Spoilers ahead for Netflixs epic animated series, Castlevania.
The first week of March brings a new batch of Castlevania episodes to Netflix with Season 3s arrival on Thursday, March 5th. And theyre easily the best yet. Season 1 debuted back in 2017 with the first part of Warren Ellis adaptation of the Konami classic video game, but there were only four episodes on the offering plate. After the teamTrevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Alucardgot together in that first run, Season 2 delivered eight action-packed episodes in the fall of 2018, featuring complex storypoints all leading to the fall of Dracula himself.
Now, in Season 3, fans will not only get a continuation of the high-quality visual storytelling and mature narrative approach that Castlevania has provided so far, theyll also get all-new characters, a vast expansion of the world, and some of the most WTF moments of the series so far, all in 10 brand-new episodes: The setup is this: In the aftermath of Draculas death, Trevor and Sypha are traveling, Alucard remains at the castle in misery, and Isaac is returning to Europe for his revenge. But Carmilla, reunited with her vampire sisters of the Styrian ruling court, sees a way to take advantage of Draculas demise and build a new future and she needs imprisoned Hector to achieve it.
Before we get into the review, heres a look at the lovely and talented cast who are either returning to Castlevania or making their debut this season:
I could probably talk for hours about the merits of Castlevania Season 3 and the highs and lows of the seasons four story arcs, and I almost did so during a recent interview with writerEllis and producer Kevin Kolde, so keep an eye out for that chat on the premiere date. But since Season 3 delivers such an incredible array of things to enjoybe it bloody violence against men and monsters alike, new characters and lore pulled from the Castlevania canon alongside original creations, or deep philosophical conversations between charactersIll be giving a high-level view of what works, and what didnt, this season.
In the power vacuum left behind by Draculas death at the hands of Trevor, Sypha, and, mostly, Alucard, the worlds remaining vampire leaders are grappling for control of territory and the human livestock that lives within it. At the same time, creatures of the night are prowling across every inch of land, making travel quite perilous for most humans. But Trevor and Sypha are not most humans. They revel in the freedom of the road and the opportunity to train and test their abilities on either unsuspecting bandits who bite off more than they can chew or a pack of prowling night creatures who get in over their heads. (Keep an ear out for a reference to another famous Castlevania character here.) Early episodes remind audiences just how badass this dueling duo can beand just how kinetic and dynamic Powerhouse Animation, Frederator Studios, and their production partners areas they dispatch enemies with ease. But the pairs relationship gets more complicatedsexually and otherwiseas they happen upon a small crossroads town plagued by a particularly troubling incident.
As you might expect, the town of Lindenfeld is where most of the action plays out for Trevor and Sypha this season. But its also a place to meet new characters, like Saint Germain (a fantastic addition who should be familiar to game players), the monks of the Priory and their leader Sala, and the towns governor known simply as Judge. if youve watched the previous seasons, you know that Castlevania doesnt mince words when it comes to religious organizations, their leaders, or the clashing philosophies among all factions of The Church (with a capital C), within and without it. This is where Castlevania shines outside of its intense action sequences and fight scenes: Its a rare adult animated series that actually takes a breath, sits down, and lets its characters have long, difficult, and deeply philosophical conversations about the world they live in and their place within it.
This aspect is most deftly handled in Isaacs story. His arc finds the Forgemaster carving a bloody swath through Europe as he attempts to find his way back to the traitorous Hector, his mind bent on revenge. Along the way, Isaac walks a road of conflicts: He travels with an army of the undead, of monstrous souls lifted from hell by the sacrifice of the living, and yet balks when the human guards of towns and outposts attempt to hurry him through their community, or attack him outright. But Isaac also has perhaps the best individual interactions in this season. He meets a wise merchant who grants him not just an invaluable item but also the priceless gift of kindness; a bold and competent captain who offers not only safe passage but a philosophical harbor of sorts, a refuge from Isaacs tendency to focus only on the evil in men rather than the good; and a sole survivor of a magicians rampage who also seems to hold some powerful magic of her own. Isaacs quest may not be over in Season 3, but his journey is perhaps the most enjoyable.
Elsewhere, the tale of Alucard continues to unfold as the son of Dracula and Lisa Tepes grapples with the loss of both of his parents, particularly the death of his father by his own hand. Theres a great opening scene in Season 3 which reveals the natural beauty of the land surrounding Draculas increasingly ramshackle castle (which now sits, precariously, over the Belmont vault); its a land of light, color, and life, as natures creatures return to their normal behavior in the rather quiet surroundings. We see Alucard gather ingredients for a simple mealherbs, plants, and fishwhich he then prepares in an elegant silence; this might be the most anime scene of the series so far. Its a wonderful introduction that starts to peel back the dueling natures within Alucard: The desire to live as a human and appreciate the beauty and joy that a mortal life holds, while also his inheritance from the vampire lord and the potential madness that comes with it. To say too much of Alucards story here would be to give away the whole point of his arc, so it suffices to say that the dhampirs isolation this season is both a refreshing change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the other arcs while also a glaring vulnerability for the beloved character.
Completing the foursome of story arcs this season is a foursome of another sort. Carmilla, introduced last season, is not the only vampire leader in the world, and shes not the only female vampire with ambitions toward empress either. We get a fantastic introduction to her Styrian sisters: Lenore, Morana, and Striga. This group might just be the standouts of the season. Their individual characteristics come through strong, aided by their unique character designs and interactions with each other. Theyre just fantastic, even if they dont get to do much more than plan for the eventual military action in seasons to come. The outlier here is Lenore, a seemingly young and kind-hearted vampire who tends to the imprisoned Forgemaster Hector, showing kindness and compassion where Carmilla showed only cruelty. The relationships in this arc are fascinating to watch as they unfold, and they provide a nice, heady contrast to the more visceral violence that plays out elsewhere.
Castlevania Season 3 features some of the most brutal, intense, and WTF fight scenes weve seen so far. Our heroesand I put emphasis on that word, because this trio really is the only truly heroic force to be found in the storyget weapon and skill upgrades befitting a Level Up in the game itself, while their hearts and minds will be forever changed by the events of this season. Theres also a more obvious introduction of sex in these episodes, something that was only really teased but never shown in previous seasons; in Season 3, sex acts as a stand-in for power, a tool for manipulation, and as a physical manifestation of growing attraction between characters. Theres no better showcase of this than in the seasons penultimate episode, which features the shows best editing so far. Viewers are not ready for this one.
The team behind Castlevania Season 3 absolutely knocked it out of the park with this batch of episodes. They deliver the action, the intrigue, and the food for thought that elevates the source material into whats easily one of the best video game adaptations ever made. I, for one, hope that Castlevania remains immortal for many more seasons to come.
Excellent
Originally posted here:
Castlevania Season 3 Review: The Season Fans Have Been Waiting For - Collider.com
- V Rising: Here's what to expect when you enter Dracula's frozen domain of Mortium - PlayStation - April 22nd, 2024
- Dracula: I Never Read.... Books - Sound&Vision - April 22nd, 2024
- V Rising Ruins of Mortium Trailer Brings the Fight to Dracula - PlayStation LifeStyle - April 22nd, 2024
- Keanu Reeves refused to hurl abuse at Winona Ryder when making Dracula - LADbible - April 22nd, 2024
- Our oppressive tax system can be analogized to Dracula - Washington Times - April 22nd, 2024
- Vlad The Impaler, Inspiration For Dracula, May Have Cried Tears of Blood: Study - NDTV - March 24th, 2024
- Dracula Token (DRC): Does the Reward Outweigh the Risks? - InvestorsObserver - March 24th, 2024
- Abigail's 1936 Inspiration Teases An Appearance By 1 Classic Horror Character (Not Dracula) - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Off The Telly - 4. "She is basically the sister of Dracula" - BBC - March 24th, 2024
- Is Dracula Token (DRC) Heading the Right Direction Thursday? - InvestorsObserver - March 16th, 2024
- Dracula Token (DRC), High Volatility and Rising Sunday: Is it Time to Cash Out? - InvestorsObserver - March 16th, 2024
- 'Dracula A.D. 1972': when the iconic vampire met the hippies - Far Out Magazine - March 16th, 2024
- Dracula Token (DRC) Do the Risks Outweigh the Rewards Wednesday? - InvestorsObserver - March 8th, 2024
- Luc Besson to Direct Dracula, Caleb Landry Jones and Christoph Waltz Will Lead Retelling of Bram Stokers Gothic Classic - Variety - February 19th, 2024
- Luc Besson to Direct Dracula, Caleb Landry Jones and Christoph Waltz Will Lead Retelling of Bram Stokers Gothic ... - IMDb - February 19th, 2024
- New Dracula Movie Is In Development With Different Retelling Of Bram Stoker's Story - Screen Rant - February 19th, 2024
- Caleb Landry Jones to Re-Team With Luc Besson on Dracula Origin Story - Hollywood Reporter - February 19th, 2024
- Caleb Landry Jones And Christoph Waltz To Star In Luc Besson's Dracula - Empire - February 19th, 2024
- New Dracula Feature Will Delve Into The Vampire Lord's Origins - Horror News Network - February 19th, 2024
- In This Moment to Launch the Godmode Tour with Kim Dracula - Knotfest - February 19th, 2024
- Dracula's Chivito: New protoplanetary disk discovered with Pan-STARRS - Phys.org - February 19th, 2024
- In 'Dracula: Blood Hunt,' the Lord of Vampires Takes the Daughter of Blade Under His Wing - Marvel.com - February 19th, 2024
- Embrace The Darkside! Richmond Ballet Redefines Valentine's with Dracula - rvamag.com - February 19th, 2024
- Dracula Token (DRC) What Does the Chart Say Sunday? - InvestorsObserver - February 19th, 2024
- Dracula's Chivito Is This Year's Best Name For A Newly Found Astronomical Object - IFLScience - February 19th, 2024
- From Billie Holiday to Dracula, is there anyone Zahra Newman cant play? - Sydney Morning Herald - February 19th, 2024
- Review: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Presents a New Take on 'Dracula' From a Female Perspective - Cincinnati CityBeat - February 11th, 2024
- A 103-Year-Old Lost Film Was Actually The First Dracula Movie, Not The Movie People Think Is The First - Screen Rant - February 11th, 2024
- February 2020 (version 1.43) - Visual Studio Code - February 3rd, 2024
- Dracula Token (DRC), High Volatility and Falling Friday: Is it Time to Cash Out? - InvestorsObserver - February 3rd, 2024
- Is Dracula Token (DRC) Heading the Right Direction Wednesday? - InvestorsObserver - February 3rd, 2024
- The Weekly Pull: Detective Comics, Resurrection of Magneto, Universe Monsters: Dracula, and More - ComicBook.com - January 26th, 2024
- Dracula Token (DRC) Do the Risks Outweigh the Rewards Monday? - InvestorsObserver - January 26th, 2024
- Dracula Token (DRC) Falls 47.02% Wednesday: What's Next for This Bearish Rated Crypto? - InvestorsObserver - January 26th, 2024
- The Real History That Went Into Bram Stoker's Dracula | TIME - January 18th, 2024
- Dracula writer Bram Stoker revealed as a humble minute taker for actor charity - The Guardian - January 18th, 2024
- 'Abigail' Trailer Dracula's Daughter Is on the Hunt - Collider - January 18th, 2024
- Which 'Dracula' Movie Is the Most Book-Accurate? - Collider - January 9th, 2024
- Arundel Playhouse celebrates a successful 2023 and kicks off 2024 with 'Dracula: The Bloody Truth' - SussexWorld - January 9th, 2024
- THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER Almost Featured Van Helsing and a Werewolf-Like Dracula GeekTyrant - GeekTyrant - January 1st, 2024
- The strong Dracula Open Youth & Junior Tournament will take place in Romania on February 11-19 - Asian Boxing Confederation - January 1st, 2024
- Is Dracula Token (DRC) Heading the Right Direction Tuesday? - InvestorsObserver - January 1st, 2024
- Defining Dracula: A Century Of Vampire Evolution : NPR - December 23rd, 2023
- Was Dracula a Real Person? | Britannica - December 12th, 2023
- Dracula, a Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really Is Easy, Entertaining, and Empowering - Portland Mercury - December 12th, 2023
- Dracula: The women fight back - Oregon ArtsWatch - December 12th, 2023
- Dracula parrots: what are they and do they feed on blood? - BBC Discover Wildlife - December 12th, 2023
- Wonka | How Hook and Dracula informed the look of this autumn's musical - Filmstories - December 12th, 2023
- Dracula and rabbits and the tooth fairy...oh my! Omaha dentists trade in their traditional scrubs, making the experience less frightening - KETV Omaha - November 2nd, 2023
- Week in theater: Dracula flies into Denver, Sweeney Todd in Longmont and holiday productions are on the horizon - Boulder Daily Camera - October 16th, 2023
- When Keanu Reeves & Winona Ryder Accidentally Got Hitched On The Sets Of Bram Stokers Dracula & They Didnt Realize It Was For Real - Koimoi - February 10th, 2023
- Nina Price and Dracula Will Be the Villains of #Blade #MarvelStudios - Latest Tweet by Marvel Updates - LatestLY - January 1st, 2023
- A Dracula where the women fight back - The Boston Globe - October 19th, 2022
- Owners infuse Romanian history to Dracula-themed wine bar in downtown St. Pete The Crow's Nest at USF St. Petersburg - The Crow's Nest - October 19th, 2022
- Meet Dracula authors great-grand nephew tonight! - wnky.com - October 19th, 2022
- Cape Cod theater: Halloween season with 'The Addams Family,' Dracula - Cape Cod Times - October 19th, 2022
- "A Tale of Two Villains: Theme and Symbolism in Dracula and the Harry Potter Saga" Available Now from Histria Books - openPR - October 19th, 2022
- Netflix Added 36 New Movies and Series This Week - What's on Netflix - October 19th, 2022
- The Vampire and Its Cultural History Exponent - Exponent - October 19th, 2022
- Corin Hardy Releases The Schedule For His Halloween Horrorthon 2022 - Empire - October 19th, 2022
- Shows like Interview with the Vampire: 8 titles to sink your teeth into next - Android Authority - October 19th, 2022
- 2022: The Year of Dracula, Vampire Interviews, Nosferatu, Renfield and more - PW-Philadelphia Weekly - October 11th, 2022
- Bram Stokers Dracula review Gary Oldman is Pierrot from hell in blood-red 90s take - The Guardian - October 11th, 2022
- Cary Elwes on Bram Stokers Dracula at 30: Gary Oldman spent most of the time sleeping in a coffin - Yahoo Movies UK - October 11th, 2022
- The Best New Horror Comics in October 2022: Werewolf by Night, Creepshow, Dracula, and More! - Den of Geek - October 11th, 2022
- Ranking The Horror Movie Sequels That Sent Their Monsters To Space - Den of Geek - October 11th, 2022
- I picked up a book for 1 at a charity shop I was stunned when I found out its true value... - The US Sun - October 11th, 2022
- Abbyr Shen Reesht - Say That Again 9th October 2022 - Abbyr Shen Reesht - Say That Again - Manx Radio - October 11th, 2022
- Top 8 Horror Classics To See In Theaters This October - Bounding Into Comics - October 11th, 2022
- 'Dracula' in Spanish finds new blood after 91 years : NPR - October 2nd, 2022
- Watch Dracula Season 1 | Prime Video - amazon.com - October 2nd, 2022
- Feature: Ben Stevenson's Dracula, presented by the Nevada Ballet Theatre, to Bring Gothic Grandness - Broadway World - October 2nd, 2022
- We get real about love, sex and beauty this October on SBS VICELAND - SBS - October 2nd, 2022
- Celebrating the Glorious Horror Films of 1992 - Nerdist - October 2nd, 2022
- Plan your October in North Texas with these spirited events - KERA News - October 2nd, 2022
- October 2022 Programming on the Criterion Channel Announced - CriterionCast.com - October 2nd, 2022
- Horror as Folk: Viy and Even More Pastoral Folk Horror - Signal Horizon - October 2nd, 2022
- Intimacy and Manipulation: A Reading List of Fictional Diaries - Literary Hub - October 2nd, 2022
- 8 Horror Movies To Watch This Fall - Study Breaks - October 2nd, 2022
- 5 times Horror Franchises went to space and struggled to return to Earth - We Got This Covered - October 2nd, 2022
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero