Castlevania Season 2 - Review

The first Castlevania season caught everyone by surprise. A video game property whose adaptation was fantastic, an outlier to the rule. It had people clamoring for more as the four episode season had a total runtime of less than two hours. The show vividly brought to life a world plagued by war; in utilizing hand-drawn animation, it was unparalleled in polish and style.

Coming in at double the duration, season 2 aimed to surpass expectations by keeping the production values high while doubling down on what makes the show great. It introduces a wide range of new characters, keeping its story fresh and exciting. It still makes time for the main cast, expanding their relationships and anchoring the show. Not everything is perfect; there are a few rough patches but are few and far between. Castlevania season 2 is peerless when it comes to adult animation and is a gift for us in the West whom are sorely lacking in that department.

The plot of the show is fantastic; it knows all the story beats it wants to hit and ensures the audience is never bored. This wouldn’t be possible without the amazing characters; they are unique and mesh together extraordinarily well. Just listening to them talk is fun, even if it might be a little cheesy. Since the characters are so well drawn, even if there are no battles taking place, stakes still feel high and engaging. They might not always have the best motivations, but the actions they take always keep you interested and propel the show forward.

If I were to complain about anything, it would definitely come down to one main area. The show consistently doesn’t know how to score its scenes. There is a persistent problem with music being too loud, being the wrong tone, and distracting from events unfolding on screen. Some people expand this complaint by going as far to say that the show needs music from the games that inspired it. I do not fall in this camp for the simple fact that I have never heard the music from the game franchise before. This problem is huge for me though, as it straight up ruined great dialogue and an amazing battle sequence. There were also 3 instances where the animation wasn't up to snuff, but it only happened in one episode so it wasn't a big deal.

You should watch this show if you haven’t. It is honestly one of the best things on Netflix and has no chance of being canceled. Since this is the end of the show, there are no current plans to make more episodes, thus it makes it easier to recommend. Twelve 25 minute episodes to engross you in a world and enjoy watching it do its thing.

Rating: Watch-Binge