Shademp
420
I am definitely going to watch season 2 again soon, both because of the parts I liked and the parts I liked less. What I wish to address even now, before the clarity of a second viewing, is how the show balances its writing for fans of the games versus everyone else.
If the series used more than the so-far-only-one familiar Castlevania music track, if more familiar monster designs- and environmental shots were used etc then I would definitely be gushing more about this show. But I'd be gushing as a Castlevania fan and not necessarily as a fan of drama.
The way that Dracula was killed is a perfect example. If you've played the games, chances are you'll have this picture in your head of the main character (probably a Belmont) ascending the castle and defeating a dozen mythological beasts of immense power before finally traversing those last stairs to Dracula's throne room. You'll picture a crescendo of a heroic battle, of good vs evil, of Dracula transforming into a giant monstrosity, of the main hero triumphantly striking the final blow and the villain exploding while yelling AAAAAAAH and then the credits roll.
The video game fan in me did want that, yes. The gaming fan in me wanted Trevor Belmont to be more of THE hero and the one who ultimately slayed Dracula. The way that Trevor cuts off Dracula's head, when anybody could have done it at that moment, feels anti-climactic and runs contrary to my vision of the Belmont "legend".
But slaying Dracula in the style of the video games would be the obvious way out. Instead, they went for "love killed the beast". This appeals to the drama of the show, rather than video game iconography. I am not saying the latter wouldn't have worked but the former adds emotional intellect to the show. "Love killed the beast" is also thematically consistent with the very first episode of season one which established one core difference between the show and the video games: This Dracula isn't an insert-evil-caricature-here-for-a-final-boss 2D cut-out, this Dracula is an awful man who became afflicted with love and thus suffered very HUMAN pains.
I was actually expecting season 2 to show how, once Dracula's hordes had been released, Dracula became the two-dimensional villain we know from the games. After all, he did say in the very first episode "Kill for the endless lifetime of hate before me".
Eternity is a very long time though. Dracula spoke in foolish, temporary passion as season 2 shows us. Dracula spends most of the time depressed, hunched over, not caring and ultimately being suicidal for himself and the entire world. Ergo, the makers of this show decided to go the full length of making Dracula intensely HUMAN. For taking the more complicated route I think the writers and directors deserve much praise.
Now, there is of course a chance we could have our cake, eat it...and then have a second cake. In order for Castlevania Netflix to truly remain Castlevania, Dracula MUST be revived. Dracula always coming back to life is too much a part of his character not to include. The route I'd like to see is that the revived Dracula isn't the same as the original, with considerable memory loss and being more of the monstrous, two-dimensional force of nature that we know from the games. Dracula's personal, emotional arc is over and done with, after all. The villains and contexts of Dracula's revival will be where the writing is focused. I just really, really want to see a Belmont climb those iconic stairs, enter Dracula's iconic throne room and do battle with a giant monster. Even if only as a book-end to season 3, with the show jumping forward in time to show Simon Belmont encountering Dracula.
Short version: Castlevania on Netflix is a dignified adaptation of a video game franchise because they tip the scale ever-so-slightly more to quality writing- and drama than satisfying video game fans with familiar sights and scenes.
If the series used more than the so-far-only-one familiar Castlevania music track, if more familiar monster designs- and environmental shots were used etc then I would definitely be gushing more about this show. But I'd be gushing as a Castlevania fan and not necessarily as a fan of drama.
The way that Dracula was killed is a perfect example. If you've played the games, chances are you'll have this picture in your head of the main character (probably a Belmont) ascending the castle and defeating a dozen mythological beasts of immense power before finally traversing those last stairs to Dracula's throne room. You'll picture a crescendo of a heroic battle, of good vs evil, of Dracula transforming into a giant monstrosity, of the main hero triumphantly striking the final blow and the villain exploding while yelling AAAAAAAH and then the credits roll.
The video game fan in me did want that, yes. The gaming fan in me wanted Trevor Belmont to be more of THE hero and the one who ultimately slayed Dracula. The way that Trevor cuts off Dracula's head, when anybody could have done it at that moment, feels anti-climactic and runs contrary to my vision of the Belmont "legend".
But slaying Dracula in the style of the video games would be the obvious way out. Instead, they went for "love killed the beast". This appeals to the drama of the show, rather than video game iconography. I am not saying the latter wouldn't have worked but the former adds emotional intellect to the show. "Love killed the beast" is also thematically consistent with the very first episode of season one which established one core difference between the show and the video games: This Dracula isn't an insert-evil-caricature-here-for-a-final-boss 2D cut-out, this Dracula is an awful man who became afflicted with love and thus suffered very HUMAN pains.
I was actually expecting season 2 to show how, once Dracula's hordes had been released, Dracula became the two-dimensional villain we know from the games. After all, he did say in the very first episode "Kill for the endless lifetime of hate before me".
Eternity is a very long time though. Dracula spoke in foolish, temporary passion as season 2 shows us. Dracula spends most of the time depressed, hunched over, not caring and ultimately being suicidal for himself and the entire world. Ergo, the makers of this show decided to go the full length of making Dracula intensely HUMAN. For taking the more complicated route I think the writers and directors deserve much praise.
Now, there is of course a chance we could have our cake, eat it...and then have a second cake. In order for Castlevania Netflix to truly remain Castlevania, Dracula MUST be revived. Dracula always coming back to life is too much a part of his character not to include. The route I'd like to see is that the revived Dracula isn't the same as the original, with considerable memory loss and being more of the monstrous, two-dimensional force of nature that we know from the games. Dracula's personal, emotional arc is over and done with, after all. The villains and contexts of Dracula's revival will be where the writing is focused. I just really, really want to see a Belmont climb those iconic stairs, enter Dracula's iconic throne room and do battle with a giant monster. Even if only as a book-end to season 3, with the show jumping forward in time to show Simon Belmont encountering Dracula.
Short version: Castlevania on Netflix is a dignified adaptation of a video game franchise because they tip the scale ever-so-slightly more to quality writing- and drama than satisfying video game fans with familiar sights and scenes.
I obviously have more to say but I'll reserve some for after my second viewing.
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