Netflix, the modern-day Van Helsing of vampire content, has once again beckoned to the creatures of the night and fans alike with the release of Castlevania: Nocturne. The animated series has subsequently made a grand entrance, debuting with a stellar Rotten Tomatoes score that mirrors the critical acclaim of its predecessor.
Boasting a pristine 100% Fresh rating from 9 critics and a respectable 69% audience score, Nocturne is poised to follow in the illustrious footsteps of its predecessor, the original Castlevania series, which carries a 94% Fresh rating and a 90% audience score.
This divergence in opinion sets the stage for a deeper exploration into the series that has both dazzled and puzzled its audience. As we bid adieu to familiar faces like Alucard and Trevor Belmont, we're introduced to Richter Belmont, the last of the vampire-hunting Belmont lineage.
Richter, with a past as tragic as the tales spun in the history of vampire lore, is set on a collision course with the Vampire Messiah, a sinister figure who has struck a dark pact with the desperate French aristocracy.
Fortunately, Richter is not alone in this dance of death and darkness. Joining him are Annette, a sorceress whose origins are as mysterious as the spells she weaves, and Maria Renard, a distant relative and magic user, both embroiled in the struggle against the nocturnal menace threatening to plunge the world into eternal night.