Castlevania

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 7, 2017
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 301 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 249 out of 301
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 301
  3. Negative: 26 out of 301
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  1. bob13bob
    Sep 4, 2017
    4
    has promise, but not executed well enough. just random fights not making sense, doesn't have the cleverness, creativeness, or character development of many better animes: attack titan, naruto, death note, etc.
  2. Rhesyuzz
    Jul 24, 2017
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. We have been waiting for a Castlevania adaptation for a very long time. In addition, having a good art style, dubbing and Netflix’s logo, I would welcome it. However, it stops there; nothing else is in this series. Bland, shallow, stupid and pandering to political correctness.
    Let’s dig in
    In all four episodes, the hero kills just one monster. Yes, the hero spends 75 percent of the show’s runtime beating priests and common people. Just like in the game, isn’t it?
    Not mentioning, he does flee from entering Dracula’s castle all the time. Again, just like in the game, hum? Only that, in the games, the first stage is entering the castle.
    I could go on indefinitely. No inciting incident, the character does not show personality, none of them does. Church is evil for evil’s sake. No motivation whatsoever. No good supporting cast. Hero has no flaws. And on, and on.
    Do yourself a favor; stop hipping things. If you don’t press for quality in your entertainment, they won’t try to reach for it.    … Expand
  3. sprafen
    Aug 9, 2017
    3
    Can't understand how this show is getting a pass. Is very mediocre in every angle: Bad dialogues, bad writing (this is sad because Warren Ellis is a very good comicbook writer) and the animation es really poor. Is a wasted oportunity, but that worked I think because every video game adaption are bad.
  4. BabeRuthless38
    Sep 19, 2017
    0
    I remember playing the original game when I was a kid, and later playing a bunch of the series up through the masterpiece that was Symphony of the Night. This show perfectly captures what we all loved about the games:

    - The way Trevor spends most of the series brawling with inbred peasants and slaughtering Christian priests, instead of fighting monsters - The fact that Trevor never    I remember playing the original game when I was a kid, and later playing a bunch of the series up through the masterpiece that was Symphony of the Night. This show perfectly captures what we all loved about the games:

    - The way Trevor spends most of the series brawling with inbred peasants and slaughtering Christian priests, instead of fighting monsters
    - The fact that Trevor never meets Dracula, who is barely even in the series
    - The way we see almost nothing of Dracula's castle
    - The incessant gratuitous gore that would make Quentin Tarantino queasy
    - Trevor being a foulmouthed drunken vagabond instead of a selfless, aristocratic hero

    /sarcasm

    You get my point. Look, Warren Ellis: we get it. You hate Christianity and when you got the chance to write a story about a noble family that battles Count Dracula you instead made an ultraviolent fanfiction about corrupt, psychotic priests run amok and the scruffy Mary Sue drifter who kills them all with slurred wisecracking and whip-fu. I'm sure college sophomores will think that's, like, totally edgy, man, but anyone who just wanted to see a great series of games translated to the screen is in for a huge disappointment at this hacky, ham-handed caricature. It only shows any life once Alucard shows up, i.e. the last 5 minutes of a 100 minute series. Not worth your time.    … Expand
  5. JustinOhio
    Jul 7, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Video game adaptations are very difficult to pull off, with the biggest issue usually being the lack of faithfulness to the original source material. However, while Castlevania does go in a couple of questionable directions, it also manages to stay very true to the game that it's based on, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. The voice acting, animation, and story telling are all nearly flawless, which elevates this show even further. My biggest complaint is that it was WAY too short. Only four episodes, each only 25 minutes in length? Overall, it felt more like a large prologue then a season that could stand on its own. The wait for Season 2 just got that much longer. Hopefully, the next season will at least be twice the length. Other than that, I highly recommend this series. It's not the greatest video game adaptation (yet), but it's getting there.… Expand
  6. Skeletal
    Jul 8, 2017
    9
    R-Rated Castlevania goodness! I really like how they showed Dracula's backstory, so you can actually understand why he is slaughtering all these people. The characters in general are very well written and funny. 4 episodes were not enough.
  7. dieg657
    Jul 16, 2017
    10
    Lives up to Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse! Plot, Soundtrack, Characters, side histories, absolutely AMAZING! I can't wait for 2nd Season! Seriously candidate for GREATEST game adaptation in an animated series!
  8. Vercis
    Jul 7, 2017
    10
    Beautiful graphics, nice story and good characters. Being close to the feeling of the game yet offering something fresh. To bad only 4 episodes for season 1.
  9. veilex
    Jul 7, 2017
    10
    Not only is the series true to established cannon, but there are intertwined facets of the game threaded throughout the TV show, enriching it and adding flair in all the right ways. Add to that, the voice acting is amazing, and the characters are interesting. This show is sure to please, not only fans of the series, but anyone else who enjoys a quality show.
  10. shaggykid41
    Jul 13, 2017
    4
    The visuals are adult, but the writing is anything but. At four episodes, you're really getting a single episode of content and story, but every scene is full of forced, unrealistic dialog, delivered with so much attitude that you'll be waiting for the fight scenes just to see something done moderately well. It's really quite strange how poor so little content can be, the show starts offThe visuals are adult, but the writing is anything but. At four episodes, you're really getting a single episode of content and story, but every scene is full of forced, unrealistic dialog, delivered with so much attitude that you'll be waiting for the fight scenes just to see something done moderately well. It's really quite strange how poor so little content can be, the show starts off introducing the world, which is gothic, and then the characters, which are modern, and then proceeds to stumble through having our hero (who is so reluctant to do anything that it's amazing he gets out of bed in the morning) use his whip and morals to save the day. The two female characters in the whole show are there to be beautiful and annoying. Both of them had to comment on the manners of the men opposite them upon their first meet, which makes me wonder if the third woman to grace the screen in the next season will start off the same way. The fact this is written by Warren Ellis is shocking, as nothing here reflects his talent. Please don't watch this so Netflix will spend their money on shows worth your time.… Expand
  11. MovieNerd_EP
    Jul 7, 2017
    10
    Stunning animation, great voice-acting, well developed Characters and a dark, violent atmosphere make this season a must-watch.
    (I have not played the games, but from what i've seen of them, this also seems to heir closely to their art style)
  12. papadrew7
    Jul 7, 2017
    4
    I had high hopes for this show but it was a chore to watch this season. First off the main character was not likable at all until the final episode. Throughout the first three episodes he was just an annoying/ selfish drunk. Oh and the show is only 4 episodes of twenty something minutes a piece which is just pathetic. The writing was also pretty bad. The first scene is dracula meeting hisI had high hopes for this show but it was a chore to watch this season. First off the main character was not likable at all until the final episode. Throughout the first three episodes he was just an annoying/ selfish drunk. Oh and the show is only 4 episodes of twenty something minutes a piece which is just pathetic. The writing was also pretty bad. The first scene is dracula meeting his soon to be wife which is a major story arch of the show but we only get maybe 5 minutes of that interaction but we'll get endless bar fights and europeans talking about screwing goats. Parents be warned this is a VERY mature animated show.… Expand
  13. Arzen353
    Jul 7, 2017
    9
    I thought it'd be mediocre at best but they totally nailed it.

    I had assumed this would be a PG-13 property, but it's crazy death metal, brutally violent animation all the way. Which is exactly what I want in a story that's basically like "Dracula's gonna murder everyone, go fight Satan's undead army." It literally rains blood & mutant fetuses while demons pour out of hell. It's also    I thought it'd be mediocre at best but they totally nailed it.

    I had assumed this would be a PG-13 property, but it's crazy death metal, brutally violent animation all the way. Which is exactly what I want in a story that's basically like "Dracula's gonna murder everyone, go fight Satan's undead army." It literally rains blood & mutant fetuses while demons pour out of hell.

    It's also just about the only videogame-to-film adaptation I've seen that doesn't feel like they just threw the script or order of events from the game in the garbage. It's obviously not quite the same, but the references to the game and sequence with the source material is obvious and compelling with characters being more fleshed out and an expanded backstory.

    The first season is also ridiculously short: Four episodes with a total run-time of 80 minutes, I'm guessing because they needed to do this season as a test run to see if there'll be any interest.

    About the only way I think could do better is in the soundtrack - ironically, the actual games had way better music despite being all chiptunes. If they couldn't use that, they probably should have gotten some good metal, but instead it's all serviceable, but forgettable, atmospheric stuff.

    Overall though, it's a huge suprise how great this is.    … Expand
  14. dc127
    Jul 10, 2017
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I went into this show with mixed expectations. The trailer looked pretty good, but you never know with these sorts of things. After watching it I have very mixed impressions.

    The good: The animation is top notch and there are a number of very good action sequences. This is really why I am here to see the show. I want to see crazy fights between Belmont/Alucard and vampires. These animation is definitely rated R. In one episode it literally rains down monster fetuses covered in blood. Depending upon your view this over the top violence is either a good thing or a bad thing. The music score was also okay, not great, but decent.

    The bad: The show is crazy over the top anti-Catholic. Every single priest in the show is lazy, evil, and manipulative. I'm fine with there being corrupt priests, but this is just **** Dracula is turned into an emo, brooding person because the church burn his wife at the stake. They also ran the Belmonts out of power, don't care about the people, and on and on and on. There is no way this portrayal could ever occur if you replaced "Catholics" with Jews, Muslims, gays, blacks, or any minority group of any kind. There is no reason for the blanket, over generalization. You could have made them a nuanced villain, people doing something wrong that they think is right. Instead they are caricatures of villains. I mean the show goes out of the way to make Dracula sympathetic, and he is slaughtering literally thousands of humans over one death. I'm giving the show a negative rating because of this. Bravo writers, you are bigots.

    Further Cons: The four episode length is just unacceptable. By the end of episode 3 you are barely scratching the surface of the world the story is set in. A 10 episode season would have been ok, 4 is not enough. It is just weird.    … Expand
  15. Likan
    Jul 11, 2017
    3
    After reading some confident interviews from the staff and positive reactions from a part of the audience, I had meager hopes for this show. Alas, they were quickly doused.

    I won't elaborate on the plot, which is decent despite its slow progression, and drawing quality ranges from mediocre to alright. But pretty much everything else turned out sub-par imho. Apart from a few    After reading some confident interviews from the staff and positive reactions from a part of the audience, I had meager hopes for this show. Alas, they were quickly doused.

    I won't elaborate on the plot, which is decent despite its slow progression, and drawing quality ranges from mediocre to alright. But pretty much everything else turned out sub-par imho.

    Apart from a few characters (Belmont), voice-acting is poor, further accentuated by an abysmal sound design : most of the time, voices seem unaffected by the characters' surroundings, giving them a very unnatural feeling, almost like one is hearing the actors directly in the recording studio.

    Characters themselves are chlichéd (special mention to the one-dimensional Dracula), the setting is as generici as they get, there's plenty of gore which is fine by me unless it's totally gratuitious like it is here (a cheap attempt to turn the show into something more mature than it really is). But the nail in the coffin (see what I did there ?) is the animation : apart from a few action sequences, the animation is just terrible, some movements look like they are rendered with two frames, faces occasionnaly twist and deform, reminding me of Dragon Ball Super (although not quite as bad, to be fair). How is it possible with today's techniques and decent budget, in 2017, to air an anime show with such a lack of fluidity ? After the surprisingly satisfying BLAME!, I don't understand how Netflix could let that pass.

    It's really one of those times where I find that the public's standards have gotten very low, to dish out positive reviews for this such a mediocre (at best) production. For all amateurs of dystopian Castlevania-esque vampire animation, do yourselves a treat, and go (re-)watch Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust. Which is leagues ahead of Castlevania in every department, despite being 17 years older...    … Expand
  16. euu
    Jul 15, 2017
    1
    I guess now I know how Berserk 2016 would have looked like if it had decent animation but bad writting.

    There is really nothing about the plot that hasn't been done before. It feels like it was written by some fedora tipping, white knight atheist redittor who thaught he is being clever and edgy by making the Church the main antagonist of the series. That's right, Dracula is not the main    I guess now I know how Berserk 2016 would have looked like if it had decent animation but bad writting.

    There is really nothing about the plot that hasn't been done before. It feels like it was written by some fedora tipping, white knight atheist redittor who thaught he is being clever and edgy by making the Church the main antagonist of the series. That's right, Dracula is not the main villain of Castlevania, he is just some bland romantic vampire who is angry the ebil christians killed his wife because she **** loved science. It seems they are making Dracula worse and worse with each interpretation, not to mention that it's implied his powers are not the result of a curse or a pact with dark forces, but instead they are a result of... SCIENCE! The main villain is some bishop and his army of ninja priests who kill people because they are evil religious bigots. It's boring, cliched and has been done to death, and a lot better than it was done here.

    The same thing goes for the main character: he is the selfish, sarcastic rogue that acts like a jerk for the first half but then decides to fight the good fight just because some pagan hippies hold some generic speech about hope and crap.

    The only thing that's serviceable is the animation, but I think it could have been a lot better, especially since it's Netflix and the show has only 4 episodes.

    This is pretty much what happens when you try to add depth to a series that was cocieved for kids. They could have had a series about a muscular dude fighting monsters with a whip, it would have been just as cliched, but at least it would have been fun.    … Expand
  17. Yosa
    Jul 9, 2017
    5
    This plays out as more an introduction than a season one, and I would be fine with that if there was more backstory and direction; the main plot is overreaching and much of the show used shady plot mechanisms to create shock and drama. The animation is well done, the main character of Belmont is a drunken ass but grows on you. Heavy religious setting is contrived and overly done to theThis plays out as more an introduction than a season one, and I would be fine with that if there was more backstory and direction; the main plot is overreaching and much of the show used shady plot mechanisms to create shock and drama. The animation is well done, the main character of Belmont is a drunken ass but grows on you. Heavy religious setting is contrived and overly done to the detriment of the show. I would say watch all 4 episode to get a good idea of the direction of the series, but dont expect to get invested in this until they release a longer more comprehensive series in the next season.… Expand
  18. Michaletos
    Jul 22, 2017
    10
    The first season was amazing! The only drawback is that it had only 4 20min episodes. The story, the characters, the animation is perfect! Can't wait for season 2!
  19. nacenko
    Jul 10, 2017
    4
    This show took a big Christian dump on a childhood classic.

    There's a lot of potential to this series. The decision to focus on Castlevania 3 was a good one, since it centers on Belmont, Sypha, Alucard, and (eventually) Grant. Game-wise, this has the most depth regarding Dracula's character outside of Symphony of the Night, and if the show takes off, could lead to that story arc. The    This show took a big Christian dump on a childhood classic.

    There's a lot of potential to this series. The decision to focus on Castlevania 3 was a good one, since it centers on Belmont, Sypha, Alucard, and (eventually) Grant. Game-wise, this has the most depth regarding Dracula's character outside of Symphony of the Night, and if the show takes off, could lead to that story arc.

    The good: the animation was very good at times, and was excellent when it needed to be. The decision to make Dracula a sympathetic character was a good one. Making Belmont a reluctant rogue was also good, though a bit ham-handed. The show was appropriately violent and vulgar, and painted a bleak picture of the world. It sets a feeling of despair that drives up the stakes (no pun intended) of the conflict.

    The bad: 4 episodes is too short. The story barely moved plot-wise, and felt like a mid-season set-up more than a season finale. Even with that, story had to be packed in, and many plot points did not get the attention they deserved. storylines that should have lasted multiple episodes got a 5-minute exposition. The writing was... well, it was bad. There were a few good lines here and there, but for the most part, the dialogue served as a big blunt hammer hitting the same points in eye-rolling irritation.

    The ugly: It was decided to make the Christian church as the major antagonist of the show. A bishop (the main bad guy) and his lackeys are the ones responsible for setting off the whole tragedy of the show. This in and of itself, I'm more than OK with. Corruption in religion, especially during this period in history, can be justifiable and interesting. However, when the idea is bludgeoned into the viewer every five minutes with some vitriolic comment, it is just annoying. On top of that, every priest is some kind of blood-thirsty jerk who carries weapons and is self-righteous to a fault. In stark contrast, a group of pagans in the show are the model of human beings: dare I say, they are more Christian in their actions than the Christians themselves. The one-dimensional broad brush of the church really soured the whole show for me.

    I can only hope that this gets balanced in future seasons. Hopefully the writers will remember that any institution, however unpopular in today's pop culture, is made up of people, both good and bad, sinners and saints.    … Expand
  20. therandomperson
    Jul 16, 2017
    4
    This is definitely one for those castlevania fans. I do consider myself a fan, but not a big enough one to care for this series. I thought the hand drawn cross CGI animation was done very well, along with the sound design and the voice acting. But, the writing was bad, the characters were unlikable, and the story was unbearable. I honestly wanted to love this series and watch theThis is definitely one for those castlevania fans. I do consider myself a fan, but not a big enough one to care for this series. I thought the hand drawn cross CGI animation was done very well, along with the sound design and the voice acting. But, the writing was bad, the characters were unlikable, and the story was unbearable. I honestly wanted to love this series and watch the second part when it eventually comes out, but i was bummed out. There were things to like, especially most things in episodes 1 and 4, but 2 and 3 were boring and unwatchable.… Expand
  21. Ekoc_77
    Jul 21, 2017
    9
    wait what!, this is really good stuff, it is so great when you are watching something with no espectatives and end with Castlevania, great use of the IP, great story, great anime, it is just a freaking good show, goon on Netflix, it is one of the best use of IP i have seen in the last time
  22. raporgi
    Dec 22, 2017
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Lame. Castlevania lacks the spooky, mysterious atmosphere and just plain creepy fun. Instead we get a long winded rant againt Christianity. Warren Ellis is a hack.… Expand
  23. JorgeLestre
    Jul 12, 2017
    8
    Although the animation needs some improvement, the story is actually very addictive and it emerges as one of the best videogame adaptations known to mankind.
  24. Hughishness
    Jul 16, 2017
    5
    It's a tough show to review, they just kind of drop you into it and then 5 minutes later there's a flash forward. They cut away from a woman being burned alive then show the mutilated remains of a child, I'm no prude but it's just so schizophrenic in the beginning it's hard to get a feel for it. Once the protagonist is introduced it's a bit more focused and sticks to a narrative. IIt's a tough show to review, they just kind of drop you into it and then 5 minutes later there's a flash forward. They cut away from a woman being burned alive then show the mutilated remains of a child, I'm no prude but it's just so schizophrenic in the beginning it's hard to get a feel for it. Once the protagonist is introduced it's a bit more focused and sticks to a narrative. I personally don't mind the world not being explained but it feels like everything gets kind of bunched together because of time constraints (each episode is about 25 min at 4 episodes total). It's pretty good as a kind of pilot but for future installments some things should probably be a little fine tuned, specifically the animation in some sections and the meandering borderline atrocious dialogue.… Expand
  25. vaaron
    Oct 28, 2017
    8
    The animation is smooth and fluid, the atmosphere fits the theme and the voice acting is great. The pacing is still very slow for a 90 minute season, more steady content would have got the story going better. Nevertheless an enjoyable experience for Castlevania fans and like-minded. Second season needs higher production value.
  26. Elias_Schmitz
    Jul 9, 2017
    9
    Besides the fact that it has only 4 episodes, it is still very good and has potential to be a very huge hit!! Can't wait for the second season. If you are a Castlevania fan or not, you should watch this
  27. mKaaru
    Jul 7, 2017
    6
    The first season of Castlevania is lacklustre and has severe issues in pacing, weak storytelling and besides Trevor Belmont not that great character development. I couldn't help feel but dissapointed after watching the first episode (which ends abruptly for no reason at all. While the show does catch on after the second episode and somehow manages to regain the spirit of the classicThe first season of Castlevania is lacklustre and has severe issues in pacing, weak storytelling and besides Trevor Belmont not that great character development. I couldn't help feel but dissapointed after watching the first episode (which ends abruptly for no reason at all. While the show does catch on after the second episode and somehow manages to regain the spirit of the classic franchise, it leaves you curious as to how the second season will procede.

    With the statement of Castlevania being an animated series one would expect the production value to be of high standards, but it lacks convincing visuals in the first three episodes with most of the budget reserved for the highly anticipated showdown in the season finale it seems. The drawings don't feel sharp or crisp to the eye. and doesn't manage to impress at all. In comparison to the recent release of another "exclusive" Netflix release Little Witch Academia, the production value fails in comparison with obvious highs and lows. Ofcourse it's Studio Trigger of Kill la Kill fame and my all time favorite Gurren Lagann, so maybe i'm spoiled as an avid anime fan but it just doesn't hold up.

    In terms of writing the dialogue is witty, has great humor at times to make the series feel light but also becomes dark as it reflects upon the actions of the Church and the impact of their decision to the inhabitants of the world of Wallachonia. Trevor Belmont is a likable character who is first portrayed as some annoying drunk with childish features but comes into his own as the story progresses and we see his character develop over time.

    Don't expect too much from the first four episodes, it's a fun ride but mostly forgettable    … Expand
  28. Oxnardo
    Jul 8, 2017
    7
    Fantastic animation, as well as story adaptation; This including the character's and environment's design. I expected a more mature, dramatic and introspectiive point of view regarding the characters, but the mix between the gothic, violent story and the light comedy was fun to watch! I'm excited about the next season, and expecting more to come in the future since Castlevania's story hasFantastic animation, as well as story adaptation; This including the character's and environment's design. I expected a more mature, dramatic and introspectiive point of view regarding the characters, but the mix between the gothic, violent story and the light comedy was fun to watch! I'm excited about the next season, and expecting more to come in the future since Castlevania's story has a very rich plot to exploit.… Expand
  29. ProGamerZix
    Jul 8, 2017
    10
    This is the first time I was introduced to the Castlevania universe and i just f*****g love it. It's R-Rated and the visuals and animation are stunning, but the thing that kept me interested was Dracula. His short performance is amazing and definitely the star of the show (for me at least)...
  30. Jax360
    Jul 8, 2017
    10
    one of the best animes ever after BRESERK original
    animation 9.5
    sound fx 10
    music 9
    voice acting 10
    story 10
    directing 10
    writing 10
    fun factor 9.5
    over all 9.5
  31. Johnny_9-3
    Jul 13, 2017
    9
    This show is amazing. The gory action came as a surprise, but it made it even more entertaining to watch. I don't understand how people could score this below 5.
  32. Trece
    Jul 9, 2017
    3
    Bad animation that drags a weak story with bad writing and bad voice acting. So sad this hyped prologue OVA partitioned in four end like this, has a good premise but nothing more, poorly executed.
    If the series doesn't have the Castlevania mark would be canceled.
  33. imthenoob
    Jul 8, 2017
    6
    This season is sadly only four episodes long and that fact that it's so short results in a very mixed season. At first, There's absolutely no plot to this show, No explanation as to who the characters are either, They just appear on screen and that's that. It's really rough story telling in the first two episodes but by episodes three and four, It's fantastic. The story gets into motionThis season is sadly only four episodes long and that fact that it's so short results in a very mixed season. At first, There's absolutely no plot to this show, No explanation as to who the characters are either, They just appear on screen and that's that. It's really rough story telling in the first two episodes but by episodes three and four, It's fantastic. The story gets into motion and that characters become quite interesting. And the finale makes you really want more, So it definitely ends on a high note.

    I think the reason this show suffers and why I give it a mixed review is because it's so short. This should have been a minimum of 5-6 episodes. There should have been more depth to the story and the characters but sadly it was short ordered and that's why I can only give it a 5. Don't let the mixed review get you though, You could easily end up loving it. It's a well animated and well acted series, It's just too short imo. I will definitely keep an eye out for season 2 because it's suppose to be longer.    … Expand
  34. HJRodrigo
    Jul 10, 2017
    4
    A bit more adult than I had expected. The series is an adaptation of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, which was a NES game meant for youths. Nintendo of America's games in that era tended to be censored to be somewhat non-controversial/family friendly, so I was a little unprepared for how crude/vulgar the language was at times. I am fine if it had some gore/nudity (This was in theA bit more adult than I had expected. The series is an adaptation of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, which was a NES game meant for youths. Nintendo of America's games in that era tended to be censored to be somewhat non-controversial/family friendly, so I was a little unprepared for how crude/vulgar the language was at times. I am fine if it had some gore/nudity (This was in the original Japanese game to some degree), but the language seemed unnecessarily strong at times. I find that writers often use strong language as a way of covering up poor writing and/or poor character development. I honestly felt Belmont's personality a bit flat and unlikable, which kind of made the series drag on for me. The biggest plot flaw for me was when they had Belmont fight and kill priests, which seemed not in character for a Belmont and very silly. It might have made more sense and been a bit more realistic to put him fighting trained warriors or knights who were defending the name/honor of the church, instead of stupid priests charging into their death. There were also several changes from the game that just plain confused me. The first to catch my eye was them putting light bulbs and electricity in that time period (I don't remember that being present in the original game). The short hair on Sypha seemed like an unnecessary modernization, as the game originally had Sypha with long blond hair. Long hair was more true to the time period, as short hair on women was viewed as inappropriate or sinful back then. I am also not sure why she was changed to being a "Speaker", as she was supposed to be a witch or sorceress. Overall I like that they took the source material seriously, I just don't like the portrayal of the main character... The priests trying to fight him was also a bit much.… Expand
  35. aslanmane
    Jul 14, 2017
    0
    The voice acting is exceedingly lazy and incompetent. The dialogue is so hamfisted, corny, cliche and unnatural. And the soundtrack as well, is just woefully sad. How could netflix allow this to be released? Jesus Christ would weep.
  36. Kenmei
    Aug 13, 2017
    9
    Awesome "series" if extremely over the top. Can't ignore the elephant in the room though that this season is the length of a decent sized movie. Almost felt like Netflix was preparing to cancel it in case it was bad. But it's definitely not. I'm totally down for many more seasons to come from this. A good 10-12 episode would be amazing with this cast and performance level.
  37. nikwagh
    Jul 14, 2017
    9
    I rarely have any interest in video game adaptations, but this is a great show. Good characters, interesting plot and great animation - highly recommended. The only negative is that there are only 4 episodes, and they are around 20 minutes each.
  38. mrmonster
    Jul 12, 2017
    9
    I am going to give it a nine just because of how short it was. if it was a little longer, it may have gotten a perfect ten. The four episodes were packed with excitement and great action. However, it was too short. Hopefully season 2 is a lot longer.
  39. Bertoflyingfox
    Jul 12, 2017
    9
    A beautiful return-to-form for the Castlevania series. Loved the voice acting, animation, score, and plot. As a long time fan (first game came out in NA when I was 1), I couldn't be happier.

    Can't really fault this first season for much, it held focus across all 4 episodes. Now that the next season will have double the episode count, a lot more fleshing out can come into play....then I    A beautiful return-to-form for the Castlevania series. Loved the voice acting, animation, score, and plot. As a long time fan (first game came out in NA when I was 1), I couldn't be happier.

    Can't really fault this first season for much, it held focus across all 4 episodes. Now that the next season will have double the episode count, a lot more fleshing out can come into play....then I may have worthwhile criticisms.    … Expand
  40. ergenecondom
    Jul 8, 2017
    7
    Dün ilk sezonu bitirdim güzel başladı zaten kısa oldugundan nasıl bittigini anlamadım devam etsin isterdim ama 2.sezonu beklicez ama cokta birşey yoktu 1.sezonda 2.sezona bakıcaz artık.
  41. TheQuietGamer
    Jul 12, 2017
    9
    Netflix's new action-horror series based on the popular video game series gets off to a strong start. At only four episodes, each at 23 minutes a piece, the plot side of things is a little lacking. What we get is a basic set up for the rest of the series and an introduction to the protagonist, Trevor Belmont. Think of this first season as an extended pilot that's largely meant to pump usNetflix's new action-horror series based on the popular video game series gets off to a strong start. At only four episodes, each at 23 minutes a piece, the plot side of things is a little lacking. What we get is a basic set up for the rest of the series and an introduction to the protagonist, Trevor Belmont. Think of this first season as an extended pilot that's largely meant to pump us up for future episodes with it's strong visuals, gory action, compelling world, surprising sense of humor, and style. All of which it does excellently.

    Now I'm not saying there isn't any story to speak of. It clearly introduces us to the conflict, let's us know exactly who Trevor Belmont is, and even starts some world-building. It's just that these four episodes aren't quite long enough to fit a lot of that sort of stuff in, so it can feel a bit bare bones at times in that area. It manages to let us in on what the themes are though. The show does a lot of talking about how dangerous ignorance and the fear that comes with it can be. Particularly when religion is around to take advantage of them. It shows just how cruel the religious can be. Not an uncommon theme these days. Castlevania feels a bit unfair in it's depiction of Christians though. Not a single character with affiliation to the church isn't a bad guy. It gets to the point where the show is just as manipulative in it's depiction of the religious as it's religious characters are to the average person.

    I can't fault the minute-to-minute writing that much though. Mostly because the majority of it is taken up by clever and amusing dialog from Trevor Belmont. He is an immediately likable lead and excellently voiced by Richard Armitage. Despite the dark setting these episodes can be remarkably funny. Every now and then we'll have to suffer through some awkward, cheesy dialog whenever anyone wants to try and act tough, but it's worth putting up with.

    The animation is stunning. Kind of a mix between anime and old school Disney movies. It's liberal with it's use of blood and the action is crisp and exciting. It doesn't miss out on the flash and style. Along with the humor and strong characterization, it's that kind of thing that carries the show through when you realize that the plot isn't really going anywhere and the dialog stumbles.

    I can't help but compare it to the Devil May Cry anime series. Not only because this too is based on a video game series, but because it also nails the tone, action, and style needed to carry it forward. Plus it just does a lot of justice to the game series it's based on. Even with it's shortcomings in terms of writing, it has just what it takes to get people excited for the already announced eight-episode second season. If it steps up the writing, keeps the action and humor strong, and perhaps works on it's depiction of the religious then we are practically guaranteed to have a hit on our hands. As it stands now, we have an exciting and very enjoyable introduction to a series that shows a lot of promise.    … Expand
  42. rusopex
    Aug 19, 2017
    8
    Very well produced and written, voices are perfect! I would have given a 10 or 9. I gave an 8 just because we only got 4 episodes, but I can't wait for the next episodes to come out.
  43. AllanBarbosa
    Aug 22, 2017
    7
    The only four (4) episodes really impacted the development of the Castlevania story, but other mistakes could be avoided like the odd animation and the insanely horrible script of the first episode, forced gore and also about Dracula's wife. But his action scenes, the Belmont dubbing and the season finale r the why I have not given a mixed rating for this netflix original animation series.The only four (4) episodes really impacted the development of the Castlevania story, but other mistakes could be avoided like the odd animation and the insanely horrible script of the first episode, forced gore and also about Dracula's wife. But his action scenes, the Belmont dubbing and the season finale r the why I have not given a mixed rating for this netflix original animation series. I hope the 2nd season will be better than this season.… Expand
  44. BananaLuiz
    Jul 19, 2017
    9
    Incredible, a series made with affection for all fans of Castlevania, and also pleases people who do not know the game, beautiful animation, history and good characters, right pace and much violence, recommended for everyone and come the second season
  45. ClappyCamper
    Aug 22, 2017
    9
    Way better than I expected. The voice actors really make the show shine and the dialogue coupled with the underlying themes of the show are beautifully crafted. The characters feel like actual people and the plot contains some actual wisdom in it.

    The visual aspect alone makes the show worth watching. Both gruesome and fluidly animated, the fight/action scenes are very articulate and    Way better than I expected. The voice actors really make the show shine and the dialogue coupled with the underlying themes of the show are beautifully crafted. The characters feel like actual people and the plot contains some actual wisdom in it.

    The visual aspect alone makes the show worth watching. Both gruesome and fluidly animated, the fight/action scenes are very articulate and stimulating. Definitely give it a try.    … Expand
  46. SilentTactician
    Sep 1, 2017
    10
    Castlevania: Season 1 was something I watched in in one night and wished immediately that there was more. Excellent animation, voice acting, character development and embodiment of the video game. Kept to the core characters and captured the emotion/ambiance of the video game. Not for children as there are scenes of gore and slaughter. However, the gore serves a purpose and isn't a mainCastlevania: Season 1 was something I watched in in one night and wished immediately that there was more. Excellent animation, voice acting, character development and embodiment of the video game. Kept to the core characters and captured the emotion/ambiance of the video game. Not for children as there are scenes of gore and slaughter. However, the gore serves a purpose and isn't a main focus of the tv show but rather an accurate demonstration of what would happen if a horde of demons were released. Can't wait for a season 2!… Expand
  47. EludiumQ36
    Oct 30, 2018
    8
    Though season 1 is a short 4 episodes (25-min each) long, it was really engaging and full of both art and story detail; in fact, you may find yourself watching it a second or third time to capture bits and pieces missed from first viewing. It's one of the few animated series that isn't dumbed down. You'll say to yourself, "wow, this is pretty decent." I'm stating the obvious here, but thisThough season 1 is a short 4 episodes (25-min each) long, it was really engaging and full of both art and story detail; in fact, you may find yourself watching it a second or third time to capture bits and pieces missed from first viewing. It's one of the few animated series that isn't dumbed down. You'll say to yourself, "wow, this is pretty decent." I'm stating the obvious here, but this isn't small kid appropriate, I'd say it's 14+. I'm stoked for season 2 which just got released, and it's a more satisfying 8-episode run. (I'll review that shortly.)… Expand
  48. mugen_is_here
    Oct 18, 2017
    10
    I loved this show! I played a little of the original game so I cannot really comment on whether this brought out the game theme well enough. However, I would definitely say that if I see this TV series as it is, without caring about the original game, then I would say it's gripping as hell.

    I loved the character development. The variety of characters. the suspense build up in different    I loved this show! I played a little of the original game so I cannot really comment on whether this brought out the game theme well enough. However, I would definitely say that if I see this TV series as it is, without caring about the original game, then I would say it's gripping as hell.

    I loved the character development. The variety of characters. the suspense build up in different situations. The music. The fights. The style. Overall, I loved the plotline.

    I'm waiting for the next season.    … Expand
  49. marcmyworks
    Jul 22, 2017
    7
    Castlevania Season 1 is the perfect prologue for what is to come. The unfortunate matter is that only the first and the last episode are interesting, leaving the middle two to be more filler. I hope next season will bring more of the excitement the finale offered.
  50. marlinspike
    Aug 19, 2018
    2
    I watched them and there were only 4 episodes. I was ready to see the series finale an then it was over. what was that about?
  51. Juggz
    Jan 15, 2018
    10
    I really loved it and I am a huge Castlevania fan from the beginning....the show didn´t dissapoint, only the lack of original OST
  52. quake2th
    Nov 17, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I don't usually like anime, but this is great.

    The graphics is impressive, heavily inspired from Symphony Of The Night and Bloodlines, the story of Season 1 is adapted from Castlevania 3+SOTN, while Season 2 does its own thing.

    Characters are good, voice acting is mostly ok, very awful for Sypha, but that can be improved.

    Best moments:
    - Alucard introduction: as soon as you see the first gears moving, you know where this is going. Great way to pay homage to Symphony Of The Night, the authors did their homework.

    - Castlevania theme: it takes so **** long for it, but when FINALLY into one of the last episodes of Series 2 they play Castlevania song it's the best part of the whole show. You have almost given up hope for hearing it, when suddenly it strikes out of nowhere and you get what you want. It does not last much, but it's the best part of the whole series. This is basically what everyone was waiting for since the first episode, surely they knew how to build for it. Without giving any hint whatsoever until the action starts.

    Overall, good job, very well done. This proves that good movies can be made out of games, just do your research and stay faithful to the material.    … Expand
  53. zimmer600
    Jul 21, 2017
    7
    A good cartoon, pleased with the characters, quite appropriate jokes where necessary, as well as not quite a bad picture that really gives anime. Well, in general, not bad enough.
  54. Mrcool1989
    Oct 29, 2018
    10
    Castlevania season 1 was great. Voice acting was on point as to was the story.
  55. jaasieljunior
    Dec 3, 2017
    8
    Tinha tudo para ser horrível. mas acabou sendo satisfatório. Diferente da adaptação Death Note , Castlevania consegue passar um bom roteiro e adaptação ,mesmo que boa parte das pessoas conheçam o enredo de castlevania através do game.
  56. kjatafoxhound
    Oct 28, 2017
    2
    Bad experiment. Looks like a gothic tale of hatred against religion and farmers. All are topics and a confused message. The protagonist is horrible and stupid.
  57. LasPlays
    Nov 6, 2017
    10
    La verdad que lo que son los gráficos o animación mejor dicho me han gustado bastante.
    La historia y la forma que esta relatada del juego Castlevania se ve muy bien y creo que para mi gusto se merece un 10, no solo por la reseña de que se pueden hacer buenas series y películas de juegos.
    No como el mortal kombat o remedir a dragón ball revolution que esas si son una caca.
  58. BillyHerrington
    Dec 30, 2017
    10
    Amazing how one good writer can make a 4 episode long season that great. I cant wait for more.
  59. mattkerr494
    Apr 8, 2018
    7
    Watched 8th Feb 2018

    I'm keeping my eye on this series. Its promising. Hopefully it doesn't become another interesting idea dropped before it gets the chance to live out its potential by Netflix.
  60. CasandraComplex
    Oct 27, 2018
    9
    Very adult themes, humor and horror. I find the animation style and content rather reminiscent of the animated film," Heavy Metal" I never play video games so didn't know the game that it was based on. In fact, the most video games that I ever played was our families Atari console back in the 80's. Never the less, this short series really stands out in how very grown up and matter of factVery adult themes, humor and horror. I find the animation style and content rather reminiscent of the animated film," Heavy Metal" I never play video games so didn't know the game that it was based on. In fact, the most video games that I ever played was our families Atari console back in the 80's. Never the less, this short series really stands out in how very grown up and matter of fact it is about it's themes and story telling. There is something nostalgic about that of which I can't put my finger on. It's unflinching in it's portrayal of Catholic religious figures who persecuted and demonized the people who were the early pioneers of the sciences. One could say that it is almost a metaphor for the period in time when the Black Death Plagued European, Middle Eastern and Asian societies. The conversation with the Bishop and the demon was particularly cathartic, humorous and then gruesome. I would recommend this to any of my adult thinking friends but not to the ones who have a limited capacity for critical thinking. Plot summery, we have the bad guys, a wronged husband whose loss of his mortal wife must be avenged with all the dark arts of the underworld and our reluctant and flawed hero who holds a masters degree in underdog sarcasm. Sometimes the dialog is difficult to hear correctly, I had to turn the volume way up. I absolutely loved this series and definitely recommend it to adults or mature thinking young adults..… Expand
  61. GrantD243
    Nov 5, 2018
    8
    Despite its short length, the first season of Castelvania sets up an interesting story for season two while also providing some fantastic action sequences.
  62. Arlene123
    Sep 6, 2018
    9
    Don't listen to the haters, it's a pretty f**** awesome series. I hope season 2 to be as good as this one. Decent, violent with interesting characters, full of action, mystery and a great voice cast.
  63. YoloDuckTV
    Jan 1, 2019
    0
    Castlevania for the NES is the worst god damn game in the animal kingdom. This game is so god damn hard, that when I tried to stab the box that contains the god forsaken game. The knife i was using **** broke in half. Even the box is as hard as my pee pee when I watch A Madea Christmas. The challenge is gay as **** too, they just spawn a bunch of enemies, and knock you back a god damnCastlevania for the NES is the worst god damn game in the animal kingdom. This game is so god damn hard, that when I tried to stab the box that contains the god forsaken game. The knife i was using **** broke in half. Even the box is as hard as my pee pee when I watch A Madea Christmas. The challenge is gay as **** too, they just spawn a bunch of enemies, and knock you back a god damn mile. **** THIS GAME!!!… Expand
  64. Mordahuez
    Oct 28, 2018
    10
    Literally perfect.
    Season 1 is a first act, the beginning of a story, rather than a full season of content, but it isn't the fault of the studio that Netflix only ordered 4 episodes. Also, it is a perfect first act. Beautiful animation, acting, and voice work. The delightfully gory action and powerful character drama are all perfectly balanced. It stays true to the material of the games    Literally perfect.
    Season 1 is a first act, the beginning of a story, rather than a full season of content, but it isn't the fault of the studio that Netflix only ordered 4 episodes. Also, it is a perfect first act. Beautiful animation, acting, and voice work. The delightfully gory action and powerful character drama are all perfectly balanced. It stays true to the material of the games and pleases fans without pandering or alienating non-fans. Literally perfect.    … Expand
  65. Berik
    Jun 24, 2020
    8
    Castlevania, based upon the similar named video game series, is an animated show about Vlad Dracula, Trevor Belmont and the great argument: are humans bad and do they deserve mercy and forgiveness. I have not played the video games so i'm not familiar with the characters or lore.

    The first season is short but strong. In just episodes we are introduced to the lead characters, their    Castlevania, based upon the similar named video game series, is an animated show about Vlad Dracula, Trevor Belmont and the great argument: are humans bad and do they deserve mercy and forgiveness. I have not played the video games so i'm not familiar with the characters or lore.

    The first season is short but strong. In just episodes we are introduced to the lead characters, their motivations and their traits. Dracula is (understandably) enraged that the people of Wallachia, led by the church, killed his wife and wants revenge by killing every human in Wallachia. The creatures of the night roam the land, killing people at night, and somewhere in the middle we meet Trevor Belmont. He's the last member of a family of monster hunters, who finds his motivation again to fight for humanity even though they destroyed his family. This starts the war against Dracula.

    Though short in episode length and count, i think it was strong. I feel like i know what the characters are like and what their goals are. And that's a good starting point for a show. It's an excellent season, and i give it a 8/10.    … Expand
  66. demonicreviews
    Feb 11, 2019
    10
    IF YOU ARE AN ANIME LOVER FROM BACK IN THE 90'S YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THIS ONE ISN'T LIKE THE ONES THEY PRODUCE THESE DAYS.

    I went into thinking this was going to be a typical anime with the supernatural and demons, but funny enough this one caught me off guard. I'm always looking for new anime with a thriller type background and keeps me on edge with the story line and this one    IF YOU ARE AN ANIME LOVER FROM BACK IN THE 90'S YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THIS ONE ISN'T LIKE THE ONES THEY PRODUCE THESE DAYS.

    I went into thinking this was going to be a typical anime with the supernatural and demons, but funny enough this one caught me off guard. I'm always looking for new anime with a thriller type background and keeps me on edge with the story line and this one did exactly that.

    From the characters and where they come from, the build up of the side characters telling us about their current situation, to the sheer sorrow of Dracula and his son. I haven't played the games, from what I've heard, this animation adaption is far from what happens in the games, but players of the game have also told me that this story shows the depth of how far the story actually goes.

    If you want something different from the usual anime - and its all in English as well, check this anime out. It's hilarious in many different ways, and will leave you emotionally attached to characters. There are many moments where it shows the true nature of humans of our society today and what we're all capable of.

    The animation is so beautiful that you won't be disappointed.    … Expand
  67. MaxPaul20
    Mar 3, 2019
    8
    Netflix really hit it home with this show. usually films or shows based on videogames are usually a disaster but they really put out all the stops to make this a really enjoyable show. The art design is beautiful, the gore and violence are a perfect depiction of what Castlevania is all about. And the fact that its based off what is one of my favourite Castlevania games of all time. TheNetflix really hit it home with this show. usually films or shows based on videogames are usually a disaster but they really put out all the stops to make this a really enjoyable show. The art design is beautiful, the gore and violence are a perfect depiction of what Castlevania is all about. And the fact that its based off what is one of my favourite Castlevania games of all time. The characters are perfectly depicted of what there dialog would be like. The emotional kill of Dracula was really well done. Burt the one flaw with this is the fact that they haven't yet expanded on the show and I personally would love to see someone like Simon Belmont to be the main character in the show as it would be a great depiction of the legacy that we saw Trevor leave at the end. Overall I would really recommend this to anyone who likes gore and is trying to either look for a good show to watch or someone who is getting into anime.… Expand
  68. Bruterake
    Nov 22, 2020
    10
    Eu achei praticamente perfeito, a animação, a dublagem e os personagens no geral. Em poucos episódios eles conseguiram passar tudo isso então vou de 10.
  69. Dip0
    May 19, 2021
    10
    Absolutely beautiful. Stunning visuals. Great execution.
    That's how you adapt a video game series. A totally fiery series.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Matt Gerardi
    Jul 10, 2017
    75
    While the animation and writing in this first “season” occasionally stumble along the way, the series’ creators have gone above and beyond to wring a resonant story from a game that never really had or needed one. It’s a promising start, and while this isn’t saying much, that alone makes it one of the most successful video game adaptations to date.
    Read full review
  2. We Got This Covered
    Reviewed by: Will Ashton
    Jul 10, 2017
    60
    Bleak, bold, blackhearted, brutal and very, very bloody, Netflix’s Castlevania is an uneven, weirdly paced but vividly realized and often captivating anime adaptation, one that propels the video game genre to newfound heights and a promising, if very short, glimpse at the show’s potential.
    Read full review
  3. Collider
    Reviewed by: Dave Trumbore
    Jul 10, 2017
    80
    This definitely isn’t kid friendly. And yet the violence and gore serves the story, one that’s not about a simple action-packed adventure of a trio of heroes wandering the Wallachian countryside, but the very real battle of complex heroes fighting for what’s right and protecting the innocent from darkness, death, and ignorance.
    Read full review
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