for Vi/Cait. I've never been so invested in make-believe characters. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Anyway, I'm rambling. Merry Christmas!!!!!
You did an excellent job analyzing this episode. There was so much to unpack and I think for a lot of people they didn't quite get the underlying theme of 'what is a monster'. I also appreciate that you explained the interaction with Vereena and Ciri when she told her not to run. A lot of people just assumed she was trying to trick her, but she really did like Ciri and was just trying to overcome her base predatory instinct to hunt.
thanks happy you liked it
I'd love to see a podcast from you where you and friends go deep and unscripted into various parts of pop culture from a Psychotherapy perspective.
I thought that season 2 was much better then season 1. It seemed more focused and more experienced. I've been hearing that diehard fans of the book aren't happy because of how much it differs from the books. The show needs to entertain and get, and keep, eyeballs. Aka not get cancelled. The books are always there. I'm pretty sure that the majority of the viewers have never read the books. Many have played the 3rd game. I remember that after the first season came out A LOT of new people started playing the Witcher 3. The numbers shot up for such an old game.
I thought that they did a really good job with season 2. I enjoyed the relationship between Geralt and Ciri. The production value and CGI was so much better in this season.
I really enjoyed this 1st episode. The character that they introduced was funny and you could tell he was hiding something. They made you like him. Then it at the end we find out what he did to become cursed. He truly deserved his curse as it reflected that even though he was a man, he was a monster for what he did to the priestess.
I enjoyed the whole angle of him falling in love with a monster since he was a monster and how he also did it so he wouldn't be lonely. I enjoyed how the monster had a discussion with Ciri.
Good stuff. A solid season opener. Good episode. Good season. Especially the final episode. Episode 1 and 8 are probably the best. Good stuff.
I love the second season. I've read the books and played the games but I can take them each as their own thing. The show makes some changes to the plot and thus sometimes to the characters, but is overall true to the spirit of the books and the overarching story. A 1:1 season 2 would have had Triss fantasizing about Geralt and reminiscing about how she used magic to get him to have sex with her, and how she then got off on his shame and guilt, followed by an entire episode of Geralt taking care of Triss while she's having diarrhea in the bushes. Yennefer would have been AWOL for like 7 episodes and not had much in the way of character development. Most of the season would have been dialogue and internal monologue. I kinda would have wanted to see that show, but I also understand why they did what they did with the show. The next book has a lot more action and an iconic setpiece in it, so the show will probably be a bit closer to the book plot. Not that that's a requirement for the show to be good or "faithful" to the books.
@@juho1891 Indeed. There always seems to be a sizable subset of a fanbase that expect shows to be pretty much a 1:1 adaptation of a popular book series. That doesn't always work. Plus there is an argument of if something is just a copy and paste then why not just read the books. It's not like the books suddenly no longer exist if it's made into a show. Adaptation can be a hard job. An entire episode of a character having diarrhea in the bushes is an example of how not everything is adaptable. They could throw in the show for a small segment. Not an entire episode though. 😂
I'm pretty pleased with the show. I always felt like season 1 had a lot of potential, but was just okay. Although I really loved how Henry plays Geralt. I'm glad that he is a big nerd and is a huge fan of the video games and the books. I love the humor in the show too.
The author of the books said he was pleased after he watched season 2.
I'm quite pleased how it turned out. I look forward to season 3. I believe the show runner has a general idea of how 7 seasons will play out. No idea if we will actually get that many seasons.
Quite pleased with the show. I hope people get into it. I suspect that the Witcher 3 game and also the books are going to have a sudden increase in sales again.
@@juho1891 Not really show runner really hated source material and I will not write much in the comment just watch a video on Flying Walrus channel on why the show is bad adaptation of Sapkowski's books. Definitely a person who had not read the novels will be confused about is happening and what are characters motives
Have a wonderful Christmas! Thank you for the upload, I love how you approached the Bruxa with a bit of Ciri and Geralt.
Yay happy you liked it
This has been my favorite episode in Season 2 so far, especially after having played the quest "Skellige's Most Wanted" which plays on these themes (and Vereena is actually referenced in this quest, but not directly)! Thank you for the breakdown!
I'd love to see you break down some of the big Anime characters. Like Naruto evolving from a orphan not accepted by the world into a an adult that forgets to appreciate his own children because he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. But that would be a very large undertaking on your end since there are 19 years worth of content.
More recent suggestion would be Rudeus, the main character in Mushoku Tensei. He is a broken an flawed man who makes many mistakes through out the anime.
Love the video! keep them coming! =D
Naw. Once you start watching, you cant stop. Just skip fillers and non naruto arcs. She can go back if she wants.
I am in awe with all your videos and explanations. You really explain very well and very clearly everything. You explain something that sometimes is difficult to see or understand very, very well, you make it easy ^^.
huge compliment thanks
Ahhhh i was hoping for a witcher video... Would love to see a video analyzing whats going on in Yenifers mind after losing her power and how shes trying to cope. Or Ciris epic determination to train and become a witcher not wanting to rest because "less than perfect" isnt good enough
Yes I will be doing one on that
Found your channel recently and have been watching everything since I first saw your Arcane videos. Love it, and would love to see a breakdown of Geralt and Ciri like you did with Jinx and Silco
Speaking of that Primal thing.
The uncanny valley *exists*
That means, that at some point in human evolution (because this specifically applies to *faces* ) there was adaptive pressure for us to be able to tell when something was trying to look human, and act human *but wasn't*
Great vid Georgia! French author and woman of letters, Colette wrote: "As for an authentic villain, the real thing...the absolute...the artist, one rarely meets him even once in a lifetime..." I have met him. More than once. And "him" is, more often than you think...a "her". One of the dictionary definitions of the word "monster" is "an extremely wicked or cruel person". An authentic villain, a monster...is less rare nowadays. I've been fighting them my whole life. But there is a second part to the Colette quote which shows an important distinction: "The ordinary bad hat is always in part a decent fellow." It's important to be able to tell the difference between an ordinary bad hat and an authentic villain. The monster.
thanks CL as always a thoughtful reply
I absolutely love your videos it adds so much depth to the characters and makes me love them more!
Was not expecting a Therapist Reacts today but damn, I'll take it. Have a great Christmas eve!
Merry Christmas
Another marvelously insightful and informative video. Any chance that you could examine Hannibal and Will Graham's dynamic in the Hannibal tv series? Great though Anthony Hopkins is, Mads Mikkelson is really something else as Hannibal Lecter, and my I would love to behold your reactions and what you have to say with regards to their... relationship.
This helps me understand the monster lady (sorry I forget her name) better. I didn't read those scenes right and wasn't sure if she was being truly kind or not.
Vereena and i am happy that this helped you understand her more
You should definitely do a video on Geralt. It would be so interesting to see your take on him
For those of us that read the books, this is the story that changes Geralt and makes him more selective in his contracts, before this he was like any other Witcher, killing every monster for money, but after this he began to understand that some monsters are not monsters and only act on their nature or to eat, and those he stoped killing...
these video's open doors for me everytime I watch a new one, i am learning so much about myself its wild. Thankyou Georgia :D
So happy it does
I'm been watching your content for while now and you do a awesome job I loved it is this you first video about the Witcher? I can't wait for the next one
I love how in every video of yours you are dressed in the theme of the movie/series or relationship between characters you are explaining and analysing it seems pretty cool and nice + you are doing pretty it well!
happy you like
Glad I wasn’t the only one who wanted to throw something at Vereena xD
so much so
Merry Christmas and happy New Years great to see you analyzing a scene from this new season of the Witcher.
You also thanks for always being there
Yes, Georgia, I love your videos. They are amazing and I especially love you analyzing the geeky shows!
Thank you thank you
What a find your channel has been. Thank you
Thanks !!
"A monster does not attack humans to live, it lives to attack humans." -Some dude in a VN
I love this. I just watched episode 1 last night.
I enjoy your break downs of characters in movies shows. I love the Witcher books games and tv series so I would like to see you do a video on Geralt and Ciri's father daughter relationship in season 2 or about Geralt mental stat though season 1
I love this channel! I am in nerd/scholar heaven.
Welcome to my home ! hope you stay
I think the Witcher 3 Killing Monsters trailer fits into this discussion of "who is a monster?" (or at least who Geralt considers a monster) really well.
PS.: Yes, Withcer 3 Geralt and the Series Geralt may not be the same atm, but my point still stands.
I watch this high, and you blew my mind!!
haha
You showed the best scenes of this show
I have been watching you videos for a couple of months now and I'm loving each and everyone of them thanks for helping me and so many others to better understand who we are
Another fantastic video! Could you possibly do one on Geralt himself?
Yes I think so,
I loved your video! Merry christmas!!
I really like this reverse Beauty and the Beast reference.... She was a monster and he was so kind.
yes it was really beautiful to me
"There's a monster inside all of us."
This was awesome! I would love more videos on the Witcher, a dissection of Yennefer would be really cool! But there are so many fantastic characters to draw from you could go all day!
I appreciate your reaction videos very much: great depth and insight. Blessings on your day.
And to you Jeff : )
This was definitely one of the standout episodes of the series, and I actually felt bad for her when Geralt killed her.
oh my god? This video was the best chrismas present yet! I never thought this was coming but I Love it1!!
Merry Christmas to you
I've been thouroughly enjoying your videos since I found your channel not long ago. Keep up the good work and thank you for making these!
yay thanks
I will watch this video after I have seen the show which I just found is already released
Yay
Every One of your videos Is a gem
appreciate you
Maybe a vid on gearlt? He's a really layered and intresting character.
Will do !
This channel is GOLD. It would be amazing a reaction to Theon Greyjoy. NICE VIDEO
The thing about the Bruxa was that she wasn't a monster, she was just a predator. A wolf that caught and ate rabbits so it could care for its pups. Ciri was her surrogate puppy. Most of what Geralt fights is actually just extremely efficient predators and most of the monsters he finds are people because they could choose not to be predators but they don't.
Geralt I think understood it but thr fairy tale story meant the host's relationship choice was the source of his curse. He was in a terribly abusive relationship but he drew his whole identity from it and without it he had nothing.
I think my favourite part of their relationship so far is when he sees her attempt the gauntlet, and almost makes it but fails the stick the landing.
He doesn't berate her, or condescend with any lessons or lectures about being careful.
He smirks and says so close. He doesn't even offer her a hand, knowing she's perfectly capable of getting up herself.
He respects her valor and remembers the struggles and takes her every bit as seriously as he would anyone else attempting the gauntlet.
thank you for that information and comment =)
i dont think i could have a therapist this fine. i would just be all over the place
To be completely fair, the bruxa still did kill minimally an entire family in the village - though it seems like it was more than that based on the population of the village.
Love your video, & I also love the saying not sure who said it or if it is accurate but witchers carry 2 swords one of steel for men and one of silver for beasts both for killing monsters.
very well said =)
Just found your channel - love it! Subscribed!
Yay thanks for subbing
I wanna see her analyze Yennefer next. She is an amazing character
i will
MOOOOORE this is gold i didn know i needed MOOOOOO-
great video ! and yes, more videos on the witcher plz ! :)
To correct the point about the kiss to make Ciri sleep, it's not a spell, Bruxa's in the Witcher universe has saliva that puts various creatures to sleep.
More of a physical reaction, not a magical one.
Oh very cool thanks you for letting me know that
I don't know if you do any sort of gaming, but Witcher 3 was big on the ideas of what is a monster and what deserves to die. There are numerous instances throughout the game where you have to choose whether or not to kill the "monsters", with those monster sometimes being people and sometimes being actual creatures. And with my playthrough, as seems to often be the theme with The Witcher in general, the humans you have to pass judgement on usually end up being far more monstrous than the actual monsters you have to do the same for.
This episode made me so sad😭
I'm really glad you picked up the Witcher. Excellent choice. I'm very interested to hear your thoughts on the Geralt-Yennifer-Triss love triangle.
-Am I crazy?
-We don't use that word here.
I love that you chose this show!!!!😁
I am excited to see you breakdown more of the Witcher season 2 content (in terms of psychology of course, haha)...cause I REALLY need to know what some of these characters were thinking 😅
will happen
@@GeorgiaDow Looking forward to it xD
Holy crap! A witcher video Awesome!
Whooohooo
Well, you said to comment if we want more Witcher stuff, so...
New fan. I'm enjoying Horizon, Moon Knight and Witcher content so far. Would love more of any of those.
Okay great thanks = )
Love the video and you are a breathe of fresh air and soothing therapy, cool necklace, looks like a Witcher medallion
Actually it is =) ordered it just for this video thanks for noticing
Do you think you could do a reaction video about the relationship between Geralt and Ciri? I think that would be fantastic.
Great video. Would love to see some content on the Hawkeye series.
lol. Hawkeye is trash and just a cheap copy of Green Arrow
Hey Georgia! I'm wondering when are you planning to post a video about Jinx's "hallucinations" all throughout Arcane. And about their meaning or whatever is your comment is. But anyways I'm looking forward to watch this video.
yes I am
@@GeorgiaDow Oh Great! Can't wait to see it!
I like how her clothes match the show she is discussing
thx for noticing
@the "what makes a monster" part. I kind of dislike that it was said by the Vereena, because in the books, the person bringing it up, was Geralt, and that has better impact, because we are repeatadely shown Geralt despite being abused, taken advantage off, keeps doing the right things, despite putting on a facade of a cynic, a stone cold killer, he keeps helping, he keeps doing those small and big things that are the right thing to do, and he, as a witcher, is being called a monster and hated by everyone. Which to me, reads as a more sincere, when he meets Nivellen, he can relate to this man that looks like a monster, a man that do monstrous things, it reads as more sincere way to empathise. When it comes from Vereena, it read, atleast to me, as a monster having a very advanced hunting strategy, where she can put all that effort before so her victims dont run. Especially later, when she asks her not to run. It just felt to me, like a predator designed to hunt humans, using everything they have to make the hunt easiest, or to preserve themselves. Vereena seems to be aware of who Geralt is, and if thats the case, it makes perfect sense for her to get Ciri on her side, so she can protect her, maybe, from Geralt.
I also dislike the "fear is disease" because, in the books, Geralt was more understanding, he, and all witchers, were very familiar with fear, they knew that fear is just part of life, and where he goes later makes the exchange better, but i dislike it because it implies that fear is something that is unnatural for humans, while fear is simply a selfpreservation tool, its what allows for the adrenaline hit in the stressful situations which can let us be able to survive something we might not otherwise. So i feel like it wouldve been better if he put emphasis on that, "fear is a tool, its part of our experience, you cant let it control you, but it can aid you". Especially if we take into consideration the large degree to which Geralt relies on his insticts in the books atleast, it just feels wrong to me, out of character.
So no one is gonna talk about that she touched the tear with her point finger and tasted the other one?
I think I'm a monster as well but that's okay. If I can be a strong one.