A rattling chain whip flings across a bloody sky, decapitating vampire’s with explosive glory. A wall of ice rises from the throne room’s surface, splicing others in two. A white wolf tears through bloodsuckers with visceral fangs that spare none. Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades and Alucard share a singular purpose, the death of Dracula. This is but a taste of the action in Castlevania’s second season on Netflix.
Developed by Konami, Castlevania is a video game series that has spanned decades, from Nintendo to Xbox 360. The television series, animated by Adi Shankar, roughly follows the events of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse which unites the three to prevent Dracula from obliterating Europe in 1476.
As an ardent fan of Lords of Shadow (a modern reboot), I found the second season enjoyable, but it left me craving more allusions to the most replayed game trilogy I own. I love the idea that Dracula was once a good man, Gabriel Belmont, embarking on a long and turbulent quest to reunite with his wife. There is a more traditional approach to the story in this adaptation. Dracula has always been a vampire, but fell for a mortal woman who yearned to cure others with science only he could impart.
The action is on point with a flailing chain whip very similar to the combat cross Gabriel wielded on his journey. My eyes widened every moment Trevor whirled it into the air; the metal clang echoed into my ears. Alucard has the ability to shapeshift into a white wolf just as he does in Mirror of Fate, so that was another plus. I love Sypha’s magic, too. I’m not as familiar with her character other than the fact she’s Trevor’s wife, but she was fun to watch.
The scenery is uncanny and unlike any animation I’ve seen before. My favorite part is the Belmont mausoleum, with the family crests and portraits boldly representing the supernatural hunting clan’s legacy. The red banners with gold embroidery were a nice touch and the spiral staircase helped pave a gothic setting Castlevania should provoke. I noticed one of the creatures attacking Trevor looked very similar to Malphus, the crow witch from Lords of Shadow.
Carmilla also made her villainous debut, voiced by Jaime Murray (I had the honor of meeting her at Dragon Con this year). There is excellent backstory on her character that explains her thirst for power. She is a kettle-stirrer who mounts discord and sedition among Dracula’s court.
The show held my interests and I will continue watching. Perhaps, I shall research the rich history that is 32 years old. Do give it a watch and marvel at the fantasy splashed across your screen.