How do you think Teltale would've portrayed the arabian fables?
I just finished reading the issues where the arabian fables come to Fabletown and I couldn't help but laugh at how Willingham wrote these characters. It felt like the whole thing was made as an excuse for him to slam Islam. Which is fine with me to be honest, I don't have much love for any religion. I was just hoping he would've been more subtle about it, instead what we got is a few issues of "MUHAHAHA, ALLAH RULES, THE WEST SUCKS, DIE INFIDELS!". First I couldn't even understand why these guys were muslim in the first place. Don't they come from a completely different world? Wouldn't it make more sense for them to have their own religion? Also, being from a different world, why would they be so hostile towards western culture? Sure, it might contradict their own society but it still felt a little forced and unrealistic. I'm curious as to how Teltale would've handled it instead. What if we had an arabian fable in TWAU or in a future sequel? Would they have been made into a Bin Laden wannabe or would they have been more complex than that? Would Teltale even have the balls to go there?
I just wanna make it clear that I think the comics are amazing and that Willingham is a great writer. Its just this particular volume that disappointed me. It didn't offend me, It just felt political commentary rather than an actual part of the Fables storyline.
Comments
Well considering that all the Arabian besides from Yusuf didnt act like that, I dont really see anything wrong really. Yusuf saw the western fables as untrustworthy because they were being attacked by western fables at the time. So I don't see any slamming of stereotypes as Sinbad was Muslim as well. Sinbad was super nice and understanding even after they locked him up (and honestly I wish there was way more of him). As for religion its kinda alluded to that fables kinda have it? I know Blue mentions God a couple of times, like bible god. So fables being Muslim doesn't really surprise me. Pagan beliefs are mentioned a couple times too I think.
So I dont think telltale would treat it any differently then they are in the comics, Nathoo was a great example of a very well rounded and realistic Arabian fable, as well as Sinbad and Ali Baba.
Read Fairest, Nathoo is probably one of my favorite minor characters in the series. The fairest comics also take place in a lot of other countries, like Japan and the homeland's Baghdad.
Well there was also Hakim. I read a few more issues and there was this one scene where he threatens to stone some woman to death or something. Also, the western fables being religious sort of makes sense because they have been living on Earth for centuries. It would't be surprising to have them adopt some local traditions. It didn't seem like the arabian fables had too much contact with Earth. Or maybe they did and I sort of just missed it. I just find it unrealistic as to how a society that came from a completely different world could end up having the EXACT same religion. I think it would've been more interesting for them to have had their own unique religion. Maybe a polytheistic one with all sorts of badass gods. I haven't seen Nathoo and Ali Baba yet so I guess I'll just take your word on that. Sure, SIndbad seemed like a nice guy but he was also a slave owner with a harem of slave girls likely kept for his own sexual pleasure.
Also, from what I understand, the adversary's armies consist of alot of non-human monsters like goblins and so on. So it wouldn't be entirely accurate to say that "western fables" were attacking the arabian fable homeworld. Was it actually explained that that was the reason as to why Yusuf hated the west? Maybe I missed it but I don't recall that being implied anywhere. I got the impression that he was some religious nutjob that hated the west because that's what alot of the nutjobs in the Middle East do. Then there's that whole bit where Cole goes to Sinbad and starts doing his little speech where he says "Greetings Sindbad, Allah's greatest servant. My name is Cole, may Allah curse my family and blah blah blah". I can't remember exactly what he said but it made me cringe. The overall impression I got from this volume was that the arabic fables are a bunch of religious nutjobs with a barbaric and backwards lifestyle. Again, I don't find it offensive. I just think it felt really forced and poorly handled.
If Teltale did ever put arabian fables in the game, I think they would be alot tamer than this. Maybe they would be like Sindbad minus the slave girls or the weapon of mass destruction.
I skip that intire part because it was really boring ,stupid and it happens nothing
)Anyway,long road until ttg will do that.First of all we need to see b-s realthionship, rose read ,blue until that.We will se the arabians in s4 maybe 
)
Blue mentions God in the homelands, before he came to fabletown. and at the end of that arc Sinbad shows Cole that they have a portal and may/or may not use it to travel between worlds a lot. Religion is an odd topic when it comes to fables, but saying its unbelievable in this world of dragons and giant wolf cops, makes your imagination seem limited. It should be explained a bit more though, and maybe it has in a spin-off.
Still just expecting telltale to shoehorn in characters that aren't relevant for another 20 years is kinda asking a bit much. Mowgli we may see, but I doubt it.
The arc is based mostly on cultural misunderstanding and a language barrier, that's basically the driving force behind it with Yusuf at the head of it. You also have to understand that the Arabian fables are basically coming from the dark ages, so things like a harem wouldn't be strange to them or culturally frowned upon. But it would for the western fables living in a modern society, its downright wrong for them, and thats why Sindbad lets them all go free at the end.
All the Arabian fables (aside from Yusuf) just straight up try stop their archaic and barbaric practices. You gotta understand that all the western fables went through this, abit slower and they moved with the rest of society. But Fabletown still practices execution by beheading. You cant really call Sinbad the bad guy because he didn't know any better, and when he does know better he does the right thing.
Volume 7 Arabian Nights and Days is my least favourite entry in the comics because of the Arabian Fables, they have such old world views that I couldn't like them one bit; although later on the comics (by Volume 11 War and Pieces I think) Hakim becomes quite funny and Sinbad is just a legend...