Other than a seriously low episode count of four (twenty minutes each), I was in love with Netflix's approach to Castlevania. It was, for the most part, a fairly accurate adaptation of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. It wasn't perfect by any mean (what adaptation is?), but it was close enough that I was all in. A year and three months later Season Two dropped with twice as many episodes. Season Two went off book a little bit, introducing a vampire council for Dracula and working in elements from Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (the sequel story to Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse). Despite going off book I really enjoyed Season Two. That season ended with Dracula's defeat and supposedly the end of the series as a whole.
It was up in the air for a long while whether or not Netflix renewed the show for another season. When Netflix announced that another season was coming I was ecstatic. But it made the wait for the next season seem long. After a long wait (over a year and five months), Netflix has finally released the third (and final? Most Netflix shows don't go beyond two to three seasons) season of Castlevania. Ten episodes this go around (the most in a single season so far) with lengths of twenty to over thirty minutes apiece. In typical Netflix fashion, I binged the entire season in one day.
This season went darker than the previous two and I loved every bit of it.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
THE PLOT
Dracula is dead. Alucard has now taken up ownership of Dracula's castle as well as the Belmont Hold, guarding both against enemies seeking to steal Dracula's secrets. Sypha and Trevor travel the countryside together killing monsters and saving people from the night creatures. Meanwhile Carmilla, having captured the Devil Forger Hector, returns to her castle in Styria to plot her assault on mankind. And Isaac, another Devil Forger, builds an army to destroy Carmilla and Hector for their betrayal.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
With the video games, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness added a lot of elements that weren't present in Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. As such, Curse of Darkness created a lot of "plot holes" or gaps in the story that were never explained in detail. Season Two tried to work in these elements into Castlevania III's story and Season Three continues to do so. Here though, Castlevania III's story is over and the show is now fully into Castlevania: Curse of Darkness' story. Well, kinda. It's more in this middling space between the two games, getting closer to the beginning of Curse of Darkness.
As with Season Two, the show continues to go off book a bit but seems to do so with purpose. It's continuing to connect the dots between the two games more clearly while at the same time trying to keep its own narrative cohesive as well. As such, it feels like its trying to be faithful to both the games and its own narrative. As a result it feels like these deviations to the story aren't merely arbitrary, but with purpose. All of this is to say that I was okay with most of the unique story elements introduced here.
Worked into this season was the character of Saint Germain, a character from Curse of Darkness that I never liked. But I loved how the character was adapted here, voiced brilliantly by Bill Nighy (not playing a vampire for a change!). Saint Germain still felt like he was the character I knew from the game but with a more refined touch, fitting well with the tone of the show. Central to Saint Germain's story here is the Infinite Corridor, another strange element from Curse of Darkness, used to amazing effect here in the show. Trevor and Sypha figure largely into this story and, of the four narratives being told this season, was my favorite. There is a scene in which Saint Germain dreams of the various worlds accessed by the Infinite Corridor, one of which I swear featured a Metal Gear-like mech (also a Konami property).
Alucard's plot in this season may be my least favorite, but by this point in the game's story his part was over. So even having Alucard here at all is a bonus. This season really digs into the psyche of Alucard and how after enduring something as mentally and spiritually traumatic as patricide, what harm isolation can do. There was a possible connection to the Hakuba Clan presented here (a story element from Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow) but ultimately not the case. That element ends sadly in tragedy. I do wish it hadn't of ended the way it did and instead laid the groundwork for Alucard's connection to the Hakuba Clan.
As for Hector, the show is playing a long game with his character. When he's introduced in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness he's basically already the hero. But looking at his backstory and scope of character, becoming the hero is the last part of his journey. This show explores his time as a faithful follower of Dracula, his falling out with Dracula, and his journey towards ending up on the heroes side of the conflict. His harsh journey is front and center here and it only gets worse. A big chunk of this season focuses on Carmilla and her vampire sisters preparing for war and digging their hooks into Hector. Lenore to me appears to be the replacement for Rosaly as the central woman in Hector's life and seeing her slowly appeal to him was interesting.
Hector and Alucard seem to share a similar naivete and this makes Hector easily manipulated. If I was a bigger fan of Hector I might be getting frustrated by this point at all of the changes made to his character and story and the long road to his character becoming a hero. My hope is that we'll see Lenore and Hector genuinely come to love each other and her death at Isaac's hands will ignite a war between the two Devil Forgemasters. But that means either one or two more seasons before the Devil Forgers story is complete. That's a long time to dedicate to this section of Castlevania lore... when they could shift time periods to other sections of the franchise.
And speaking of Isaac, he's a character I never liked in the games but I actually like him in this show. It helps that he was reinvented from the ground up in this show. His philosophy and determination are on full display in this season. And he's surprisingly sympathetic. His conversations with characters in this season are so interesting and compelling... HIS CONVERSATIONS! Just listening to this guy talk to people was so cool. I enjoyed seeing him gather his army and the showdown with Granfaloon/Legion (a classic boss enemy from the games) was amazing.
And speaking of showdowns, I'd be remiss if I didn't say how much I enjoyed that big finale with Trevor, Sypha, and the Infinite Corridor! So so cool. But to talk about that more we need to talk about...
EASTER EGGS
There are obviously a lot of nods and references to the games throughout the show but this season had some great ones. Easter Eggs that I loved included Isaac meeting the merchant near the beginning. The merchant was polishing a jade mask which is an item right out of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. Also in that scene is a little Moai Statue (Easter Island Head) which is another secret item in the Castlevania games (and a recurring image/thing appearing in lots of Konami properties, the most obvious being the GRADIUS franchise).
There are a ton of monsters right out of the games as well which was super fun to spot. The Werewolf/Minotaur duo appeared as well as mermen, wargs, fire demons, malachi, and cagnazzo. And those were just the ones I can think of right now. I know there are many more. The old woman Isaac talks to before battling Granfaloon was the spittin' image of the mysterious gray cloaked women mystics in SIMON'S QUEST. Also, having Barbara Steele voice Morana made my inner-horror nerd geek out (this isn't a Castlevania easter egg but having a horror icon like her in here is just too cool!)!
Probably my favorite easter eggs though are at the end when Trevor duel wields his whips into a giant fire whip! This is in reference to both Simon's Quest (and the powered up version of the Morning Star that you can get there) and Richter Belmont's ITEM CRASH ability without any subweapons from DRACULA X. Sypha also gains her final (and most powerful) magic ability from Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse as well (lightning power!). Sadly though I didn't notice any classic music from the games appear in this season, which was a major letdown.
The night creature hidden at the bottom of the priory may or may not hold an easter egg/reference as well. When the night creature absorbs all of the souls of the townsfolk you can see all of their faces pushing out from inside his body. This reminded me of Dracula's final form from CASTLEVANIA LEGENDS (an underappreciated game in the franchise that I dearly love). Trevor also makes mention of a female Belmont he used to know (perhaps a subtle reference to Castlevania Legends' protagonist Sonia Belmont? I think so! There's only ever been one female Belmont hero in the games and she lived during the same time Trevor was alive. Who else would it be but Sonia? But Trevor never mentions her name so it may well be another woman of the Belmonts). Whether these are references to Castlevania Legends or not (no doubt many will say they're not) the parallels are there.
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| Look closely at Dracula's body and you'll see a ton of faces pushing out. Even the pose here is evocative of how the final night creature was posed in season three with its arms out and crucified. |
HOPES & WANTS FOR SEASON FOUR
Clearly we're going to remain in this era of the Castlevania timeline for the next season if not the next two given the pace at which this story has been unfolding. This era ends (in the games) with Hector and Isaac warring with one another, Isaac eventually falling before Hector. I could see the next season involving Isaac's war with Carmilla, dragging it out to the finale where Isaac kills Carmilla and her sisters, including Lenore whom Hector, by this point, is in actual love with. Lenore's death will galvanize Hector in season five, setting him on a direct path to kill Isaac. Isaac will battle Hector but his main goal will be to resurrect Dracula. Instead of reviving Dracula, Isaac will mistakenly summon Death (the Grim Reaper). Anyway, Hector wins at the end of season five and thus ends the Trevor Belmont saga. What they'll do with Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard during seasons four and five? No idea. Trevor helps Hector a little in the game but ends up getting stabbed, sidelining him for most of that game.
As a big Castlevania fan, it is my hope that the show will continue past this era and explore other chapters in the Castlevania saga. I really want to see Simon Belmont and his story (Simon was the first hero of Castlevania after all), but Simon's story doesn't involve as many colorful characters as Trevor's story, not to mention there is no Alucard present in Simon's story whatsoever. Simon is alone for most of his story and remaining true to the game with just one protagonist may be difficult. It could be awesome too if we're stuck with Simon, while he's trapped in Dracula's castle alone with death around every corner.
The obvious chapter to explore next would be Richter Belmont's story, adapting both Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night. There are many more characters involved in those games as well as having Alucard (the one character who could connect all of the seasons). I do really want to see these games and this section of the saga adapted (and I'm sure most Castlevania fans want this the most). But I really really want to see Simon Belmont properly represented and shown for the great hero and icon that he is. Simon is the most famous of the Belmonts. You can't do Trevor Belmont and not then do Simon Belmont. Trevor, while awesome, is nothing compared to Simon (in my opinion).
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| From left to right: Trevor, Richter, Leon, Juste, and Simon Belmont. |
Aside from these massive wants in the direction of the story, I want MORE CLASSIC CASTLEVANIA MUSIC! And while I recognize that the games leave a lot of story open to interpretation, I still want the show to be as faithful to the story and characters from the video games as possible. The hard rated R intensity of the show is perfect and I hope it stays like this and or only gets more intense. I want to see Death finally introduced and bound to Dracula. I want Medusa, Frankenstein's Monster, mummies, and all of the classic bosses appearing at some point. And I want Dracula resurrected and supremely evil as a result of his revivification. And I want to see Dracula's second and third forms (going full demon monster).
And finally, my greatest wish for this show is for it to keep going for a dozen seasons or more, maintaining the same great quality. I do wish Sonia Belmont would get an arc in the show too but I really doubt that will happen. Still, it would be awesome if they did include her and recognize how awesome the one and only female Belmont vampire hunter is.
THE VERDICT
Season Three really starts the show down a new path and, as a result, has to establish a new conflict and new characters. Momentum is stifled a bit and the season slogs on for a while. But within the slog the characters remain high quality and the story remains interesting and quite solid. The season goes darker and more mature than the previous seasons. It feels scarier, gorier, and more intense. Warren Ellis had to do some creative storytelling in order to weave in elements from the games in a cohesive way, as well as have it mesh with the show's own style and narrative, and I think he pulled it off. I love the new voice actors and I'm very excited to find out if the show is renewed for another season.
Overall Ranking: 7 out of 10
Nude-O-Meter: 4 out of 10
Castlevania seems to be riding a new wave of popularity and having quite the resurgence. For myself, I have never been more excited about Castlevania. I am playing all of the games again and sharing the experience with my son. Seeing my son's excitement over Castlevania is like feeling those highs myself for the first time all over again. I really hope this new lease on life for Castlevania lasts and revitalizes the franchise in more ways than this. The greatest hope would be that this new popularity inspires Konami to get back in the game and starts making new Castlevania games (or that they sell off the rights to Castlevania to a great group of game developers who produce the next great Castlevania game).
Thanks for reading!
What were your thoughts on Castlevania Season Three? Let's discuss!
For more Castlevania posts and video game stuff, check out these posts below!
Gaming Diaries
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