I thought I'd make a topic about one of my favorites characters, Trufflehunter the badger, and his portrayals in the adaptations (past and future).
While he only appears in PC as a supporting character, he's a character I'm definitely fond of. His perseverance, kindness and loyalty definitely make him stand out, and on top of that, he's a badger, which are definitely cool creatures.
Now..on to the tricky part. I'm not sure exactly how to say this, but I'll try. I really didn't like the portrayal of Trufflehunter in the BBC adaptation. There are two reasons. One is that they had to use a person in a costume---which I'm sure everyone will agree that, despite the limited technology at the time making it the only option, just didn't work. But the other reason---and again, I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way---is thatI didn't like the choice they made to make him female.
I know there's been some talk about Aslan potentially being female in the new adaptation, which is itself a whole discussion. I don't want to say that a character shouldn't be allowed to be a different gender. But when we're so used to a character being a certain gender, it's hard to imagine them a different one. As a male, I tend to associate more strongly with male characters, so seeing that happen with Trufflehunter and potentially Aslan---two of my favorite characters---is rather difficult. But ultimately, I also think it comes down to the choices of the creators. If they want to give certain characters the chance to be portrayed as a different gender, I can accept that decision, even if it's not one I would personally make if i were adapting Lewis's books.
I will add that, despite BBC's portrayal of Trufflehunter not being my favorite, I still felt that they were able to retained the important aspect's of the book's character, and applaud them for that, since ultimately that's what's most important. I guess I should keep this in mind for Aslan in the upcoming adaptation.
As I'm sure you can guess, I liked Walden Media's Trufflehunter a lot more. Aside from being male, he looked a lot more like an actual badger. While the CG on him definitely looks dated by today's standards, it was pretty good for the time. (I also read about how the creators based the design of Trufflehunter's den on that of a real badger's, which was a nice bonus.) My only real complaint is that I feel he could have been in it more.
As for future adaptations? I think if the PC book is adapted for the next adaptation, Ken Scott's voice for Trufflehunter is a good example for what the character's voice should sound like, assuming they keep him male. (However, Scott is also the only male I'm positive I've heard as the character, since I'm not sure I heard Trufflehunter's parts in the radio play adaptation. I don't know if the audio adaptations are online, I'd like to hear Trufflehunter's voice in them to compare.) Assuming they go with a voice like Scott's, I think a good way to set the portrayal apart from Walden's would be to perhaps make Trufflehunter a bit bigger (as well as maybe give him more lines).
Anyways, I didn't realize this post would become quite so long when I started it! Sorry about that. And again, I hope I didn't come across as too sexist; I apologize if I did.
Topic starter
Posted : July 11, 2025 11:29 pm
DavidD and Narnian.In.the.North liked
I am a woman and agree with your sentiments in regards to Trufflehunter. Once I had read the book, as much as I like Joanna David as an actress, I wasn't a fan of Trufflehunter being played by a woman. The more book accurate portrayal in Walden Media's Prince Caspian is one reason I cannot completely dislike that film. The Radio Theatre actor, is however, my favorite Trufflehunter.
For the Netflix series I would much rather see a racially diverse cast than gender swapping. Aslan as a woman is really the only gender switch that will make me reconsider whether I want to watch Netflix's adaptations though.
"I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia." ~ Puddleglum, The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
Posted : July 12, 2025 8:32 am
DavidD liked
@narnian-in-the-north I'm curious, are the radio theater adaptations available online anywhere to reference the voices?
Topic starter
Posted : July 12, 2025 3:09 pm
@aslanthelion Not that I am aware of. Occasionally people upload them on YouTube but that is a copyright infringement and they usually get removed pretty quickly. They are available as MP3 albums in the US Amazon digital music store and are well worth the price, imo.
"I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia." ~ Puddleglum, The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
Posted : July 12, 2025 3:15 pm
There are currently some available on YouTube (I won't post links in case it's not allowed) - but hurry while you can 
This is the journey
This is the trial
For the hero inside us all
I can hear adventure call
Here we go
Posted : July 12, 2025 8:52 pm
@aslanthelion Not that I am aware of. Occasionally people upload them on YouTube but that is a copyright infringement and they usually get removed pretty quickly. They are available as MP3 albums in the US Amazon digital music store and are well worth the price, imo.
That's too bad. It would be nice to hear it all.
Topic starter
Posted : July 12, 2025 11:14 pm
I managed to find an upload, and I have to say, the voice for Trufflehunter is great.
Topic starter
Posted : July 13, 2025 12:42 am
Narnian.In.the.North liked
I haven't seen the Walden movie version of Prince Caspian (can't bring myself to after the 2005 adaptation of LWW left me badly deflated), so I'm glad to hear Trufflehunter was at least one thing they kept true to the book! 
I remember I was surprised (as a 7-year-old) to hear Trufflehunter with a female voice in the BBC TV version, although his/her dialogue was pretty much unchanged from the book. I would also say it didn't feel quite right. However, if they're going to do some gender-swapping in the interests of having more female characters (and yes, directors did do things like that even back in 1989!), I'd much rather they do it with characters whose gender isn’t hugely important to the plot. Whether Trufflehunter is male or female doesn’t have a great impact on anything he/she says or does in the one story that character appears in. I’ve also suggested before that making Strawberry/Fledge female wouldn’t harm the plot of MN in any way.
On the other hand, making Reepicheep female would just ruin everything about him — that Mouse’s particular nature just would NOT be credible in a female character, if no-one minds me saying!! 
And I’ve commented elsewhere — as have many others — on the even more problematic proposal of a female Aslan… 
"Now you are a lioness," said Aslan. "And now all Narnia will be renewed."
(Prince Caspian)
Posted : July 13, 2025 1:13 am
Narnian.In.the.North and DavidD liked
Though I generally like characters kept close to the book, I think changing Trufflehunter to a female (again) would not be a bother to me, just as it wasn't in the BBC series. They're still the same character in every other aspect! It would also provide balance if they want to have another female character, as the two dwarfs accompanying the badger are male.
@sir-cabbage me too. This is a character that Lewis didn't depict as a warrior, unlike the dwarfs who were both seen as fighters. So the concern about females not fighting is moot.
There, shining in the sunrise, larger than they had seen him before, shaking his mane (for it had apparently grown again) stood Aslan himself.
"...when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards."
Of course the BBC Narnia needed a badger costume for Trufflehunter since the CGI was not available at that time. But I think it was a pretty good costume for the limited budget that they had, and it would have been more than acceptable for a Narnia theater play. I think the voice actors helped to make the BBC talking animals more convincing. The Walden films had more technology available, but I found the BBC talking animals likable enough even though they may have looked a bit awkward being animals in suits. I can’t help liking them. I hope that Greta Gerwig’s film has some lovable talking animals. 🙂
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