Castlevania

:

Season 3
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 7, 2017
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 56
  3. Negative: 9 out of 56
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  1. Lordgrey
    May 23, 2020
    1
    Many people who give a low rating, in the first place in their dissatisfaction put the scene of the bi-sex of Alucard with a girl and a guy at the same time. It seems strange to me, the third season is not ruined by this scene, nor is it that Alucard could sleep with a guy. The season is ruined by a complete hack in terms of narration, the logic of events, the elaboration of theMany people who give a low rating, in the first place in their dissatisfaction put the scene of the bi-sex of Alucard with a girl and a guy at the same time. It seems strange to me, the third season is not ruined by this scene, nor is it that Alucard could sleep with a guy. The season is ruined by a complete hack in terms of narration, the logic of events, the elaboration of the individuality of characters and so on.

    After watching the first and second, the third season looks just awful. In the 8 series, nothing happens at all except completely empty and meaningless dialogs. The last two series are no less stupid and senseless meat with some erotic. At the same time, the plot is oversaturated with second-rate characters that are absolutely uninteresting to me as a spectator and absolutely does not reveal either their storyline or the storyline of the main characters. Moreover, all participants in this theater of the absurd behave like absolute, incapable of development and mental activity, idiots.

    Next comes the visual, drawing and animation, they are much simplified, the animation has become more twitchy, the drawing is sketchy and angular.

    Further, the claim to staging battle scenes. If in the first two seasons the visual could withstand some kind of balance between stylization, entertainment and realism, then in the third realism was simply completely eliminated as a component and fights turned into a complete absurdity with magic acrobats running through the air in anime-like style and a hunter fighting with two whips. Why didn't he do that before? I didn’t know how, but now he learned? didn’t want or was the situation when he fought with Dracula himself not critical enough to activate the God Mode? In general, the third season is just awful. Perhaps the fourth I will not wait any longer.    … Expand
  2. commando41
    Mar 30, 2020
    3
    Complete and utter waste of time! To be fair it is incredibly tough to top season 2, but all in all it felt like a throw away GoTs season.
  3. Loucetios
    Mar 8, 2020
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Terrible and cringe. Putting aside the gay sex, misogyny and open nihilism. The season failed to deliver a satisfactory end to anyone's story. The magician guy who we'd been following all season jumps into the hallway and we just never hear from him again seemingly, despite that being the goddamn focal point for like 4 or 5 goddamn episodes. Are you **** kidding? You're just going to leave it like that?

    We follow this vampire girl torturing and seducing the hellforge guy for the entire season only for it to end in "he's my slave by magic".. well why the **** didn't you do that from the start? Meanwhile her lesbian vampire sisters are just pure cringe, straight out of dA fan fiction. They also do absolutely nothing for the entire season yet comfortably take up half an episode at times. Useless characters that serve no purpose other than to appeal to a perceived lesbian audience. Utterly ridiculous. Their entire plan has so many holes in it and makes very little sense. What is their motivation for any of this?

    In the final episode all the character development and bonding between characters gets thrown out the window in an act of abject nihilism, with completely unreasonable behavior from all parties concerned.

    It's as if they fired all the writers and for the last episode got a spurned edgy 15 year old teenager to write it. Garbage "subverting expectations" nonsense will be the excuse for pissing away an entire season on nothing. The show is really a statement about how people are just terrible and are always manipulating each other.. bravo, so **** deep.

    With regards to the sex scenes and characters, yeh it's terrible and cringe in just about every regard. I don't want to watch porn. I want to watch an entertaining story. Watching gay or straight sex in a TV show is porn. It'd be equally as cringe if Alucard bedded the chick and they showed him just pounding away on her ala Game of Thrones. Another show that rested on shock value **** with very little actual substance beneath it all. In this case the sex really served no purpose AT ALL. They had no reason to do it. The entire thing just made no sense.. they wanted to be nice to him but it was all an act? Why bother with sex? Wait until he's asleep. The whole thing smacks of some allegory that sex is just a manipulation. It's so cumbersome and poorly executed that it fails to be believable at all.

    The animation is quite bad frankly. The still artwork is also terrible pretty much. 90% of the focus is on the character artwork which isn't amazing frankly. So much photoshop and effects have been put in to hide the blemishes. They can't get Sypha's hair right to save their lives.

    This season has some great parts with Belmont, Sypha and the magician. The show rapidly needs to steer itself back towards that or it's going to be the template for how "progressive" characters ruin a show.

    Netflix need to wake up and understand that people WILL just cancel their sub. Nothing is holding me to them now and Disney or Amazon are both reasonable alternatives.    … Expand
  4. Grub1867
    Mar 17, 2020
    5
    A weaker season than the last, Castlevania struggles to find new direction after last seasons conclusive finale.

    This show began with Dracula swearing bloody vengeance upon humanity. When he was defeated at the end of last season the shows primary arc was concluded. In order to keep it going the producers had to find fresh purpose for their heroes to pursue. Did they succeed?    A weaker season than the last, Castlevania struggles to find new direction after last seasons conclusive finale.

    This show began with Dracula swearing bloody vengeance upon humanity. When he was defeated at the end of last season the shows primary arc was concluded. In order to keep it going the producers had to find fresh purpose for their heroes to pursue.

    Did they succeed?

    Mostly not.

    It's always difficult to maintain the narrative quality of a show after the conclusion of an arc, (especially when you eliminate a strong and interesting Villian such as Dracula) and in Castlevania, the usual trappings are on full display. A meandering pace, weak character motivations and pointless character subplots sully the good will it built up from prior seasons and the good things that the show does in this season.

    We only really encounter the meat of the story--'What's under the priory'?--a few episodes in. The primary drama of your show, its central purpose, should be made apparent in the first half of the first episode! Not after a leisurely stroll through the demon-infested woods.

    When I mention weak character motivations I'm referring primarily to the Japanese siblings that Alucard trained. They betrayed him in the final episode, but for no good reason. He was helping them, and because he didn't show all the secrets of his power to complete strangers the first second they met, they decide that he doesn't really care about them? It's been like a week. If the writers wanted to make it seem as though they were motivated by an intense suspicion, they should have worked harder to establish that distrust in the show.

    In addition to the irrational actions of the Japanese siblings, we also have the tacked on revelation that the judge was a child killer or molester or something? It was unclear. And furthermore, it was purposeless. What was its objective? To show that no one can be trusted? That everyone is evil? Trevor gave that little speech about how they're living in his world now, but it was never established that his world was horrible and depressing. The judges dark secret felt like some hastily added plot point to either provide some edgy depth to a character or to add a surprise twist at the end because every show has to have a twist of some kind. Bleh.

    Speaking of pointless additions, why didn't they just enslave Hector with those rings from the beginning? Was there some condition with the magical rings that needed Hector to have sex with the one he was swearing loyalty to? If you're being forced against your will with a vague pronouncement of loyalty then why does something like that make sense? And that's just the plothole. The plotline was just us waiting while the new vampire queens they introduced talked.

    Both the Hector sex scene and the Alucard one that the show felt the need to animate, were unnecessary. I'm of the opinion that sex scenes, in most cases, don't contribute anything to a show. And in this case, they didn't either. The effect of intercutting the sex and the action scenes wasn't some arousing masterpiece. It was jarring. Having sex scenes doesn't give your animated show HBO cred, mature storytelling does. The show would have been better without them.

    In its obvious desire to imitate Game of Thrones, Castlevania has also adopted one of its poorer habits. Good dialogue is a difficult thing to master. I can't rightfully say how to achieve it. What I can say, is that using **** every other word and talking slowly does not a good dialogue make. It's just lazy.

    Now I've spent most of my word count criticising the show, but there were a few things that it did well. I'll be much briefer because it's easier to criticise than it is to compliment... The show is partly redeemed by its worldbuilding, dope action sequences and commitment to strong character (part of the reason why the Japanese duo was so disappointing).

    The season continued to explore the world of Castlevania, exploring locales and showing us a bit more of what their magic system is capable of.

    The action sequence in the last two episodes was one of the sickest that I've seen in all animation history. Congratulations on the animation department for creating it.

    Lastly, the writers built off the work of prior seasons, continuing to explore the cast of heroes and anti-heroes that we'd been introduced to before, while also working to establish some new ones. I can't say that I enjoyed the Hector Vampire Queen story thread, but I can commend it for trying to distinguish between all the new vampires and what made them unique.

    Overall, a disappointing season, primarily because it's compared to the strength of the last one. Hopefully, the next one will be better.    … Expand
  5. Eolmith
    Mar 8, 2020
    0
    Again Netflix destroyed a well stablished franchise, they transformed Alucard into a gay character, as usual they force an progressive agenda on everything.
  6. ScienceAdvisor
    Mar 6, 2020
    5
    The same long wait for action that does not really start until episode 9 (of 10), with childish script where adults in charge are fairly moronic, and dialogue that uses far too much copy and paste of itself, episodes after episode. Just like the first two seasons, except this time the stakes are far less impressive and the inconsistency in power levels established over the last few years,The same long wait for action that does not really start until episode 9 (of 10), with childish script where adults in charge are fairly moronic, and dialogue that uses far too much copy and paste of itself, episodes after episode. Just like the first two seasons, except this time the stakes are far less impressive and the inconsistency in power levels established over the last few years, becomes untientionally funny (or cringe-worthy). If you really want to watch, you can skip straight to episode seven without really missing much. That tells you all you need to know.… Expand
  7. bigdickbazuso
    Mar 5, 2020
    9
    Wow! Season three was absolutely amazing! It is known that season two had problems such as pacing and cringey dialogue, and I am glad to report that these problems are a lot less apparent in season three. This season exhibited new characters while developing the ones we know and the new ones simultaneously, and the studio did a splendid job in the development of certain characters such asWow! Season three was absolutely amazing! It is known that season two had problems such as pacing and cringey dialogue, and I am glad to report that these problems are a lot less apparent in season three. This season exhibited new characters while developing the ones we know and the new ones simultaneously, and the studio did a splendid job in the development of certain characters such as Isaac and the new sisters. This new season takes a "Lord of the Rings" approach to POV where the screen time is split amongst Isaac, a new magician, Hector, the four sisters, and the close duo Sypha and Trevor; this approach to screenplay does have a big drawback which is a stop and pause sensation when it comes to the action. The studio however magnificently pulled through and kept this mitigation of immersion breaking to a minimum; where they cut and stop the action scenes at just the right time with the utmost fluid manner. Sadly, there is no paradigm shift in the main action of the series hitherto has always been at the end, and it stays that way in season three; however, the action in season three I daresay is the best out of all seasons. Unfortunately, this season does have one very big flaw that is plain to notice: a main goal. This season suffers from a lack of purpose, but I am under the impression they are slowly building towards one throughout this season. Amazingly enough, that is my only big complaint with this new season of Castlevania where all the other facets of this season hit the ball out of this f**king planet: sex, gore, and demons: Awesome!… Expand
  8. LeoVrbanec
    Mar 9, 2020
    10
    I actually didnt review the first two seasons of the show but just to know i thoguht that they were great,and this one is even better.This show has many great twists with an interesting plot and good pacing,the show kind of plays with your expectations of whats going to hapen in the show.Everything is great about this show,and i mean it...EVERYTHING....Just wow.
  9. Ser_Hobo
    Mar 8, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. At first, it doesn't feel like this season is adding much to the previous two seasons. However, it is surprisingly compelling with its action and world building. It sets all of the right things into motion for the coming season, and I can't wait to see how it unfolds. Knowing the teams behind it, it will surely be gripping.

    P.S. if you are pissed off about Alucard in certain scenes, the dude is practically immortal and has more than likely bobbed for apples once. So check yourself, mate.    … Expand
  10. Berik
    Jul 4, 2020
    9
    Where season 2 took more time to flash out the world, characters and politics, the third season gives all characters a reality check and suddenly we understand that things are not always what they seem to be. In season 3 we follow 4 different perspectives: Belmont and Belnades, Alucard, Isaac and Hector. Belmont and Belnades find corruption in a town where things have taken a dark turn,Where season 2 took more time to flash out the world, characters and politics, the third season gives all characters a reality check and suddenly we understand that things are not always what they seem to be. In season 3 we follow 4 different perspectives: Belmont and Belnades, Alucard, Isaac and Hector. Belmont and Belnades find corruption in a town where things have taken a dark turn, and they are asking themselves what they want. Not everything has a happy ending.

    Alucard, in his loneliness and solitude, tries to trust two strangers who have a keen interest in his knowledge. However, in the end he understands his own father better. Hector is used, manipulated and influenced by the vampire sisters of Styria, and Isaac has to come to terms with his own beliefs and goals.

    This season, fittingly with Belmonts new outfit, is darker and more gruesome than previous seasons. Characters have to come to terms with themselves, and this does not always work out for them. The animations are once again very impressive, and voice acting and music are believable and atmospheric.

    It is an impressive season that keeps you wanting more and more. I give it a 9/10.    … Expand
  11. Daermon
    May 6, 2020
    5
    Slow starting, no Dracula, no party. Isaac storys and the whole charchter is full boring. Hector and Alucard storys is just ok. Not good, but not terrible.
    Trevor and Sypha storys is fine. Nothing extra, just fine.
  12. movingpictures
    Jun 11, 2020
    9
    After a halfbaked first season and a very average second season, they finally got it right with season three! The dialogue and plot have improved lightyears from the first two seasons. I am 100% on board to see where this story goes next :)
  13. Bruterake
    Nov 22, 2020
    8
    Não sei muito bem o que faltou, talvez interação entre os personagens, não dou o 10 de costume porque o deus ex-machina se fez presente ali no final ai é complicado de dar outro 10.
  14. thiagoviscardi
    Mar 16, 2020
    10
    Love this season. It was Dense, strong and bealtiful. Even without Dracula, the show keeps suprising you and keeping you entertained.
  15. COP1985
    May 3, 2020
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Season Three is when all the cracks from season two start showing. If I had to give one particular reason for it is that now that Dracula is dead it feels like the series lost its focus and doesn't know what to do. Season three feels more like filler before the main event and it suffers greatly from it.

    Since the season is divided between four main stories, I'll discuss each of them separately, from worst to best (in my opinion) and what I thought of them. I do that because they never join at any point in the story, feeling more like 4 different series mixed together than a whole one. Season 2 had that to some extent, but all the stories converged to Dracula's Castle for the finale, which doesn't happen here.

    Another side note is that unlike some, I don't have a problem with sex scenes happening in a show aimed at adults, as long as they serve some purpose or advance the story. Both of the two sex scenes of this season felt jarring as they had no logical reason for existing and for some reason the showrunners decided to place them at the serie's climax. It was annoying to see Trevor, Sypha and Isaac's finales (filled with great action and stakes) being cut by Hector and Alucard having sex. Seriously, if you ever want to put a sex scene in a story, don't mix it with cuts from actions scenes. It will onlymake the audience cringe.

    Hector: Somehow the series manages to turn Hector from the badass vengeful guy from the games into a poor excuse of a character. The main problem with him is that his story serves nothing to the main plot. He does nothing aside from staying in prison while interacting with a vampire that is so clearly manipulating him I thought he must be an imbecile not to realize it. The way he becomes the vampire sisters' slave is laughable at best, not to mention none of the sisters, who are being set as the main antagonists for next season by the way, do anything at all in this season aside from fooling around and show cringy lesbian romance (are they blood sisters or not, because if they are, add a dose of incest to the mix). Overall, Hector felt like a waste of time and braincells.

    Alucard: My poor boy suffers from the same problems Hector did, with somewhat better results. He does nothing significant the whole season, but that is mitigated by how likeable the show makes the Japanese siblings he trains. He is shown to be quite lonely, so it was nice seeing him interacting with them. My problem is in how pretty much all of a sudden the siblings betray and try to kill Alucard for a stupid reason such as "you won't share your secrets with us". There was little to no foreshadow they would even consider such a thing, so the plot twist loses much of its impact as a result. However, I'll say that the way Alucard murders them and later impales their corpses much in the same way Dracula did is quite good, showing him slowly becoming like Dracula, which would make him the antagonist of a future season.

    Trevor/Sypha: To a lesser extent, it feels like they do nothing important for the overall narrative, at least until the final revelation that Dracula is in Hell and can be brought back. Of course, the two of them stop him from being brought back, but the implication is there and the writers would be fools not to use it later in the story. Trevor and Sypha's interactions are quite good and I felt they had great chemistry together. My only issues are the feeling they do nothing important for most of it and the wasted potential of both the judge and Germain.

    Isaac: By far the best storyline in the season, Isaac felt like the only truly active protagonist of the bunch, with his actions dictating the plot. While Hector, Alucard and Trevor/Sypha all allow events to come at them so they could react, Isaac goes after his goal: Avenging Dracula from Camilla and Hector's betrayal. Not only that, but he also grows as a person too: He starts as someone barely caring for human life, but with the encounters with others during the season, he starts to change his views on people in subtle ways. He still doesn't mind murdering people, but it feels like he is more mindful of doing it by the end of the season. Not only that, he gets the most epic finale of all of them and is shaping to be one of the major forces in the future, with an army of night creatures at his bidding ready to storm into Camilla and her sisters' lands. The only reason I'm excited for season four is to see what the future has in store for him.    … Expand
  16. Dip0
    May 19, 2021
    10
    Absolutely beautiful. Stunning visuals. Great execution.
    That's how you adapt a video game series. A totally fiery series.
  17. Desomeso
    Sep 11, 2022
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This season is pretty weak, especially comparing it tot he previous 2.
    The audio equipment is terrible and some of the voice acting is **** as well, though some is pretty good but kinda ruined by the audio equipment where every touch of the lips and saliva in the actor's mouth can be heard.
    The conclusion of interactions between some characters is pointless and the sex scenes and logic of it is written for teens who don't care who you get to it as long as every character **** each other.
    Imagine if you and your brother or sister just go to your teacher and decided to have a threesome with him/her because they live alone and are on minimum wage, as a reward for teaching you stuff.
    Town guard offer no resistance to anything and are on a single strike as if they aren't motivated to protect the town when getting stabbed once.
    Isaac talking to a random monster - what is this? It says it doesn't remember much and proceeds to tell it's whole story :D wtf? If some monsters regain memories then they have motives to not follow the forgemaster, why do they follow him?
    Some conversations that are treated as deep are pretty shallow.
    Idk what that whole deal with the pet collar was or dog collar - probably some of the writers though it would either be sexy or make Hector like that vampire or something.
    The 4 vamps with the "plan" that relies on one single element which is unstable and hostile. Cool plan.
    Is this written by teens or is it for teens who don't rly care about plot. If you don't care about the plot it would be pretty good    … Expand
  18. Clutcher
    Dec 12, 2022
    0
    This season is the moment where the series jumps the woki mc woke shark. Avoid at all cost, unless you have a boner for vampire gay sex.

Critic Reviews

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Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Collider
    Reviewed by: Dave Trumbore
    Mar 2, 2020
    100
    The team behind Castlevania Season 3 absolutely knocked it out of the park with this batch of episodes. They deliver the action, the intrigue, and the food for thought that elevates the source material into what’s easily one of the best video game adaptations ever made.
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