“Created by” sounds more prestigious than “adapted by”. Heck, Konami hardly gets a mention in the credits!
All told, I think the season was, broadly, more consistent than the prior Castlevania series, on a per season basis. And consistently good at that. The big thing that stood out to me was how more maturely the series handles itself, compared to the prior. That’s not to say it doesn’t earn its TVMA rating, but compared to the…excesses…of the prior series, it handles its content with a bit more…dignity? Aside from Belmont, but that’s just a family quirk at this point.
A big step up is in the character work. It’s LEAGUES better. While the “big bad” is pretty much a traditional “final boss evil evil”, she’s practically not a concern for a majority of the season. The original, perceived, antagonist actually ends up displaying a shocking degree of depth. While the big villain and her main lieutenant are pretty cut and dry as “bad guys”, the shades of grey run FAR deeper, including a fascinating subplot concerning the Night Creatures. While Richter CAN be a bit whiney, I think they kept it restrained enough not to ruin his character arc. The Revolutionary France setting and associated with the fading of slavery as a practice all seem to try and come up with some commentary about progressiveness (the Revolutions) against conservatism (the Church, literally, siding with devils to maintain the status quo), but I’m not sure it is really hitting the marks I think the writers intended. I at least appreciate the attempt at some broader depth, though.
Compared to the first series, Nocturne has a FAR stronger start with how well they’ve handled the characters and their motivations.
Animation, especially the non-action sequences, show a bit more flair in style and integration. It is FULL of some really beautiful shots. The music also feels a bit more impactful, with the classic vibes complimenting the Revolutionary era look.
I’m not sure the episodes hit AS high as some in the first (thus far), but it also doesn’t get DOWN as low as the first got as well. That said, a special cameo and the end of episode 6 definitely hit hard. But it IS nice to see an ”adult animation” that actually handles its content with some dignity. Because to too many people, “adult” is just an excuse to dump buckets of gore, use language saltier than a sailor, and plenty of tits.