By Netflix just held a panel at MCM London Comic Con featuring new footage from its upcoming hit show The Witcher, showrunner Lauren Hissrich, and leading cast member Freya Allan (Princess Ciri). While filming wasn’t allowed, we’ve put together a detailed transcript of the footage that was shown at the event.
Yennefer’s monologue to a dead baby
This clip shows Yennefer (played by Anya Chalotra) eulogizing a dead baby. We know she will try to save the baby and her mother Queen Kalis of Lyria (Isobel Laidler) from a yet unknown mage (Marcin Czarnik), teleporting through various destinations. All her efforts are in vain as both the mother and baby don’t survive the confrontation. The clip likely comes at the end of this struggle.
[A bird of prey is seen circling the sky. The scene cuts to Yennefer sitting at a beach, wearing her black outfit, her hair in dissarray]
[Yen, looking at the bird]
“Which one of us are you here for?”
[As she starts speaking, the dead baby is shown briefly]
“I’m sorry you didn’t have a life. But truth be told, you’re not missing much.”
[The scene cuts back to Yen]
“I know that’s easy for me to say with warm breath in my lungs and you with nothing. Still, what would you have had? Parents? Well, they’re the ones who wrote your last act. So not much lost there. Friends? Most likely fair-weather. Lovers? Fun for a bit, I’ll admit, but will eventually disappoint.”
[At this point the music starts playing slowly]
“And let’s face it: you’re a girl. Your mother was right about one thing. We’re just vessels. And even when we’re told we’re special. As I was. As you would have been. We’re still just vessels. For them to take, and take, until we’re empty. And alone. So count yourself lucky. You’ve cheated the game and won without even knowing it. Sleep well.”
[As she speaks her last line turning towards the dead baby, the music gets louder and a voice starts to sing. The clip ends with Yen burying the baby]
Ciri meeting Dara
The second clip shows Ciri’s encounter with Dara (played by Wilson Radjou-Pujalte) and according to Lauren Hissrich, it’s a scene from episode two. Dara wasn’t in the books but will be a crucial part of Ciri’s story in the first season. At MCM Freya Allan said: “He is the main source for her different perspective and viewpoint. He’s vital at keeping her going and they make a good team. They are from completely different backgrounds but they get together and it doesn’t matter anymore.”
We’re still unsure of Dara’s exact background. We did get a glimpse on Instagram in October last year of the actor being 3D scanned, meaning some special effects will be involved. That could be something as simple as showing his face pierced by an arrow.
[Ciri is in a snowy forest. She is looking battered with visible scratches on her face and dirty hair. Music plays. She approaches a bush of berries holding her hand out to pick one. Something gets thrown at her hand. She picks up a stick and gasps]
“Who’s there?”
[Dara appears from behind a tree. he’s wearing a coat and a hat]
“Stop right there!”
[Dara motions for her not to eat the berries]
“You mean they’re poison?”
[Dara signals her to follow and we see a rat. Ciri is still holding the stick]
“Oh, no thank you. I don’t eat rat.”
[Dara shrugs as if to leave]
“Wait!”
[Cut to a fire. Dara is eating roasted rat]
“Where in Cintra did you live? Where are your parents? Why don’t you talk? I haven’t spoken to anybody in three days… Guess we’re all on the run. I’m supposed to be going towards someone but instead I’m running from someone else. He has this, this… big bird on his head. I don’t even know what he wants from me. We should smother the fire. I can’t be caught by him. I can’t.”
[Dara offers her what’s left of the rat. Ciri accepts. Cut to them wandering through the woods. They’re freezing. Ciri gives Dara one of her gloves]
“Look! It’s a Cintran flag! Come on, we’re saved!”
[Ciri starts running towards the flag. When she turns to check on Dara, the boy is gone]
“Rat boy?”
[Jaskier starts singing. This is very likely from the next scene]
Here you can find some audio (very poor quality) from ciri scene etc: https://soundcloud.com/boskee_voitek
I can’t wait to see the series
I’m a big fan of the gorgeous Henry Cavill. He is a super start and a creative actor
I had figured that Dara might be a variant of the character Jarre, the young scribe (and later historian) who has a crush on Ciri when she studies at the Temple of Melitele, and who eventually goes to war hoping to protect her somehow.