The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is the latest animated film in The Witcher franchise. It brings back the beloved characters Geralt of Rivia and Jaskier. Doug Cockle once again voices Geralt, while Joey Batey plays Jaskier.
The film adapts “A Little Sacrifice,” a short story from Sword of Destiny, written by Andrzej Sapkowski. This marks another step in the growing universe of The Witcher, which continues to expand through animation, live-action series, and spin-offs.
This is not the first time the franchise has shown animation. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf previously introduced audiences to Vesemir, Geralt’s mentor, and explained the decline of the Witcher population. That film served as a prequel and even featured a young Geralt.
However, Sirens of the Deep connects even more directly to the events fans recognize from the live-action series. It places Geralt and Jaskier in a timeline that aligns with Season 1 of The Witcher. It also revisits important moments from their journey, strengthening its ties to the main storyline.
A Familiar Yet Fresh Story for Geralt and Jaskier
The story follows Geralt and Jaskier as they goes on a new adventure filled with danger, emotions, and mystery. This time, they travel to Bremervoord, Jaskier’s childhood home.
The journey becomes deeply personal for Jaskier when he faces his past, including an old bully named Zelest and his longtime friend Essi. While Jaskier reconnects with his past, the town of Bremervoord faces a serious crisis.
The town is on the verge of war with the nearby merpeople. Pearl divers have been attacked, and tensions between humans and merpeople are rising. Many people in Bremervoord blame the merpeople for the attacks, but there is no real proof. At the same time, a forbidden love story unfolds.
Agloval, the human prince of Bremervoord, and Sh’eenaz, a mermaid princess, are in love. However, their love does not change the deep-rooted hatred between their people.
Geralt is reluctant to take the job at first, but he eventually agrees to investigate. He hopes to prevent war by finding and eliminating whatever is attacking the divers. However, Geralt soon realizes that the problem is not as simple as hunting a monster. The real danger lies in a hidden conspiracy that threatens to tear Bremervoord apart.
Unraveling the Mystery and Facing Unexpected Villains
As Geralt searches for the truth, he works alongside Essi, who can communicate with mermaids. His investigation leads him to a shocking discovery. The attacker is not just a random sea creature but a member of the merpeople’s royal family. This attacker can shapeshift into a deadly Kraken, and Geralt soon learns that she is Melusina, the aunt of Sh’eenaz.
Melusina’s story is filled with betrayal and revenge. She was once in love with the merpeople’s king, but she could not have children. Because of this, the king chose to marry her sister instead, leaving Melusina heartbroken. Feeling betrayed, she now seeks vengeance against the royal family. Her bitterness has led her to attack the human divers, worsening the conflict between the two groups.
However, Melusina is not acting alone. Geralt uncovers an even deeper layer to the conspiracy when he learns about King Usveldt of Bremervoord. Usveldt has been fueling the conflict to stop his son, Agloval, from marrying Sh’eenaz.
He sees their relationship as a threat to his bloodline and wants to ensure that Agloval does not mix with merpeople. To achieve his goal, Usveldt has been manipulating the situation and allowing violence to continue.
The Witcher stories often show that humans can be just as dangerous as the monsters they fear. Usveldt proves this once again. He is willing to sacrifice innocent lives to get what he wants. He has another son, Zelest, but he refuses to acknowledge him as a legitimate heir. His selfishness and cruelty make him one of the true villains of the film.
A Battle Against the Kraken and a Fight for Peace
When Geralt exposes the truth, Usveldt takes drastic action. He orders the execution of Geralt, Jaskier, and Zelest to silence them. At the same time, he launches an attack on the merpeople, hoping to eliminate them once and for all. The three captives manage to escape, but they find themselves in the middle of a brutal battle.
During the chaos, Melusina reveals her true form as a Kraken in front of everyone. She unleashes her fury, killing Zelest in a violent attack. Jaskier, despite his past with Zelest, feels regret for his death. Meanwhile, Geralt faces his toughest fight yet. He is swallowed by the kraken but manages to cut his way out, finally killing Melusina.
Even with Melusina gone, the danger is not over. Usveldt still refuses to accept peace. He blames Sh’eenaz for the conflict and injures her, throwing her into the sea. However, her mother’s healing magic saves her.
In the end, Agloval chooses love over his father’s wishes. He decides to take the form of a merperson and marry Sh’eenaz. This choice ends the war and creates a fragile peace between humans and merpeople.
Usveldt, left powerless, is filled with resentment. In a final scene, he is seen preparing poison on a ship, suggesting that his hatred has not ended. Geralt knows that as long as corrupt rulers exist, true peace will always be out of reach.
Connecting to The Witcher’s Main Storyline
As the film ends, Geralt and Jaskier continue their journey. They set off toward Caingorn in the Dragon Mountains, leading into the events of The Witcher Season 1, Episode 6. Jaskier claims that Yennefer will not be there, but fans know she plays an important role in that episode.
Throughout the film, Geralt struggles with his emotions. He shares a brief romance with Essi, but he cannot stay with her. He realizes that his long lifespan makes it difficult to form lasting connections with normal humans. Essi understands this, and their relationship ends peacefully.
However, this moment reinforces how Geralt sees his relationship with Yennefer. Unlike Essi, Yennefer can share his perspective because she is also affected by magic and longevity.
The film also highlights Geralt’s growing distrust of human rulers. He sees how Usveldt manipulates people and fuels hatred for his own selfish desires. This experience strengthens his belief that humans are often worse than the monsters he hunts.
There is still potential for more stories connected to Sirens of the Deep. While Bremervoord has found peace, for now, hatred between humans and merpeople still exists.
This mirrors the ongoing conflict between humans and elves in The Witcher series. Essi’s fate is also left open. In the original short story, she dies years later, but the film does not show this. This leaves the possibility of her returning to future projects.
A Must-Watch Addition to The Witcher Universe
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep successfully expands the franchise with a gripping and emotional story. It brings back beloved characters, introduces new challenges, and shows powerful themes of love, revenge, and betrayal. The film stays true to the spirit of The Witcher while offering new layers to Geralt’s journey.
Fans of the series will appreciate how it ties into the main storyline, and new viewers will enjoy its action-packed and emotionally charged narrative. With its mix of intense battles, strong character moments, and thought-provoking themes, Sirens of the Deep is a worthy addition to The Witcher universe.
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is now streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
Also Read: The Witcher Season 4: Liam Hemsworth Steps into Geralt’s Shoes
