Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
The success of Netflix’sCastlevanialed to the creation of a spin-off series calledCastlevania: Nocturne. Many fans believed that the first season ofCastlevania: Nocturne, which was released in September 2023, was much better than its parent series, and the reason behind that is the big gamble played by the directors of the series.
The gamble was that they included a lot of different aspects into a single season, which ideally should have made the series more disorganized, but somehow they managed to keep the series grounded and under their control. They maintained a balance that kept the flow of the series smooth and avoided any disruptions that could have damaged the narrative.
This helpedCastlevania: Nocturnebecome bigger thanCastlevania,which followed a similar path and almost failed. The creators learned from the parent series and decided not to repeat the same mistake once again, giving them a banger.
The Big Risk ByCastlevania: Nocturne’sDirector
Last year, the creators ofCastlevania: Nocturnewere interviewed byUnited Press International, where they talked about blending drama, action, horror, comedy, magic, etc. in a singular narrative. Sam Deats, the co-director of the show, explained that while they played between the lines, they also kept it completely serious and grounded.
“I think that stands out to me”: Castlevania Directors Could Not Glance Away from One Aspect of the Series Even the French Revolution Wasn’t Able to Outdo
Sam stated:
We ride the line between being schlocky and hokey on occasion, but also taking ourselves deadly serious when it matters in a universe that is meant to be grounded dialogue-wise, story-wise, but still has vampires, magic and monsters in it.
According to the co-director, as the story demanded grounded dialogues and narratives, they had to maintain a balance between doing whatever they wanted and what the story demanded.
This was only possible because of the writers, especially Clive Bradley, the writer and co-showrunner ofCastlevania: Nocturne, who took the risks of the original series but still managed to keep it under control no matter what.
The Creative Difference BetweenCastlevaniaandCastlevania: Nocturne
If observed from a broader perspective,Castlevania: Nocturnehas all the good qualities ofCastlevaniaand more. The spin-off series captured the original tone ofCastlevaniaand included its own twist through various aspects like the French Revolution,the representation of cultural elements, etc.
The originalCastlevaniaseries was written by Warren Ellis. As the series had immense success in the first two seasons, Netflix gave Ellis the freedom to operate as he liked, including two extra episodes. This led to Ellis delving deeper into the story andtaking unnecessary risksthat could have damaged the reputation ofCastlevaniaand canceled its upcoming seasons.
“I’d been given permission to run wild”: One Character’s Death Made Castlevania Writer Almost Sure Netflix Would Never Greenlight More Seasons
However,Castlevania: Nocturne, as mentioned above, learned from these mistakes and decided to maintain a balance that could not only give them complete creative freedom but also avoid the extra risks that come with it by keeping the series connected to the source.
If the creators maintain the same tone for the upcoming seasons, they can surely makeCastlevania: Nocturnemuch better and more successful than its parent series,Castlevania.
You can watchCastlevaniaandCastlevania: Nocturneon Netflix.
Tarun Kohli
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2959
Tarun Kohli is the Senior Anime Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,900 published articles. He currently specializes in critiquing One Piece and other Shonen anime. A passionate fan of the genre, his love for thoughtful analysis reflects his genuine appreciation for the art of anime. His deep understanding of anime culture has earned recognition from industry figures such as Adi Shankar and the creators of Blood of Zeus.
