#bonus points if its like. the end scene of whatever episode caleb talks about his past in which structurally would make a lot of sense

[essektheylyss]

Okay, if we're actually talking "wish list ideals that are not make or break but I would lose my mind", my actual real dream season 1 Essek concept is that there are a few scenes, probably around the Zauber Spire attack, establishing Essek working with Ludinus and Trent, a la how Cassandra was structurally established as associated with the Briarwoods before the party actually met her, in a way that wasn't possible to see in game. Nothing major, just to lay down foundations now that the medium allows it. You probably wouldn't even need to come back to him until Rosohna in a couple seasons, and everything else can play out as it did.

Establish the Cerberus Assembly's villainy, their willingness to manipulate ambitious young mages for their own ends however they see fit, and the fact that Essek is in so far over his head and hasn't even really realized it yet, while setting up some really delicious dramatic irony well down the road where the audience knows and the Nein don't, which also puts new viewers on a slightly more even playing field.

It means that Essek's guilt is undeniable, and his circumstances fraught, but also puts into perspective precisely why Caleb later sees himself in him and twists the knife in real time during all of their eventual interactions.