In May 2021, right after the conclusion of the smash hit animated series “Castlevania,” Netflix announced that a spinoff of the series — set 300 years later during the French Revolution — would be released. This new show, “Castlevania: Nocturne,” had a disappointing first season, to say the least. While praised by critics, the season was generally panned by general audiences.
After Season 2’s release this past Thursday, though, I can quite happily say that Netflix has corrected its course and that the new installment of “Nocturne” is a return to the high quality that the first show possessed.
The quality of animation remains unchanged in the new season. Both “Castlevania” shows have always had stellar animation, gorgeously portraying everything from mundane moments to the often grotesque nature of the monsters’ faces.
Also consistent in this new season are the voice performances from the main cast. Edward Bluemel, Thuso Mbedu and Pixie Davies deliver outstanding performances as the leading trio, with Richard Dormer, Franka Potente and Zahn McClarnon making for exciting and captivating villains.
Season 2 also brings back fan favorite James Callis as the half-vampire son of Dracula, Adrian “Alucard” Tepes, whose performance alone elevates the second season by leaps and bounds. After 300 years of traveling the world, this version of Alucard fills much of the role of his original series self, providing a gravitas and history that elevates the season as a whole.
Unlike the first season, “Nocturne” Season 2 takes time to consider its environment, with our heroes traveling to Paris during the French Revolution.
Additionally, the main characters feel less like caricatures of their first-show counterparts and more like individuals in their own right. Richter Belmont evolves from being just a copy of “Castlevania’s” Trevor Belmont, skilled but relatively unintelligent, to a professional monster hunter and magician in his own right. Maria Renard grapples with revelations of her family ties to accept her past and move on from its destructive influence.
Perhaps the only character who does not display some significant evolution is Alucard, but that’s almost expected from an immortal. His presence and relative stagnancy provide a constant that the series can use as a benchmark against the original.
Without question, the second season of “Castlevania: Nocturne” is a marked improvement from the first — a quality of show that rivals that of its predecessor.
