So, I (pathetically) have bit of a nerdy tendency (and a lot of time on my hands cause I got covid and it's whipping my ass, shoot) to read the books every year, it's become a tradition for me and I just finished reading the last book in the series almost an hour ago. I now have the books quite refreshed in my mind. Since picking up the books again, I've been seeing a lot of online (false) discourse about whether or not Ciri is bisexual.
Origin of the Rumor:
I believe the myth of Ciri being bisexual (popular to render her as such) has been birthed from the games. A lot of people who played the games, may not have read the books. There tends to be a mix up that happens here as the games are not canon. Even if they aren't canon, they have adapted the books wonderfully in their own story.
Another (recent) refresher of this myth is The Netflix series. Just like the games - the Netflix series is not canon. The Netflix series (despite) stating they "will" be faithful to the books, have went their own route far from them. It's been rumored that the series were going to portray Ciri as bisexual, and have Ciri fancy and desire Triss.
The rumour seems to be true, as the show runner, herself, confirms it here
These scenes have been cut. Since then, the repeated misbelief cycle has been reborn again.
Debunking the "relationship" with Mistle: -- Time of Contempt
In the books, Ciri feels hopeless as she is feeling abandoned by Geralt, Yennefer and everyone else she's ever gone to know and loved. That's just the way Ciri unfortunately saw it. She was without meaning, and looking to find meaning. This led to her own solo embarkment and the introduction of 'The Rats.' The notorious murderous gang of troubled bandits who Ciri naively is now a member of.
During Ciri's time in The Rats, she is quite young. She's around at least anywhere from (approx.) 13, to 15. It's been hard for me to tell even all these years later as there is minor confusion in the books regarding her age.
One of the first members who she is introduced to is Kayleigh and the push in why she joins the gang. During the very first night in the gang, Kayleigh (male bandit) at one point forces himself on Ciri and was attempting to rape her until Mistle, a female (bandit) steps in, and rapes Ciri her
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Yen being miss cast is something that a lot of people are bringing up. However I don't see this as a miss cast but a bad choice is her costume/makeup design. Look at how different Ciri is from S1 to S2. They could definitely adjust Yen to be older looking though costume and makeup choices. Furthermore, alot of what makes her seem immature is not a casting issue but rather a writing issue. If you watch Anya in interviews she seems more than capable of playing the character Yen should be, but she hasn't been given the chance. Her lack lf connection to the character (unlike Henry's knowledge) could mean she has less input on how she is portrayed more accurately.
One thing I would say is that if they swapped the appreance of age between Triss and Yen. There would be a lot less complaints about Yen as a character.
I keep seeing this getting passed out recently, but no idea where this stems from because it’s a misconception.
In the books Ciri is 15 when she gets wrapped up in the Rats, for those who have not read the books, to simply put it. They’re a gang, and a very terrible one. One of the male members >!attempts to rape Ciri, only to get stopped by a female member. That female member doesn’t stop the rape for the ‘goodness in her heart’ but because she wanted Ciri for herself. Ciri then gets raped by a woman, and is traumatized.!<
There (in the books) to this day, no writing passage where Ciri has shown interest towards woman. There are no other female lovers in her life and Ciri has never gotten “hot and bothered” for woman while there are men where she has for.
Ciri does not “experiment”, she is not “curious” either, if this was in the books (curiosity, and being turned on by woman, yes; that would make her bi-sexual) but the only woman encounter she has is >!getting raped, while she was terrified and exhausted.!<
Ciri is a Stockholm Syndrome victim. She even apologizes to Mistle for not “touching her” because she’s terrified and trying to survive. In the books Ciri doesn’t even get much time to process being a Stockholm victim because of the fast moving events.
So no, canonically Ciri is not bi. Getting raped, does not make you bi. It’s quite problematic, or weird to pigeon hole her as such, based around rape. Rape is not love, or any indication on one’s sexuality.
There are actual characters in the books that ARE, bi though canonically. Which isn’t a misconception. Philippa is one of them. Even Triss if I’m remembering right that is, had a short minor ‘thing’ with Philippa.
They don’t need to take victims like Ciri and alter her sexuality when there are already characters who are bi canonically.
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/redanianintelligence.com/2021/12/18/deleted-scenes-and-characters-from-the-witcher-season-2/amp/
For anyone interested, there is an article describing deleted scenes of season 2, and what was going to happen (and some that got filmed) but they cut out.
Some of the key rewrites or deleted scenes was:
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Hookup scene with Geralt and Triss. They did film this. That moment in the show seems on the wrong timeline but now it makes sense because it was cut.
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Ciri crushing on and interested in Triss. Instead of her being bothered by the men for wearing a dress the original scene is Ciri wearing Geralt’s shirt trying to catch Triss’s attention and interest. The men belittle her for it. There are subtle romantic glances from Ciri when she looks at Triss.
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Eskel was an even bigger a-hole.
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Lambert romancing both a man and a woman, so, bi-Lambert.
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The woman who Jaskier began his poetry journey cause of got cut.
Those were some highlights, there’s a few more.
Not sure how I feel about any of this.
It's pretty obvious judging from the tweets the showrunner made,that the S3 will focus on the Rats.It is also obvious that they will "fix" the "relationship" between Ciri and Mistle in the same vein as they changed Fayes sexuality in the adaption of Cowboy Bebop.They will definitely make it consensual,while also hyping the Rats and erasing all their vile acts.
just realize no one is talking about it so I go first... Why on the earth ciri can only active her powers by screaming??!! She's not a bloody bruxa technically Ciri it's a powefull witch and she can mostly use her powers just the way the other witches do!
You know considering the whole thing when he held her hostage in the elven realm and gave her the ultimatum of ....
"Have sex and get pregnant with my king or you can never go home"
Which also makes me question at all as to why she trust his during the witcher 3, I'm assuming it's something like he helped her in saving Geralt from the Wild hunt.
These screams are the most cringe thing Ive witnessed this year. Doesnt beat the screaming woman in venom carnage, but is close. Great show ruined by cringe screaming "superpower
That's it. She's freakin amazing as Ciri.
She literally killed 3 Witchers in a row while they’re asleep. This is not possible because as I understand correctly Witcher senses are in effect even they’re sleeping and she assassinated them silently without them even notice or having any reaction. Sleep like a lamp.
The sole purpose of having more Witchers in Kaer Morhan is them being kill. For drama. They’re so useless that seem like Geralt is the one and only. Doesn’t even close to a Witcher school to me in the slightest.
I have come to the depressing realization that when Ciri is old and withered, Geralt and Yen will still be in their primes, looking young. Imagine watching your own daughter grow old when you don't even look 35.
The ending is decided by ciri and she made her own decision. Not letting her see her father or ignoring going to him is just manipulating the circumstances and is not letting her think for herself. When she sees her father she realises there are bigger responsibilities for her and even though she wants to be a witcher she at least gets to make a decision rather than us forcing her fate in the background.
