My family...the family you demonised and excommunicated, has fought and died for generations for this country. We do this thing for Wallachia and her people. We don't have to know you all. We do it anyway. And it's not the dying that frightens us. It's never having stood up and fought for you. I am Trevor Belmont, of the House of Belmont, and dying has never frightened me." Another Netflix series to binge-watch, and this one seems much easier than normal. Maybe, because it only has four episodes. Or maybe because it is a really good season. If there's one criticism, it's that the four episodes only feel like setup for a series with a lot of potential. The characters are already envisioned and there's quite a lot of back story already covered, but you can tell that there's still a lot more to learn and see in this incredible new world of demons and angels.
The opening story concentrates on Vlad Dracula himself where he meets an aspiring Doctor searching for his help in his monstrous castle. They marry and become the healers of the country and Vlad learns to respect Human beings in her presence. Unfortunately, due to the miraculous ways in which Lisa Tepes treats her patients, the Church claims her to be witch with unnatural powers. They order her to be executed by burning at the stake. Unbeknownst to them, this is a big mistake, as Vlad learns that the only Human being he has ever liked, and more than that, loved, has been taken from him to be killed by religious fanatics. He unleashes his wrath on the world by promising them one year to prepare for hell. Of course, one year later, he does as promised and the country of Wallachia is under siege from his demons. The story may be told fast-paced, but it gives a quick overview of the premise of Trevor Belmont's story and it gives us a clear perspective of who the opposing forces are - Dracula and the Church. The story slows down immediately to give us a chance to meet Trevor, a forgotten member of an old family that fought beasts in Wallachia to protect its people. Richard Armitage was an interesting choice for the role, but by the end of the four episodes, I've grown used to his understated exhaustion as it undeniably shows the character's attitude to the world. He has been scorned by the Church, ignored by the people and now the last surviving member of his family. His animated portrayal is definitely more succinct, with a deft skill in combat, especially when he has the chance to use that whip, and the animation itself does wonders to depict the battle scenes. Other interesting characters include the Elder and Sypha, both members of the Speakers. Not much is said about the characters themselves, but their intentions are pretty clear. Sypha has a certain interesting aspect revealed in the final episode - she is a magician. Her powers are clearly useful in the final battle, but it's never too obvious when it comes to fighting the demons. Her relationship with Trevor has quickly grown into friendship as they scout the underground catacombs together. Another fascinating character, albeit with a brief appearance, was the Bishop. A man so caught up in his own religion that he is blind to logic. His meeting with Trevor was enlightening in terms of what his motivations are and where his belief turns him insane. But, the best scene has to be the arrival of the demons inside his cathedral as they taunt him. It's a powerfully dark scene that could be a foreshadowing of what is it to come of the Church and its disciples. The creators have certainly gone out of their way to create a depiction of fear and dread. Every landscape shot or violent imagery is made with care to show the merciless nature of the demons. Director Sam Deats does well to depict the darker elements as well. The Cyclops scene is particularly well done and was the first convincing battle scene that promised this show could be incredibly professional. But the best directorial duties can be given to the scenes in the catacombs. There's no talking, but seeing the machinery crumble and break away as Trevor and Sypha investigate was wonderfully creepy and added to the tension as they approached the Sleeping Soldier. Despite being so short, the final confrontation for the denouement of the fourth episode gave us a lot to look forward to. Alucard promises to be an exciting new addition to the cast, and someone who can turn the tides in the war. His skills are clearly unmatched apart from the immense skill that Trevor has developed over the years. The final shot of the three companions walking out of the tomb together is a great way to end the first season and usher in the second. With its beautiful imagery, exciting stories and strong characters, Castlevania has proven that it is show capable of intriguing new viewers like myself (I never played the game). A strong voice cast also helps to enliven the animation, giving us a chance to empathise or not with those souls on screen. There's a lot at stake in the closing moments of the first season and as we have already experienced the power of Vlad Dracula, we can only expect tough times ahead. Regardless, once again, Netflix has provided a successful show, this time for its adult viewers. And it has great potential to be an instant hit when the second season is completed. Witchbottle - 8/10 Necropolis - 8/10 Labyrinth - 8/10 Monument - 8.5/10 Season One - 8/10
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AuthorA very passionate Welsh nerd... Archives
October 2017
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