The bad guy empire are all brainwashing pillagers worshipping a vague religion that teaches that everyone is equal (and thusly maybe equally as fun to slaughter in a genuine Nilfgardiatic horde of genocidal maniacs). Everyone is so equal that their citizens are indeed equally poor and overworked and thusly eat rock soup and drink shitwater for every meal or something. I can even remember pretty distinctly an argument in the show wherein the vague ideas of ‘freedom’ and ‘equality’ were considered opposites, and we as the audience were being guided to sympathize more with “freedom”.

All that said I dig the lore. I like the elves, guerilla and otherwise. The politics can also be intriguing, if one allows them to be.

It is also very much worth noting that in-universe Nilfgard supports the right of self-determination of the elven people and even VIOLENTLY defends them and creates an ethno-endostate within Nilfgardian borders so they’ll always be defended by a strong army against the literally genocidal regime that Geraldo finds himself living within and more often than not finding ways to side with it.

I’ve learned that when presented with fantasy anti-communist propaganda, I tend to just side with the fictional quasi-communist side semi-ironically. I find it quite enjoyable at times.

Long live Nilfgaard!