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After a two-year wait, Castlevania: Nocturne is back for a second season. The series, a spin-off of the successful Castlevania—itself based on Konami's eponymous Japanese video game series—returns for a second chapter that's angrier, bloodier, and more thrilling. This sophomore season marks a true step forward in pretty much every way that counts and will surely satisfy fans who have been waiting for the show to return.
The series premiered in 2023, two years after the fourth and final season of the original Castlevania, and received mostly positive reviews. However, Season 2 is a considerable improvement, upping the ante and offering a satisfying and epic tale of legacy, heroism, and duty that matches the heights reached by the original Castlevania at its peak. With eight episodes and more spectacle than one can handle, Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 might be the best that Netflix's adult animation branch has offered thus far.
'Castlevania: Nocturne' Season 2 Becomes a True Ensemble
Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 picks up immediately where Season 1 left off, with Alucard (James Callis) saving Richter (Edward Bluemel) and company from the evil Drolta (Elarica Johnson). As the heroes lick their wounds, Erzsebet Báthory (Franka Potente) mourns the death of her faithful Drolta and recovers from the great effort that represented casting the eclipse on which Season 1 ended. Meanwhile, Olrox (Zahn McClarnon) continues his efforts to sabotage Erzsebet while navigating his complicated relationship with Mizrak (Aaron Neil), while Tera (Nastassja Kinski) comes to terms with her new immortality and the Abbot (Richard Dormer) grapples with his role in her damnation.
Right off the bat, Season 2 of Castlevania: Nocturne is faster, more furious, and more exhilarating. Everyone is rightfully pissed off: Richter at his inability to defeat Erzsbet; Maria (Pixie Davis) at the loss of her mother and the betrayal of her father; Erzsbet at Drolta's death; and Annette (Thuso Mbedu) at her confusion with her increasing powers and the spirits that seemingly follow her everywhere. Then there's Alucard, back in all his glory and closer to his iconic appearance in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, trying to keep everyone together while dealing with yet another Belmont, and Juste (Iain Glen), thrown into a position he never thought he'd find himself in.
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The biggest strength in Castlevania: Nocturne's second season is how many storylines it juggles, deftly allowing each one room to breathe and expand. Richter remains the show's de-facto lead, but he shares the spotlight with more characters this time around. Alucard doesn't quite recover the co-lead role he had in Castlevania, but he is a major supporting character with more than enough to do. Similarly, Erzsebet becomes a more prominent antagonist, while both Maria and Annette receive individual storylines that very much drive the narrative forward. However, perhaps it's Juste and Drolta who get the more significant upgrade compared to Season 1, as the two not only get far more to do but play a crucial role in the storyline.
Unfortunately, a few characters suffer from these changes; Olrox and Mizrak get a bit less to do — their storyline is solid, and they earn a fair amount of screen time, but it's very much a rehash of the same themes they already had in the previous season. Similarly, the Abbott is sidelined as the story moves more toward Drolta, while Erszebet, despite an increased role, remains a somewhat detached villain who isn't as compelling or interesting as she should be. Edouard (Sydney James Harcourt), who the show has never quite figured out what to do with, also revisits familiar themes already addressed during Season 1 and comes across as something of an afterthought.
Unlike Season 2 of Castlevania, which introduced three of its best characters in Carmilla (Jaime Murray), Hector (Theo James), and Isaac (Adetokumboh M'Cormack), Nocturne doesn't welcome any new players for its sophomore effort. It makes sense to want to keep the season streamlined, but it also makes the show's world look smaller, especially considering the Vampire Messiah is a threat to the entire human world and a promise for the vampires. It's not really logical in-world for no new vampires to join the fray both against and alongside Erszebet.
'Castlevania: Nocturne' Season 2 Explores Darker Themes
As previously mentioned, nearly every main character gets a chance to shine here. Richter, particularly, becomes a more compelling protagonist, and his abilities reach their peak, finally living up to his status as the strongest canonical Belmont. However, it's undeniable that two figures steal the season. The first is Maria, who has the most emotionally complex and rewarding storyline. The young girl is dealing with a lot this time around: her father betrayed her and attempted to sacrifice her, resulting in her mother sacrificing herself and being turned into a vampire. Already a very powerful Speaker, Maria pushes her abilities to new limits this season, embracing her dark side and struggling with her identity.
Through Maria, Castlevania: Nocturne explores themes of self-knowledge, maturity, grief, regret, and loss. Pixie Davis is up to the task, delivering an intense and affecting performance that's bound to send chills down every viewer's spine. Maria's storyline reaches a crescendo in the fifth episode, a triumph of narrative and animation that easily ranks among the best things Netflix animation has ever put out. The episode's most pivotal sequence is accompanied by another of Edouard's songs, which are thankfully used more scarcely and ultimately better this season.
The second character is, of course, Drolta, who was a scene-stealer in Season 1 and quickly became one of the best anime villains in recent memory. Throughout the eight episodes, viewers learn more about Drolta's life before becoming a vampire and come to understand not only her intentions but her undying loyalty to Sekhmet. Drolta was already a fascinating and powerful character, but Season 2 turns her into a near-infallible threat. Elarica Johnson is having the time of her life in the role, truly sinking her teeth into Drolta's wicked characterization and becoming Season 2's most memorable character.
One of the main issues with Nocturne Season 1 was its lack of more compelling vampire characters, as the narrative focused almost entirely on Richter and his allies. Season 2 remedies this issue by bringing back Alucard, but mostly by focusing so heavily on Drolta. Her origin and motives are unique among Castlevania's vampiric characters, and her characterization never reduces her to a mustache-twirling villain. Drolta is as intriguing and layered a character as Dracula (Graham McTavish) was in Seasons 1 and 2 of Castlevania, greatly elevating the season's overall quality.
'Castlevania: Nocturne' Season 2 Marks an End and a New Beginning
Image via Netflix
With more action—every episode has more than one intense battle, with everyone's powers getting increasingly more creative — particularly Richter's — a more focused narrative, and higher stakes than ever, Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 is the right step forward for this spin-off series. It once again makes great use of its historical setting, even featuring a quick cameo from Maximilien Robespierre himself and providing some context into the Revolution's Reign of Terror. It still doesn't do quite as much as it could, though, confined by its duty to tell its own story.
It shouldn't be a surprise to say Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 feels very much like a closing chapter. Recently, director Samuel Deats offered a disappointing update on Castlevania: Nocturne Season 3. As with every other show, it is at the mercy of Netflix's notoriously trigger-happy finger, and it's currently on hiatus until the creatives find out if they're getting renewed. Still, Season 3 leaves many doors open, and the stages it sets for a potential third season are exciting. In that way, it resembles its parent series, Castlevania, which very much told one complete story throughout its first two seasons and another one throughout its third and fourth chapters.
Still, if it doesn't return, Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 goes out with a bang, offering more spectacle than ever before in service of a riveting and emotionally resonant storyline that hits all the right notes. Of course, loyal viewers will surely be clamoring for more adventures with Richter Belmont and his group of deadly allies. However, if it's not meant to be, then fans at least got a second season that's as spectacular as they could've hoped for — delivering all the Gothic, action-packed, and blood-soaked goodness as only Castlevania can.
All eight episodes of Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 are now streaming on Netflix.
Castlevania: Nocturne returns for a second chapter that's angrier, bloodier, and more thrilling.
Pros
- Excellent action that surpasses everything Castlevania has done before.
- An expanded ensemble and more focused narrative with higher stakes than ever.
- Maria and Drolta take center stage and considerably elevate the season.
Cons
- A few major characters from Season 1 get sidelined.
- No new characters join the action, making the world seem smaller.
Richter Belmont, a descendant of the legendary vampire-hunting family, takes center stage as he confronts a resurgence of nightmarish creatures threatening humanity. Set in a richly detailed gothic universe, the series follows Richter's journey as he hones his combat skills, discovers hidden truths about his lineage, and allies with other hunters. Each episode weaves together thrilling battles and deep lore, showcasing the relentless fight against the sinister forces that lurk in the shadows.
Release Date September 28, 2023
Writers Clive Bradley , Temi Oh , Zodwa Nyoni
Story By Clive Bradley
Franchise(s) Castlevania
Directors Sam Deats , Adam Deats
Showrunner Clive Bradley , Kevin Kolde
English (US) ·