As for our beloved adventurers, the third season finds them in an uncharacteristically happy place. Trevor and Sypha have solidified their bond after defeating Dracula and it seems like they’ve gone on many more adventures by the time we’re reunited with them in a fun fight scene in the first episode. The duo brings a surprising amount of humor, and the back and forth between actors Richard Armitage and Alejandra Reynoso never gets old. Trevor and Sypha’s friendship really becomes the heart of this story as the season progresses, leading to a climactic battle they can only survive by trusting in each other, something the last Belmont would have been unable to do in earlier seasons.
Left out of the action is Alucard, who unfortunately doesn’t get much to do this season. Now in a self-imposed exile after killing his father, the dhampir spends most of his time haunting the halls of what remains of Dracula’s castle, drinking wine and having conversations with himself. In one funny dinner scene beautiful performed by actor James Callis, Alucard mimics Trevor and Sypha, but the moment also feels like a ghost of seasons’ past. It’s hard not to miss the dynamic between this trio of character, and it’s a real shame that Alucard doesn’t get to follow his friends on their further adventures. That said, Alucard’s exile does eventually lead to some interesting story territory that I won’t spoil here.
We also follow Isaac and Hector, Dracula’s former Devil Forgemasters who were once friends but are now enemies after Hector betrayed their master in season 2. While Hector and Isaac’s rivalry is a direct nod to the video game Curse of Darkness, their story doesn’t really play out like in the Konami classic. Theo James and Adetokumboh M’Cormack are given the meatiest material of the season and they make the absolute most of it. I especially enjoyed M’Cormack as the hate-filled Isaac, whose journey — a long, violent march from the desert to Europe — turns out to be one of self-discovery and healing. Isaac is also in the very best fight scene of the season.
A lot of credit has to be given to Deats and his team at Powerhouse Animation for the direction of the fight sequences, which are among some of the most ambitious ever produced for the show. This year’s fights are slightly (and surprisingly) less gory but decidedly more epic. The aforementioned Isaac fight is not only massive but also features a level of verticality previously unseen in the series. I absolutely loved it.
Despite all of the action, humor, and intrigue, Castlevania season 3 suffers from a little too much fat, especially in the middle. Plodding episodes and storylines drag down a great season overall. At times it seemed like the team didn’t have enough story to cover 10 episodes so some scenes feel stretched out to their absolute limit. Conversations meant to be thought-provoking and philosophical sometimes come off a bit dry. Fortunately, the season rights itself by the final two episodes, which are action-packed and cathartic as hell.