Why Isn't Essi In The Witcher? Netflix's Movie Leaves Out A Key Part Of Her Fate

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep.The Witcher: Sirens of the Deepis now streaming on Netflix, and the anime movie introduces a new love interest for Geralt of Rivia — though their time together is short-lived. Set between The Witcher season 1, episodes 5 and 6, Sirens of the Deep follows Geralt and Jaskier on a journey back to Jaskier's hometown, Bremervoord. They're thrown into a conflict between Bremervoord and the underwater city, Ys, which is based on one of Andrzej Sapkowski's best short stories, "A Little Sacrifice."

While Geralt is still hung up on Yennefer in the new Witcher movie, the film sees him forming a connection with a woman named Essi Daven. Essi is pulled from the pages of Sapkowski's short story, and The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep does an impressive job of bringing the character to life. Despite her friendship with Jaskier and romance with Geralt, Essi doesn't appear in Netflix's main show. "A Little Sacrifice" offers an explanation for her absence in The Witcher, but the ending of Sirens of the Deepdoesn't get into it.

Who Is Essi Daven? The Witcher: Sirens Of The Deep's New Character Explained

She's A Bard Who Grew Up With Jaskier & Takes A Liking To Geralt

Jaskier, Essi Daven and Lachlan Daven in The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep

Essi Daven is one of the most interesting new characters in The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, and she quickly gets wrapped up in Jaskier's and Geralt's adventure. This is because Essi grew up alongside Jaskier, giving them plenty of history together. Like Jaskier, Essi is a bard — just like she is in "A Little Sacrifice" — and she's like a sister to Geralt's singing companion. This comes as a relief to Geralt in the film, as he's attracted to Essi. And the Netflix movie makes their relationship slightly less complicated than it is in the short story.

While Geralt is still uninterested in pursuing a long-term relationship with Essi in Sirens of the Deep, she's more understanding of this reality in the film, making their brief romance easier for both parties. Essi's book counterpart is more emotional, and Geralt is more standoffish towards her in the source material. The two part ways on better terms in Netflix's Witcher movie, which may leave viewers wondering why she's never seen or heard from again. "A Little Sacrifice" offers an explanation, though it's a sad one for the character.

Why Essi Doesn't Appear In Netflix's The Witcher

She & Geralt Don't See Each Other Again After "A Little Sacrifice"

Essi and Geralt part on good terms in the new movie, but Essi never appears in The Witcher, despite Sirens of the Deep's connections to the main series. There's a simple reason for this: Geralt and Essi never see each other again after the events of "A Little Sacrifice," and Essi perishes from smallpox four years after their encounter. Dandelion — the source material's version of Jaskier — reveals as much at the end of the story. However, he admits to not including this outcome in his ballad, as he doesn't believe it's moving enough:

"Several years later, Dandelion could have changed the contents of the ballad and written about what had really occurred. He did not. For the true story would not have moved anyone. Who would have wanted to hear that the Witcher and Little Eye parted and never, ever saw each other again? About how four years later Little Eye died of smallpox during an epidemic raging in Vizima?"

While Netflix's The Witcher has taken liberties with Sapkowski's source material, it sticks to the notion that Geralt and Essi don't see one another again. This makes sense, as Essi is only a fleeting love interest for Geralt. He remains hung up on Yennefer throughout Sirens of the Deep and "A Little Sacrifice," and his primary story is tied to hers and Ciri's. There's no reason to bring Essi into it, even though Sirens of the Deep doesn't include her fate from the source material.

Netflix's New Witcher Movie Leaves Out Essi's Death At The End Of "A Little Sacrifice"

The Film Shows Her Parting With Geralt & Jaskier, Then Leaves It At That

The Witcher and his allies look over a cliff in Sirens of the Deep

Netflix's new Witcher movie may be the last viewers see of Essi Daven, but Sirens of the Deep doesn't condemn her to the same grim fate as "A Little Sacrifice." Although the short storyfills readers in on Essi's fate years later, there's no natural way to work it into the film. Instead, the movie concludes with Essi parting ways with Geralt and Jaskier, leaving what comes next for her open-ended. This doesn't mean Essi doesn't meet the same end in Netflix's franchise, but viewers aren't told about it. They're simply treated to one last conversation between Essi and Geralt.

It's possible that Netflix is embracing Dandelion's version of the story, since he leaves this out of it. But more likely, the anime film just couldn't find a way to add this detail to Sirens of the Deep while still leaving things on a hopeful note. Essi's death is thrown into "A Little Sacrifice" at the very end, and it wouldn't make for a very good conclusion to the film. This does leave the possibility of seeing her again on the table, but it seems unlikely she'll appear in the live-action series.

Could Essi Appear In Future Seasons Of The Witcher?

Sirens Of The Deep Leaves The Door Open, But There's No Reason For It

Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) seen from behind in The Witcher season 4 First Look

Since Netflix doesn't include Essi's fate in The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, it's possible the character could make an appearance in the live-action show — albeit unlikely. The Witcher has made changes to the source material before, and Essi's open ending in the 2025 film lends itself to another divergence. However, given the complaints surrounding The Witcher's book-to-screen changes, it would probably be unwise to throw her into the main story for the sake of it. And it's unclear what purpose it would serve.

To include her in a future story would mean shoehorning her into an adaptation she's not supposed to be a part of or moving away from Sapkowski's work.

The more reasonable way for Essi to return to the franchise would be in another one of The Witcher's anime movies, assuming Netflix decides to make more of them. This would still be risky, though, as she never reappears in the source material. To include her in a future story would mean shoehorning her into an adaptation she's not supposed to be a part of or moving away from Sapkowski's work. Either choice would likely prove controversial, and again, it wouldn't serve much of a purpose narratively.

With The Witcher season 3 being set several years after the first outing, the show is reaching the point when Essi dies in the source material. The live-action series could name-drop her and fill viewers in on this news, but that might be confusing for those unfamiliar with "A Little Sacrifice" and The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep. It's probably for the best if the franchise confines Essi's appearance to the anime movie and leaves her fate up to viewers' interpretations. The film offers just the right amount of the character, something "A Little Sacrifice" also gets right.