Why Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 Is Even Better Than The First

by

I’m quite fond of “Castlevania”, though “Metroid” might edge it out slightly for me – and those who appreciate the Metroidvania genre will understand why I make such comparisons. Given that there’s a second season of “Castlevania: Nocturne” on Netflix, you can imagine how eagerly I dove into all eight episodes in one go.

While I enjoyed many aspects of the initial season, I believe it had room for improvement. Frankly, it didn’t quite reach the level of excellence that I found in the original Castlevania animated series, a standard I regard as the pinnacle of TV entertainment.

To put it simply, I’m thrilled to share my viewpoint that the supposedly second (and hopefully not our final) installment of Nocturne surpasses the first, and I’ll outline a few points to back up this opinion.

Oh, and major spoilers up ahead.

Alucard Being Prominent Throughout Season 2 Adds A Crucial Element Not Present In Season 1.

To be honest, I’m just as fond of Richter Belmont as the next fan. Yet, I must admit that I have reservations about this portrayal of the character. The Richter I adore, from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, would bravely charge towards Dracula, declaring, “Perish, fiend! You don’t have a place in this world!

Indeed, the portrayal in “Nocturne” of Richter seems to depict a significantly younger version of the character. This aligns with the timeline of the series, as the French Revolution setting suggests that “Rondo of Blood,” which occurred in 1792 and saw Richter at the age of 19, is the time period being represented.

Despite the previous outstanding Castlevania series featuring the masculine Trevor Belmont, I must admit that I found it hard to connect with this younger and less experienced main character.

I step into the scene as Alucard, bridging the gap between the initial series and Nocturne. The Alucard you initially knew was from Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, but that game unfolds in 1476. Fast forward 316 years to Rondo of Blood, and this weary version of me is a stark contrast.

In addition to significantly enhancing the series compared to its initial season where Alucard made his debut in the last episode, his performances in Nocturne are nothing short of astounding. However, what truly captivates me is not only his action sequences but also his interactions with Richter, Maria, and Annette. Contrasting this with his dynamics with Trevor and Sypha from the first series, it’s a more complex relationship here that really adds depth to the storyline. The tense connection between Alucard and the other characters truly elevates this season, making it even more engaging for viewers.

I Also Like The Bigger Role Of The Belmont Family In Season 2

One reason I adored the initial Castlevania animated series, as even Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi deemed it “excellent,” was due to its character development of Trevor, a beloved member of the Belmont clan and one of my favorites.

Trevor is the original Belmont to defeat Dracula, and we followed his ancestry right up until the last season of the animated series. One character I adored that they introduced in ‘Nocturne’ (apart from Richter, naturally) was Juste Belmont, who appears in one of my favorite games in the series, the often overlooked ‘Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance’, which has a fantastic soundtrack, if I may say so myself!

In the initial season, Juste had a presence, yet this time, his role expands significantly as he attempts to guide Maria away from the ominous aspects of magic. What’s fascinating is that they introduced a new character, Julia Belmont, in the first installment of Nocturne, but the connections between Juste, who is Richter’s grandfather, and Richter themselves are more extensive in this season. I find it intriguing!

What I appreciate most about ‘Nocturne’ is that Alucard contemplates his relationships with the Belmont Clan, going so far as to view them as ‘family’ at a certain point.” This version maintains the original meaning and flow while making it easier to read.

Once upon a memorable moment, I, a movie enthusiast, found myself engrossed in a fascinating exchange between Alucard and Juste. In this scene, Juste confessed that, unlike some of his forebears, he hadn’t been graced by my presence – Alucard’s – during the same festive occasions. To lighten the mood, I, as Alucard, playfully joked about my apologies for missing those family get-togethers, especially around holidays.

As an ardent enthusiast of the “Castlevania” series, I always appreciate delving deeper into one of my cherished video game lineages, and that’s exactly what “Nocturne” does so well.

The Character Drama Is Heightened Even More This Time Around

While the two animated series based on “Castlevania” might appear as family dramas on the surface, their core essence revolves around the theme of vampires, driven by high stakes.

Previously, I found myself rooting for both Dracula and his half-vampire offspring, Alucard. Yet, as this new chapter unfolds, my empathy has shifted towards Tera, Maria’s mother, who was turned into a vampire in the last season to safeguard her child.

I’m utterly captivated as this narrative escalates, for I find myself deeply empathizing with Maria, who harbors intense disdain towards her father – a dual role as an abbot and master blacksmith, serving the sinister antagonist, Erzsebet. The enigmatic Franka Potente, famously known from the iconic film “Run Lola Run,” lends her voice to this captivating character.

Maria harbors a desire to harm her father, while Tera grapples with this dilemma. On one side, she’s giving in to the sinister aspects of her vampire nature, but on the other, she strives to preserve her role as Maria’s mother – leading to an intense emotional turmoil for both characters.

It appears there’s significantly more tension in this season compared to the previous one. Tera was engaging before, but her role as a mother torn between her own needs and those of her daughter has made her character even more captivating. Additionally, we have the complicated relationship between Mizrak and Olrox, two individuals embroiled in drama. Mizrak grapples with internal conflict because he’s a man of faith, which causes self-loathing due to his homosexuality and love for a vampire, both of which contradict his beliefs. On the other hand, Olrox is torn between his feelings for Mizrak and his obligation to present himself as serving Erzsebet, a self-absorbed vampire.

As a dedicated film enthusiast, let me tell you, these eight episodes are nothing short of edge-of-your-seat suspenseful! In comparison to the first season, I must admit that this one is far more engaging – the initial installment seemed somewhat lackluster by comparison.

The Stakes Are Through The Roof This Season

In the series, Erzebet is accompanied by her lover, Drolta. Unfortunately, it was Alucard who took Drolta’s life in Season 1.)

In this storyline, Elisabeth yearns for her beloved, while Drolta rises from the grave seeking revenge against Dracula. Simultaneously, Dracula himself must find a way to thwart Elisabeth’s longing. Additionally, Richter, who was previously inexperienced, now wields a whip and brings about an increased emotional tension that was hinted at in the initial season but is more prominent here.

Essentially, Richter needs to shape up quickly since Erzebet won’t pause for his development. This situation intensifies the anticipation, as we eagerly hope to witness Richter transform into the capable vampire hunter we believe he can become, yet he’s still grappling with this role.

Afterward, Maria’s tale unfolds about her quest to determine the type of sorceress she desires to become – one who wields dark powers or light. Furthermore, Annette’s narrative unfurls as well, where she encounters demons pursuing her, but eventually discovers that it is actually deceased entities attempting to call forth her presence to bestow upon her the power of an ancient deity.

There’s just so much going on this season, which I couldn’t entirely say for Season 1.

It Also Feels Even More Like The Games Castlevania: Rondo Of Blood And Symphony Of The Night

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one of my all-time favorite games, and I particularly enjoy how Alucard in this game feels reminiscent of his character from that title. Furthermore, I appreciate that Maria seems even more akin to her counterpart in Rondo of Blood, resulting in a delightful fusion of both games’ elements.

Watching this makes me crave playing these games even more, and I believe it’s crucial for any video game movie or TV show adaptation to have a similar effect.

Observing Juste at work stirred a desire within me to load up a save from the game “Harmony of Dissonance“, while simply watching these shows has sparked an urge in me to delve back into various “Castlevania” titles.

To put it another way, this current season seems remarkably similar to a video game compared to the previous one, with its character interplay and action sequences.

The second season is flawlessly executed, and I’m eagerly anticipating a third installment, or perhaps another adventure in the vein of Belmont. By the way, there’s still room for a story about Simon that hasn’t been told yet.

For more news on other 2025 Netflix movies and TV shows, be sure to swing around here often!

Read More

2025-01-25 17:08