Overanalyzing The Witcher: Opening Scene (plus re-edit)

This might be the most unexpected thing I've ever posted on this channel, which is saying something. Trying something new I guess!
This video analyzes the first scene of the first episode of the first season of The Witcher, now playing on a Netflix near you, along with a re-edited version that imagines the story from the fawn's perspective.
The song at the end is a parody of the song that plays over the credits in episode 6. It'll probably all make more sense if you've seen the show, but who am I to judge; I've watched more hours of people analyzing Game of Thrones than I've watched Game of Thrones, because I have no interest in the show but love when people think deeply about the media they consume, and people sure spend a lot of effort thinking about Game of Thrones. I want that for myself. Maybe now it is my time to shine and cultivate my own enjoyment of at least one episode of one TV show that exists in the world.
Please feel free to comment any facts or feelings about this show that I don't really know anything about, or about TV production in general which I don't really know anything about. 6 seconds counts as a long shot these days, right?

[@adirmugrabi]

"I'm not very visual" Well it's hard to see things when you only have hands

[@kaitlynbaron922]

"A choice we must make is still a choice we do make" that is a powerful line

[@gracelewis4016]

Vihart is full of powerful lines

[@vihartvihart]

This is just a comment to let you know that I am indeed working on a sequel overanalyzing the second scene, so keep an eye out for that.

[@sarahprunierlaw9147]

Just so you know, I had been debating if I wanted to watch the Witcher, I lso had head good things bud didn't know anything about it, and when you said you did a video about it I went and watched the whole season over 2 weeks of evenings and then came here to watch your video. I figured if Vi likes it enough to do a video on it I can at least watch the first episode. (Also yay!)

[@splugen]

regarding the sniff...I was more taken in by the way he rocks onto his stride to go kill the deer. Like, he gives it a moment's contemplation, and then goes WHELP

[@vihartvihart]

I know right? So jaunty yet purposeful. I don't know how I neglected to overanalyze that too, but unscripted is hard! Glad you brought it up.

[@splugen]

@@vihartvihart glad you posted this video in general! Great to see you and your thinky videos 😁

[@BoWeava]

Yea, it was like a Sniff Of Acceptance.

[@QueerAndHunger]

Oh my floofy felines, she's *_BACK_*

[@Livingeidolon]

Don't get too excited, could just be the annual video.

[@jffryh]

@@Livingeidolon but today isn't pi day

[@doctorbobstone]

I'm glad you feel that Geralt passed the sniff test. He clearly endeered himself to you and we can see, without you telling us, that you are quite fawnd of him. Also, Ms. Hart, may I say, that you are absurd in the best possible way.

[@vihartvihart]

I appreciate your not going so far as to say I'm a doe-eyed hart :P But I do very much enjoy how this version of Geralt is carefully differentiated from what could have been a much more tropey version of the character, with details perhaps I'll go into if the overanalysis continues :)

[@matthewsmusicshop]

I'm very ..*sniff*.. fawnd of your pun.

[@JahnDough]

"Overanalyzing the over analyzation of The Witcher by vihartvihart: Part 1 of a 36 part series"

[@injeborg]

I was about to swipe the notification away when I saw the channel name and suddenly my thoughts went very quickly from "wait what" to "!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[@UshioKiss]

fawnfri huh.... 😂 subtle I really appreciated this! I hadn't thought about the opening scene at all after watching it but you have opened my third eye

[@on_certainty]

the logs slowly burning down in the background is really pleasant

[@sassianne11]

yay vi posted again!!!

[@jpagunsky]

Also I think the common trope is that the monster would have killed the dear and the hero would somehow avenge it (or even save it). For me this could be establishing both the harshness of the world and his humane ways. He cares about a random dear just enough to be merciful, but isn't able to do anything else.

[@madeye0]

I think it's an emotional punctuation sniff: poor fawn *sniff* ok let's eat it

[@stormytehcat]

Omg Vihart how did you know I was up late watching KZbin today?!

[@Livingeidolon]

"What did it(the spider) do to you?" I mean... It did try to drown him, lol!

[@coyotedomino]

i haven’t thought much about The Witcher, but i must say this has given me some interest in it

[@singerofsongs468]

“i’m just not very visual” i mean... i just don’t buy that lol

[@patricktan7120]

“I wish I liked a tv show as much as people who like GOT like GOT” you probably don’t, not after the shitshow that is season 8 (and 7, and 6 and 5)

[@ieuanhunt552]

I'm convinced that the final three seasons were the result of a vengeful God punishing us for having 5 really good seasons of a show. So he made them progressively worse until even the good seasons are retroactively bad.

[@AlEcyler]

I need this cozy in my life.

[@TheGrumbleduke]

The sniff reminds me of how in film (especially in animation or fantasy-type things relying on sets, costumes etc.) everything we see involves an artistic choice made by someone. Why is that fake tree there, why does the spider-creature swipe that many times with that claw, why is the shot filmed from that angle, with that colour filter? Why does the main character sniff? Almost every aspect of filming is artificial (and not in a bad way); even if they didn't think about it much, or if they spent hours getting it just right, someone made a choice. And thousands of those choices by hundreds of people (if not more) went into a single episode.

[@vihartvihart]

Maybe part of why I especially like this episode is that it is all about choice, which vibes so well with appreciating the thousands of choices made by the hundreds of people involved!

[@InoraPhoenix]

We did, indeed, need both the fireplace and the candle, so thank you for providing.

[@migsy1]

You’re back!!

[@deRangutang]

The stereo audio in this video is MAGNIFIQUE.

[@ulaskaplan8069]

Pls make an analysis of every episode with sharpies and paper.

[@VladTheImploded]

fawnfry eh? well damn. now i have to go rewatch the whole show. Thanks for that. (also, nice to see you making content again!)

[@BohemianKitsch]

Lady, are you low-key flexing on us with your AMAZING cabin life!!!? :)

[@phonotical]

Orrr the guy had water from the swamp up his nose 😂

[@jennylam6767]

Why are the comments on the original channel disabled? I saw another comment somewhere saying it was due to KZbin branding the channel as content for kids. Is this true?

[@evanthefish]

My first overanalyzing thought was: how did Geralt and the kikimora start fighting without disturbing the fawn? Did the kikimora ambush him from the water's edge and quickly draw him under? Or did Geralt notice the kikimora underwater first, sneak up on it, slip into the water and try to assassinate it? Also, I think that by talking to the fawn, then killing and eating it, he reveals that he's compassionate towards other living beings, but he also has a practical sense of morality with little room for sentimentality. That's a hard balance to establish.

[@vihartvihart]

Ooh, these are two great points I wish I'd thought of myself! Thanks for sharing them.

[@98Zai]

I think he waited in the pond for the monster to be distracted so he could gain the element of surprise and the upper hand. Which I guess also means that perhaps he was doubting his own ability to take on this monster on a level playing field.

[@vihartvihart]

@@98Zai I took the creature's airsacs to convey that it's natively aquatic, and so Geralt took it on at a disadvantage. But I am becoming increasingly curious to know what the beginning of the battle would've looked like... I wonder if they choreographed more of it than is shown here.

[@98Zai]

@@vihartvihart That's true, he's in the monster's home turf, and it's many times bigger than him. He appears kind of abruptly, making me think there could have been something more planned as you suspect. Do you think showing more preparation and presenting his strategy beforehand would have made the scene more or less impactful? His black eyes tells us that he's under the influence of something, but we're never told what. There's really a lot going on that we're just left to speculate about!

[@vihartvihart]

@@98Zai I think it's good they didn't include more. The opening shows us there's more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye.

[@emmakenzie]

Vihart!! I’m so glad I sacrificed my sleep and saw your glorious return 🥺

[@kaitlynbaron922]

This was very cool, I'd love to see you analyze another scene from The Witcher!

[@98Zai]

To me the sniff is there to impart a sense of reality. He was just fighting in a super cold pond, he's drenched. He's a little sniffly and cold. Maybe feels sorry for the fawn. A perfect action hero would be untouched by all these variables, but Geralt has a nose, and he's wet. I don't usually have an interest to analyze things to this level, but here we are. Also; you were scolded for sniffing? That's bizarre.

[@vihartvihart]

Yes! Great point! It shows that Geralt is affected by the world around him, not untouchable. I appreciate your joining us in overanalyzing :D

[@Trixtah]

Re scolding for sniffing, I feel pretty sure you weren't brought up as a girl.

[@98Zai]

@@Trixtah That's true. I was told not to burp; but I reason that it's a pretty nifty function and I'm happy my body works as intended. However I can be polite about it and do it quietly. The problem I see is that being constantly judged and made aware of natural things might make you self-conscious as a person. Who needs that :( We're animals, not magical aliens.

[@nfin8one]

Oh God, you're back! I missed you here!

[@ctso74]

If you do the full lyrics to "His Sweet Sniff", for love of all that's good and green, please post it. A heard a lot people were put off by the time jumping, but I thought it was an interesting solution, to covering so much of the books' material.

[@barnesm23]

Thank you that was brilliant, I've never seen a review like that and I appreciated the time and focus on this episode.

[@lispcodinglive]

"Spider more like die-der." Love the Arnold.

[@gracelewis4016]

I love the unpredictablity of this channel

[@LughSummerson]

I always get the feeling that there's a deeper meaning to Vi's videos that I don't get. So I'm scared to watch in case she has cracked the mathematical code of the Universe and become a real witch and this is some kind of spell.

[@carlosgarciaobe]

I can't stop analysing this video @vihartvihart ... I think this was your aim from the beginning, I really like your thought process

[@wynnedm1941]

Please continue that parody! It was absolutely beautiful/funny.

[@neil12]

Hello!! I’ve been rebinging your videos and I’m so excited for a new one!!

[@sadiqmohamed681]

Glad to see you back ViHart. The re-edits are really good. I think you would make a really good editor of film trailers. More of this please. It is both insightful and hilarious.

[@orinami3310]

glad to see you upload again :)

[@Jim_Bo]

Love the candle and the fire !

[@kristienbevaart6049]

OMG this is amazing!! Pls make more!!

[@CaptTerrific]

Toss a coin to your Squiga Squiga Squiga Squiga...

[@hcburner]

This was fun to listen to. Embrace this as your new hobby proudly and loudly! I hope to see you overanalyze another scene from The Witcher.

[@lakana7407]

I NEVER check my subscriptions, but today I just decided to check and I see this! Damn I'm happy

[@adelgiudice]

I really liked this. Do more! (provided you don't stop doing your other stuff too!)

[@plaustrarius]

I love it. Might I suggest more or similar things?! I love it.

[@JudeKennedyATCL]

This is iconic

[@Bee-nw6df]

I’m glad you’re back😭💜

[@thatdapperfellow]

On the one hand, I've been craving new ViHart content but on the other I kind of want to watch this after she talked it up for the first couple minutes.

[@danielearwicker]

Every little detail of this video must be savoured to appreciate the whole. It is a video about obsessive overanalysis which itself repays obsessive overanalysis. I pity anyone who skips to the song at the end without hearing every prior instance of the word “sniff”.

[@gregalbagel]

“I’m full. Venison.”

[@viljamtheninja]

I'm not sure how sarcastic this is, and it's very confusing. I love it.

[@ifcoltransg2]

I expected the big oddly fleshy spider thing to kill the deer. That's what monsters do. But it wasn't the kikimora, it was the human that killed the deer. After all, that's what monsters do. Being monstrous isn't the fact that you look ugly and have too many limbs: the humans are the killers.

[@Iamthunderchild]

In my opinion the Sniff is kinda like a sigh like its kinda his way of saying well the work is never done

[@frechjo]

Fighting wild beasts bigger than him, preying on weak hurt animals, navigating the world guided by his sense of smell, recognizing with his snout foes and friends. Could Gerald be a wolf, some kind of lone canine? I'll never find out, I don't have a Netflix account!

[@KnaveMurdok]

thank you SO much for the song about henry cavill's sweet sniff

[@missseaweed2462]

What did the fawn say? "MaaAMAAA!!!"

[@MaelwysMyrddin]

So we get a multi-video series out of each episode right? I loved this, and I would watch many more of these.

[@BoWeava]

WAIT...this was three years ago?! Holy shhh...☠️

[@kendra15926]

The best thing to see before bed!

[@y.og.i]

This isn't the Vi Hart content I was expecting, but I'm glad it's here

[@OhSoUnicornly]

I actually dislike them showing the Witcher with black eyes (from a potion) the first time we see him. Even knowing the game series slightly, it wasn't until the second rewatch that I really understood why he has black eyes there, and I assumed it'd be pretty confusing for anyone new to the series. He looks... weird and kinda scary, and it doesn't endear (en-deer, heheh) him to you or make him seem like a typical good-looking hero. But, like you pointed out, maybe that's important to a) point out that he isn't a /completely/ typical hero, and b) establish him at his most Witcher-y-ness. Also tbh I really appreciate completely- or mostly-positive reviews/analyses of things I like. For some reason when I hear unexpected criticisms of things I really like, it somewhat spoils my love for them. Having seen some comments on your scene 2 analysis, I assume there are some negatives coming (which is to be expected - we're taught throughout school to balance our arguments), but I'm glad this first one was basically you gushing about how great this is. To analyse your analysis, "it establishes vihartvihart as a youtuber whose intentions and opinion we can trust, and sympathise with". Also, I enjoyed your ending so immensely that I had to put down my breakfast so I could laugh heartily. I love it.

[@OddBunsen]

I forgot how much I enjoy your videos. What's the coating on your cool match jar?

[@ahdnoh]

I hear the song but I'm just picturing the Sniffler from Fantastic Beasts.

[@hannesh6544]

I think that the sniff was more of "I got water running down my nose" sniff than pity or actual smelling. Isn't smelling something usually done with a much softer inhale anyway?

[@spegnagmaglorious3590]

"It has trees" #relateable

[@GamerCorin]

I truly love your brain. I hope it's at least half as fun to live there as it is to visit.

[@vihartvihart]

It's definitely not, but when I make things like this it does let me revel in the fun side.

[@GamerCorin]

@@vihartvihart Isn't that always the way. Well, then I hope you get more opportunities to embrace silliness and enjoy the fun bits.

[@MeanSoybean]

this is so nice

[@krellend20]

By the end of this video I was laughing and crying at the same time.

[@plate4416]

I am happy. Triangles. Apples. Graph paper. Vihart has returned!

[@phonotical]

You're back! Yay

[@Stemaa1]

11:28 ow wow magic. Watch the cursor very closely as she does the thing with her hands

[@JahnDough]

♫♫ "He destroys with his sweet sniff" ♫♫

[@megalunalexi5601]

I... did not pick up on the fawnfrey-renfrey pun until i read it in someone's comment

[@gnalkhere]

best birthday present ever

[@jsheezy420]

Mathematical wooden furniture would be dope as fuck niche market trend setta

[@frankharr9466]

That was a fun bit of overanalysing. A tad on the cozy side, but some like it and I wasn't offended at all. Fawnfry, huh? Not, say, Susan? Joan? Tess, maybe. But Fawnfry. O.K. ;) [I have been informed that there is a parallel between this deer and someone called Renfrey. I had no idea. Now I'm sorry I was so snarky.]

[@TH-is8cf]

Like renfrey the point is there is a parallel

[@frankharr9466]

@@TH-is8cf I don't know Renfrey. I didn't know about the parallel. Now my comment is just snarky to no purpose. Thanks for telling me, though. I do appreciate it.

[@AgentM124]

Hmmm, That was unexpected! F*ck.

[@ThomasRStevenson]

wow, simply wow!

[@piano4544]

What are we if not fawns waiting to be slaughtered?

[@orielfinch5806]

now i'm quite curious what kind of books she's into 😭❤ do you happen to have goodreads account? i also wanna follow you there.

[@chesedshalom]

Wow I’m really early. Yay Vi is back

[@phonotical]

I'd have thought the deer would be the bad guy 😅

[@cheshire183]

YAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY

[@many_feet]

Chandrian

[@jinacio]

Miss you !

[@XyntXII]

I would assume the sniff was in the script.

[@whereismyspacebar1652]

OMGOMGOMG VIHART UPLOADED SHES NOT DEAD

[@MacShapow]

I definitely took the line and the sniff to mean he was about to kill and eat the deer.

[@607]

Very interesting!

[@pixel_biscuit]

*sniff sniff*

[@JRSiebz]

Is this what netflix and chill is? ;)

[@FlowersInHisHair]

Vi... you have a hobby. This. This is your hobby

[@matthewsmusicshop]

Ttttttttthank you sssso much

[@SelfCareCharizard]

Super off-topic, but I have to ask: where'd you get the matchstick bowl thing? :O

[@vihartvihart]

random amateur pottery from a thrift store. Glazed on the inside, unglazed and strikable on the outside.

[@SelfCareCharizard]

@@vihartvihart Oh cool! I'll have to look more into that. Thank you!

[@ukko1998]

I don't yet know what comes toward the deer. but I didn't think anything those what vihart thought. I am expecting what ever is in water to kill the deer or somebody to just came from somewhere to scare the deer off. But what is in water? my first thought is that it's alligator or some other animal that is dangerous. maybe animal that doesn't exist here on Earth. Maybe mutant human like person.... now I watch what it is

[@ukko1998]

woah! :D I was right that the deer doesn't die, nice :). never would have guessed spider though.