Castlevania: Nocturne

Streaming Series Overview

The release of the CastlevaniaFor years Hollywood attempted to make a Castlevania movie, but it was only with the intervention of Netflix, and the creativity of Frederator Studios, that an anime adaptation (in any form) finally took shape. Netflix series was met with praise and solid ratings. With the conclusion of that story, after four seasons between 2017 and 2021, Netflix announced that further stories in the universe would be told. As executive producer Adi Shankar noted, there were many more games in the Castlevania series that could be adapted into future TV series.

On June 10, 2022, Netflix made good on that promise, putting out the first announcement (and teaser trailer) for Castlevania: Nocturne, its continuation of the series that would jump 300 years ahead in the Belmont lineage. Focusing on heroes Richter BelmontRevealed first in Castlevania Dracula X: Rondo of Blood in Japan, and then Castlevania: Dracula X in the West, Richter is the Belmont hero of the late 1700s who worked with Maria Renard to bring down Dracula. and Maria RenardA young heroine, and cousin to Richter Belmont, with the blood of the Belmont clan in her veins, Maria teams with Richter to fight back Dracula and the forces of darkness in the late 1700s., the first season told a loose adaptation of Castlevania Dracula X: Rondo of BloodThe first adventure for Richter Belmont, this game didn't originally make it to the West (instead seeing a SNES remake to replace it) as was considered something of a prized collector's item by fans.. A very loose adaptation. Loose enough that if you were a fan of the original game you might be hard pressed to recognize the source material.

That was, of course, to be expected considering where the previous series left off. DeathThe Grim Reaper who, in the series, is Dracula's right hand man and most reliable supporter (although the Netflix series changes this some). He comes for the souls of the living, especially those of the Belmont clan. defeated, DraculaThe lead antagonist of the Castlevania series and most famous vampire character in all media, all thanks to Bram Stoker. Based on the historical figure Vlad the Impaler, a vicious ruler of Wallachia in the mid-1500s. off living a happy, newly resurrected life with his (also resurrected) wife LisaDracula's wife and mother of Alucard. It is generally accepted that the events of the game series are kicked off (at least for Dracula) when Lisa is killed by religious fanatics, hardening Dracula's heart against humanity.. The heroes in control of Dracula's castle and the Belmont archives. Any sequel series would have to contort fairly hard to fit new adventures into the same timeline as the games.

The solution, then, was to borrow a villain from another game -- Elizabeth BartleyBased on Erzsabet Bathory, Elizabeth is the secondary antagonist in Castlevania: Bloodlines. Bartley is the niece of Dracula and, by sowing discord around Europe, she aids in his eventual resurrection. (ne Erzsabet Bathory) from Castlevania: BloodlinesThe first Castlevania game for a Sega console, this title marked the introduction of elements from Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula, into the game series. -- and drop them in place of Dracula for the new title. Update the characters, move around the setting, and you have a functional story to work with that respects the previous seasons of the show.

Of course, fans weren't entirely thrilled about this. Seeing their reviews posted everywhere, there was plenty of hate for the updated story of Nocturne in fan circles. Basic reviews of "they disrespected the games" to "this isn't my Castlevania!" along with a bit of hatred towards new Black and LGBTQIA+ characters being included. But the wider public was generally favorable to the series. The show was released on September 28, 2023 and received 100% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes during its initial release, and a 77 out of 100 on Metacritic. Overall the audience liked it and ratings were decent

Good enough for Netflix to put a second season into production in October, 2023. Eight more episodes to continue the story, finish the adaptation of Rondo and, perhaps, tee up a similarly loose adaptation of Castlevania: Symphony of the NightReleased on the PlayStation in 1997, this game, while not hugely successful in the U.S. at the time, went on to become on the most beloved titles in the Castlevania series. for the future.

The Story of Castlevania: Nocturne:

1775 AD: But Bathory, vile and evil demon that she was, did not want the humans on her lands to better themselves. She wanted them beaten down, tired and weak, so they could be easy pickings for her enjoyment. Seeing the Speakers there, helping, Bathory had to put an end to it. She sent her minions out to the village, having them attack the Speakers, killing most of the clan. Only Tera escaped while her sister was captured and dragged off to the castle. The rest of the clan lay dead.

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1781 AD: After Annette, playing in the road, was almost run down by one of Vaublanc’s men, the vampire lord came to Esther’s hut. Hearing her sing a lullaby to Annette, he flies into a rage, trashing their hut, revealing the spells she had set up. Their magical charms did no good, though, as Vaublanc dragged the women outside, raging at her.

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1783 AD: Soon realizing the danger coming, Julia grabs up her young son, Richter Belmont, and flees with him across Massachusetts to the docks of Boston. She intends to get him on a boat for France where, hopefully, her friend Tera will be able to care for and defend the boy from any threats that might come. But before they can get to the boat. Olrox catches up to them.

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1791 AD: So she feld, out of the plantation and into the nearby city. She bumped past citizens and looked for a place to hide, eventually sneaking into the opera house. There she saw Edouard, up on stage, singing to a gathered crowd. She hid behind a chair, hoping no one would notice her, but Vaublanc’s dogs had her scent and they followed her in.

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1792 AD: On the eve of the French Revolution, Maria Renard works to raise up the masses in her town, hoping to have them rise against the nobles, led by the local Marquis and Marchioness, who control their fates. Maria talks of how they take their taxes, wasting them on spoils and lavish parties, while the poor suffer. The Marquis and Marchioness though, as we see, are vampires and they’re not just against the villagers because they’re poor; they’re against them before the Revolution could unseat the vampires in power, an institutional era of control that they are loath to let die.

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