The Witcher analysis | 3 things STOLEN from Slavic folklore stories and Slavic mythology

Join me on an anxiety-fueled The Witcher analysis. I explore what the show stole from Slavic folklore monsters, stories + Slavic mythology.
Also, why this story fits today’s fairy tales | Explained whether or not we have a right to steal from folklore - tell me what you think in the comments :) Grab a cuppa coffee (or mead, or potion) and let’s dive in!
If you need me, I’ll be (quite predictably) bingeing Season 2.
To learn more about the creatures of European legend, check out this video:
- For more folklore and traditions (and unfiltered season 2 reactions), come join us on Instagram:
/ foxpriestess
- For obscure folklore and literature facts provided at random intervals, come over to Twitter:
/ fox_priestess
Music attribution:
Folk Round by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/

Пікірлер: 51

  • @ailenalma
    @ailenalma2 жыл бұрын

    Did you like Season 1? Do you plan on watching the second one?

  • @invictvsreinhardtgermanicv9321

    @invictvsreinhardtgermanicv9321

    2 жыл бұрын

    I liked season 1 alright, I much prefer the books and games though.

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@invictvsreinhardtgermanicv9321 The books are at the top of my to-read list !

  • @romyeichhorn1386

    @romyeichhorn1386

    2 жыл бұрын

    I liked it, even though I actually prefer the polish version of the series, because of the atmosphere/the Netflix Version is a bit more oriented on the style of modern series in general, but I still like the story and will watch the second season. Besides I love jaskier in the netflixversion and his songs 😂 Regarding the question with one evil and another, I rather want the devil I chose then waiting till the devil I didn't chose finds me (metaphorically spoken, making a decision, even if a wrong one, is still better then doing nothing)

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@romyeichhorn1386 That's interesting, and you're probably right! I actually didn't know there was a Polish version. I should check it out!

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@romyeichhorn1386 That's interesting, and you're probably right! I actually didn't know there was a Polish version. I should check it out!

  • @khashib
    @khashib2 жыл бұрын

    The Slavic folklore roots of the Witcher are what set the stories apart from other fantasy novels in my opinion. Great insight into these roots, everything you shared is so interesting! Watching this first before starting the second season 🙌🏻.

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    I'll be watching season 2 asap as well! And I totally agree- particularly because the author combines it with more "Western" mainstream folklore. So honoured that you liked the video!

  • @paulmears5330
    @paulmears5330 Жыл бұрын

    You’ve done some solid scholarship here. And your emphasis on the FOLK in folklore is well done!

  • @imaginadora4893
    @imaginadora48932 жыл бұрын

    Me encantó este análisis! No había considerado eso que decís de que es una cuento para hoy. Pero coincido, tiene muchas aristas que apelan a nuestra empatía, y también la necesidad de desarrollarla en este mundo actual. Por otro lado, me encantan tus videos, sería genial que chequees los subtítulos automáticos ( no es presión, jajaja) porque para quienes no captamos tanto ingles, la traducción es muy bizarra a veces XD Además amo tus intervenciones con vestuario y locaciones

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    ¡Muchas gracias por tu comentario, totalmente de acuerdo! ¿Viste la temporada 2? Y sí los subtitulos andan muy mal a veces... Ya encontraré algún momento para chequearlos!

  • @matthewhu3514
    @matthewhu35142 жыл бұрын

    I like your videos alma . i think they would be better without the video editing skipping near and far and seeming erratic. one smooth video stream would be more soothing. keep up the great work

  • @witoldmilanowskimcloughlin1021
    @witoldmilanowskimcloughlin10212 жыл бұрын

    I really loved this video!. Maybe you could do a more in depth video regarding The witcher inspiration sources :)

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    Maybe one day! It really is an interesting series. Favourite character?

  • @witoldmilanowskimcloughlin1021

    @witoldmilanowskimcloughlin1021

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@ailenalmaWithout a doubt Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy hahahaha

  • @Lilia-jv6md
    @Lilia-jv6md2 жыл бұрын

    I really liked it!. You clearly have talent for this 😄😄😄

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    So glad you think so! The encouragement helps ❣

  • @crazy_viking92
    @crazy_viking92Ай бұрын

    It's very weird how in Bulgaria we use the word kikimora to refer to a vain woman, or something like that. I was really surprised to find out what a kikimora actually is. :D

  • @elsarovida4195
    @elsarovida41952 жыл бұрын

    I do plan on watching season 2, but I must say the depth of the source material is much more interesting. I loved your analysis: slavic folklore seems to be relegated quite often, so this is a very nice aproach to this forgotten knowledge

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    Agreed🥰Slavic folklore needs more love! Thank you!

  • @saintjackula9615
    @saintjackula96152 жыл бұрын

    they arent stolen, the Witcher is originally a book and story series BY A SLAVIC AUTHOR. Chronological order is publication of the books, then the games, by slavic developers, then the show, by Netflix.

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    If you watch to the end of the video, you'll see I don't actually think you can steal folklore :)

  • @blandae5670
    @blandae56702 жыл бұрын

    About the Silvan - not sure if roman deity was the Sapkowski's inspiration. More likely it was the czorts/devils from Mazuria region - there are many tales of the devil Boruta making deals and then being outsmarted by peasants. What Sapkowski commonly does in the entire series is retelling and remixing myths, legends and fairytales, sometimes leavingonly crumbs of the "original" stories. The funny thing with this particular one is the title (The Edge of the World) and the last sentce ("Good night" said the devil), which is basically a phrasal verb in polish (the place where the devil says "good night" = the edge of the world, the middle of nowhere)

  • @HanaVys
    @HanaVys3 ай бұрын

    Are you Sorbian by any chance? :) Every Slavic language speakers have their own special accent in English, but I can't place your accent at all. Anyway, I love the analysis at the end especially.

  • @StillGamingTM
    @StillGamingTM2 жыл бұрын

    OOOH see I was learning about mythology etc mainly cause of I’m playing The Witcher 3 so this is purrrrfect

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    That makes my day haha 🥰 (ps, love that game)

  • @Flanavision
    @Flanavision2 жыл бұрын

    Great job

  • @lmaoguy100
    @lmaoguy1002 жыл бұрын

    The author of the books is polish soo..

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    I love the books! He uses the folklore so wonderfully 😊

  • @Baelaisa
    @Baelaisa2 жыл бұрын

    As a HUGE Witcher fan (the games though, not the tv show) I really enjoyed this video!! 😍 I would like to add that in The Witcher 3, there is a character or creature that is very similar to how you described the chort (?), except he looks like a normal man, he is hinted at as a "devil" and he's usually an evil entity who offers people gifts (like wealth, immortality, etc) in exchange for their souls. But he does actually end up being "good" to Geralt, and can offer him a valuable hint for his journey in exchange for his "help" (The reason I'm using quotations is because the devil guy literally forces Geralt into being in his debt thus sort of making him his slave 🤣)

  • @ailenalma

    @ailenalma

    2 жыл бұрын

    Such a big compliment! And that sounds exactly like it 😈 I played part of the Witcher 3, such an awesome game!

  • @Jane-ow7sr
    @Jane-ow7sr4 ай бұрын

    Thats not how the word stolen works....

  • @ppplaysgames
    @ppplaysgames10 ай бұрын

    I loved the story telling in witcher 3

  • @ppplaysgames
    @ppplaysgames10 ай бұрын

    Witcher 3 wild hunt has the best plot and rdr2 has the best mechanics

  • @fornamnefternamn1532
    @fornamnefternamn15329 ай бұрын

    I'm glad that Sapkowski, writer of the books, didn't write about destiny. I think it's a concept that's not that valuable as a life lesson.

  • @initial_C

    @initial_C

    3 ай бұрын

    You haven't read the books, then. The short story "Something More" considers the concept of destiny pretty thoroughly.

  • @fornamnefternamn1532

    @fornamnefternamn1532

    3 ай бұрын

    @@initial_C yeah and as the title is giving a hint, you need more than some destiny. 🤣🤣😜

  • @initial_C

    @initial_C

    3 ай бұрын

    @@fornamnefternamn1532 but it's disingenuous to say he didn't write about it, as the whole story mulls over the very idea

  • @fornamnefternamn1532

    @fornamnefternamn1532

    3 ай бұрын

    @@initial_C sure, he wrote about it. And about dragons. He uses both made up concepts to make a point about real life. Sorry for not being clear.

  • @bluesirva3574
    @bluesirva35748 ай бұрын

    If you're going to present this as Slavic folklore, make an effort and do some research. The Polish czort is quite different to the Czech Čert not only in name, domovoi you'll find in Russia, domownik in Poland alas not in Czech and Russian kikamora is quite differet to mora, můra or mòra...noćnica not withstanding.

  • @katarinatibai8396
    @katarinatibai8396 Жыл бұрын

    Čert 😁😈👍

  • @wolfvonturmitz5652
    @wolfvonturmitz56524 ай бұрын

    What? You are from US arnt you? Otherwise you would have know that Witcher is Slavic mythology fantasy. The whole of it is Slavic! What Netflix did is barbaric insult to our culture. Blackwashing it. There are not just 3 things. The whole thing is Slavic.

  • @model84

    @model84

    4 ай бұрын

    not whole, it was mostly based on arturian myths and mixed with all the popular fairy tales, unless djhins in the vessel are slavic not arabic and kitsune (japanese afair), vampires/werewolfs are popular tropes. I don't recall having elfs/dwarfs in slavic mythology?

  • @wolfvonturmitz5652

    @wolfvonturmitz5652

    4 ай бұрын

    @@model84 Well with that Arthurian legend you are quite wrong. Also as far as Gnomes and Dwarves go. In Czechia we have Permoník and Trpaslík also. Google up the term. Maybe Elves are borrowed.

  • @model84

    @model84

    4 ай бұрын

    @@wolfvonturmitz5652 actually i'm not quite wrong, the contrary. Even the author admits it's not slavic and actually he despised slavic bestriary/mythology (ok striga is slavic), it's mostly celtic myths and all classic fairy tales (Beauty and the Beast, Snowwhite, Grimm fairy tales etc) with a twist. Yes we have kraslane (like Snowwhite and 7 dwarfs) or skrzaty, home 'gnomes', but i was reffering to classic fantasy 'battle'/blacksmith-warrior dwarfs (like Tolkien or DragonLance). Druids are celtic (we got 'Żerca, żyrca' , but it's similar function), bruxa is actually portuguese. Geralt from Rivia, Yeneffer from Vengeberd, very slavic names:), so gimme a break

  • @wolfvonturmitz5652

    @wolfvonturmitz5652

    3 ай бұрын

    ​@@model84 I wont, because lot of it is just wishfull thinking. Arthurian legend, you mean Ciri meeting Galahad? Yeah passage about her travelling in between dinensions really isnt valid proof. And you think Slavic people has no Druids and priests? Also using english translated words doesnt mean its not Slavic. Like it or not... The world building, society, humans, culture, majority of mythology is Slavic based, upon north-eastern Hanseatic cities like Danzig. Its clearly based on Baltic, Polish, Scandinavian and North-East Germany, formerly Slavic Ruiana, Arkona, region. Written in polish first, by Polish guy, who clearly states its Slavic based. Sorry but thats just fact. Unless you are Netflix, who for some reason think we ought to add ton of Africans and multuculti mixture to it to make it worldly... But by that I digress. I just say it would be nice to actuaely care a bit more for other peoples cultural heritage. Its good you like it. I have nothing against it, but its hardly "universal". Yes its fantasy, thus mixed up fake, yet even fantasy is rooted in facts and realities. LOTR is based on Anglosaxon, Scandinavian and Celtic heritage mostly too. I really think its ignorant and dull to try to negate such things, deny them or claim something else no matter what the motivation is. Enjoy it, like it, but dont mess it up needlesly or worse, on purpose. Thats all.

  • @dukefanshawe6815
    @dukefanshawe681511 ай бұрын

    Jesus is the only thing that can fill your soul. He loves you. Turn to Jesus and away from Sin.

  • @Allan_aka_RocKITEman
    @Allan_aka_RocKITEman Жыл бұрын

    @ailenalma >>> 👍👍