2 min read
The first season of The Witcher was a mixed bag. It wasn’t as tightly plotted or consistently well-produced as Game of Thrones, but everyone involved did a pretty bang-up job of bringing the source material to life.
At that stage, the Henry Cavill-led series had ample opportunity to learn from its mistakes. Unfortunately, it’s still making the same missteps and content to coast on the strengths of its cast and the love that fans have for the characters they portray.
If these bad habits have you thinking about breaking up with Netflix’s fraught fantasy adaptation, then you might want to check out Castlevania before you cancel that sub. This animated series, which takes its name and narrative from the popular gaming franchise, isn’t just one of the best fantasy series available on Netflix but one of the best video game adaptations of all time.
Brought to life by vocal performances from the likes of Richard Armitage, Bill Nighy and Jason Isaacs, Castlevania chronicles the trials and tribulations of the flawed heroes who take up the quest of putting an end to Dracula’s reign of terror.
There’s more to it than that, of course. It’s a treat to watch the cast of flawed heroes and vampiric villains in Castlevania grow into their respective roles. Graham McTavish is a standout here as the series’ own lord of darkness, who is as tragic as he is terrifying.
Once you've consumed the original four seasons, there's even more to sink your teeth into, thanks to the recently released (and critically acclaimed) spin-off Castlevania: Nocturne.
