'Castlevania: Nocturne’ Season 2 Just Gave This Character the Best Arc of the Series

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for Season 2 of Castlevania: Nocturne.With an epic battle between the forces of good and evil, the return of beloved characters, and the introduction of new threats, there is a lot going on in Castlevania: Nocturne's second season, but between the dramatic moments, there are several emotional storylines. Olrox (Zahn McClarnon) and Mizrak (Aaron Neil) deal with relationship issues, Maria (Pixie Davies) reacts to her mother becoming a vampire, and Richter (Edward Bluemel) and Annette (Thuso Mbedu) realize they have feelings for each other. But one of the most emotional stories quietly went to the jaded Juste Belmont (Iain Glen). When the character was introduced in Season 1, he was a grumpy old man who couldn't use his magic and was too closed off to be there for his orphaned grandson. However, by the end of Season 2, Juste has changed by coming to terms with his past and making personal connections.

Despite carrying the Belmont name, initially, Juste didn't have a major role. He is not an active part of the fight against Erzsebet Báthory (Franka Potente), having removed himself from the world while mourning for his wife. In Season 2, Juste is largely an aid in Maria's much more dramatic storyline, but he shows important character development as well. Not only does he regain his magic and accept the tragedies of his past, but the once-lonely man who blames himself for the death of his loved ones finds a new connection as a father figure to Maria.

'Castlevania: Nocturne' Season 2 Gives Juste a New Family

When Juste first appears in the story, he is isolated by his own choice, but by giving him more to do, Season 2 corrects that. Though his grandson, Richter, would be the most obvious character to pair him with, Juste takes a different route by becoming a mentor for Maria as she struggles in the wake of her mother turning into a vampire. Seeing her dark powers, Juste takes on the task of helping her find a balance, though he fails to prevent her from killing her father. Yet Juste saves Maria's life when she loses control over her powers and regains access to his own abilities because of his need to save her. And it is Juste's support that helps Maria learn to harness her memories to regain control over her powers.

When Tera (Nastassja Kinski) leaves her daughter to find herself, Juste is there for her, refusing to let Maria be alone after the destruction of her family and even calling her his family. Even when reunited with his grandson in Season 1, Juste keeps him at arm's length, but watching Maria's emotional turmoil, Juste lets her in, preventing her from following his lonely path. Though he may not believe he has any skill in dealing with teenage girls, he is understanding toward Maria and proves to be exactly the person she needs. But he needs Maria as well. The show suggests that Juste is correcting the mistakes he made with his daughter by being there for Maria. The chosen family relationship they share is a highlight of Season 2 and shows a new side to Juste's character.

Juste Shows the Most Character Development in 'Castlevania: Nocturne' Season 2

While his relationship with Maria is Juste's primary storyline, he shows significant growth in doing so. After the death of his wife, Juste shuts out the world, and when he chooses to rejoin the fight that he once swore off, he must confront his grief. In one scene, Juste visits his wife's grave, showing how far he's come from when he first met Richter. Juste blames himself for what happened to his wife, which is why he stopped fighting, and his choice to help in any capacity means setting aside his feelings of guilt and coming to terms with his loss, which is a significant character development.

Not only does Juste help in the emergency situation that Season 2 represents, but in the end, he decides to stay in Paris and fight beside Maria, who is a passionate supporter of the Revolution. Making this choice shows how much Juste has changed. He isn't eager to return to his former life and actively changes his situation more than most. Juste may still be a supporting character, but he shows as much, if not more, development than the leads. Juste's Season 2 story makes him one of the most interesting characters in Castlevania: Nocturne.

Castlevania: Nocturne is now streaming on Netflix in the U.S.

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