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The Castlevania franchise sits at a strange crossroads in television culture. The first two seasons of the original \u201cCastlevania\u201d were landmark hits <\/a>that proved the mainstream viability of dramatic adult animated series. But as \u201cCastlevania: Nocturne\u201d releases, the genre is in an uncomfortable position. Audiences want to see more animated shows, but more and more original series are<\/a> getting<\/a> canceled<\/a> without finishing their narratives. It\u2019s maddening that there is a demand for this kind of television, and studios clearly want to create them, but streaming services somehow see animated shows\u00a0as unprofitable. The fact that the Castlevania franchise persists when others don\u2019t speaks to the quality of the shows but also the precarity of animated media in the digital era. <\/p>\n \u201cCastlevania: Nocturne\u201d continues the franchise\u2019s streak of excellence, but this franchise is now at a crossroads. The once tight narrative of the original \u201cCastlevania\u201d is no longer really present in \u201cNocturne\u201d season two, and any comparison between the first and second series shows that the writers are slowly but surely losing the plot of the \u201cCastlevania\u201d franchise. If the show continues, Powerhouse Animation will have to face a new problem: Can they keep \u201cCastlevania\u201d Castlevania without becoming derivative?\u00a0<\/p>\n The first season of \u201cNocturne\u201d concluded with Richter Belmont (Edward Blummel, \u201cPersuasion\u201d) and crew being defeated by \u201cVampire Messiah\u201d Erzsebet Batory (Franka Potente, \u201cRun Lola Run\u201d). This is where the second season picks up: After fleeing the city of Machecoul, Alucard (James Callis \u201cBattlestar Galactica\u201d) intercepts Richter and joins his party in order to defeat Erzsebet. Here, the plot diverges into two main story lines; Richter, Alucard and Annette (Thuso Mbedu, \u201cThe Woman King\u201d) travel to Paris in search of a way to kill the Vampire Messiah. Meanwhile Maria (Pixie Davies, \u201cMary Poppins Returns\u201d) stays behind to seek revenge against Machecoul\u2019s Abbot, who has been colluding with Erzsebet to maintain The Church\u2019s authority in the region. The tone is noticeably darker this season, as the characters are helpless to oppose the nigh-unstoppable forces of the Vampire Messiah as they slaughter humans by the dozens. More than the gore, the terror that the vampires strike in the humans hammers home how dire the situation is.\u00a0<\/p>\n What immediately stands out about the season is the beautiful animation. The series has always looked good; collaboration between various animation studios worldwide and artists like Ayami Kojima<\/a> (\u201cCastlevania: Symphony of the Night\u201d) has given the show a visually striking look that is also faithful to the source material. \u201cNocturne\u201d is easily one of the most gorgeous shows released, with wonderfully detailed and vibrant animation. Alucard is the prettiest he has ever looked. Light in the room bounces off of the stray hairs in his luxurious locks, and the glint in his eyes tells us exactly what he\u2019s thinking without him saying it. The expressiveness of every character is a testament to the level of detail on display. Within the character\u2019s eyes can be found elation, joy and embarrassment \u2014 but also rage, horror and madness. There\u2019s a wonderful moment where, as Maria uses her newfound dark magic for the first time, her eyes turn into pitch-black vortexes. It emphasizes the depths of her anger, and a more insidious set of emotions that complicate her character archetype as Richter\u2019s childhood best friend.\u00a0<\/p>\n