Why The Witcher's Elves Are Antagonists But Not Villains
The Witcher season 2 features many intriguing characters, including the elves, who may seem to be villains but are just antagonists. The Witcher is a darker take on the fantasy genre, which means its characters are not always heroic. Some of its characters might not even be protagonists at all. This is the case with the elves, including Filavandrel (Tom Canton) and Francesca Findabair (Mecia Simson).
Though the elves can sometimes act cruelly, it is all a reflection of how they've been treated in the past. They have not experienced much kindness from humans; therefore, they are hostile to them. There are some exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, elves do not believe that humans are capable of caring about anything or anyone other than their interests. This is especially true in The Witcher season 2, under Francesca's leadership, particularly after her baby is slaughtered.
Related: Why Witcher Season 2's Controversial Yennefer Changes Were The Right Choice
The elves want revenge, and since they believe the King of Redania caused the baby's demise, they slaughter any Redanian babies in their way. That is undeniably horrible behavior. However, the elves do not seem to be bad people. They seem to be capable of caring about each other and others outside their group. So why act so cruelly? It all goes back to the show's theme: the worst monsters are often the ones we create. The elves do not seem to be evil by nature but rather driven desperate by their circumstances. Much like Renfri (Emma Appleton) during season 1 of The Witcher, they do not see themselves as monsters or villains. Yes, they want revenge, but in their minds, it's only fair after all they've suffered at the hands of humanity. Also, like Renfri,
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